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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
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Federal grant supports prevention of truancy
The Department of Justice has awarded the University of Hawaii $75,000 for truancy prevention programs for elementary students and their families, mainly in Kamaile and Maili.
The grant will assist families in addressing potential problems with children early enough to prevent more significant problems from developing later. The Office of Justice Programs awarded the grant to Project PACT (Partnering to Access and Counteract Truancy).
The project identifies and addresses family needs and factors contributing to absenteeism at an early age, and creates individualized plans with intervention goals.
Foodland drive raises $1.4 million for charity
During September, Foodland Super Market and its customers raised $1.4 million for community programs, with $63,155 going to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
During its annual "Give Aloha" community matching gifts program, Foodland and Sack 'N Save customers donated $1,139,551 to Hawaii nonprofit organizations. There are 29 Foodland and Sack 'N Save stores throughout the state.
Foodland and the Western Union Foundation contributed $302,144 to match the donations, making it a total of $1,441,696 raised. The hurricane relief portion will go to the American Red Cross Hawaii State Chapter.
"Give Aloha" has continued the legacy of Foodland's founder, the late Maurice Sullivan, who gave generously to the community. Since 1999 the program has raised a total of $8 million.
Akihito scholarship seeks UH applicants
Students at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who are pursuing a subject area leading to better understanding between Japan and the United States are eligible to apply to the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation.
The scholarship covers one to two years of study in Japan and provides $15,000, plus a tuition supplement of up to $5,000 and a cost-of-living allowance of about $5,300 annually.
Applications are available at the UH-Manoa campus; by mail to the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation, P.O. Box 1412, Honolulu, HI 96806-1412; by phone at 524-4450; or e-mail to myokomichi@iashawaii.org.
The deadline for completed applications is Nov. 15. All applicants must appear before a screening committee on Nov. 21. Finalists must appear for a personal interview on Dec. 10.
Lawmakers urge Lingle to fund Makiki library
State Rep. Brian Schatz and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie urged the governor yesterday to release at least $1.7 million for Makiki Community Library.
Gov. Linda Lingle has been holding $4.5 million that the Legislature appropriated to create a community center at the library. The governor's spokesman did not return a call for comment yesterday.
But, in August, Lingle said in a written statement that the appropriation was not "in the best interest of the state taxpayers" and that the state had more pressing needs.
Schatz, whose district include Makiki, and Abercrombie said the library needs the funds to continue operating and work on mounting maintenance issues. The money will also go to renovating the facility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Abercrombie said he has secured $100,000 in federal funds for the library. The city has pledged $1.7 million.
Schatz said if the state can match the city's funding, the library will be able to complete all of its needed renovation work.
"What we want to express here is a willingness to compromise," Schatz said.
The library, which was founded in 1977, is not a part of the state library system and relies on volunteers who operate on an $11,000 annual budget.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
LEEWARD OAHU
HFD believes Makaha fire was intentional
Forty-five firefighters responded to a brush fire in Makaha Saturday night that threatened two homes near Kili Drive.
The 11:51 p.m. brush fire is believed to have been deliberately set, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, Fire Department spokesman.
It burned about 15 to 20 acres and was mostly contained by yesterday morning, but firefighters had to return yesterday to extinguish flare-ups.
Burn hospitalizes Gas Co. worker
An employee from the Gas Co. in Campbell Industrial Park was taken to Straub Clinic & Hospital after he suffered burns from ignited naphtha gas fumes Saturday night.
Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said the victim was shutting down a valve at the facility, located at 91-390 Kauhi St., about 9:37 p.m. when the fumes ignited.
Tejada said the blaze was quickly extinguished. Employees shut down the facility's valve system yesterday to check for leaks.
The condition of the worker was not available.
HONOLULU
Call leads police to fatally hurt man
A 29-year-old man died from head injuries he apparently received from a fall while skateboarding, police said.
An anonymous caller told police where to find the victim on Wednesday. Police did not say where the victim was found.
Police said an ambulance took the man to the Queen's Medical Center where he died at about 9 p.m. Saturday.
Police seek 2 men in alleged shooting
Police are looking for two men who allegedly fired a gun at a 25-year-old man yesterday at a University Avenue apartment.
The victim was in his apartment when he heard a knock on his door at about 12:30 a.m. When the man opened the door, police said, two suspects attempted to force their way in. The man and his friends then forced the door shut.
During the struggle, police said the suspects threatened to kill the man and fired a gunshot at him before they fled. No one was injured, police said.