YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — A UH-1N helicopter and crew assigned to the 459th Airlift Squadron had to make a precautionary landing Wednesday on the Sagami River shore in the Tana area of Sagamihara City, the 374th Airlift Wing said in a news release.

The helicopter landed safely about 3:25 p.m. in the area, which is near Tokyo. Officials reported no injuries or damage to the aircraft.

Maintenance experts determined that metal chips in the transmission fluid caused an indicator light that alerted the crew to make the precautionary landing, according to the release. The fluid was changed and additional inspections were conducted before the helicopter returned to Yokota.

Housing area to host festivalThe Negishi Housing Area will host a Friendship Festival from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the Community Support Complex parking lot.

The open base event will start with a 5K run at 8:30 a.m. and continue in the afternoon with air toys and 42 American and Japanese vendors.

Entertainment will include performances by the Far East Edition of the 7th Fleet Band, a Chinese lion dance from Yokohama’s Chinatown, acrobatic Japanese taiko from Kosui, the Jamrose rock band, hip-hop dancers from Buryu, jazz from Heiraku junior high school and a Sparky demonstration from the fire department.

An estimated 8,000 people are expected to attend, said Morale, Welfare and Recreation worker Yuko Ishizaki.

DODDS names top teacher in JapanA Yokosuka teacher was selected as the 2009 Japan District Teacher of the Year, the Department of Defense Dependents Schools announced this week.

Deirdre McAlpin, a fifth-grade math, science and health teacher at The Sullivans School, has “endless positive energy” and “a gravity that invigorates and motivates,” The Sullivans School principal Dave Russell said in a news release.

“Stand too close to her and you are pulled into her orbit,” he said.

McAlpin has taught at The Sullivans School for six years, is a former DODDS student and is a DODDS parent. A review panel selected McAlpin based on an interview, recommendation letters and a summation of her teaching career, the release said.

Sailor advances in singing contestA USS Kitty Hawk sailor made the cut on last week’s “Nashville Star” and is now vying for a recording contract.

Tommy Stanley is a machinist’s mate fireman aboard the aircraft carrier, which left Yokosuka last month. Since impressing judges in a 45-second singing competition at Yokosuka with a song he wrote, Stanley won the military competition in Norfolk, Va., and became one of the show’s top 12 finalists.

Last week, the 24-year-old Cushing, Okla., native sang “Walking in Memphis” in front of judges Jeffrey Steele, Jewel and John Rich and passed the elimination round.

The next “Nashville Star” round is Monday. The winner of this season’s competition gets a recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville and will sing at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. According to the “Nashville Star” Web site, more than 45,000 people auditioned for this year’s show.

Yongsan master sergeant sentenced in sex caseA master sergeant was reprimanded and reduced in rank to E-4 on Thursday for having sex with a 19-year-old private in December 2007, giving her alcohol and violating a no-contact order by calling her a month later.

Master Sgt. Morgan Bowman, stationed at U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan in Seoul, was convicted Wednesday on three charges related to his relationship with Pfc. Ashley Clifton, now 20. He also was convicted of having an inappropriate "personal" relationship with a captain in his unit.

Bowman has served in the U.S. Army for 21 years, and was noncommissioned officer in charge of the 106th Medical Detachment. He pleaded not guilty to three charges of failure to obey orders and regulations, cruelty and maltreatment, and obstruction of justice. Clifton was given immunity in exchange for testifying against him.