Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, May 20, 1997

Rodrigues' political role
could disqualify him

Rules covering involvement in politics and current court cases might disqualify United Public Workers leader Gary Rodrigues from service on the Judicial Selection Commission, according to a GOP lawmaker.

State Rep. Gene Ward said yesterday he has asked Daniel Mollway, executive director of the state Ethics Commission, for an interpretation of two rules covering appointees to the nine-member board.

His request follows a challenge by the House Republican caucus last week, which asked Senate President Norman Mizuguchi to withdraw Rodrigues' appointment.

Mizuguchi named Rodrigues to serve on the commission which screens nominees from which the governor fills each vacancy for state judge. The commission also has power to approve or deny reappointment.

The criteria for commission service include language that no commissioner shall take an active part in political management or in political campaigns. Ward said Rodrigues is a participant in Democratic political campaigning.

Ward also questioned whether Rodrigues' active part in court cases challenging privatization of government functions also violates a Judicial Selection Commission rule. The rule states that if a commissioner has a substantive matter pending before any judge, he may not participate in proceedings to retain the judge.

Star-Bulletin
A McKinley sophomore who witnessed the fight
assists Honolulu police in their investigation.

Teens stabbed during
fight at McKinley

An after-school rumble between two groups of teen-agers -- not believed gang-related -- left two victims with pen-knife wounds in their backs yesterday on the edge of the McKinley High School campus.

The victims , both 17, went by ambulance to Queen's Hospital after initial treatment in the school health room. Later, they were reported in fair condition.

What started as pushing and shoving on the Pensacola Street side near a parking lot entrance shortly before 3 p.m. resulted in punches thrown with the two victims stabbed by the same suspect who fled, said Joseph Doyle, 18, a McKinley senior.

One victim identified the suspect as a 14-year-old McKinley High School student. Police traced him to his home and arrested him at 4:55 p.m. on two counts of second-degree assault.

Star-Bulletin
This is the catalog sent to some Hawaii residents
offering fireworks for sale.

Ohio firm blames error for mailing
fireworks catalog to isles residents

The catalog was all a mistake, and there never was an intent to try to solicit orders by mail, says a mainland fireworks company.

William Weimer, spokesman for B.J. Alan Co., said yesterday that the catalog some Hawaii residents received was intended for wholesalers who have importer's licenses, "since our company doesn't ship retail sales to Hawaii."

Weimer said another company prepares B.J. Alan's mailing lists and that's probably where the error occurred.

It is illegal for Hawaii residents to order fireworks by mail unless they have importer's licenses.

In recent weeks, Phantom Fireworks, a subsidiary of B.J. Alan Co. in Youngstown, Ohio, has sent catalogs in the mail soliciting fireworks orders, but it also cautioned potential buyers to check by phone before placing an order.

Ed Yee, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said the company has been told that what it is doing is illegal.

Searchers find helicopter
wreckage; pilot dead

By Harold Morse and Rod Thompson

Star-Bulletin

Rescue teams this morning found the remains of a missing tour helicopter and the body of the Big Island pilot.

The Big Island Fire Department said the owner of Kenai Helicopters found the helicopter's wreckage at the 6,500-foot level on the east side of Mauna Kea, between Papaikou and Kaiwiki.

The owner was searching the area with his last remaining helicopter. Rescue crews said the owner was flying with a Federal Aviation Administration representative aboard.

The body of pilot Tetsuro Sugiyama was found at the wreckage scene. Rescue workers were transporting his body to the 28-mile marker of Summit Road, officials said.

Rescue teams had resumed their search near Mauna Kea today for Sugiyama and the tour helicopter he was flying.

A Hawaii Air National Guard aircraft had spotted wreckage yesterday at the 11,000-foot level, but it later was determined to be from an old crash site.

The search began Sunday after the helicopter was reported missing. The last known location of the helicopter was in the Mauna Kea area about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Tom Rea yesterday said two investigators were sent to Hilo yesterday, with another to arrive today if the helicopter was located.

Regarding the absence of a signal from the helicopter's emergency locator transmitter, Rea said it's unclear whether one was on board.

The radios are designed to survive a crash, but Rea said it's not unusual for them to malfunction because pilots aren't used to them. Also, they might not turn them on, he said.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.

---

Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Firefighters wait at the entrance to the Mauka Tower of
Grosvenor Center last night after a trash fire
was brought under control.

Cigarette blamed
in downtown fire

A trash fire on the 18th floor of a Bishop Street building produced a lot of smoke and brought seven fire companies to Grosvenor Center last night.

The 8:01 p.m. alarm caused one block of Queen Street to be closed for fire engines.

The only damage was to carpeting, a security guard said.

A few late occupants had to leave the building, and firefighters used fans to clear the floor of smoke.

A report listed the fire cause as a discarded cigarette.

Police hunt three men
in robbery in Kalihi

Police are looking for three men in a knifepoint robbery last night at Kam IV Housing in Kalihi Valley.

Police said shortly before midnight, the three approached a 30-year-old man and one pulled out a knife. They stole the man's cellular phone, wallet and watch.

Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:

• Suspect arrested in sexual assault
  
• Big Isle police book 5 teens in burglaries
  
• Postal Service asked to probe drug theft

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.