RADIO ABACO NEWS
Plans were presented to the Marsh Harbour and Spring City Township Committee for the importation of equipment to crush and compact derelict vehicles on Abaco with a view to exporting the residual scrap. Relief was sought from import duties on the equipment. Presenting the proposal was Pat Smith of Casuarina Point. The proposal coincided with a drive by the Marsh Harbour and Spring City Township Committee to remove offending abandoned vehicles, boats and kitchen appliances from the district.
11th Grader Shazara Bootle of Abaco Central Secondary School attended the 15th Annual Conference of Youth Leaders held at the College of The Bahamas, Nassau, under the theme 'Envisioning Your Success'. The keynote speaker was Minister of Youth, Zhivargo Laing. Minister Laing told the 50 delegates from 31 Bahamian High Schools that they must have a plan for their future.
The Marsh Harbour Library is near completion. Marsh Harbour and Spring City Township Committee member Yvonne Key has spearheaded the efforts to resurrect a library in the area after 18 years. A section of the clinic previously used by Dr Ejnar Gottlieb has been appropriated and over 10,000 books are ready to be categorised and shelved. Light fixtures for the library were donated by Abaco Hardware and two air conditioners have also been obtained. The library is expected to be in service in January 1998 and will be named the Marsh Harbour Community Library in honour of Dr Gottlieb. Mrs Key also said there were plans under way to construct a theme park near the Airport Road that would feature a waterfall, picnic area and memory lane to remember the pioneers of Marsh Harbour.
At a special assembly on 22nd October, Principal Royann Swain of Abaco Central Secondary School received a cheque for $2,500 from Texaco Bahamas to assist the school's Mighty Marlins basketball team buy uniforms and participate in the major national championships such as the Vita Malt Classic in Freeport and the Hugh Campbell Tournament in Nassau. On hand for the presentation were Dennis Mackey (Texaco Family Island Representative), Paul Bevans (Marketing Representative), Kenneth Walcott (Engineering Department) and Gary Sawyer (Abaco Petroleum Company). Team Coach Cay Russell and William Davis of Burns House also attended the presentation which was MC'd by Abaco Petroleum Company's Bernis Pinder. A few days later an additional presentation was made by Mrs Rochelle Turnquest of the Marsh Harbour branch of Royal Bank of Canada in the sum of $500. Royal Bank of Canada 'adopted' Abaco Central two years ago and stands ready to assist the school in all of its endeavours.
Minister of Housing and Social Development Algernon Allen addressed the public in Coopers Town and Marsh Harbour on 24th and 25th October on housing matters. In Marsh Harbour he gave details about the new Dundy-Mar subdivision on Forest Drive. The 650 lots will be an average size of 80' x 150' and first home owners will receive preference. The subdivision will include the main district Post Office, Police Station, a government complex, day care centre, two convenience stores, a bank, four churches, an apartment block and home for the elderly. There will also be a lake and recreation area.
Ryan Reckley of Coopers Town died six days after incurring severe head injuries when the motor cycle he was riding was in a collision with a truck in Marsh Harbour on 25th October. Mr Reckley did not gain consciousness following the accident.