Watsco, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, distributes air conditioning, heating, refrigeration equipment, and related parts and supplies in the United States. Its products primarily comprise residential central air conditioners; light commercial air conditioners; gas, electric, and oil furnaces; commercial air conditioning and heating equipment and systems; and other specialized equipment. The company also offers various parts, including replacement compressors, evaporator coils, motors, and other component parts; and supplies consisting of thermostats, insulation material, refrigerants, ductwork, grills, registers, sheet metal, tools, copper tubing, concrete pads, tape, adhesives, and other ancillary supplies. Watsco operates through approximately 380 locations in 32 states. It distributes its products to contractors and dealers who service the replacement and new construction markets.

PSS purchases six new school buses

The Public School System has purchased six units of 66-passenger school buses from CNMI's Triple J Motors worth up to $457,000. According to federal programs advisor Tim Thornburgh, the six new buses are replacements for buses that have been in the fleet for over 10 years. The new buses were turned over to PSS yesterday morning at the American Memorial Park in the presence of PSS and Board of Education officials led by Education Commissioner David Borja, as well as PSS bus drivers.PSS has a total school bus fleet of 19 buses with 12 regular buses for Saipan and two small buses or vans with wheelchair access for special education students. "The buses transport 1,700 students from home to school and back home everyday," Thornburgh said. The five other buses or vans in the PSS fleet provide transportation services to the students on Tinian and Rota.

Graham couple gunned down without warning

TACOMA, Wash. -- Pierce County prosecutors on Tuesday filed aggravated murder charges against the man accused of killing a young couple in their Graham home. Daniel Thomas Tavares Jr. pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry the possibility of the death penalty. He's being held without bail. Prosecutors have 30 days to decide whether to seek the death penalty. According to a statement of probable cause filed in court, Tavares admitted to detectives that he shot Brian and Beverly Mauck last weekend in their home and tried to cover up the crime. The court documents state that Tavares said he went to collect a $50 debt from Brian Mauck on Saturday morning and became upset when Mauck insulted him.Tavares, 41, said he wasn't going to put up with being called a name "after spending 20 years in prison" and shot Brian in the face with a .22-caliber handgun, according to the documents.

Electrical system controls AC units, lowers energy use

Manufacturer of electrical equipment, cable management systems and wiring accessories, Legrand, has developed energy saving occupancy sensors known as the Wattstopper system. The product is based on passive infrared and ultrasonic technologies, are designed to monitor and control lighting and temperature levels in domestic, commercial and industrial applications. “Recently launched Wattstopper switches and sensors turn lighting and air-conditioning off in unoccupied areas," says Legrand South Africa national sales manager Timothy Mountjoy. “This saves users hours of wasted energy each day, thereby ensuring substantial energy savings at a crucial time in this country," he says. Wattstopper low temperature sensors are designed for installation in cold storage facilities and freezers, and operate on the basis of passive infrared technology that senses occupancy by detecting the difference between heat emitted from the human body in motion and the background space.

Lancaster Hotels Announce Launch Date for Philippine Condotel ...

The Lancaster Suites located in Shaw Boulevard, Metro Manila, Philippines, a Brand Name Condotel Investment of Pacific Concord Properties Inc, will soon be ready to accept guests on short and long term leases in the Condo Hotel. Under the management of Lancaster Hotels, Land and Properties, Inc. [LHLPI], rental operations will be soft launched from December 2007 .

Civic center ‘beginning to jeopardize park'

The Benton Community Park District has its back to the wall in its efforts to manage the Benton Civic Center.The group has been managing the aging facility for nearly two years. The civic center is in need of a new heat/air-conditioning system and new carpeting. Also, the gravel parking lot is in poor repair and needs to be asphalted.The problem is money - or a lack thereof.