Services for Kennon Brasher, 48, who died Nov. 5, 2000, will be held Friday. Viewing will be at 11 a.m. and the service at noon at John Thomas Memorial Funeral Chapel.
Brasher was hit by an automobile in a pedestrian accident at Red Hook Saturday, and he died at Roy L. Schneider Hospital Sunday. He worked at Cyril E. King Airport as an airline mechanic.
He is survived by his mother, Eunice Brothers; wife Annette Brasher; sons, Scott and Kirk; daughter, Vickie; brother, Keith; sister, Carol; and grandchildren, Casey, Shona and Keenen.
Burial will be off-island.
EDUCATION RELEASES STAFF, SALARY BREAKDOWN
In response to public criticism of the Department of Education, Commissioner Ruby Simmonds on Wednesday issued a statement breaking down some of the personnel costs in the department "to provide clarification to the misinformation being widely circulated."
"Contrary to recent reports," Simmonds said, "this department does not have a thousand administrators among its personnel." She said non-school administration, support staff and executive staff total fewer than 200.
Of 3,027 employed by Education, Simmonds said nearly two-thirds are involved in student instruction, including teachers and paraprofessionals. Another 7.4 percent are assigned to maintenance and custodial services; school administration represents 7 percent of Education personnel.
Just over 5 percent — 160 persons — are school counselors, nurses, social workers and diagnosticians, and 2.5 percent support instruction, including librarians, curriculum coordinators and supervisors and audio-visual staff.
"A mere 3 percent of the department's staff is not represented by a union," Simmonds said. "The majority of our administrators are represented by the Education Administrators' Association, whose membership is comprised of principals, assistant principals, coordinators and supervisors of specific instructional areas or specific disciplines."
The department also released a list of all its personnel making $30,000 a year or more. Of the 131 EAA members employed in the V.I., none drew a salary of less than $40,000, and 43 were making more than $60,000 a year. Nearly 40 percent of all AFT members in the territory made less than $30,000 a year.
"Contrary to recent reports," Simmonds said, "this department does not have a thousand administrators among its personnel." She said non-school administration, support staff and executive staff total fewer than 200.
Of 3,027 employed by Education, Simmonds said nearly two-thirds are involved in student instruction, including teachers and paraprofessionals. Another 7.4 percent are assigned to maintenance and custodial services; school administration represents 7 percent of Education personnel.
Just over 5 percent — 160 persons — are school counselors, nurses, social workers and diagnosticians, and 2.5 percent support instruction, including librarians, curriculum coordinators and supervisors and audio-visual staff.
"A mere 3 percent of the department's staff is not represented by a union," Simmonds said. "The majority of our administrators are represented by the Education Administrators' Association, whose membership is comprised of principals, assistant principals, coordinators and supervisors of specific instructional areas or specific disciplines."
The department also released a list of all its personnel making $30,000 a year or more. Of the 131 EAA members employed in the V.I., none drew a salary of less than $40,000, and 43 were making more than $60,000 a year. Nearly 40 percent of all AFT members in the territory made less than $30,000 a year.
'DONA JULIA' RODRIGUEZ FUNERAL SATURDAY
Julia "Dona Julia" Carrion Rodriguez of #31 A Est. Lower Love, Frederiksted, died Monday, Nov. 6 at Juan F. Luis Hospital. She was 79.
A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 and 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at the James Memorial Funeral Chapel, La Grande Princesse.
Funeral services will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter, Petronella "Toni" McIntosh; sons, Luis, Hector, Jose, and Juan Rodriguez; sister, Lydia Brignoni; nephew, Victor Brignoni Jr.; eight grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
She is also survived by aunts, Isabel Velez and Epifania "Fanny" Cabret; uncle, Justo Carrion; daughters-in-law, Migdalia Rodriguez, Amparo Rodriguez, and Yvonne Rodriguez; very special family friend, Rafael Brignoni; special cousin, Theodora "Tunde" Montañez; and other relatives and friends.
A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 and 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 at the James Memorial Funeral Chapel, La Grande Princesse.
Funeral services will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
She is survived by her daughter, Petronella "Toni" McIntosh; sons, Luis, Hector, Jose, and Juan Rodriguez; sister, Lydia Brignoni; nephew, Victor Brignoni Jr.; eight grandchildren, 12 great- grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
She is also survived by aunts, Isabel Velez and Epifania "Fanny" Cabret; uncle, Justo Carrion; daughters-in-law, Migdalia Rodriguez, Amparo Rodriguez, and Yvonne Rodriguez; very special family friend, Rafael Brignoni; special cousin, Theodora "Tunde" Montañez; and other relatives and friends.
DONASTORG WANTS TO CHAIR FINANCE COMMITTEE
One day after the senatorial elections, at least one winner was positioning himself to head an important legislative committee.
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, the top vote getter in the St. Thomas-St. John district, said he wants to chair the committee that controls the government’s purse strings during the 24th Legislature.
"I haven’t received any calls to try and organize the Legislature," Donastorg told WSTX radio, adding that most senators who won seats Tuesday took Wednesday off.
Donastorg, however, said he was already looking ahead to the next session.
"I know exactly what I have my eye on," he said. "I would like to chair the Finance Committee."
Donastorg has chaired the Senate Committee on Planning and Environmental Protection for three terms. He also spurred a larger effort to reorganize the Senate, a referendum voters throughout the territory overwhelmingly supported Tuesday.
The referendum to reduce the size of the 15-member Senate passed by 14,949 to 2,120. Of those in favor of the reduction, 12,589 wanted to see the number of senators reduced to nine; 2,826 preferred 11 senators.
Donastorg maintains that reducing the Legislature from 15 to nine will senators save the V.I. government as much as $12 million per term.
In a statement Wednesday, Donastorg said he will introduce the legislation necessary to enact the change after consulting with the V.I. Board of Elections and the Legislature’s legal counsel. Congress recently amended the Revised Organic Act to allow local legislators to determine the size of the V.I. Legislature. The bill must now be signed by President Clinton.
"This is a legitimate means to reduce government spending and once implemented in 2003 will save us millions of dollars each year," Donastorg said. "This legislation will mandate that the Senate’s reduction be accompanied by a budget cut of at least 25 percent with those savings directed towards specific areas of concern."
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, the top vote getter in the St. Thomas-St. John district, said he wants to chair the committee that controls the government’s purse strings during the 24th Legislature.
"I haven’t received any calls to try and organize the Legislature," Donastorg told WSTX radio, adding that most senators who won seats Tuesday took Wednesday off.
Donastorg, however, said he was already looking ahead to the next session.
"I know exactly what I have my eye on," he said. "I would like to chair the Finance Committee."
Donastorg has chaired the Senate Committee on Planning and Environmental Protection for three terms. He also spurred a larger effort to reorganize the Senate, a referendum voters throughout the territory overwhelmingly supported Tuesday.
The referendum to reduce the size of the 15-member Senate passed by 14,949 to 2,120. Of those in favor of the reduction, 12,589 wanted to see the number of senators reduced to nine; 2,826 preferred 11 senators.
Donastorg maintains that reducing the Legislature from 15 to nine will senators save the V.I. government as much as $12 million per term.
In a statement Wednesday, Donastorg said he will introduce the legislation necessary to enact the change after consulting with the V.I. Board of Elections and the Legislature’s legal counsel. Congress recently amended the Revised Organic Act to allow local legislators to determine the size of the V.I. Legislature. The bill must now be signed by President Clinton.
"This is a legitimate means to reduce government spending and once implemented in 2003 will save us millions of dollars each year," Donastorg said. "This legislation will mandate that the Senate’s reduction be accompanied by a budget cut of at least 25 percent with those savings directed towards specific areas of concern."
GERS PRE-RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKSHOP
The Government Employees' Retirement System will hold a pre-retirement planning workshop, for members age 30 and over, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 in the GERS Building, third floor conference room.
Participants will learn more about social security benefits, health insurance coverage, legal rights, system benefits, and steps to take to secure their financial future.
Call Julia Abramson at 776-7703, extension 4202, for more information or to pre-register.
Pre-registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 13. Seating is limited.
Participants will learn more about social security benefits, health insurance coverage, legal rights, system benefits, and steps to take to secure their financial future.
Call Julia Abramson at 776-7703, extension 4202, for more information or to pre-register.
Pre-registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 13. Seating is limited.
GERS PRE-RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKSHOP
The Government Employees' Retirement System will hold a pre-retirement planning workshop, for members age 30 and over, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 in the GERS Building, third floor conference room.
Participants will learn more about social security benefits, health insurance coverage, legal rights, system benefits, and steps to take to secure a financial future.
Call Julia Abramson at 776-7703, extension 4202, for more information or to pre-register.
Pre- registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 13. Seating is limited.
Participants will learn more about social security benefits, health insurance coverage, legal rights, system benefits, and steps to take to secure a financial future.
Call Julia Abramson at 776-7703, extension 4202, for more information or to pre-register.
Pre- registration deadline is Monday, Nov. 13. Seating is limited.
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD FAIR THIS WEEKEND
"Healthy Farms, Healthy Children, Healthy Future" is the theme of the University of the Virgin Islands 19th annual Agriculture and Food Fair starting at 9 a.m.Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts.Workshops in composting, plant propagation/grafting and food safety will be presented both days. And the fair's traditional bountiful displays of local fruits and vegetables and plants will be on sale, along with arts and crafts. Sweetbread and Maubi judging will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
And for those who are up to it, there's a Chidren's Animal Imitation contest each day at 3 p.m.
Admission is $2 for adults, and .50 for children 12 and younger. For further information, call (340) 774-5182 or (340) 693-1080.
And for those who are up to it, there's a Chidren's Animal Imitation contest each day at 3 p.m.
Admission is $2 for adults, and .50 for children 12 and younger. For further information, call (340) 774-5182 or (340) 693-1080.
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD FAIR THIS WEEKEND
"Healthy Farms, Healthy Children, Healthy Future" is the theme of the University of the Virgin Islands 19th annual Agriculture and Food Fair starting at 9 a.m.Saturday and 10 a.m. Sunday on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts.
Brush up on your baking and you can enter Frank's Bake Shop's "Best Tasting Sweetbread" or "Best Tasting Maubi" contest. On Sunday you can jam to P'your Passion or the VIHA Steel Orchestra. And, naturally, there's the pony rides and the petting zoo. And these are just for openers.
Workshops in composting, plant propagation/grafting and food safety will be presented both days. And the fair's traditional bountiful displays of local fruits and vegetables and plants will be on sale, along with arts and crafts. Sweetbread and Maubi judging will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
And for those who are up to it, there's a Chidren's Animal Imitation contest each day at 3 p.m.
Admission is $2 for adults, and $.50 for children 12 and younger. For further information, call (340) 774-5182 or (340) 693-1080.
Brush up on your baking and you can enter Frank's Bake Shop's "Best Tasting Sweetbread" or "Best Tasting Maubi" contest. On Sunday you can jam to P'your Passion or the VIHA Steel Orchestra. And, naturally, there's the pony rides and the petting zoo. And these are just for openers.
Workshops in composting, plant propagation/grafting and food safety will be presented both days. And the fair's traditional bountiful displays of local fruits and vegetables and plants will be on sale, along with arts and crafts. Sweetbread and Maubi judging will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
And for those who are up to it, there's a Chidren's Animal Imitation contest each day at 3 p.m.
Admission is $2 for adults, and $.50 for children 12 and younger. For further information, call (340) 774-5182 or (340) 693-1080.
THIS WEEK'S BUDGET HEARINGS CANCELED
Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Berry announced Wednesday she has canceled budget hearings originally scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Berry said she wanted to give committee members the opportunity to analyze the direction in which the committee must proceed in consideration of the governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget.
Next week's budget hearings in St. Croix will still be held as scheduled, according to Kim Boschulte Ramsingh of the Senate Post Auditor's office.
Berry said she wanted to give committee members the opportunity to analyze the direction in which the committee must proceed in consideration of the governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget.
Next week's budget hearings in St. Croix will still be held as scheduled, according to Kim Boschulte Ramsingh of the Senate Post Auditor's office.
THIS WEEK'S BUDGET HEARINGS CANCELED
Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Berry announced Wednesday she has canceled budget hearings originally scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Berry said she wanted to give committee members the opportunity to analyze the direction in which the committee must proceed in consideration of the governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget.
Next week's budget hearings in St. Croix will still be held as scheduled, according to Kim Boschulte Ramsingh of the Senate Post Auditor's office.
Berry said she wanted to give committee members the opportunity to analyze the direction in which the committee must proceed in consideration of the governor's proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget.
Next week's budget hearings in St. Croix will still be held as scheduled, according to Kim Boschulte Ramsingh of the Senate Post Auditor's office.
