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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Students speak with U.S. justices
A teacher and two students from Kealakehe High School on the Big Island enjoyed the opportunity of a lifetime in November when they had sit-down discussions with three U.S. Supreme Court justices.
The expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., came courtesy of the Annenberg Foundation, which funds the Sunnylands Supreme Court Institute. Two students from each state were invited to the institute, along with a teacher.
Kealakehe seniors Malia Caldwell and Malia Fyffe and history teacher David Huitt met with Justices Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer and Antonin Scalia and discussed constitutional issues, including due process for noncitizens and individual rights in times of war.
Kealakehe is noted for its "Citizenship First" initiative, a schoolwide effort that gives students daily lessons in civics, ethical decision-making and service learning. Huitt helped develop that curriculum, which began with the school's opening in 1997.
Caldwell and Fyffe are both involved in Kealakehe's Interact Club, the National Honor Society and the local 4-H Club.
COURTESY PHOTO
Kealakehe High School seniors Malia Caldwell, left, and Malia Fyffe, right, join history teacher David Huitt on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Comments on Sand Island sought
The Environmental Protection Agency is giving residents another month to voice their opinion on the city's request to exempt Sand Island Wastewater Treatment plant from full secondary-treatment requirements.
The public hearing is rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 12 at Washington Middle School cafeteria, at 1663 S. King St. EPA extended the public-comment period to March 31 at the city's request.
In December the EPA rejected a renewed permit request for the city that allows it to operate the Sand Island plant without a full secondary treatment. The city is also seeking a similar permit for its Honouliuli Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was also refused by the EPA.
Mayor Mufi Hannemann has argued the secondary treatment is unnecessary since there has been no adverse impact on the environment and that the upgrades, estimated at $1.2 billion, would bankrupt the city.
For more information on the city's application and to submit a comment, visit www.epa.gov/region09/ water/npdes/pubnotices.html.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kauai officials ID accident victim
A 35-year-old man who died Saturday in a four-vehicle crash on Kauai was identified yesterday as Troy Medina of Lihue.
Medina was driving a pickup truck southbound on Kuhio Highway near Wailua Golf Course at about 3:15 p.m., a Kauai County news release said. He was with his wife when another pickup truck heading in the same direction lost a rear tire, causing the truck to flip on its side.
A northbound motorist hit the tire, lost control of the vehicle and crossed the center line. The vehicle collided with Medina's truck. A fourth vehicle, also heading southbound, hit the oncoming vehicle.
Medina died at the scene. His wife was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to the Queen's Medical Center, where she was in stable condition yesterday.
LEEWARD OAHU
Candle blamed in Waianae fire
A fire that burned a bedroom in a Waianae home yesterday morning started because of an unattended candle, firefighters said.
At about 8:30 a.m. a teenage girl living in the house on Hoolookahi Street woke up to the smell of smoke coming from the master bedroom and called 911.
The fire was contained to the bedroom and was extinguished seven minutes later, said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Earle Kealoha.
Fire investigators said a candle left burning caused the fire, and the home's smoke detector did not go off.
The fire caused $50,000 in damage to the structure and $5,000 to the bedroom's contents.
Suspect allegedly head-butts officer
A Waianae man originally arrested on an outstanding warrant was also charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer after he allegedly head-butted the arresting officer.
Robin Saragosa, 44, has been charged with first-degree assault on a police officer and second-degree terroristic threatening. His bail is $50,000.
On Friday at about 12:15 a.m., police went to a known drug house in Waianae after a report of three suspicious vehicles congregating.
Officers arrested two men, including Saragosa, on outstanding warrants. They were handcuffed and seated on a rock at 86-122 Pokai Bay St. until a transport vehicle arrived.
Saragosa allegedly became belligerent and threatened the officer and his family.
When the transport vehicle arrived, Saragosa pretended he could not walk. As the officer helped guide him to his feet, Saragosa jumped and leaned into the officer's face, causing a laceration above his right eye, police said.
The officer was treated at a hospital and released. Saragosa was treated for a minor abrasion on his foot from leaping at the officer.
Husband arrested for alleged assault
A 27-year-old Kapolei man was arrested for allegedly punching his wife in the face while they were driving home Saturday night.
Around 10:40 p.m., police said, the couple were arguing during a drive home from a party. The husband allegedly punched his 31-year-old wife in the face, prompting her to get out of the car before the Waipahu offramp on H-1 freeway.
Responding officers located the woman, who was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center, where she was diagnosed with a fractured eye socket bone, police said.
Her husband was arrested at their home on Koio Drive on suspicion of second-degree assault.
CENTRAL OAHU
Man arrested in theft of car
Police arrested a 20-year-old man who was sitting in a car that had been reported stolen.
Police said the man was seen at 11:23 p.m. Tuesday sitting in the vehicle with the engine running on Kamehameha Highway in Wahiawa. An officer checked the vehicle's license plate number and learned that the car had been reported stolen by a 38-year-old woman.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of auto theft.
WAIKIKI
Woman accused of kicking victim
Police arrested an 18-year-old woman for allegedly kicking a man after he refused to give her money in Waikiki early Thursday.
Police said that at about 1:10 a.m. a 57-year-old man was sitting on a sidewalk at Olohana Street and Kuhio Avenue when the suspect demanded a dollar from him.
Police said when the victim said he did not have a dollar, the woman kicked him in the head repeatedly. She was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery.
The victim suffered a broken nose as well as a head injury.
Teenager allegedly attempts robbery
Police arrested a 17-year-old boy accused of trying to rob a Waikiki business early Friday.
The boy entered the business at about 3:15 a.m., demanding money, police said. When the clerk refused, the suspect allegedly damaged a computer and then left.
Police found the boy nearby and arrested him on suspicion of second-degree robbery and third-degree criminal property damage.
HONOLULU
Man is accused of robbing store
Authorities charged a 24-year-old Honolulu man Thursday with first-degree robbery and second-degree assault for allegedly robbing a Honolulu convenience store.
Martion Chiefton, who was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, was arrested Wednesday after he returned to the same convenience store he allegedly robbed a week earlier.
Police said the robbery occurred at 8:50 a.m. Jan. 13. The 53-year-old storekeeper recognized Chiefton, who had gone back to the store at about 7:35 a.m. Wednesday to buy cigarettes.
Police said the storekeeper and another man, 54, chased the suspect out of the store.
The suspect then allegedly assaulted the storekeeper with a knife. The storekeeper was not seriously hurt.