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Resources for the blind and visually impaired will be the focus of a fair hosted by Ho'opono, Services for the Blind Branch of the Department of Human Services, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. Resource Fair 2000 will
benefit blind, visually impairedResource Fair 2000 will benefit the blind and visually impaired, as well as those who serve, employ and live with them.
The fair will include educational displays, activities, demonstrations and a tour of the facilities, which feature an occupational therapy room and a personal home management apartment.
Ho'opono is at 1901 Bachelot St. For information, call 586-5267.
Power failure affects Nimitz-airport area
A defective overhead connector caused a power failure today in the Nimitz-airport area, forcing the Honolulu Airport to switch to its backup emergency power sources.However, a Transportation Department spokeswoman said the problem did not affect flight operations at the airport.
Hawaiian Electric reported that the brief outage was caused by a faulty connector at Puuloa Road and Nimitz Highway at 7:54 a.m.
Power to the area and the airport was restored by 8:30 a.m. The major problem caused by the outage appeared to have been inoperative traffic signals during the morning rush hour, Heco said.
More than 1,200 customers in the airport area, stretching from Lagoon Drive to Salt Lake Boulevard, were affected.
Schofield waste-water plant is hearing's topic
The Army's risk management plan and safety program for its Schofield Barracks Wastewater Treatment Plant will be discussed at a public hearing tomorrow.The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. at Sgt. Smith Theater at Schofield Barracks. Another session will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday at Mililani High School cafeteria.
The waste-water treatment plant services Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, Helemano Military Reservation and the Camp Stover housing area.
Big Isle United Way attains 94% of its goal
HILO -- The Hawaii Island United Way completed 1999 with 94 percent of its $1,320,000 fund-raising campaign goal, according to campaign chairman Wallace Ishibashi Jr.That beats the 83 percent in hand at the same time last year, he said, but is about $77,000 short of this year's goal.
Contributions made up to March 31 will count toward the 1999/2000 campaign.
The Hawaii Island United Way helps fund 34 agencies, but people making donations can designate their money for additional health and human services agencies, United Way President Helen Hemmes said.
Cherry Blossom fest scheduled in Waimea
WAIMEA, Hawaii -- The Seventh Annual Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival is scheduled for Feb. 5 at the Parker Ranch Center on the Big Island, the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation has announced.Named for the rows of cherry trees that blossom in February and March at nearby Church Row, the festival will include demonstrations on mochitsuki making, entertainment and ethnic foods.
Vitiligo support group sets Sunday meeting
A newly formed Hawaii Vitiligo Support Group will hold its first meeting 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the Wailuna Lodge Recreation Center, 98-1856 Kaahumanu St., Pearl City.Friends and families of persons with the autoimmune disease are invited to share information on the disfiguring skin disorder.
Dottie Sunio, whose 6-year-old son has vitiligo, is organizing the support group and hosting the event.
Participants are asked to bring "potluck pupus." For more information, call Sunio at 455-7574.
Family Support Services names executive director
KAILUA-KONA -- Family Support Services of West Hawaii has appointed Don Bebee its new executive director, effective Feb. 1.Bebee succeeds JoAnn Farnsworth, head of the private, nonprofit organization since 1989, who took it from a five-person agency to its current staff of 60.
Farnsworth will continue prevention and early childhood intervention at the state level, the organization said.
Bebee has worked for a number of social service agencies in Arkansas.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Female friend kidnapped by three men, man claims
Police were searching for a 53-year-old woman this morning who was apparently abducted by three men.A man, 50, reported this morning that three men barged into his Ala Moana apartment yesterday at 6 p.m., beat him, tied him up with duct tape and took his female friend, police said.
He told police he had no idea what prompted the kidnapping.
One suspect is described as an Asian male in his 50s, 5 feet 3 inches tall and 175 pounds.
Rescuers reach woman injured on Poamoho Trail
Firefighters were expected to carry an injured and stranded hiker down the Poamoho Trail near Wahiawa this morning.Bad weather prevented a fire helicopter from dropping a basket to lift the woman out of the woods earlier this morning. So firefighters planned to bring her down on a stretcher.
The woman hiker reported she was injured on the trail and complained of back pain and numbness to her legs. She and a male companion in his 20s called the fire department on a cellular phone shortly after 1 a.m. this morning.
A fire department rescue crew hiked up to the couple early this morning and stayed with the woman until daylight.
Convicted sex offender missing from work camp
Police are asking for the public's help to catch a convicted sex offender who escaped from the Laumaka Work Furlough Center on Monday.Robert Joseph Gouveia Jr., 30, was last seen Monday at 4:30 a.m., police said.
Police said Gouveia should be considered dangerous. He was convicted of sex assault, kidnapping and at least two robberies.
Gouveia is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 172 pounds with short-black hair and brown eyes.
If anyone has any information about his whereabouts, call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
