Newswatch
POLICE RECRUITS JOIN FORCE
RONEN ZILBERMAN RZILBERMAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Members of the Honolulu Police Department's 145th Recruit Class took their oaths of office last night during a ceremony at the Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipahu. Their studies started in May and will continue with 3 1/2 months of field training.
Phone service to be restored by tomorrow
More than 3,000 residents were still without telephone service yesterday, after heavy rains last weekend damaged several underground cables.Verizon Hawaii spokesman Bill Kula said service was expected to return today or tomorrow to most of the 2,900 Oahu customers and 400 residents of Maui, Kauai and the Big Island affected by the damaged lines.
The largest concentration of area disruption was in Aiea, where water seeped into manholes and damaged lines, he said.
Verizon Hawaii customers can report local phone trouble by dialing 611.
'Ice' dealer receives 30-year prison term
A man who federal prosecutors said was responsible for distributing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine in Hawaii over seven years was sentenced in U.S. District Court yesterday.Herman G. Lemusu, 38, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in operating an "extensive crystal methamphetamine distribution ring" between American Samoa, California and Hawaii, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors said Lemusu, working with his cousin Alofaga Lemusu, brought large amounts of methamphetamine into Hawaii using couriers and converted it into crystal methamphetamine, or "ice."
Alofaga has been sentenced to two months in prison for his involvement in the drug operation.
Trial set for father in daughter's slaying
HILO >> Douglas John Fathke, charged with killing his 8-year-old daughter on Easter, will face trial Dec. 16.District Judge John Moran set the trial date yesterday for Fathke, 44, who faces a second-degree murder charge.
Prosecutors say that on April 20, Fathke shot his daughter, Kelsie, at Beckie's Bed & Breakfast, the establishment he managed in Naalehu.
City Council pushes for budget reforms
The City Council approved two bills yesterday that would cap the city's operating budget and limit debt in its construction budget.But the 5-4 vote indicates there doesn't appear to be enough support to override an expected veto by Mayor Jeremy Harris.
The bills were introduced by Councilman Charles Djou, who said the city's finances are a mess.
"We need to get control, a handle on our budget," he said yesterday.
But opponents, including the Harris administration, said artificial limits could lead to deep cuts in the city budget, hamper needed construction projects and threaten the city's credit rating.
Medicare and liability among meeting issues
Restrictions on over-the-counter products with hallucinogens, restructuring Medicare and medical liability reforms will be among issues discussed by the American Medical Association's medical leaders at meetings here Saturday through Tuesday.Policies approved at the interim meeting of the AMA's House of Delegates will guide the association's legislative agenda and advocacy in public and private sectors.
Physicians representing 174 state and medical specialty societies will form an agenda representing their concerns and those of patients.
Among other issues discussed will be:
>> Limiting attorney contingency fees in medical liability cases.The opening session will be at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Coral Ballroom at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Dr. Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will address the House of Delegates at 3:30.
>> Establishing an alternative judicial model to address medical liability claims.
>> Using the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program as a model to restructure Medicare.
>> Opposing state efforts to sell tobacco settlement funds to investors.
>> Ensuring an adequate supply of physicians to meet the demand.
>> Combating a national obesity epidemic.
>> Improving regional terrorism and disaster preparedness.
Oahu Club to offer sports facilities, clinics
Adults and children over age 9 are invited to attend a Carnival of Clinics from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Oahu Club, 6800 Hawaii Kai Drive.Guests will be able to swim in a 50-meter Olympic-size heated pool, play tennis on six courts and train in an open-air studio fitness room.
Joe Lileikis, who was an All-America swimmer at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, will teach basic stroke techniques and swimming dynamics. He has twice won the Waikiki Rough Water swim.
Henry Somerville, Hawaii Pacific University head coach, will use his experience to teach fundamental tennis techniques.
Dragon Radovic and Biyanka Ekmekcioglu, fitness trainers, will help people get in shape with their exercise concepts.
Dragon's techniques are being used across the United Kingdom, according to the Oahu Club.
Biyanka will share her experience with 14 years of fitness training. She has competed in the Miss Fitness competition, Reebok Aerobic competition, Gold's Gym Classic and the Aloha Muscle show.
For more information, contact the Oahu Club at 395-3300.
190 bicyclists raise $20,000 for diabetes
About 190 bicycle riders participated in the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure, raising about $20,000 for the local organization's programs and research efforts.The state Department of Health estimates as many as 100,000 residents have diabetes and up to 25,000 aren't aware that they have it, said Sandra Miyama, the Diabetes Association's event manager.
Riders on the Nov. 16 tour started at Kapiolani Park, going to East Honolulu or Waimanalo.
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[Taking Notice]
Hawaii's DLNR director heads coastal committee
Peter Young, director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, was named chairman of the Coastal States Organization's Island Affairs Committee at the association's 33rd annual national conference in October.Hawaii involvement in the Coastal States Organization and its Island Affairs Committee means "we can exchange management information and mutually support activities which sustain our coral reef ecosystems and other coastal resources," Young said.
"We can also work together to address issues of shoreline modification, natural hazards, polluted runoff, and be informed and proactive on matters at the regional and local level that impact coastal states."
Hawaii has 750 miles of coastline and 410,000 acres of coral reef.
Young also serves on the executive committee of the Coastal States Organization, which is a national association of 35 U.S. coastal states, territories and commonwealths.
Taking Notice runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWAIKIKI
Man sought in robbery of senior in hotel lobby
Honolulu police are looking for a suspect who robbed a man in the lobby of a Waikiki hotel Tuesday.
Police said an 83-year-old man was walking toward the lobby of a hotel on Royal Hawaiian Avenue about 8:50 p.m. when a man grabbed him from behind and took his wallet. The victim's arms were cut, and his ribs bruised and he has pain in his lower back because of the struggle, police said.
The suspect is a man in his late 20s to early 30s, between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds, with a slim build, a fair complexion, and a receding hairline with brown hair, possibly in a ponytail, police said. He was last seen wearing a light-colored aloha shirt and jeans.
Anyone with information about this case can call Detective Taro Nakamura at 529-3382. Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Missing man is found and returned to family
A 38-year-old Waipahu man who had been missing for 11 days was found in good condition yesterday and reunited with his family, police said.Dino Fajardo was last seen at 6 p.m. Nov. 21 at his Kahuapaa Street home, police said. Fajardo needs medication to avoid becoming disoriented.
CrimeStoppers received more than a dozen calls placing Fajardo in Waikiki. He was found there about 6:30 a.m. yesterday by patrol officers, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
75-year-old man's body found at gulch bottom
Big Island police said they discovered the body of a 75-year-old man at the bottom of Honokoa Gulch in North Kohala Tuesday.After receiving an anonymous tip at 2:18 p.m., officers found the body below the makai side of the Honokoa Gulch bridge along Route 270, about a mile north of Kawaihae Harbor. Police estimate the man had been dead for about 24 hours.
Police said a preliminary investigation determined there was no foul play and that the victim may have fallen into the gulch.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Juergen Canda at 326-4230, or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 or 329-8181.
Big Isle campaign nets 343 seat belt citations
Big Island police issued 343 seat belt and 17 child restraint citations during the latest "Click it or Ticket" campaign.The campaign ran from Nov. 17 through Sunday. Motorists cited for seat belt or child restraint violations face a $77 fine.
In addition, Big Island police said they arrested 26 drunken drivers between Nov. 24 and Sunday.
Through Monday, police had arrested 942 people for driving under the influence of alcohol this year, compared with 798 arrests during the same period last year, an 18 percent increase.
NORTH SHORE
Woman's boyfriend hits former husband's car
Honolulu police are looking for a 32-year-old North Shore man who allegedly rammed his vehicle into the car of his girlfriend's estranged husband yesterday.Police said the victim, 44, reported at 12:45 a.m. being chased by the boyfriend of his estranged wife from Haleiwa Boat Harbor into the Waialua area.
The victim was on a small road when he was confronted by the suspect in his vehicle and hit head on, pushing the victim's car into a parked car.
The victim was not injured and his car had minor damages, police said. The suspect fled. Police believe the suspect is driving a maroon Ford van and are investigating the case as an attempted murder.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
