Fatal Car Crash, VIPD Officer Charged + Weekend Events

Happy Friday! This weekend's weather will be better than today, promise. So how about a little rainy-day reading? Check out these great stories from across the territory.

First, today's weather:

A shower and t-storm; humid. High: 86 Low: 77.

Here are five stories worth reading:

1. A 24-year-old St. Thomas man died after crashing his car on Rhymer Highway. Police say the driver was speeding when he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. (US Virgin Islands Patch)
2. Shakim Mike, a V.I. police officer and a member of the National Guard, was sentenced to 12½ years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine smuggling ring. The scheme involved multiple police officers and government employees. (Virgin Islands Daily News)
3. The government renewed a $70,000 no-bid contract for Kmisha Victoria Counts to represent the USVI as a tourist destination. Counts is the daughter of V.I. Attorney General Denise George and the contract has raised hackles. (VI Consortium)
4. Heavy rains on Wednesday and into Thursday morning caused flooding and power outages on St. Croix. WAPA crews have been working most of the day to restore power to customers. (St. Croix Source)
5. A Major League Baseball outreach program is sparking a passion for baseball among USVI youth. (St, Thomas Source)

Today's US Virgin Islands Daily is brought to you by Verizon, a Patch Brand Partner. Learn more about online gaming relationships and how they've helped some children through the pandemic.

Making plans for the weekend? Check out these upcoming events on Patch USVI.

US Virgin Islands Patch Notebook

• A St. John home worth drooling over. "Bananakeet Villa is Beckoning You Home" (News of St. John)
• Virgin Islands Department of Health: "As of 10/14/21, here is the latest VIDOH information on COVID-19 cases, demographics, and testing numbers. " (Facebook)
• Friends of Virgin Islands National Park: "Join us for a Turtle Talk! One World, One Ocean: Protecting the Sea Turtles of St. John Seminar Time: Tuesday October 19 / 12PM to 12:45PM " (Facebook)
• U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works: "The Department of Public Works is advising the community of an offline traffic signal at the Cancryn Bridge intersection. DPW is working to complete repairs on the compromised unit as soon as possible." (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you around. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Ashleigh Baldwin

About me: Hi there! I'm the Patch Community News Editor for the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm here to provide news you can use. Do you have a news tip, question or feedback? Please contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com or 215-534-1014.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming US Virgin Islands Daily? You can contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com.