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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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New rules open up farms
Farms are allowed to provide activities for the enjoyment, education or involvement of visitors, under a bill signed into law yesterday by Gov. Linda Lingle.
The law also requires counties to regulate agricultural tourism and prohibits overnight accommodations for such activities.
What's inside your Star-Bulletin this weekend:
SATURDAY
KEEPING FAITH
The world of Narnia
St. Andrew's Cathedral uses the book and movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" as tools to teach children about the Bible.
SUNDAY
TODAY
More than just toys
Michael Payton has a boundless collection of toy soldiers that continues to grow. He has expanded his hobby to create his own line replicating Hawaii's Royal Guard and even local high school marching bands and football teams.
BUSINESS
Have restaurant, will travel
Oahu restaurateurs seeking to move to affordable sites have found that their options are limited.
Hot commodity
Venture capitalists, who bankrolled the technology boom of the 1990s, are now chasing their next big things: alternative forms of energy.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WEST OAHU
Suspect in black wig robs credit union
A man wearing a black wig robbed a financial institution at Pearlridge Center yesterday.
The suspect entered the Pearlridge branch of Hickam Federal Credit Union shortly after 5 p.m. and passed a demand note to a teller, pointing to a picture of a gun on the note, police said.
The teller handed an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect, who fled on foot from the bank at 98-211 Pali Momi St., police said.
The suspect is described as in his 30s to 40s, between 5 feet 6 and 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 160 to 180 pounds, with a medium build, black hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. He was wearing a black wig, black clear sunglasses, a long-sleeved dark blue button-down shirt and blue pants, and had a cut above the bridge of his nose.
Man accused of trying to extort $80,000
Police arrested a 37-year-old Pearl City man who allegedly tried to extort $80,000 from a doctor.
Police said that on Monday the doctor was confronted by a man who threatened to ruin his reputation by making public an alleged false medical report. Police said the man demanded that the doctor pay him $80,000.
On Wednesday the man went to the doctor's office to collect the money and was arrested for investigation of first-degree extortion. He was later released pending investigation.
Suspect charged in robbery at ATM
Police charged a 23-year-old man yesterday in connection with the armed robbery of another man at an automated teller machine last month.
Ryan D. Merritt was charged with first-degree robbery.
Police said Merritt was armed with a handgun when he confronted the other man, 28, at an ATM in Pearl City at about 10 p.m. May 27.
The suspect demanded cash and then fled in a car after getting some, police said.
Police arrested Merritt on Monday for investigation of first-degree robbery after receiving an anonymous tip through CrimeStoppers.
CENTRAL OAHU
Man in camouflage robs Wahiawa bank
A man, possibly in his 40s, allegedly robbed the Wahiawa branch of Central Pacific Bank yesterday afternoon. He was wearing goggles and Army-style camouflage clothing, including a beret.
Police said the man entered the bank at 2:19 p.m., approached a teller and handed her a demand note.
He then allegedly pointed to the part of the note that said he had a gun. The teller handed him an undisclosed amount of cash, and the man fled east toward Plum Street.
The man is described as between 5 feet 6 and 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing 160 to 180 pounds, with a medium build, short black hair, dark mustache and brown complexion.
He was also described as having white bandages wrapped around his eye, wearing goggles, a black beret, green camouflage shirt and pants, and black boots.
HONOLULU
Pflueger lot attendant is ID'd in theft of truck
A computer system identified a 26-year-old lot attendant as the alleged thief of a pickup truck at a Honolulu car dealership.
The man allegedly logged into the computer system at Pflueger Honda on June 1, allegedly listed a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup as sold, then deleted it from the computer, police said.
However, an electronic key management system allows the computer system to be accessed only by fingerprint. The man was identified by the system and arrested yesterday for auto theft and computer fraud, police said.
He was released yesterday pending further investigation.
Inmate sought after fleeing work program
Police are looking for a 37-year-old man who escaped June 22 from the Laumaka Work Furlough Program.
Edwin Allomong was last seen leaving for work at 8 a.m. June 22 from the Oahu Community Correctional Center's Laumaka program and did not return at 9 p.m., police said.
Allomong is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs 165 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information concerning this case is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Brush fire closes highway in Hawaii Kai
Tradewinds fanned a spectacular brush fire on a ridge on the Hawaii Kai Golf Course side of Kalanianaole Highway last night. The fire started just before 10 p.m. near the entrance to the golf course and spread up the ridge, officials said.
About 40 firefighters battled the fire for about four hours. Police closed the highway until about 2:30 a.m. today. No houses in Kalama Valley were threatened. There was no estimate on the numbers of acres burned.There were no injuries and the cause of the fire is unknown.