The arrests of a few criminals made Oahu a safer place last month to leave your home, park your car and walk around. Key arrests on Oahu
cut some crimes by halfBurglaries, car thefts, pickpocketing and purse snatchings decreased in May from previous months and were on a par or fewer than in May last year, according to the latest Honolulu Police Department statistics.
Police said part of the crime reduction can be attributed to a few key arrests.
Burglaries during March and April numbered to more than 860 per month. In May, break-ins dropped by 100, which were approximately equal to the number of burglaries in May of last year.
Detective Scott Headle of the downtown police district credited work by East Honolulu officers.
In March, police arrested William Vadovich, 40, and John Keoni Murray, 38, and charged them with breaking into more than 200 homes, most of them in Hawaii Kai and Aina Haina.
WAILUKU -- United Public Workers leader Gary Rodrigues praised a court decision to support a statewide procedure for resolving disputes over counties hiring private contractors to provide government services. Resolution procedure
called ‘positive step’"It was a very positive step. We seem to be moving in the right direction," Rodrigues said.
Maui Corporation Counsel J.P. Schmidt said Maui Circuit Judge Boyd Mossman's order yesterday will protect the counties from lawsuits.
But Schmidt wanted Mossman to rule on whether nine kinds of county contracts were exempt from civil service laws.
In his decision, Mossman ordered the county and unions to review dispute-resolution procedures developed under an agreement between the unions and Hawaii County.
Mossman has scheduled a telephone conference with attorneys on July 1 to establish a similar procedure.
Maui, Kauai and Hawaii counties have been seeking court advice on which of their private contracts are valid, following a state Supreme Court ruling invalidating a contract with a private company to operate a Big Island landfill.
At risk are millions of dollars and hundreds of jobs, county officials say.
ANAHOLA, Kauai -- About 50 volunteers armed with machetes and herbicide-filled spray bottles fanned out on both sides of Anahola valley, looking for the enemy. Kauai hopes to stop
monster vineTheir target yesterday was the invasive ivy gourd vine, an alien pest that can grow a foot a day and rapidly cover homes, utility lines and bridges while crowding out other plants. "It's frightening," said Ed Petteys, Kauai administrator of the state Division of Forestry and Wildlife. "We don't want to see this thing in the forest."
The ivy gourd (Coccinia grandis) is thriving on parts of Oahu and along Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. But state agricultural experts hope that on Kauai, they can nip it in the bud.
"Since we just found it here, it's possible we can control it," said Lincoln Ching with the University of Hawaii's Cooperative Extension Service on Kauai.
Added Bill Spitz, county agricultural specialist: "Once you turn your back on it, it's tough to get rid of it. It's a very aggressive plant."
The plan of attack was two-pronged: cut out the plant, then spray the woody root with Garlon, a broadleaf herbicide. Spitz said the root has to be killed because simply cutting it encourages the plant to produce fruit. Each fruit is filled with seeds, which are eaten by rats and birds that quickly spread it to new locations.
The City Council Budget Committee yesterday unanimously approved a resolution selling the Pearl City Junction project site to Home Depot Outlet chain. Committee OKs land
sale to Home DepotNavy officials assured Council members that they would take care of any additional cleanup that might need to be done on the 13.8-acre site and not leave the matter up to the city.
Who would pay in the event of further cleanup became an issue last week when the Council was told that the contract with Home Depot calls for the city to put up the first $1 million.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice arson detectives this morning were investigating a fire that destroyed part of a Nanakuli school. Arson suspected in fire
at Nanaikapono SchoolFirefighters said the fire broke out shortly after 2 a.m. at Nanaikapono Elementary School off Farrington Highway.
The fire was contained to a portable building in the back of the school. The fire department said the blaze destroyed the portable.
Police arrested two men in Ewa Beach last night for an alleged purse snatching after they dragged a 77-year-old woman on the ground to steal her purse, police said. Pair held in Ewa Beach
purse-snatching casePolice said the woman and her husband got off a bus last night at Hanakahi Street when the couple were approached by two men, ages 18 and 21.
Police said the 21-year-old man grabbed the woman's purse and struggled with her as she fell to the ground. Police said the man pulled the woman along the ground as she continued to clutch to her purse.
The man finally got the purse, and the two men took off running, police said.
Ewa Beach patrols searched the area and found the two men who face robbery charges.
Skeletal remains discovered yesterday in Pupukea may have been there between three months to a year, police said. Skeletal remains could
be up to 1 year old"Judging by clothing and footwear, it could be a man but we can't tell for sure," homicide Detective Anderson Hee said.
The medical examiner's office will try to identify the person.
Police, meanwhile, are also investigating the discovery of a human skull June 15 at the summit of Kuliouou. It has been determined that the skull is that of a Caucasian person and not ancient.
Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:
- Vandals start fire, cut down utility pole
- Mentally disabled man sets fire to mom's home
- Big Island man charged with assault in knifings
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.
