|
Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
|
Maui high school site picked
WAILUKU » If all goes well, a high school in south Maui could be open by fall of 2011, according to state education officials.
Officials announced this week accepting a consultant's recommendation to put the proposed Kihei High School on a site mauka of Piilani Highway and Kulanihakoi Street.
The land is mainly owned by Haleakala Ranch and a small portion is owned by Kaonoulu Ranch.
The Maui-based consultant, Munekiyo & Hiraga Inc., initially examined seven sites and narrowed the list to three. The other two on the "short list" are owned by the County of Maui and Genshiro Kawamoto.
Project consultant Karlynn Kawahara said one of the next steps is for education officials to negotiate the price for the parcel, including some 60 acres of usable land.
Sex offender is appealing verdict
WAILUKU » A 38-year-old Maui man convicted of first-degree electronic enticement of a child is free pending appeal.
Robert J. McKnight Jr. had sexual Internet chats with an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old Oahu girl.
McKnight was arrested on July 6, 2006, when he went to the Kahului Airport to meet the "girl," who had received an airline ticket from him.
A jury found McKnight guilty in September.
Last week, Maui Circuit Judge Joel August issued a mandatory minimum term of one year in jail but allowed McKnight to remain free on $20,000 bail pending his appeal.
McKnight was also placed on five years' probation and required to undergo sex offender treatment and register as a sex offender.
Animal feed firm faces fine
Eco-Feeds Inc. faces a $53,800 penalty for violating state solid-waste rules with an open dump at its Waianae piggery operation, the state Department of Health announced Monday.
The dump at 87-881 Iliili Road in Nanakuli contained nonedible waste -- pineapple tops, plastic utensils and containers, rubber truck seals, wood scrap and metal scrap -- that had been separated from edible food waste for swine meal, according to a Health Department release.
The Health Department issued a warning letter to Eco-Feeds on May 11, but the company hasn't responded or taken corrective action, the department said.
The Health Department has also ordered Eco-Feeds to quit operating an open dump and to lawfully dispose of all solid waste.
The company may request a hearing to contest the allegations or order.
Firm to pay $52K for false claim
The ABC Corp. of Waipahu has agreed to pay a $52,000 fine for allegedly distributing an antimicrobial disinfectant in violation of federal pesticide laws, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.
In March 2005, the state Department of Agriculture inspected the ABC facility and collected samples of the product Fresh and Clean, produced through an agreement with Lonza Inc. of Allendale, N.J.
Test results found the product did not meet its labeling claim of being suitable for hospital use as a disinfectant. Once notified of the failure, ABC stopped distributing the product, the EPA said in a release.
"Hospital disinfectants must meet specific efficacy requirements, which Fresh and Clean does not," said Katherine Taylor, associate director of the Communities and Ecosystems Division for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. Disinfectants are considered pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which is regulated by the EPA.
|
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
|
Woman dies after falling off cliff
KAPAA, Kauai » A 50-year-old woman died Monday night after falling over a 100-foot cliff behind her home.
Linda Lemke of Kapaa was reported missing by her family at 7:12 p.m. Monday. Police responded and conducted a search near her Kahuna Road residence.
At daybreak, however, Lemke's husband set out to find her in an area that was not accessible at night. He located her body at the bottom of the cliff.
Lemke was airlifted from the area and taken to Wilcox Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
No foul play is suspected. Police continue to investigate the incident. An autopsy also will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
HONOLULU
Jewelry store theft nets man's arrest
A 48-year-old Waimanalo man was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing jewelry valued at $22,663.50 from a Kahala department store on Nov. 13.
Police said the man took a display case containing fine jewelry from Macy's jewelry department at Kahala Mall.
The heist was seen and recorded on a closed-circuit television monitor, police said.
The man was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree theft.
WAIKIKI
Halloween assault suspect is sought
Police are asking for help in finding a male suspect who assaulted a 24-year-old male visitor shortly before midnight on Halloween.
The suspect allegedly punched the victim in the face as he was walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of Kalakaua Avenue and Saratoga Road.
Police said the blow caused the victim to fall and strike the sidewalk. He lost consciousness, suffered serious head injuries and was hospitalized for two weeks, police said.
The suspect and his friends ran from the scene, police said.
The suspect is described as about 6 feet 2 inches tall, 170 pounds, and wearing a white tank top and khaki shorts.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
Passer-by injured in group's fighting
A 23-year-old man was punched in the jaw without warning as he walked by a group of people fighting in Waikiki early Sunday, police said.
Police said that about 4 a.m., the victim and an acquaintance were walking near Royal Hawaiian and Kalakaua avenues to their car when he was hit by a 29-year-old Moanalua man.
The Moanalua man was later arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.
Man with memory troubles is missing
The state Office of the Public Guardian is asking for the public's help in finding a missing 68-year-old Waikiki man who has memory problems.
Walter Sakoda was last seen at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 11 at his home at the Ainahau Vista Apartments at 2428 Tusitala St.
He is 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighs 130 pounds, and has gray hair, brown eyes, a mustache and wispy gray facial hair. He also has scars on his right wrist.
Sakoda has memory problems and wandered from home last month but was found after five days, a state Judiciary news release said.
He responds to his name and might be wandering the streets, possibly disoriented. Anyone seeing a person matching his description is asked to call Roger Petticord at 548-0006, ext. 16, or police, where a missing-persons report is on file.
LEEWARD OAHU
Vase is weapon in alleged attack
Police arrested a 60-year-old woman who allegedly attacked her husband with a vase.
Police said that at 8:10 p.m. Monday, a 69-year-old man reported that he had suffered a head injury and cuts to his face after his wife threw a vase at him in their Aiea home.
Police later arrested the woman on suspicion of second-degree assault.
Would-be victim foils house burglar
Police arrested a 37-year-old man in a foiled fishing pole burglary.
About 4:20 p.m. Monday, a 34-year-old man heard a noise coming from the garage of his Kunia home and saw a man leaving with his fishing pole.
Police said the victim chased the suspect, tackled and held him until police arrived. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary.
The homeowner got his fishing pole back.