Radio listeners donate supplies, scholarships and educational equipment

Mayor Itthipol Khunplome hands over water purification equipment to Boonnakiet Wiattanadaecha representing the “Tawan Yim 2008” project.

Saksiri Uraiworn
Mayor Itthipol Khunplome donated three sets of water purifying equipment to the Tawan Yim (Smiling Sun) 2008 Project on July 17, the presentation being held at the Itthipol Khunplome Center in conjunction with the Pattaya Yim Krim Club.
The equipment, worth in total 20,000 baht, was received by Boonnakiet Wiattanadaecha, representing the project.
VC Spot Production Co Ltd organizes the project each year, with listeners to Sunshine Radio and the Thai FM radio station having the opportunity to make merit by donating supplies, scholarships and educational equipment.
All of the donated materials are distributed to outlying schools and to underprivileged students through the MCOT radio station, Pattaya FM 107.75 MHz, Sor Tor Ror 5, and Pattaya radio station FM 104.75 MHz.
The schools that received the equipment on July 19 this year were Ban Nern Thung School, Ban Khao Wang Kaew School, and Ban Klong School.
Itthipol said that currently there are many educational establishments in Chonburi Province and in neighboring provinces that are facing shortages of educational equipment. Tawan Yim is one of the projects helping to support the schools, especially those in the outlying regions.

Monk with bad habit is disrobed

Theerarak Suthatiwong
A monk discovered naked in a hotel room performing a black magic ceremony over a woman’s genitals was reported to police by a horrified hotel worker, and promptly arrested.
Pattaya Police Station received a report at 3 a.m. on July 16 that a monk had rented a room at the Good View Resort on North Pattaya Road and was spending the night there with a woman.
Hotel staff was waiting for the police to arrive, and pointed to the VIP room without a number, saying that a monk was inside with a woman. The officers knocked on the door, but no one opened it. They then asked for the spare key from the hotel staff.
Opening the door, the officers were deeply shocked to see a naked couple, a middle-aged woman and a bald man, together in bed. A yellow robe and a bra were piled beside the bed.
The officers asked the couple to dress before questioning them. The woman was identified as Mrs Thanawan Pak-utsa, age 49, a merchant who resided at Thamuang Sub-district, in Nonthaburi Province. The man was identified as Prakong Pugingploy, age 44. In his bag was a certificate that further identified him as Buddhist Monk Prokrong Thanawaro from Pothi Sri Tha-Ngam Temple, in Kalasin. Inside his bag was also a monk’s alms-bowl, a Buddha image tray, joss sticks and candles.
Prokrong admitted that he had rented three rooms in the hotel, along with a driver, 48-year-old Somchai Khamjing. This was his second night in the hotel. He had made an appointment with two women, one of who was Mrs Thanawan, who were to stay in room number C7. This was for “Naked Long Na”, a magic ceremony to give women the power to captivate men. Only Mrs Thanawan turned up.
Prokrong advised her that she must have sex with him to rid herself of sin. Many elderly maids, widows, and his followers around Pattaya came to him for this service, he said. He had just finished Naked Long Na with Mrs Thanawan’s genitals when the police forced their way in and arrested him.
Thanawan said that she had fallen in love with a wealthy man, but that she was not able to make this man desire her. She knew from her friends that Priest Prokrong was able to work a special kind of magic. As the priest was such a humble and charming man, she agreed to have sex with him.
After questioning Prokrong the officers sent him to Chaimongkol Temple in South Pattaya to be de-frocked by the abbot. They then gave Thanawan a warning about having sex with monks, and released her.
Ed’s note: For those who might not know, it is forbidden for a woman to touch a Buddhist monk.

American dies in apparent suicide

Theerarak Suthatiwong
An American was found dead after falling from a tall building in North Pattaya. Police assumed that he had jumped because of stress, and that he didn’t want to return to his home country. A suicide note was found in one of the deceased’s pockets.
Pol. Lt. Col. Pongsawas Wongwan took the call at 10 a.m. on July 16. The American, later identified as Christopher Kerry Rozier, apparently had committed suicide by jumping from a high floor in the Markland Hotel parking garage, landing on the roof of the old Heart to Heart Karaoke Building on Soi 1, Pattaya Beach Road.
The 2-story building was once used as a karaoke; however, the Royal Palace Hotel had bought it to make it into a dormitory for hotel staff.
Pol. Col. Nopadol Wongnom and Pol. Lt. Col. Chatchai Ruenthawil also went to the scene, along with police officers, the doctor on duty at Banglamung Hospital, and Sawang Boriboon Foundation rescuers.
The body of the 41-year-old American was discovered lying face up on the roof.
Police also found a key to a rented room on Soi Buakhao. When police officers went to examine the room, they discovered 2 empty whisky bottles. Articles of clothing were also collected as part of the evidence.
The deceased will be brought to the forensic institute at the Police Hospital for an autopsy, and to forward the findings to the US Embassy.

Phone thieves caught on CCTV

With the male distracting the store employee,
the female reached over the counter and stole Siraprapa’s expensive
mobile phone, which was all caught on video.

Theerarak Suthatiwong
Police are looking for a couple of well-dressed thieves who pretended to buy medicine in a pharmacy before grabbing a cellphone and making their escape.
A CCTV camera caught the couple full-face, and other victims have subsequently filed complaints that the same pair has duped them.
Mrs Siraprapa Singtoniwet, a 30-year-old nurse at Banglamung Hospital, who also owns the PS Pharmacy on Soi Kaotalo, in Nongprue, filed a report with Banglamung Police Station at 5 p.m. on July 1, saying that at about 9 p.m. the previous evening a woman aged between 45 and 50 years had entered the shop. The woman, who was about 150cm tall, had short hair and was well dressed, was with a tall Thai man about 35 to 40 years old.
The woman asked her to bring out several medications, and the man also asked her several questions. The couple were in the shop for about 10 minutes before leaving in a hurry.
Siraprapa said that she intended to phone a friend with her brown Nokia E65, which had cost nearly 20,000 baht. She thought she had left it behind the printing machine, but it had disappeared. She then checked her CCTV recording and discovered that the woman had tried twice to take the phone when Sirprapa was busy, but without success. Only when Sirprapa had gone to fetch some cough medicine had the thief been able to take the phone.
Police have been distributing images of the couple and warning shops to be on the lookout for them.

Hospital briefs Rotarians on progress of free cataract operations

Pramote Channgam
Bangkok Hospital Pattaya held a briefing on July 14 for members of Rotary Clubs within International Rotary District 3340 to be updated on the progress of the free cataract operation project.

Dr. Pichit Kangwolkij.
The project, initiated to honor the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King, is currently progressing through its various stages and was the subject of a press briefing by Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat on June 20.
The meeting on July 14 was conducted in the meeting room in Building D at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and headed by hospital director Dr Pichit Kangwolkij and assistant director Dr Satthabut Pritthipan.
Dr Pichit said that the hospital would be conducting the operations for patients throughout Chonburi Province, with the Rotary Clubs in each area assisting with the organizing, such as work teams that acted to support the primary screening steps.
There are 17 Rotary Clubs in District 3340, and they have together formed a foundation that will help fund the cataract operations, which are being performed free of charge to underprivileged people.

Training to provide oral healthcare to schools

Currently a shortage of school healthcare officials

Vimolrat Singnikorn
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay chaired the opening of a training session at Pattaya Public Health Center on July 11, designed to prepare 100 health officials and teachers for the oral hygiene program that will be undertaken for schools in Education Zone 3.

Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay.

The session also included a visit to Wat Banna School at Sriracha to witness the implementation of dental health processes in the school. Mrs Preeyanut Wanraruen and Mrs Ong-On Kerdbunsong were the instructors.
Verawat said that the technical seminar was being held under the Dental Health Division at the Pattaya Public Health and Environment Department.
There is currently a shortage of school healthcare officials, he said, with only one official per school. The training was designed to provide knowledge and skills to other officials and to teachers, so that the oral health standards of the students are not jeopardized.

New residents move into Crab Condominium

Project will increase number of horseshoe crabs and boost local incomes

Many interested bystanders look on as the new Crab Condo
is launched into Dongtan Bay.

Patcharapol Panrak
Sattahip Mayor Narong Bunbancherdsri formally opened a crab conservation project at Gazebo Beach, Dongtan Bay, on July 14.
The project, primarily a hatching ground for horseshoe crab eggs, is located in front of Sattahip District Office.
Rear Admiral Pachon Ramokomut, deputy commander-in-chief of the First Fleet of the Royal Thai Fleet, and Chatchai Timkrachang, mayor of Sriracha Municipality also attended the opening of the project.
Chatchai said the project, nicknamed the Crab Condominium, is headed by Sriracha Municipality and Chonburi Integrated Coastal and Watershed Management, the aim being to preserve the horseshoe crab breed, and to support occupations in the community.
Sattahip Municipality also presented 200,000 baht to Rear Admiral Pachon to help provide support for the Sea Cow and the Sea Grass Preservation Project in Sattahip Bay.
The ribbon was then cut to release the female crabs into the condominium, watched by representatives from Sattahip Naval Base, and a large number of local residents with their children.
Narong said that in previous times, 20-30 kg of horseshoe crabs could be caught in one day. This had dwindled to 5-6 kg, and the sizes do not correspond to market standards or consumer demand.
The purpose of this project therefore was to revive and increase the aquatic animal resources in Sattahip Bay.

Amazing discounts on offer during Pattaya Sale

Up to 70 percent off selected items

Pramote Channgam
Discounts of up to 70 percent on goods and services are being offered during the Amazing Pattaya Sale 2008, being held for a three-month period between now and September 30.

One of the area’s top models displays some of the items that are on sale during the Amazing Pattaya Sale 2008.
Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Pattaya City in conjunction with 10 major shopping centers, the sale is intended to generate custom during the off-peak tourism season.
Chonburi Governor Pracha Taerat announced the sale on July 10 at The Avenue on Second Road, along with Mayor Itthipol Khunplome, Pornthip Orn-Num, director of Thailand Tourism Business Investments, and TAT director for Central Region 3 Chaiwat Charoensuk.
A fashion show with top models was a highlight of the opening ceremony.
Amazing Pattaya Sale 2008 has received a support budget from Pattaya City and from the TAT, the latter providing a promotional budget of 3.5 million baht.
The campaign has had good cooperation from shopping mall entrepreneurs and businesses in Pattaya City. Amongst the outlets taking part are The Avenue, Royal Garden Plaza, Central Festival Center, the Home Products Center, Mike Shopping Mall, Carrefour, World Gems Collection, Gems Gallery, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, and the Ruan Thai OTOP Center.
The outlets are offering reductions of between 10 and 70 percent on goods and services during the period until September 30, and discounts are also being offered on the entrance fees to more than 25 tourism locations in Pattaya.

Residential building planned for teachers

Project planned as part of mayor’s priority to improve schools

Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
The education and community development committee held a meeting with the directors of the 10 schools under Pattaya City jurisdiction on July 4 at Pattaya City Hall to discuss ways of developing the schools to make them more modern.

Tawatchai Rattanyou, director of the Education Department.

The meeting was chaired by city councilor Farooq Wongborisut and included Tawatchai Rattanyou, director of the Education Department.
Tawatchai said the purpose was to urgently find a way of improving Pattaya’s schools, under Mayor Itthipol Khunplome’s policy of giving priority to developing education and tackling matters such as teacher shortages and poor facilities.
One of the areas of urgency is to improve the conditions for teachers and janitors, which would attract more staff to the schools. Tawatchai said that one of the underlying problems was that low salaries for teachers and other staff was preventing them seeking employment at Pattaya’s schools, as they could not afford to take accommodation. Providing accommodation for them would help attract new staff and boost the morale of those serving.
As a priority project, it was decided that a new accommodation building would be erected on the empty area behind Pattaya School No 7, Ban Nong Pang Kae. Two buildings are planned, both of 10 stories with 10 rooms on each floor. This would provide 200 rooms of accommodation for teachers and school staff, such as janitors.
Tawatchai said this project would create tangible morale in the most substantial way, and provide a good basis for other projects that would help the development of Pattaya’s schools.

Navy opens weapons museum

Rear Admiral Narongpon na Bangchang, director of the Naval Ordnance Department formally opens the museum.

Patcharapol Panrak
The Royal Thai Navy has opened a Naval Museum to display weapons and firearms used since the early Rattanakosin period, forming an important historical exhibition for students, tourists and members of the public.
Rear Admiral Narongpon na Bangchang, director of the Naval Ordnance Department formally opened the museum, which is located behind the Prince Chumporn Ket Udomsak Monument in Sattahip Sub-district, on July 3.
In his opening speech, Rear Admiral Narongpon said that exhibits on display include cannons, machine guns, torpedoes, and magnetic mines. Visitors would have an important insight as to how the Naval Ordnance Department works, and how the power of the Royal Thai Navy has been maintained over the years.
He added that the weapons on display and the historical documentation available form an invaluable resource for students and researchers.

The naval officers visit some of the ordinance on display at the museum.

Football field presented to Laem Chabang community

Ariyawat Nuamsawat
The Laem Chabang community in Sriracha has been presented with a football field from Unithai Shipyard and Engineering Co Ltd. and CUEL Co Ltd for use by the general public.

Narong Bunyasanguan (left) officially hands over the football field to Rewat Pollook-In representing the Laem Chabang community.

The field, prepared under a 2 million baht budget, was handed over to the community on July 12 by CUEL managing director Narong Bunyasanguan, with deputy head of the Chonburi Administrative Organization Rewat Pollook-In acting as Laem Chabang representative.
The two companies had worked jointly to prepare the field, which measures 150 meters x 72 meters and took three months to complete under a budget of 1.75 million baht.
There is an agreement between Laem Chabang Municipality and Laem Chabang School regarding the maintenance of the field to keep it in good condition for students and members of the public.
On the occasion of the handover, Unithai and CUEL also presented paint for the painting of Laem Chabang School, and community residents worked together to clean up Laem Chabang Beach.
Narong said that the Unithai Group fully recognizes the importance of youngsters having good sporting facilities and they are happy to provide the field as part of their program of helping to develop facilities for young people.
The company is currently providing support to six schools for different projects. One is Wat Salkpetch School on Koh Chang, where a lab is being provided, and at Wat Buaroi School in Bangsaothong, Samutprakarn, scholarships are being distributed.