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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Sewage spills into Manoa Stream
About 1,600 gallons of sewage spilled from a clogged 8-inch pipe yesterday into Manoa Stream, according to a news release from the city Department of Environmental Services.
Police notified the department of the spill at 8:47 a.m. and crews found that roots had clogged the pipe.
Workers cleaned and deodorized the area and cleared the pipe of the roots.
The state Department of Health has been notified and signs were posted in the area, the city said.
Maui mayor declines pay raise
WAILUKU » Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares says she doesn't want a raise, prompting the Maui Salary Commission to forgo giving her a pay increase.
Tavares currently makes $114,030.
The salary for her position will remain just $930 higher than that of her highest-paid Cabinet member, Maui Police Chief Thomas Phillips. He's paid $113,100.
Commissioners agreed with Tavares that recent layoffs and the county's economic woes would make a raise for the mayor inappropriate.
They also indicated they would likely not award raises to county officials next year if economic conditions don't improve.
The commission is a semiautonomous volunteer board that has authority to set salaries for county elected officials and department heads.
Invasive caterpillar spreading
KAILUA-KONA » State agriculture officials say sightings of stinging nettle caterpillars in West Hawaii may mean the invasive species is expanding its range beyond East Hawaii.
The first infestation of the black and white insects was discovered May 3 in Kamani Trees, the second in Kuakini Makai.
The insect's bristly spines can sting people who touch them.
Those who touch the caterpillar can suffer itching, a persistent rash, welts and blisters lasting a couple of days.
Patrick Conant, an entomologist with the Department of Agriculture, suspects the caterpillar came from infested plants transported from East Hawaii, where they are well established.
Experts believe nettle caterpillars arrived in Hawaii from Taiwan.
Jaycees seek youth nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the Hawaii Jaycees 37th annual Three Outstanding Young Persons From Hawaii Award.
Three individuals, who have made an outstanding contribution to the community, will be honored at a banquet in the Prince Kuhio Hotel on Oct. 18.
"The Hawaii Jaycees is known as being a leadership development organization," said Rebecca Soon, a vice president with the Rising Phoenix Jaycees. "So, it's sort of only natural for us to also recognize individuals in the community who exhibit qualities that we strive for."
Award recipients will then be nominated for the Ten Outstanding Young Americans awards. Winners will also receive a financial award that they can designate to the charity of their choice.
To be eligible, nominees must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 18-40.
For more information, visit www.toyphawaii.com.
Applications must be postmarked by Aug. 15 and mailed to: The Rising Phoenix Jaycees; TOYP; P.O. Box 3846; Honolulu, HI 96812
Taxpayers can opt in for booklets
Taxpayers who wish to continue receiving tax booklets in the mail must notify the state Department of Taxation by Aug. 18.
To remain on the mailing list, taxpayers must either:
» Make a request online at www.hawaii.gov/tax.
» Call the Tax Department at 587-4242 or toll-free at 1-800-222-3229, extension 115.
The state decided to stop automatically mailing tax booklets to save money and reduce the use of paper. The move affects individual income tax booklets (N-11, N-13, N-15), the general excise, withholding, transient accommodations, and rental motor vehicle and tour vehicle surcharge booklets.
The booklets as well as forms are available online at www.hawaii.gov/tax as well as any Tax Department district office. Taxpayers are urged to file electronically.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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HONOLULU
Knife-wielder robs taxi driver of cash
Police are looking for a man who robbed a 60-year-old taxi driver with a knife yesterday in Kalihi.
At about 5:10 a.m., the taxi driver picked up the suspect in Kalihi, police said. The robber pulled out a knife and demanded money, then fled on foot with the driver's cash, police said.
The driver received a small cut on his nose during the confrontation.
Officers collar pair after home dispute
Police arrested two Halawa men who allegedly pulled out a knife and fought with the occupants of a Halawa home Wednesday.
Police said the men went to the home at about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday asking to retrieve an item from a 21-year-old man.
They began arguing and the suspects began throwing several items into the home. One suspect, 19, threatened to fight with the other people in the house -- two women ages 33 and 24 and two men ages 21 and 37, police said.
The second suspect, 35, allegedly threatened the occupants with a knife. A fight ensured and the suspects suffered minor injuries, police said.
The men were taken to the hospital, where they were treated, then arrested for investigation of first-degree burglary, four counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, and two counts of reckless endangering.
WAIKIKI
Alleged brawler busted after fight
Police arrested a 21-year-old man yesterday after he allegedly fractured a younger man's nose in a fight in Waikiki.
Police said that at 12:13 a.m. yesterday, an officer saw the suspect punching the victim on the ground in a Monsarrat Avenue parking lot. The victim, a 19-year-old man, was taken to the Queen's Medical Center with a possible fractured nose, police said.
Police arrested the older man on suspicion of second-degree assault.
LEEWARD OAHU
Homeless man sought in threat
Police arrested a 37-year-old homeless man who allegedly threatened a boy and a woman with a steak knife Thursday.
A boy and a woman who live on the third floor of a Waipahu apartment awoke to the noise of the man kicking the metal railing at the Pupuole Place building at about 6 a.m., police said.
They confronted the man and asked him to stop, police said, when the man allegedly brandished a steak knife and threatened to harm them, police said.
Police arrested the man for investigation of two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.