Newswatch
The Epilepsy Foundation was under contract with the state Department of Labor to find jobs for people with the disease. But the $50,000 contract was canceled in September after the foundation placed only a handful of clients and failed to provide the required paperwork, a state official said.
The foundation's board of directors was to meet tomorrow to consider its options. "We were in debt when the year began and we're getting further into debt," said Marion Poirier, foundation executive director. "Without further help, we're going to have to close the operation."
The foundation planned on a budget of $106,000 this year but has received only half the amount so far.
The state Department of Agriculture has set a public meeting today in Kailua-Kona to inform residents of the stepped-up effort to eradicate banana bunchy-top virus on the Big Island. The 6:30 p.m. meeting will be at the Kona Outdoor Circle Education Center.
The state has destroyed more than 500 infected plants at 100 residential sites on the Kona side of the Big Island. Officials now propose to destroy plants that appear healthy but were exposed to the aphids that spread the virus.
The disease, which is widespread on Oahu, was first discovered on the Big Island in September. Seventy percent of the commercially grown bananas in the state are raised in Keaau on the Big Island.
He said the law violates the equal protection of rights, because other signs can be much larger.
The matter arose when a county inspector ordered a supporter of nonpartisan mayoral candidate Jonathan Adler to take down an 8-square-foot sign at a house facing Keaau-Pahoa Highway.
The supporter refused, but soon after a state worker removed the sign, Adler said. Days later the worker was forced to return it, and Adler's friend put up an even larger sign.
The incidents resulted in the arrests of a 34-year-old man for threatening a police officer with a knife and another man, 48, for reckless endangering, Waianae police Lt. Ned Campbell said.
The first incident, at 87-1340 Farrington Hwy., started as a domestic argument involving the suspect and a woman. Police were called at 6 p.m. to the residence, where the suspect allegedly pointed a 6-inch kitchen knife at the responding officer.
Negotiators and Special Services Division officers were called in to defuse another incident at 6:55 p.m. at 87-282 Hookele St. A 48-year-old man, who allegedly fired a shotgun into the air during an argument with his nephew, surrendered after holding police at bay for over 3 1/2 hours.
- Kalihi man arrested in card-game robbery