Martha’s Vineyard school authorities have confirmed the exclusion of four high school students for six months over alleged drug infractions, although the exact nature of the offenses remains vague and contentious.

The four were barred from the school for the remainder of this school year and the first three months of next year, as a result of an investigation which began in early April.

According to the superintendent of schools, Dr. James H. Weiss, who this week completed a review of the cases, they involved a small amount of marijuana.

Vineyard resident and business owner Kati Johnsen recently took part in Indigenous Voices at the United Nations, a 10-day forum. She accompanied a village elder from a remote village in Peru who was invited to the forum last fall. Ms. Johnsen has been working in Peru for 25 years, employing and mentoring women in impoverished mountain villages. The indigenous woman is Marleny Callaunaupa, a Quechan Indian who is a prominent member of her small town, Chinchero, and who has been instrumental in keeping traditional crafts alive in her Andean community.

Free Books for Travelers

Beginning in June, the Friends of the Vineyard Haven Public Library will be offering free books to travelers at the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven. A selection of free books will be made available on a library cart, along with bookmarks featuring information on library hours, services and scheduled programs. The books have been given to the Friends as donations or were surplus library inventory. For more information, call 508-696-4210 extension 11.

Regional high school administrators have narrowed their search for a new assistant principal to two candidates, who were both invited to the school for daylong final interviews this week.

One candidate is Anne Wagner, who works as a dean of students and advanced placement English teacher in Gardner. The other is Michael Richard, an assistant principal in Belchertown.

To increase seat belt use and decrease motor vehicle fatalities Chilmark Police began a special two-week crackdown on seat belt use on Monday which will continue through June 7, billed as Click It or Ticket.

Chilmark police chief Brian Cioffi is teaming up with the Menemsha Texaco Station to offer a special reward to child passengers who are found to be properly secured: Chilmark police officers will give a coupon for an ice Popsicle at the Menemsha Texaco to any child they find using proper car seats and safety belts during this safety campaign. 

By JIM HICKEY

A custodian at the Tisbury school was arraigned in Edgartown district court last Thursday on charges of sexual assault against a child. Richard McElhinney, 48, of Vineyard Haven, has been charged with rape of a child with force, indecent assault and battery of a child under the age of 15 and enticement of a child under the age of 16.