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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
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UH hearing to discuss Navy center proposal
A public meeting on the University of Hawaii's proposed Navy research center will be held on Jan. 20.
The UH Board of Regents called the meeting, saying it will be a chance for community members to voice their opinions on the controversial research center.
Following the meeting, UH interim President David McClain is set to make a recommendation on how the Board of Regents should proceed with the proposal, a news release issued yesterday said.
In November, the Manoa Faculty Senate recommended the university not proceed with the research center.
A year earlier, Regents gave McClain "provisional approval" to negotiate with the Navy for the center's establishment.
The public meeting will start at 1 p.m. in UH-Manoa's Campus Center Ballroom. Those wishing to testify are asked to call the board's secretary at 956-8213 two days before the meeting.
Written testimony will also be accepted.
Feds to look at damaged helicopter
KAHULUI » A helicopter that crash-landed on a Maui valley this week was taken to Kahului Airport on Friday to be examined by federal investigators, said Patti Chevalier, president of Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.
The Eco-Star EC 130 was damaged Thursday after its pilot attempted to land the aircraft on Honokohau Valley. The Federal Aviation Administration said the pilot made a "precautionary landing" after reporting engine failure during a tour.
All five passengers and the pilot escaped serious injury and were treated for bruises and scratches.
Chevalier said the helicopter's rotors and tail boom were damaged, but that the pilot was able to land upright on a rocky stream bank after losing power during the flight.
Center buys 31 acres in Maui's Iao Valley
The Hawaii Nature Center has purchased a conservation easement for 31 acres of land in Maui's Iao Valley.
Officials hope the $24,000 purchase, which is for land adjacent to Hawaii Nature Center's 2.5-acre environmental education center, will help protect the valley from future development.
Wailuku Water Co. sold the conservation easement to the center. President Avery Chumbley said he also wants to start an endowment fund to cover the costs of the land's upkeep. The annual cost of maintaining the property is about $300,000, he said.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
WEST OAHU
Single-truck crash on H-1 causes first fatality of 2006
In Oahu's first fatal traffic crash of the year, a 21-year-old Waianae man was killed and his passenger was in critical condition after their pickup truck slammed into a guardrail on the H-1 freeway in Kapolei early yesterday, police said.
At 2:50 a.m., the two men were traveling westbound near the Campbell Industrial Park offramp when their 2002 Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck drifted into the right shoulder lane, hitting a guardrail, a light pole and a large sign, police said.
The driver died at the scene, while the 24-year-old passenger, also of Waianae, was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.
Police said both were wearing seat belts.
Ewa Beach man held in molestation of teen
A 66-year-old Ewa Beach man was arrested Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old family member.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of two counts of third-degree sexual assault.
The victim reported being sexually assaulted by a family member from the age of 8 to the present, police said.
Police arrested the man, who lives in the same Fort Weaver Road home as the victim. The case is pending investigation.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Body of missing man found in Kauai cove
The body of a 58-year-old Kauai man who had been missing since Friday after an apparent boating accident was found yesterday in a cove near the Wailua Marina. He was identified as Joseph Medeiros, of Lihue.
Police and firefighters started searching for Medeiros on Friday, when officials found his boat overturned in the Wailua River. The search was called off at dusk, but resumed yesterday at 8:30 a.m. He was found at 4:30 p.m.
Medeiros, a Kauai Builders employee, left the Wailua Marina dock on a Boston Whaler about 2:30 p.m. Friday to pick up fellow workers from the Fern Grotto, where they had been working on a project, officials said.
He had not been seen since.
About 8:30 a.m. yesterday, officials closed Wailua River to all boat traffic so rescuers could search without interference.
An investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Police did not believe foul play was involved.
Teen held on warrant charged with robbery
Big Island police have arrested a 17-year-old boy in the March armed robbery of a food store.
On March 18, police said a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt walked into the 5-Spice food shop in the Puainako Town Center, showed a handgun and demanded money. He then reached across the counter, grabbed money from a cash register and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured in the robbery.
The 17-year-old boy was arrested last week for an outstanding warrant. He was questioned about the robbery along with other unrelated crimes, police said. He is now being held at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Center in Kailua.
LEEWARD OAHU
Convicted killer, 76, charged in shooting
A 76-year-old Waianae man who was convicted of manslaughter for the 1990 shooting death of a man was charged Friday in the attempted murder of a 30-year-old woman in Nanakuli.
Glenn J. "Lionel" Sequin is suspected of shooting a woman in the shoulder with a .22-caliber weapon Dec. 29 at Tracks Beach Park.
Police said the two were arguing over power tools when the shooting occurred. Bail was set at $500,000.
In November 1992, Sequin pleaded guilty to manslaughter in what prosecutors called the "gangland-style killing" of Leo Tuaoa over drugs.
WINDWARD OAHU
Grandson, 28, arrested in Christmas Day theft
Police on Friday arrested a 28-year-old man for allegedly taking money from his grandfather on Christmas Day.
The grandson allegedly walked into his grandfather's house in Kailua about 4:30 p.m. and demanded an undisclosed amount of money, police said.
His grandfather feared for his safety, they said, and gave the grandson money. Police arrested the man for investigation of second-degree robbery.