RADIO ABACO NEWSHTML Copyright © 2001-2002, awsltd.netMount Hope Baptist Church: The new Baptist church at Mount Hope was consecrated on 17th March at a service led by Bishop Samuel Green. The pastor of Mount Hope Baptist Church is Rev John McIntosh. The church is the largest building in Mount Hope and has seating for a congregation of 300 even though there are only 100 residents in the settlement. During the service Bishop Green said, "Ten dedicated people can do a lot more than ten thousand grumbling, dissident people". Even though the church stands on the shoreline, it survived the hurricanes of the past three years.
Murphy Town Ponders: At a 19th March meeting of the Murphy Town Committee, which was open to the public, a proposed cement block plant was discussed. The application was made by Island Construction of Freeport and it was claimed that the plant would benefit the area because local people would be hired. Some members of the public considered the site too close to residences and pointed out that heavy trucks would pass through school areas. The next evening another meeting was held with Mr Albury, a representative from Island Construction, present to explain the safeness of the process. Bertha McPhee of Environmental Health was present but was unable to make specific comments, especially as regards to alkaline dust.
All the Fun of the Fair: Saturday 23rd March was a fun and fund raising day for two schools on Abaco. S C Bootle held their fair in Coopers Town and the evening entertainment included local singer Colin McDonald of Massage and Sweet Emily. In Marsh Harbour, St Francis de Sales School highlighted its prizes and surprises day with a grand raffle. The winner was Willy Albury of Marsh Harbour and he drove off with a 2001 Daihatsu Cuore.
Highway Death: At 1.30 am on 24th March a car accident claimed the life of Renaul Jean of Sand Banks. Jean was travelling south from Spring City when his Chevrolet Lumina van hit and snapped off a utility pole at the Snake Cay junction. The van overturned and caught fire. A passenger in the vehicle was able to escape but Jean was trapped in the vehicle and burned to death.
Gotcha! Police arrested two men, Ethilene Baptiste, 32, and Raphael Noel, 31, after they had stowed away on the Duke of Topsail in an attempt to reach the United States. The men were found in a location neqar the smokestack where it had grown too hot for them and they had to leave their hideaway. The vessel returned to Marsh Harbour where the men were arrested.
Chalks to Green Turtle? At a town meeting held in the courtroom at New Plymouth, Bill Jones of Chalk's Airline outlined plans to local and island officials and members of the public to inaugurate service between Miami and Green Turtle Cay on a six days a week basis commencing in June. Chalk's Airline operates amphibious craft which can land in the waters off the cay. The proposal was enthusiastically approved, especially by hoteliers and other tourist personnal. Chalk's intends to refurbish the old amphibian site and ramp which used to be used back in the 1950's and 1960's. Captain Leonard Thompson and Colyn Rees, both of whom flew into Green Turtle Cay regularly during those years and are now both retired in Marsh Harbour, will no doubt have many memories brought back to them.