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Inouye misses vote on judicial nominee

U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, was among 14 senators to create a compromise that ensured some federal judicial nominations would not be stalled in the Senate, but he missed the first major confirmation vote that came after the deal.

In a 55-43 vote Thursday, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Inouye, Hawaii's senior senator, was traveling in Japan to meet with defense officials, according to his spokesman. U.S. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, voted against the nomination.

Before the compromise was reached earlier in the week, Republican Senate leaders had vowed to block all Democratic opposition to judicial nominations. Republican senators then agreed to drop their plans if Democrats moved at least three of the controversial nominees, including Owen.

Hickam electric line relocation to be heard

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission is conducting a hearing on a proposal to relocate an overhead electric transmission line within Hickam Air Force Base to accommodate construction of military housing units.

The hearing is at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Chester W. Nimitz Elementary School cafeteria, 520 Main St.

The developer is paying the $72,000 cost to relocate the Hawaiian Electric Co. 46-kilovolt subtransmission line.

State offers training on legal frog control

The state Department of Agriculture's Pesticides Branch will be conducting a series of training sessions on the Big Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai starting Tuesday on the proper use of hydrated lime to control coqui frog infestations.

Improper use of calcium hydroxide, a corrosive chemical commonly known as hydrated lime, can be hazardous to humans and animals, and could result in fines of between $1,000 and $5,000 for each offense.

The training sessions will be held at Department of Agriculture offices and University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture research stations. For times and locations, call the department offices of the appropriate county or check the Agriculture Department Web site, www.hawaiiag.org/hdoa.

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» Dr. L. Stephen and Virginia Lau have donated $35,000 to establish the L. Stephen Lau Water Research Endowed Scholarship at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The scholarship will benefit students of the Water Resource Research Center, where Lau was director from 1971 through 1990.

» The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a national association of lawyers, has elected Michiko Miyasaki a fellow of the college.

» The East-West Center has named Mary Hammond, former dean of the International Center at Hawaii Pacific University, dean of students for the Education Program. She has more than 23 years of administrative and teaching experience, including four years as faculty specialist and director of the Hawaii English Language Program at the University of Hawaii from 1996 through 2000.

» Kelly Educational Staffing has named Amanda Godfrey Substitute Teacher of the Semester for the first semester of the 2004-05 school year. She has taught at several schools in Honolulu.

» The John Young Scholarship in the Arts has been awarded to 14 students at the University of Hawaii who are interested in a degree in an arts-related field.

Graduate students who received $6,000 included Tia Ballantine, Deirdre Helen Britt, Carolyn Sara Covalt, Aaron J. Sala, Yoko Sato, Nicole Tessier and Thomas Wasson.

Undergraduates who received $3,000 were Alvin Chan, Christine Hong, Brendan Jackson, Justin A. Ka'upu, Matthew Kubo, Marissa Gacula Rowell and Joy Uyeno.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NORTH SHORE
Culprits sought in serious attack on man at beach

Police are asking for the public's help in connection with an assault Monday that left a 38-year-old man in critical condition at the Queen's Medical Center.

The man, identified as Richard Hayashida, was found on the beach near 62-611 Kamehameha Highway with extensive head injuries.

Police have no suspects in the case, and anyone with information is asked to call Detective Pat Reyes at 529-3604.

LEEWARD OAHU
Man, 40, is charged with exposing himself

A 40-year-old Pearl City man was charged for allegedly sitting in his vehicle naked and then calling girls over to ask for directions.

Douglas S. Baird was charged Thursday with three misdemeanor counts of sex assault for alleged incidents about half a block from his Noelani Street residence.

Baird is being held in lieu of $6,000 bail.

Woman's brother arrested in assault

Police arrested and charged a 49-year-old man for allegedly beating his sister Thursday morning during an argument in Waianae.

Police said that around 6:15 a.m. the suspect became angry and knocked the victim, 52, to the floor of their residence at Kuipaakea Lane and Halona Road. The suspect then allegedly kicked her twice and punched several times, according to police.

The victim suffered a laceration to her cheek, loosened teeth and bruises. The suspect was identified and charged with second-degree assault and is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kona man charged after 'ice' found in car

Police charged a Kona man with several drug offenses after finding more than 88 grams of crystal methamphetamine in his car.

John Nobriga, 35, of Kailua-Kona was charged yesterday with three counts of promoting dangerous drugs, two counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia and numerous traffic offenses. His bail was set at $50,200.

Nobriga was pulled over about 2:45 a.m. Thursday on Alii Drive. He was arrested and his vehicle seized after officers allegedly saw him trying to conceal a small bag, which contained about 4.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

Yesterday police searched his car and found a glass jar containing about 84 grams of crystal meth.

3 caught in drug raid at Kailua-Kona hotel

Two men and a woman were charged with numerous drug offenses yesterday after a drug bust at a Kailua-Kona hotel room.

Shelly Minick, of no permanent address, and Eric Johnson of Kailua-Kona were charged with seven counts of promoting dangerous drugs and five counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnson was also charged on four outstanding bench warrants -- two for contempt of court and two for revocation of probation.

Bail for Minick, 43, was set at $34,000, while bail for Johnson, 37, was $65,579.

Darrin Hardie, 35, of Kailua-Kona was charged with two counts of promoting detrimental drugs and released on his own recognizance.

The three were arrested late Wednesday, and officers recovered about 0.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the hotel room, along with 10.25 pounds of a liquid containing methamphetamine, police said. Officers also found 1.2 grams of cocaine and 2.2 grams of marijuana in the room.