NOAA officials spotted and nabbed this juvenile lionfish, above, in Fish Bay earlier this month.

As officials continue monitoring sensitive reefs for signs of lionfish, an invasive species which could potentially devastate local fish populations, the fourth specimen was captured off the shores of St. John this month.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials spotted the lionfish in Fish Bay on Thursday, July 15, and captured the fish on July 16, according V.I. National Park’s Chief of Resource Management Rafe Boulon.

“The scientists were out there on different work when they spotted the lionfish in Fish Bay,” said Boulon. “They went back out the next day and caught it. It was about five inches in total length, so it was still a juvenile.”

By Malik Stevens

Shanté Monsanto-Weeks, at left, was named Festival Queen, beating out Abigail Hyndman, above, JahVena Nisbett, above right, and Nanyamka Cagan, at right during an amazing show on Saturday night, June 26.

On Saturday, June 26, St. John was filled with a lot more glitz, glamour and poise than usual as four beautiful young ladies took to the stage vying to be the next  Miss St. John Festival Queen 2010.

Even though the pageant started an hour later than planned and the field was still recovering from a weeks-worth of continuous rainfall, the audience was  filled with many excited spectators to watch Jah’Vena Nisbett, Shanté Monsanto-Weeks, Abigail Hyndman and Nanyamka Cagan display their grace and beauty as they vied for the honor of representing the island as 2010 Miss St. John Festival Queen.

The girls were judged in six categories: a personal interview conducted prior to the show; introduction speech; swimwear; international costume; evening wear; and last but not least, question and answer.