A state senator named by Attorney General Margery Bronster as a recipient of alleged illegal campaign funds is questioning the cost of the state's nonbid contract with a private investigative firm. Ige questions state
By Rick Daysog, Star-Bulletin
contract on inquirySen. Marshall Ige (D, Kaneohe) said the attorney general's office may be paying as much as $847,800 to Goodenow Associates Inc. to investigate the Bishop Estate.
Ige, co-chair of the Senate and Government Operations committee and a longtime friend of estate trustee Henry Peters, questioned why the state amended the contract's cap three times over the past year. The first cap was at $307,000; it is now $847,800.
"It appears that Goodenow was given preferential treatment in receiving the nonbid contract and in obtaining contract price increases," Ige said.
Bronster has raised concerns about Ige's inquiries, citing conflict of interest. Her probe of the Bishop Estate found some of Ige's 1994 campaign debts were paid by several local firms that receive nonbid work from the estate. A state Campaign Spending Commission hearing today was to explore if Ige broke spending laws.
Cynthia Quinn, Bronster's assistant, said much of the increase in the Goodenow contract's cap was due to delays by the estate.
Bishop Estate Archive
The Army plans to blow up five explosives, including a 1,000-pound World War II bomb, Friday morning in Makua Valley. Army set to blow up
By Gregg K. Kakesako, Star-Bulletin
Makua explosives FridayFriday's operation will mean that the beach fronting Makua Valley will be closed at about 6 a.m. The Coast Guard also will patrol the waters offshore to keep boaters out.
Farrington Highway between the Kaneana Cave area to the Satellite Tracking Station Road also will be closed.
The detonation will be handled by the 706 Ordnance Company Disposal Unit from Schofield Barracks. All the explosives will be blown up where they now rest, including the 1,000-pound bomb, which is at the 600-foot level above the Ukanipo heiau.
The other explosives include a 100-pound bomb and three mortar rounds -- two 88mm and one 60mm shell.
Maj. Dave Luders, Schofield Barracks spokesman, said the Army also is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to get the necessary emergency permits needed for Friday's operation.
Luders said to minimize flying debris, sheets of plastic explosives will be placed on top of the bomb to try to control the direction of the blast.
The 1,000-pound bomb was found during a survey of the site near the Makua Training Area.
The Army recently suspended live-fire training at the 4,200-acre Waianae Coast training facility until it finishes consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about measures needed to protect some 32 endangered species that inhabit the area. That study is expected to be completed early next year.
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, meanwhile, has filed a federal lawsuit demanding that the Army file an environmental impact statement, but Army lawyers maintain that one is not necessary.
Several large brush fires, touched off by training mortar rounds, scorched 1,300 acres in the valley.
The city's plan to revitalize Ewa Villages will cost taxpayers an extra $745,000 in new interest payments under projections made today by Budget Director Malcolm Tom. Ewa Villages plan to cost taxpayers $745,000 more
But City Council members called "optimistic" Tom's plan to pay off the $63.5 million bond issue associated with Ewa Villages. The original five-year bond is due Monday.
Tom told the Human Services Committee that the city can pay $24 million out of the housing development special funds as soon as next week.
Another $14 million can used as the first payment for the new loan during the next quarter, or by March 31. That money would come in part from the sale of a commercial property at the fringe of Ewa Villages to 7-11 Corp. for $4.4 million.
Another $10 million would come from payments due from Unity House Incorp. and the Self-Help Housing Corp. for properties they have promised to buy in Ewa Villages.
But Unity House said it is not obligated to make its purchase.
Tom said he expects this second loan to be completed by March 31, 2000.
The interest rate on the loan is now 3 to 3.5 percent, Tom said.
Other sources for paying off the loan include $5 million from the sale of 40 units to a nonprofit rental entity at Kekaulike Courtyard and $4 million in a premium payment from the developer of the city's Pawaa project.
Stay takes helm from Ridley at Kahuku Hospital
Keith Ridley, administrator of the financially troubled Kahuku Hospital, has resigned to accept a position with another health care provider. Board Chairman Daniel Ditto said Ridley had planned to leave earlier this year but stayed to help the hospital in its struggle for survival.Gary Stay, a retired mainland hospital administrator and volunteer consultant at Kahuku, is acting chief executive officer. Volunteer consultant Ferrin Harker is interim chief financial officer.
Stay and Harker are being paid only for expenses.
Corrections
Sen. Rod Tam represents the Pauoa area. An incorrect district was listed in a graphic in early editions of yesterday's story about legislative races.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffOfficer says woman, 37, tried to steal his gun
A 37-year-old Crestview woman was arrested yesterday for allegedly attempting to steal a police officer's gun from his holster.Police responded to a domestic argument at the woman's Lumipolu Street home when the woman reportedly grabbed at the gun and told officers to kill her, police said.
The woman was taken to a hospital for psychological examination.
In other news...
The fire burned the house to the ground and damaged a nearby backhoe and an excavating machine. The loss was put at $130,000.
Vana is known to frequent the Waikiki and Mililani areas, police said. He is 5 feet 7, 140 pounds and has numerous tattoos on his back, chest and left arm.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
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