The USS Blue Ridge, the 7th Fleet’s command ship, arrived in Singapore on Monday for a routine port visit, according to a Navy news release.

The ship’s approximately 1,000-sailor crew “will have a chance to sightsee, shop, enjoy sandy beaches and participate in friendship and goodwill activities,” according to the release.

The Blue Ridge is permanently forward-deployed to the western pacific and operates out of Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.

Airman punished

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — A 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron member recently pleaded guilty at a base court-martial to driving while under the influence of alcohol and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Senior Airman Franciso Rodriguez received a reduction in rank to airman, or E-2, 15 days of confinement and 15 days of hard labor without confinement, according to a base news report.

Rodriguez was driving on White Pole road when he crashed into a street pole at about 5 a.m. on Sept. 18. He tried to drive away but base security forces cut him off, according to the report. Rodriguez then tried to leave on foot but was apprehended.

His .251 blood alcohol content was the highest reading from the 34 DUI cases 35th Security Forces Squadron investigated in 2004, a security forces investigator testified at court proceedings.

Deputy promoted

Maj. Gen. Timothy R. Larsen, deputy commander of U.S. Forces Japan, was promoted from brigadier general Monday morning at the Yokota Air Base, Japan, Officers’ Club.

Larsen has held his USFJ position since September 2003 and has been in the Marine Corps since 1973, according to USFJ.

Misawa airman punished for DUI

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — A 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron member recently pleaded guilty at a base court-martial to driving while under the influence of alcohol and fleeing the scene of an accident.

Senior Airman Franciso Rodriguez received a reduction in rank to airman, or E-2, 15 days of confinement and 15 days of hard labor without confinement, according to a base news report.

Rodriguez was driving on White Pole road when he crashed into a street pole at about 5 a.m. on Sept. 18. He tried to drive away but base security forces cut him off, according to the report. Rodriguez then tried to leave on foot but was apprehended.

His .251 blood alcohol content was the highest reading from the 34 DUI cases 35th Security Forces Squadron investigated in 2004, a security forces investigator testified at court proceedings.

Zama High concert

CAMP ZAMA, Japan — The Zama American High School Band is scheduled to hold a fund-raising concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the school auditorium.

Proceeds will help pay to expand the band’s music library, school officials said.

Spouses’ Club plans art auction

The Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Okinawa annual art auction is to take place Saturday at the Butler Officers Club. The pre-sale is to begin at 5:30 p.m. and the auction at 7 p.m. Door prizes and food will be offered.

The auction will feature contemporary and traditional Japanese artwork from Kanda’s Art Gallery. This free-admission event is open to status-of-forces-agreement personnel; bid-books are $5. Call Liz Dupree at 633-9070 or visit www.noscokinawa.com for more information.

Basketball and soccer camps scheduled

The International Sports Camp and Lester Middle School Booster Club have planned basketball and soccer camps over spring break, April 11 to April 15. Camps, to be held at the Lester Middle School gym and soccer fields, are to run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

The basketball camp is for third- to eighth-graders; the soccer camp is for those in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Online registration and payment is being accepted at www.internationalhoopcamp.com. Camp costs are $110 for a family’s first child, $90 for the second and $50 for the third; for additional family members, the camps are free.

E-mail mike@internationalhoopcamp.com for more information.

Arts center training

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Yokota’s Arts and Crafts Center will be closed from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday for staff training.

Call 225-9044 for more information.

Spa Day at Misawa

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Home businesses on base as well as groups or individuals are needed to provide services during a “spa day” for spouses of deployed servicemembers March 16.

People skilled in massage, manicures, makeovers and hair styling may call DSN 226-4735 to volunteer or to request more information.

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