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Newswatch

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Saturday, December 23, 2000

Hawaiian Air, pilots
agree on contract

Hawaiian Airlines and the union representing its pilots have reached agreement on a new 42-month contract.

The agreement, announced yesterday, goes into effect on Jan. 1.

The airline said the contract was ratified by the Air Line Pilots Association Master Executive Council and therefore will not require a vote of the union's membership.

Details were not disclosed.

Hawaiian Air president Paul Casey said the contract recognizes the professionalism of the pilots, their value to the company and past contributions.

The negotiations began a year ago.

Maui man fined
as unlicensed lawyer

Practicing law without a license brought Robert Giedemann, 71, of Kihei, Maui, a $500 fine and a court order to pay $334.50 in restitution to his client.

Giedemann, who is not an attorney, drafted a motion for a plaintiff in a Family Court divorce case under the company name Silver Fox Legal Services.

As an unlicensed person engaging in the practice of law, Giedemann could have been fined up to $1,000 or double the amount of gain derived from the offense, whichever was greater.

Circuit Judge Shackley Raffetto found Giedemann guilty Dec. 15.

HUD gives $4.8 million in isle homeless aid

Hawaii has received $4.8 million in federal homeless assistance awards, according to an announcement today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

About $4.17 million will go to programs that provide transitional and permanent housing and support systems such as job training, health care, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, child care and living skills training.

The remainder will help convert buildings into homeless shelters and fund social services and programs that work to prevent homelessness.

Organizations benefiting from the funding are Bridge House Inc., Steadfast Housing Development Corp., Homeless Solutions Inc., United States Veterans Initiative Inc., Gregory House Program, Women in Need, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii and Hale Kipa Inc.

Car downs utility pole, closes lane in Kahuku

A downed utility pole closed Kamehameha Highway in Kahuku for about 45 minutes today after a car crashed into it at 3 a.m. Police kept one lane closed into the morning as crews repaired the pole.

Cars were able to get through within the hour, but low-hanging wires prevented large vehicles such as trucks and buses from passing, police said. Utility crews were expected to repair the pole by 3 p.m.

No injuries were reported from the accident, and telephone service was not disrupted, police said.

Big Isle politico awaits fireworks charges

HILO -- Former would-be Green party candidate for Big Island mayor Darryl "Buck" Wheat says he's still waiting for confirmation that he has been indicted for two petty misdemeanor fireworks offenses.

Wheat says he was arrested a year ago, before Christmas 1999, for illegally importing and selling fireworks. "I got busted for fireworks; it's a Hawaii tradition," he said.

Since word of the indictment was made public following the indictment Wednesday, Wheat has been flooded with calls from people asking him about the case, he said. But no official has contacted him.

Wheat is better known as the would-be candidate rejected by the Green party this year for his alleged failure to properly establish party membership.

Tomorrow

Some events of interest

18th Annual Live Nativity, Waioli Gardens: 7-10 p.m.

Corrections A story on Big Island police chief candidate Robert Prasser Tuesday incorrectly identified his birthplace. Prasser was born in Wisconsin.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

'Black Beard Bandit' robs seventh bank, in Kaneohe

A seventh Oahu bank has been robbed by the man the FBI calls the "Black Beard Bandit."

The suspect is believed to have robbed six other banks in the Pearl City and Waipahu area and is known for his use of the fake beard and other disguises, police said.

A man in a beard, dark-colored hard hat and gold wire-rimmed glasses entered the City Bank Kaneohe branch at about 10 a.m. yesterday and passed a note to the teller demanding an undisclosed amount of money.

The note indicated the man had a weapon but none was seen, police said.

The suspect fled toward Kailua in a light turquoise or blue-green mid-size '90s model truck, possibly a Dodge Dakota with a white air-brushed design on the tailgate, police said. He may have had a passenger.

Woman at Kmart arrested, accused of baby-bag shoplifting

Police arrested a woman last night after she allegedly stole $700 in merchandise from the Big Kmart in Kapolei.

The suspect, a 43-year-old woman, was observed by a store detective stuffing items into baby bags, then exiting the store without paying. The detective detained the suspect until police arrived.

Man found in apparent Waimanalo drowning

Beachgoers discovered the body of a man who apparently drowned on a Waimanalo beach about 7 a.m. today.

The victim was found on the shore fronting 41-911 Lamilo St., police said.

Due to coloration of the body, it is believed he was in the water for several hours. At this time, no foul play is suspected.