Every day John and Maria pray fervently that their son, Kenny, will be able to walk. He was born with hydrocephalus, water on the brain. Family hopes for bicycle
to help disabled son
While Maria works as a secretary to support their family, which includes five school-aged children, John is "Mr. Mom" at home. But his job is just as important. He helps Kenny do exercises to strengthen his limbs, giving him lots of love and encouragement to keep up his spirits.
They would really appreciate a bicycle for him so he can have fun while exercising his legs. Kenny could also benefit from a computer on which to learn his lessons because his hand movements are limited. His brothers and sisters could use it, too, for schoolwork.
With only Maria's income, the family has a hard time making ends meet. They also need more beds, dressers, school supplies, cookware and bedding.
If you can help this family, send a check to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund, P.O. Box 2019, Aiea 96701. Or you can donate items to the Community Clearing House in Building 914 at the Kapalama Military Reservation on the left of Sand Island Access Road, about a half mile beyond Kilgo's. Call 845-1669 for information.
Woman sues police over miscarriage in cell
A woman filed a Circuit Court lawsuit yesterday accusing the Honolulu Police Department of causing her to lose her baby.The suit says Lara Woolverton was stopped about 10 a.m. Feb. 16 after police accused her of running a red light. Officers reported finding drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Woolverton told them she did not own the vehicle and didn't know the drug paraphernalia was there, the suit says.
She was arrested and officers asked how many months pregnant she was, the suit says. "She replied that she was six months pregnant and needed to go to the hospital."
Her repeated requests to go to a hospital or make a call were ignored, the suit says.
Scared, crying and placed in a holding cell, she felt sick and repeatedly asked to go to the hospital, the suit says. "The officers ignored her requests xxx Ms. Woolverton began banging and kicking the holding cell door loudly as the intense pain increased. Her cries of pain and pleas for help went unanswered and ignored except for an occasional demand to 'shut up!'"
She "lost consciousness and awoke in excruciating pain," the suit says.
"Screaming for help, Ms. Woolverton's pleas went unanswered. Other women detainees started screaming for the police to assist Ms. Woolverton, who lay crying on a metal bunk in a pool of her own blood and water," the suit says. "Hours passed and no attention was given to Ms. Woolverton until one of the officers saw blood and water flowing under the holding cell door and into the walk area.... Ms. Woolverton was taken by HPD to Kapiolani Women's and Children's Medical Center where she was diagnosed with having hemorrhaged and lost her unborn child," the suit says.
Lihue-born Army general sworn in as vice chief
Kauai native Gen. Eric Shinseki was recently sworn in as the 28th vice chief of staff of the Army.Shinseki, 56, is considered a possible replacement for Gen. Dennis Reimer when he retires as Army chief of staff next year.
Shinseki was commanding general of the U.S. Army in Europe and the Seventh Army before being sworn in to his current post in the Pentagon. In that capacity, Shinseki was also commander of the stabilization force in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Lihue native, who was commissioned at West Point 33 years ago, has also commanded the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood in Texas from 1994-1995.
A two-tour Vietnam combat veteran, Shinseki has served as the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division's 2nd Brigade and as the division's assistant commander in Europe.
Contractor accused of failing to pay taxes
The Oahu grand jury has indicted contractor David B. Pocock for failing to pay general excise taxes for three years.The grand jury charged that Pocock failed to file his general excise tax returns for 1995, 1996 and 1997. The maximum penalty if convicted is one year in jail and a $25,000 fine.
Kaimuki Library builds parking lot driveway
The Harding Avenue entrance to the Kaimuki Library's parking lot will be closed Friday through Monday morning for installation of a new concrete driveway.
Author to tell stories of first Koreans in isles
In commemoration of Wahiawa's centennial celebration, author Daisy Chun Rhodes will give a reading Dec. 19 from her writings, including the recently published book "Passages to Paradise: Early Korean Immigrant Narratives from Hawaii."The program begins 10:30 a.m. at the Wahiawa Library.
Rhodes also will conduct a free writer's workshop 1 to 4 p.m.
Registration is limited; call the library at 621-6331. To request a sign language interpreter, call five to seven days in advance.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffStudent allegedly hit, threatened teacher
Police yesterday arrested a 12-year-old Wheeler Intermediate School student for allegedly striking and threatening a staff member.The boy reportedly hit the 55-year-old woman on the shoulder at 8:30 a.m., police said. He then knocked down a desk and made a threat.
The boy was booked for second-degree assault and first-degree terroristic threatening.
Police identify soldier killed in accident
A Schofield motorcyclist who died in a Saturday crash has been identified as Spc. James C. Ross, 24, a native of Henderson, Texas.His motorcycle crashed into a car that was making a U-turn on Kamananui Road just north of Wilikina Drive near Wahiawa.
Ross, of Headquarters Company, 125th Signal Battalion, 25th Infantry Division (Light), who received massive head injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A six-year veteran, he had been stationed in Hawaii since Jan. 15, 1997. He is survived by wife Amiee L. Ross.
Prisoner on Big Island escapes from courtroom
HILO -- Police are seeking a 43-year-old inmate of the Hawaii Community Correctional Center who escaped yesterday by eluding a sheriff's deputy in a courtroom and walking out of the court building.James Clayton Moniz of Hilo walked out of the court of Judge Greg Nakamura at 11 a.m. He is described as 6-feet, 1-inch tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, last seen wearing brown pants and a black and brown aloha shirt.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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