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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
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Moanalua teacher honored as 2005 Star
Moanalua Middle School teacher Rory Vierra, who makes every effort to put plants, bugs and other critters in his students' hands to drive home his zoology lessons, was named yesterday as Hawaii's winner of the 2005 American Stars of Teaching Award.
The second annual federal award for innovative teachers was presented to the science teacher in a surprise ceremony at the school by U.S. Education Secretary Margaret Spellings. The award is presented to one teacher in every state.
Vierra, a Wahiawa native who has spent his entire eight-year teaching career at the school, is known for making science real to his students by taking them out in nature or bringing the animal kingdom into his classroom.
"Children learn because of their past experiences and if they don't have those experiences to begin with, they can't learn from them. You've got to build those memories inside them," he said.
Fish's impact on Hanauma Bay debated
The Hanauma Bay Education Program is holding a free informational meeting on the impact of roi, a nonindigenous fish, on the Hawaiian ecosystem tomorrow.
Jan Dierking of the University of Hawaii will present "Roi, its introduction, feeding ecology and impact on Hawaiian ecosystems" at 6:30 p.m. in the bay's Education Center theater.
Call 397-5840 for further information, or e-mail hanauma@hawaii.edu.
Flags to fly half-staff in honor of Kamali'i
Gov. Linda Lingle has ordered state flags at all state and county buildings to be flown at half-staff on Friday in honor of former state Rep. Kina'u Boyd Kamali'i.
Kamali'i, who died Oct. 28 at age 75, served in the House from 1974 to 1982 and again from 1984 to 1986. Kamali'i, a Republican, represented the Ala Moana-Waikiki district and served as minority leader. Most recently she had served as a trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Services are scheduled for Friday at St. Andrew's Cathedral.
Demand forces Times to cancel flu clinics
Times Supermarkets has canceled its remaining flu shot clinics after running out of the vaccine due to high demand.
The grocery chain and its partner in the clinics, the Medical Corner, canceled nine clinics over the next month, beginning with one scheduled for today at Kahala.
Times officials said the company had been providing flu shots at store pharmacies for weeks and demand was high. They said anyone interested in obtaining a flu shot can call the Aloha United Way at 211 for more information.
Memorial scheduled for 2 slain Reservists
Two 100th Battalion Army Reserve soldiers from Saipan, who were killed in Iraq last month, will be remembered at a memorial service at 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Army's Aliamanu Military Reservation Chapel at Red Hill.
Staff Sgt. Wilgene T. Lieto, 28, and Spc. Derence W. Jack, 31, were killed in Balad on Oct. 31 when a homemade bomb exploded near their Humvee during patrol operations.
Their battalion is part of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team.
Kamehameha Highway closed near Ka Uka
The state Department of Transportation will close Kamehameha Highway in Kipapa Gulch between Ka Uka Boulevard and Lanikuhana Avenue from 7:30 p.m. today to 3:30 a.m. tomorrow for roadwork.
Motorists are advised to take the H-2 freeway.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island shopping carts target of recent purse snatchings
Big Island police are warning the public about a rash of purse thefts from unattended shopping carts in retail and grocery stores.
Police Sgt. Prentiss Moreno said eight purse-related thefts occurred in the past week and a half in the Hilo area.
Moreno said the thefts were still under investigation and declined to name the stores where the thefts took place.
He said there have been no arrests related to the purse thefts, but police have requested to view the video from surveillance cameras at various stores.
Police are asking shoppers to keep their purses and handbags with them or within direct sight to avoid becoming a victim of thefts.
Police are also asking shoppers to report suspicious activity to store security or police.
Anyone observing a theft is advised not to approach the suspect but to report the theft as soon as possible to security or police.
Police said people with information about the thefts may call Hawaii police at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 or 329-8181.
WAIKIKI
Grenade found during undercover drug bust
Police found what appeared to be a grenade during a drug bust in Waikiki on Monday.
The grenade was discovered in a vehicle while a plain-clothes officer was completing a drug buy from four suspects near Kuhio Avenue and Walina Street at about 12:50 a.m., police said. During the drug buy one of the officers involved noticed a grenade inside the suspects' truck, police said.
The Specialized Services Division was called to the scene and recovered the grenade, which appeared to be authentic, police said. Police also recovered several packets of crystal methamphetamine from the suspects' vehicle.
Police arrested all four for investigation of offenses, including having a prohibited explosive device and promoting dangerous drugs.
EAST OAHU
Man allegedly uses knife to threaten wife
Police arrested a 41-year-old man Monday after he allegedly broke into his estranged wife's home and threatened her with a knife.
Hong Guo was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening. He was being held in lieu of $11,000 bail.
Police said the suspect and the victim, 38, were arguing in the Hawaii Kai area at about 9:10 a.m. when the victim locked herself in her unit.
The suspect then allegedly broke through the front door of the home, grabbed a kitchen knife and held it to her abdomen.
The victim managed to get away, ran out the back and called police.
HONOLULU
Man suffering from Alzheimer's is missing
Police are looking for an 80-year-old Kalihi man who suffers from Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
Ceriaco Tanudtanud was last seen at about 6:30 a.m. Nov. 1 at his Kopke Street home getting into a black taxicab. He might have been heading to the Salt Lake area to find a place to live or might have caught a flight to Hilo, police said.
Tanudtanud is Filipino, stands 5 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds, with black and gray hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call officer James Vasconcellos at 529-3064 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Felon fails to report to furlough center
A felon with 17 convictions is wanted for not returning to the Laumaka Work Furlough Center last week.
Solomon Moses Jr., 34, would have been up for parole Monday, according to police. However, Moses failed to return to Laumaka at 9 p.m. Friday and is considered an escapee.
Moses was arrested for a string of burglaries in 1995 and went back to prison in 2002 for stealing cars.
Moses is described as 5 foot 8 inches tall and about 210 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.