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Former St. John Couple Accused of Murder To Be Tried Separately

Details: Created on Tuesday, 07 May 2013 10:00; Written by Jaime Elliott

Amanda Perry Hayes, above at left, and her husband Grant Hayes, above at right, face charges of first-degree murder in North Carolina. The couple are accused of murdering the mother of Grant Hayes’ two children, Laura Ackerson, below, in 2011. Photos Courtesy of WRAL.com

A Superior Court judge in North Carolina ruled last week to separate the trials of former St. John residents Grant Hayes and Amanda Perry Hayes, who are facing first-degree murder charges.

The former St. John residents are accused of killing and dismembering Grant Hayes’ ex-girlfriend, and the mother of his two children, Laura Ackerson of Kinston, North Carolina, in July 2011.

Laura Ackerson

Amanda Hayes, 41, and Grant Hayes, 33, who were living in Raleigh, North Carolina at the time, are accused of killing Ackerson, 27, dismembering her and transporting the remains to Texas. Ackerson’s remains were found in a creek near the home of Amanda Hayes’ sister, about 60 miles south of Houston.

Both defense attorneys originally agreed to a joint trial, which was set for May 20. Lately, however, Amanda Hayes seems to have turned on her husband.

Earlier this month Amanda Hayes fired her court appointed attorney and hired defense lawyer Johnny Gaskins. Attorney Gaskins filed more than 30 motions on Amanda Hayes behalf, claiming “that she participated in Ackerson’s death while under duress, feared for her life and that Grant Hayes, while in jail, threatened to kill her,” according to a report on www.wral.com.

On Monday, April 22, Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens ruled in favor of a motion filed by Grant Hayes’ defense attorney Jeff Cutler requesting to separate their trials.

“Clearly, based on filings of Amanda Hayes and her attorneys, it is now apparent that we have antagonistic defenses based on the readings of her motions,” Cutler was quoted in a report on www.wral.com. “Clearly, they’re going to attempt to make him look bad. That is part of their defense, and I don’t believe that’s a manageable way to try a joint trial.”

KATS St. John Dinghy Raffle

Details: Created on Monday, 06 May 2013 04:15; Written by Tradewinds Report

One lucky winner will take home this inflatable dinghy and 15 hp outboard motor. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and are available from Kids and the Sea, St. John students, St. John Hardware and Connections East and West. Funds raised from the raffle will support youth sailing on St. John.

Second Ever Donkey Softball Game May 11

Details: Created on Monday, 06 May 2013 04:13; Written by Jaime Elliott

Dust off those baseball mitts and practice that swing, the second ever St. John Donkey Softball game is set for Saturday, May 11, at the Coral Bay ball field.

Hosted by Dana Bartlett owner of the Carolina Corral with help from the Rotary Club of St. John, the second Donkey Softball game day, starting at 11 a.m. on May 11, will feature fun for the whole family.

Bartlett organized the first ever donkey softball game last year to rave reviews. Team members swing for the fences and then must either ride or walk a donkey around the bases. The game usually takes a few unexpected twists and turns and no one walks away without a smile on their face.

In addition to the one-of-a-kind softball game, the afternoon will feature sack races, tug-of-war and pony rides for the little ones. Food and drinks will also be on sale.

Residents are invited to come on out to the ball field and take in all the action. Or, better yet, sign up for a team or volunteer to help out in the field.

For more information or to register for a team, call Bartlett at (340) 693-5778 or talk to any Rotary Club of St. John member.

On The Market: Enjoy Milk Moon Cottage From Sunrise to Moonrise

Details: Created on Sunday, 05 May 2013 04:06; Written by Jaime Elliott

Soak up the views and relax in the pool at Milk Moon Cottage.

The peace and tranquility of the island’s East End, not to mention the stunning water views, are unparalleled, even on St. John.

You can soak up those views and all that quiet from Milk Moon Cottage. The two bedroom, two bath cottage located in Privateer Bay Estates is for sale for $995,000, explained Islandia Real Estate broker-associate Marty Beechler.

After passing through the small and funky town of Coral Bay, keep on going east to the serene Privateer Bay Estates, where the hubbub of Cruz Bay will seem a world away.

“The East End of St. John is far away from Cruz Bay’s traffic, noise and congestion,” said Beechler. “Let the soothing sounds of the surf lull you into a peaceful state of mind.”

Wharfside Village Starts Charging for Parking

Details: Created on Saturday, 04 May 2013 04:05; Written by Tradewinds Report

Wharfside Village officials were putting the finishing touches on the Cruz Bay’s latest pay to park area. The days of leaving a car at Wharfside, home to The Beach Bar, Waterfront Bistro and more, are now in the past. It will cost drivers $3 per hour to use Wharfside’s parking spaces.

Patagon Dive Center at Caneel Bay Resort Host Underwater Cleanup for Earth Day

Details: Created on Friday, 03 May 2013 03:56; Written by Jaime Elliott

Caneel Bay Resort’s Patagon Dive Center volunteers made sure the underwater area near the resort was not forgotten on Earth Day.

The reefs and sea floor near Caneel Bay Resort are cleaner this week thanks to volunteer scuba divers who removed trash from the underwater areas on Earth Day, Monday, April 22.

This is the fourth year in a row Caneel Bay Resort’s Patagon Dive Center owner Arnoldo Falcoff has hosted an Earth Day underwater cleanup. Thanks to support from both the Caneel Bay Resort staff and Falcoff’s staff, the annual Earth Day dive has become an anticipated tradition.

“What we do is pass the word around and Caneel has been great too by offering hotel guests who volunteer a rebate on their room rates,” said Falcoff. “Also a lot of the Caneel employees and our dive employees come out every year to help with the clean up as well.”

Diving in waters around Caneel Bay, the volunteers were able to remove items like plastic bags, fishing line and more from the sensitive marine area.

“We find plastic in the forms of bags and cups and spoons,” said Falcoff. “And then we find a lot of fishing line and also a lot of broken bottles and things that fall off the dock or off boats in the water. We also see some metal objects as well.”