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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Donated blocks add to reef
About 70 concrete blocks donated by the U.S. Coast Guard were dropped to the sea floor this week to add to the Maunalua Bay artificial reef off Kahala, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The 4-foot-long blocks will join the 1,593 cars, 2,004 tons of concrete pipes, five barges and numerous other heavy objects that have been sunk in the area since 1961 to create a 74-acre artificial reef environment, DLNR officials said.
Attorney suspended for ethics violations
The Hawaii Supreme Court has suspended Peter E. Roberts from the practice of law for one year effective June 28 for violating numerous ethics rules in four separate cases.
The court noted that Roberts failed to respond to the Office of Disciplinary Council's demands for information and failed to cooperate with the investigation into his conduct, and that Roberts had prior discipline involving similar professional misconduct, according to a court press release this month.
Roberts had already been suspended for professional misconduct since Jan. 12, 2000, and has not been reinstated from that suspension.
Roberts, 51, was admitted to the Hawaii bar in 1980 and is a graduate of the William S. Richardson School of Law.
Indictment alleges workers' comp fraud
An Oahu man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts of making false workers' compensation claims, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
According to an indictment this month, Clifford G. Rutkowski, 52, made false claims in benefit certification forms in 2002 and 2003 that he did not perform any work or services for pay during his compensation claim period.
However, investigators said he was actually doing home repair work and handyman services with a company he owned with his wife called Repairs with Care Home Services Inc.
If convicted, Rutkowski faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for each of the counts.
Health wellness scholarships offered
Hawaii students pursuing careers in health wellness in Hawaii in the fall are invited to apply for Hawaii Health Guide Health Wellness Education Scholarships.
The scholarships are available to all Hawaii students regardless of age, including high school students and people seeking a midlife career change.
Funds will be applied directly to tuition costs at an established school, accredited workshop or recognized kumu/apprentice healing tradition.
Applicants must be Hawaii residents enrolled this fall in studies of a health wellness profession. The application deadline is Saturday.
Scholarships will be awarded at the Hawaii Health Wellness Film Festival in August on Kauai.
For more information, e-mail info@hawaiihealthguide.com, call 808-638-0888 or see www.hawaiihealthguide.com.
State ID table to be set up at Kahuku
Applications for state ID cards will be accepted at Kahuku High School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 22.
Priority will be given to those with completed application forms and required documents. The fee is $15, except for seniors 65 years or older, who pay $10.
Cards will be processed and mailed to each applicant within 10 working days. For more information, call 587-3112.
TAKING NOTICE
National foundation lauds isle volunteer
Linda Paul, Hawaii Audubon Society executive director for aquatics research, was named Volunteer of the Year by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for her work in protecting the ecosystem in the Northwestern Hawaiian islands.
» Kumu Kahua Theatre and the University of Hawaii at Manoa Theatre & Dance Department have awarded the $600 Hawaii Prize for playwriting to Courtney Kunimura of Kaneohe for "The Perfect Heater." Ken Narasaki of Venice, Calif., won the $450 Pacific Rim Prize for his play "Innocent When You Dream"; and Nancy P. Moss of Honolulu won the $250 Resident Prize for her play "More Brave Than Me."
» Jon K. Matsuoka, dean of the University of Hawaii School of Social Work, was elected to the board of directors for the national Council on Social Work Education.
» The Honda International Center at Kapiolani Community College awarded its 2006 Honda Scholarship for International Study to Kyndra Love and David Pesquira. Love, who attends KCC, was given $5,000 to attend the Korea Language Institute at Yonsei University in Seoul. Pesquira, of Leeward Community College, received $3,000 to participate in the Go Away program in Salamanca, Spain.
"Taking Notice" also runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Homeless man held in stabbing incident
A 31-year-old homeless man was arrested late Tuesday night for allegedly stabbing another man in Kona.
At about 11:45 p.m., police said, the suspect, who was carrying a knife, bumped into a 39-year-old man walking across Kuakini Highway east of the county parking lot in Kailua-Kona.
When the man asked what the problem was, the homeless man allegedly pulled out the knife and slashed at him, according to police. The victim said he ran away but sustained a 3-inch cut to his left forearm while trying to defend himself. He was treated at Kona Community Hospital and released.
Police arrested the suspect at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder. The offense was later downgraded to assault. The suspect, who has not been charged, remains in the Kealakehe cellblock, police said.
Resident hurt fleeing fire at house in Kona
One person was injured in a fire that caused $400,000 in damage to a home in Captain Cook on the Big Island on Tuesday night.
Fire crews were called to 81-2147 Haku Nui Road at about 11:57 p.m. and found the two-bedroom home fully engulfed in flames, according to a Hawaii County Fire Department news release. Two people were home when the fire started, and one of them was injured as they tried to escape the flames. Further details were not available.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Apparent drowning victim is Milolii man
Police identified a 52-year-old man who apparently drowned Saturday off Milolii, South Kona, as Robert Henderson of Milolii.
Witnesses said the man was swimming and ran into difficulties, police said.
Several divers pulled him from the water and tried to revive him. Fire rescue personnel also attempted to revive him, police said. He was taken to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m.
HONOLULU
Homeless boyfriend is charged in assault
A 51-year-old homeless man was charged for allegedly striking his girlfriend repeatedly with a metal rod and attempting to strangle her at Ala Moana Park.
Authorities charged Kai Rowland with felony abuse and second-degree assault.
The incident occurred July 3, but Rowland's girlfriend, 43, reported the incident Monday.
Bail was set at $15,000.
Man held in alleged attack with hammer
Police arrested a 58-year-old man who allegedly hit another man with a hammer at a Kalihi bus stop Tuesday night.
The victim, 21, was waiting at the bus stop at about 7:30 p.m. when the suspect allegedly attacked him. Police said the older man then fled but was found nearby and identified by a witness. He was then arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.
The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center where he was treated for minor head injuries.
WAIKIKI
Fight over cell phone results in charges
Police charged a 22-year-old man yesterday for trying to steal another man's cell phone early Tuesday in Waikiki.
Wayne Moten, 22, was charged with second-degree robbery, police said.
The victim, 24, said that at about 3:10 a.m. he was walking through Fort DeRussy park while talking on his cell phone when the man came from behind, put him in a choke hold and tried to take his cell phone.
The victim broke free and ran to a nearby business for help.
Moten is being held on $25,000 bail.
Officer keeps gun in tussle with suspect
Police arrested a 31-year-old man who allegedly tried to grab a police officer's gun Tuesday in Waikiki.
Police said the man was being detained at 11:17 p.m. after he allegedly damaged a video game machine at a Waikiki business near Kuhio and Kaiulani avenues.
The man tried to escape by pushing past the officer, and both ended up on the ground, police said. During the scuffle, the man tried to grab the officer's handgun, police said.
Police subdued the man and arrested him for investigation of resisting arrest, attempted first-degree theft involving the officer's gun, and fourth-degree criminal property damage.