ABACO, Bahamas -- Ashley Newell s a very special little girl. She has raised funds for animals all over Abaco by making her own jewellery and selling it.  

On April 3rd she handed over a handsome donation to Jennie Zehler for Pop's Shelter and AARC.

"I am thrilled to see such a young person taking the initiative to do something wonderful to help the many needy and helpless animals of Abaco," said Jennie in a Facebook posting.  "Thank you Ashley. You made my day today - and that of a good many animals! Bless your heart."

Photo: Ashley Newell hands Jennie Zehlera a handsome donation for Pop's Shelter and AARC to help the many needy and helpless animals of Abaco.

ABACO, Bahamas -- Fishing teams are invited to experience world-class competition at the 29th Annual Treasure Cay Billfish Tournament (TCBT) June 10-15, 2012, at beautiful Treasure Cay Beach Marina & Golf Resort, Abaco, Bahamas. The event is known for its great fishing, excellent value and fun social events.

The TCBT modified release tournament offers four days of fishing, a lay day, social parties, dinners and fun competitions. The guaranteed cash payout ranges from $10,000 for a minimum of ten boats and up to $50,000 for participation of 50 boats.

The TCBT offers a special bonus of two free room nights at the resort for registrations made prior to April 15, 2012. A $300 Fuel Credit Offer is available to any registered boat participating in the tournament. The credit is applied to the folio of the registered boat at the end of the tournament and is limited to one $300 fuel credit per registered boat.

One of the best fishing destinations in the Bahamas, Treasure Cay is known for record-breaking marlin, large dolphin and wahoo. The Bahamas blue marlin record was shattered on June 24, 2011 with an enormous 1,119 pound fish boated by Team Double Dog, Ft. Lauderdale, FL during the Treasure Cay leg of the Bahamas Billfish Championship.

MARSH HARBOUR, Abaco -- On March 19-23, officials from the United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) visited Marsh Harbour to conduct the first in a series of training exercises in Flood Water/Rope Rescue.  Fifteen first responders representing the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF), and various local fire and rescue agencies participated in the extensive five-day program.  

Instructors representing Health and Human Services (HHS), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) facilitated the critical life-saving techniques to provide flood, water, and rope rescue training with an emphasis on ways to keep rescuers from becoming victims.

USNORTHCOM provided the funds for the training through its TSC Civilian-Military Humanitarian Assistance (HA) Program at a cost of $500,000, inclusive of the training and the life-saving equipment.  The equipment includes 16 foot aluminum boats with trailers, personal technician kits, ropes, megaphones, life vests and search lights.  

The Flood Water/Rope Rescue Training in Marsh Harbour was the first of three exercises scheduled for The Bahamas.  An additional thirty first responders from Grand Bahama and New Providence are expected to benefit from the training over the next two months.

TREASURE CAY, Abaco -- The 2012 Great Abaco Family Fitness Weekend took place from Friday March 23rd to Sunday March 25th. Competitors from across the nation and from countries as far away as the UK, as well as Canada and the United States, were in attendance at race headquarters, the Coco Beach Bar at the Treasure Cay Resort & Marina.

The first event, a one mile open water swim in the serene waters of Treasure Cay Beach, kicked off on Friday at 5pm. Seven competitors participated from the Bahamas and the UK. 

The winner, with a time of 24:07, was Peter Wagner of Nassau, Bahamas, who decided 5 minutes before the start to participate. 

Gina Wilcox, a Treasure Cay second-home owner from the UK, won the women's division. Wilcox is associated with an open water swim club in the UK and was very impressed with the swim event.

The main events of the weekend, the triathlons, started early Saturday morning. Following a glorious sunrise on a picture-perfect day, at 7:30am the gun went off and the swimmers entered the again tranquil waters of Treasure Cay Beach.

The Olympic competitors swam 1500m, biked 40 km, and ran 10km. Greg Lowe of Nassau won the event with a time of 2:53:25, with Peter Wagner and Carlo Chee-A-Tow taking second and third.

ABACO, Bahamas -- The Bahamas National Trust held a public meeting in Treasure Cay last week at the Treasure Cay Community Centre.  Attending the meeting were BNT Executives along with BNT’s Parrot Biologist Caroline Stahala, who was the featured speaker for the evening.

Stahala, an endangered species biologist, received her Masters while studying the population and health of the Abaco Parrot; she is currently focusing on social behavior of nesting parrots on the Abaco islands. Over seventy residents of the Treasure Cay community attend the public meeting to learn more about Ms. Stahala’s research and the ongoing protection of the Abaco Parrot.  

Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director welcomed the residents and further reiterated the need for ongoing support of the Bahamas National Trust, "The BNT as the manager of the national park system not only has to raise money to pay wardens and create infrastructure but we have an obligation to study and protect the species that the park was created to protect.  

"In the case of the Abaco National Park, the Bahama Parrot is the species of concern and having a good relationship and supporting the biologist studying its behavior and needs is imperative in the management of the park.  We are fortunate to have Ms. Stahala, who has dedicated the last ten years to studying our parrot and working with the Trust to establish our predator control programme and identify habitat needs for the parrot."

YOUNG CONSTITUENTS -- Students of the Amy Roberts All Age School, Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, pay courtesy call on Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham at the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday, March 19.

Green Turtle Cay is in the Prime Minister's parliamentary constituency of North Abaco.

(BIS Photo/Peter Ramsay)