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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Lifeguards rescue 3 from big surf
Lifeguards kept busy making 500 assists and three rescues yesterday on Oahu due to high surf.
Surf reached 18 feet at Sunset Beach.
But Emergency Services Department spokesman Bryan Cheplic said 500 was minor compared with a recent swell that prompted 2,000 assists in one day.
On Kauai, where surf reached heights of 35 feet on the North Shore at Haena, there were no rescues or assists, a fire official said.
The National Weather Service said surf is expected to drop below warning level tomorrow, and it will have a high-surf advisory in effect.
Release looms despite sentence
The second of two men arrested and charged in a fatal 1999 New Year's Eve shooting in Kapalama was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for assault and for carrying a loaded firearm.
Harvey Ababa was also sentenced to five years in prison for reckless endangering. That sentence will be served at the same time as the 10-year sentence.
However, because Ababa has been in custody for nearly eight years, he could win his release from custody soon.
His cousin Rodrigo Ababa pleaded guilty to manslaughter in September 2000 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The cousins took turns firing a handgun into a group of men during a confrontation. One man was killed in the shooting, and another was injured.
No measles at Bowl, state says
Many of the passengers who flew aboard last weekend's Hawaiian Airlines flight from San Diego along with a measles-infected infant have told the state Health Department they were visiting Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, officials said yesterday.
But there is no chance anyone at the football game was exposed to measles from the passengers.
That is because anyone who contracted measles from the 10-month-old baby would not have been contagious so soon after the flight. The NFL all-star game was played Sunday, one day after the flight.
Patients are only contagious starting one to two days before they begin showing measles symptoms. And those who have contracted measles do not start showing symptoms until at least one week after exposure.
In the case of the Hawaiian Airlines flight, those infected would not start showing symptoms until this weekend.
The Department of Health said it is still attempting to contact those on board to warn them they might have been exposed to the disease.
So far it has gotten hold of 196 of the 242 passengers, or 81 percent of those on board.
Library smartens up Web site
The Hawaii State Public Library System has launched a redesigned Web site with new features.
The site, www.librarieshawaii.org, includes an audiovisual welcome message, information about state Librarian Richard Burns, library programs and presentations, a best-sellers list and an introduction to the new self-checkout units, which speed up transactions.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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GARY T. KUBOTA / GKUBOTA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Maui police, here investigating the death of James J. Lamanna, 46, whose body was found Tuesday south of Launiupoko State Park in West Maui, believe Lamanna died from a heart attack.
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Heart attack is blamed for death
WAILUKU » The man whose body was found along the coastline in West Maui had a blockage in his heart, indicating a heart attack.
James J. Lamanna, 46, who lived in Upcountry Maui, was found about 50 yards south of Launiupoko State Park with his trousers, shirt and shoes on and his vehicle nearby, police said.
Police Lt. Chad Viela said there was no sign of foul play, and detectives believe Lamanna had a heart attack and got out of his vehicle.
Viela said the results of toxicology tests are still pending.
A passer-by noticed the body near the coastline on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
CENTRAL OAHU
Suspect sought in robbery attempt
Police need help in locating a man wanted in an attempted drugstore robbery in Wahiawa.
At about 2:15 p.m. Sunday, an unknown man entered the pharmacy area of Longs Drug Store at 925 California Ave. He allegedly presented a note for Oxycontin and other medications and stated that he had a weapon. No witnesses saw a weapon, and the man fled the store when confronted by an employee.
Police said the suspect was seen in a maroon sport utility vehicle or van parked a few blocks away. He was described as about 5 feet 6 to 8 inches tall, weighing about 140 to 160 pounds. He was seen wearing a black hooded jacket with a white stripe across the back, black long pants, black gloves, a dark-colored mask and black boots. He had scarring or a skin condition on his face.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
WEST OAHU
Bedroom of Aiea home is burned
Firefighters responded yesterday to a bedroom fire at an Aiea home while its residents were still home.
At 11:55 a.m. three engines responded to an alarm at 98-809 Kaonohi St. A fire was burning in one of the three bedrooms of the townhome and caused about $4,000 worth of damage, and it was under control by 12:09 p.m.
Three people -- a 3-year-old boy and his parents -- were evacuated and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Fire officials said the fire was caused by a reading lamp falling onto a pile of clothes.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Visitor dies after diving from falls
A 30-year-old Philadelphia man apparently drowned yesterday at Kipu Falls on Kauai.
Witnesses reported seeing the man jump from the top of the falls into the pool at about 12:30 p.m., surface and appear to be OK, according to a Kauai County news release.
The man appeared to be in distress a short time later, the news release said.
A bystander who tried to help was unable to reach him before he went under, the news release said. Firefighters and rescue specialists found the man at the bottom of the pool, the news release said.
LEEWARD OAHU
Teen uses ice pick in alleged threat
Police arrested a 13-year-old Waianae school student yesterday morning after he allegedly threatened two classmates with an ice pick.
Police said the boy brought the ice pick to school and threatened another 13-year-old. He then later allegedly demanded money from a second classmate, police said. Upon refusal the suspect then threatened to stab him.
No one was injured.
Police arrested the suspect for investigation of first-degree robbery, first-degree terroristic threatening and possession of a deadly weapon.