Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, October 31, 1997

Agriculture bill includes $9 million for Hawaii

The addition of 21 full-time agricultural inspectors at the state's airports will help ensure quick service and prevent delays that could upset departing visitors, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye says.

Inouye yesterday announced that the Senate had unanimously approved an agriculture appropriations conference report that includes $9 million for Hawaii projects, including $700,000 for the quarantine inspectors.

The boost in the U.S. Agriculture Department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will help to prevent disruptions for departing tourists, which "tend to deter return visits," he said in a news release.

State Transportation Director Kazu Hayashida said he was delighted by the announcement.

"We're looking forward to additional inspectors," he said. "This will help us tremendously on the neighbor islands, where we're getting direct mainland and international flights."

The appropriations bill now will be sent to President Clinton.

Other budget items for Hawaii include:

$200,000 for the Natural Resources Conservation Service to work with the Army Corps of Engineers on a watershed feasibility study for Waianae, aimed at preventing further flood disasters.

$2.7 million for the continuation of tropical and subtropical research by the U.S. Agriculture Department in partnership with universities in Hawaii, Guam, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

$1.6 million to the Oceanic Institute at Makapuu to continue developing and testing nutrition and pest management strategies for the aquaculture industry.

$965,000 to the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, formerly the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association, to assist in the operation of its Aiea experiment center.

$564,000 to the Agriculture Development in the American Pacific project, for research, extension and instruction programs by land-grant institutions which collaborate on agriculture and human resource development.

$275,000 to the Agricultural Research Service and the University of Hawaii to continue developing nontoxic methods to control tephritid fruit flies, one of the most damaging agricultural pests.

$298,000 to the pineapple industry and the University of Hawaii to develop pest-resistant pineapple varieties.

$298,000 to papaya growers and the University of Hawaii to combat papaya ringspot virus, which is plaguing the industry on the Big Island.

$280,000 to develop cost-effective and safe methods to control insects, weeds and other pests in small-scale Hawaii farms.

$250,000 to flower growers and the University of Hawaii to develop disease-resistant and new varieties of flowers.

$250,000 to assist homestead farmers on Molokai through the Molokai Agriculture Community Committee.

$127,000 to restore historic fishponds on Molokai.

Maui man pleads guilty to robbing two banks

A Maui man dubbed "Captain Kangaroo" because he resembled the children's television character faces up to 20 years in federal prison for robbing two banks in which he falsely threatened tellers with a bomb.

Billy Ray Cochran, 52, yesterday pleaded guilty to stealing $1,490 from American Savings Bank in Salt Lake Oct. 30, 1996, and $16,800 from Bank of Hawaii's branch in Waipahu Safeway on March 27.

He is scheduled for sentencing March 30, 1997, before U.S. District Judge Alan Kay, who ordered him to repay the banks, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Loretta Matsunaga.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

2 homeless men injured, one arrested, in stabbing

Police arrested a 37-year-old homeless man for allegedly stabbing another homeless man in the stomach last night on Iwilei Road and North King Street.

Witnesses told police that the suspect was intoxicated and was trying to cut anyone who got in his way at 6:15 p.m.

When the victim, 28, tried to intervene, he was stabbed, police said.

While wielding a knife with a four-inch blade, the suspect apparently cut himself.

Both men were taken to Queen's Medical Center, where they are in stable condition.

The suspect faces second-degree attempted murder charges.

Fight with party crashers ignites fire that injures 2

HILO -- A Big Island woman who was severely burned at her home Wednesday was the victim of party crashers, police said.

Dorothy May Balga, 34, of Paradise Park subdivision, remains in serious but stable condition at Straub Hospital today following the 11:37 p.m. fire.

Wayne Rudolph Borreta, 28, of Paradise Park was arrested yesterday for assault in the case and was also held on two charges arising from previous court warrants, police said.

During the party, Borreta and others went uninvited to the house occupied by Stacy Range.

A fight broke out and a fire started, police said, adding that details are unclear.

Balga's clothes somehow caught on fire.

She suffered second-degree burns over half of her body, they said.

Another woman suffered minor injuries when she tried to put out the fire on Balga's clothing, they said. That woman, who was not named, was treated at Hilo Hospital and released.

Woman driving a van dies in Volcano Highway crash

KEAAU, Hawaii -- A Pahoa woman died last night when her van hit a car at the entrance to Keaau village, police said.

The victim, Gloria May, 72, was turning left from Volcano Highway onto Old Volcano Highway about 6:30 p.m. when she struck a car driven by Eugene Kia, 34, of Hilo.

She was declared dead at Hilo Hospital.

Kia was flown to Queen's Hospital where he was listed today in fair condition.

Two passengers in Kia's car, Levey Dela Rosa, 23, of Keaau, and Joshua Dickinson, 24, of Hilo, were taken to Hilo Hospital in satisfactory condition.

May's death is the 29th traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island, compared with 30 at this time last year.

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