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Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, May 1, 2000

Ford Island proposals
to be presented

By Harold Morse, Star-Bulletin

Two scoping meetings take place next week on Navy plans for Ford Island: the first at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Washington Intermediate School, 1633 S. King St., the second at 7 p.m. Thursday at Makalapa Elementary School, 4435 Salt Lake Blvd.

Presentations will be made on proposed Navy goals, historic resources related to Pearl Harbor and the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act.

Public comments will be heard following the presentations, and will be taken into account as plans and alternatives are developed.

Ford Island is a central feature in the Pearl Harbor National Historic Landmark. The Navy published a notice of intent in the April 14 Federal Register to prepare an environmental impact statement for developing Ford Island.

Written comments postmarked no later than May 15 may be mailed to Commander, Pacific Division, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, 258 Makalapa Drive, Suite 100, Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134, Attn: Stanley Uehara (Code PLN231).

Johnston weapons
disposal job almost over

A chemical weapons disposal facility on Johnston Island, 825 miles southwest of Hawaii, may be closed as early as next year.

"We have far surpassed the disposal milestone and are clearly setting an international standard for safe chemical weapons disposal," said Gary McCloskey, Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System manager.

The facility is set to complete operations and begin closure activities by next January.

About 6 percent of the nation's original chemical stockpile was located at Johnston Island. Since beginning operations, the disposal facility has destroyed more than 1,800 tons of chemical agents and more than 380,000 munitions. Additional disposal facilities are being built on the mainland.

Federal subsidy OK'd for Hana air service

The federal Department of Transportation has approved a $1.1 million a year air-subsidy service for 13 weekly round trips between Hana and Honolulu and 19 round trips from Hana to Kahului until March 2002.

The subsidy for air service to Hana is the third to be awarded to Hawaii, according to U.S. Rep. Patsy T. Mink. Last month, the department issued orders for essential air service subsidies to Kamuela and Kalaupapa.

The service to Hana will be provided by Air Nevada, which does business here as Pacific Wings.

Service from Honolulu will be on an eight-passenger Cessna 402, while the Hana to Kahului route will be provided by Cessna 402 and Cessna 172 aircraft.

More aircraft noise for Ewa Beach district

Turn up the television volume, Ewa Beach folks.

The state Department of Transportation is warning residents of the west Oahu community to expect additional aircraft noise Mondays through Fridays through May 12.

Aircraft will be rerouted while runway 4-R at Honolulu Airport is closed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. weekdays for grooving and restriping work.

Mother gets prison for scalding son, 9

U.S. District Judge David Ezra has sentenced an Aliamanu woman to six years and five months in federal prison for immersing her 9-year-old son in a tub of scalding water.

Allysha Hamber contended she didn't know the water was that hot.

The youngster has since recovered.

Her son suffered first and second-degree burns to his hands, buttocks, lower back, thighs and genitals in the May 1999 incident. Both feet also suffered second-and third-degree burns.

Testimony indicated that the burns were consistent with "forceful immersion," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Seabright.

Court documents indicated that Hamber forced him to sit in the hot water because he had been suspended from riding the school bus. She was sentenced last week.

Catfish fishing delayed at Nuuanu Reservoir

The regular spring opening of Nuuanu Reservoir to catfish fishing will be delayed several weeks to boost the fish population. The Nuuanu reservoir No. 4 will open June 3.

State biologists are trying to increase the overall catfish population a few seasons in the future.

They are locating nests with eggs and providing artificial habitats for them.

Applications to enter the Nuuanu reservoir and fish will be available May 1. The deadline for submitting applications is May 19.

Woman gets 22 years for welfare, tax crimes

A woman has been sentenced to a total of 22 years in prison for two counts of first-degree theft for failing to report earned income and two counts of willful failure to file return.

Sandra Menzsa was sentenced April 19 to two 10-year terms on the theft charges and to two one-year terms for not filing tax returns.

She was convicted of not reporting income while receiving welfare benefits and for not reporting a member of her household while receiving Section 8 rental assistance, according to state Attorney General Earl Anzai.

Menzsa also did not file general excise tax returns for income that she earned as a speaker for the "No Hope in Dope" program and as a home care-giver.

The attorney general said his office "has a zero tolerance policy regarding welfare fraud and tax crimes."

To report suspected welfare or tax fraud, call the Welfare Fraud Hotline at 587-8444 or tax investigators at 587-1785.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Man suffers head injury in 3-car wreck on Maui

WAILUKU -- A 23-year-old Maui man was in critical condition this morning at Maui Memorial Medical Center following a three-car crash on Haleakala Highway in Pukalani last night.

Tyson Naauao-Kealoha suffered head injuries in the crash at about 8:23 p.m.

Maui Police traffic investigator Champ Wright said the sedan carrying Naauao-Kealoha was headed toward Kahului on Haleakala Highway when it struck a car that failed to yield the right of way as it entered the main highway.

He said the sedan then crossed into traffic traveling in the opposite direction and collided with a second vehicle.

Police said Naauao-Kealoha was not wearing a seat belt.

Two other people were listed in guarded condition, and three others were treated and released.

Family left homeless by fire in apartment

An early-morning fire yesterday left a family of three without shelter, causing serious damage to their two-bedroom apartment at 1212 Pensacola St.

A 4-year-old boy and his parents were asleep when fire broke out in the kitchen at about 6 a.m., said Capt. Richard Soo. The family heard crashing noises and woke to find the fire.

They escaped their second-floor apartment by climbing out a bedroom window and jumping onto a van outside, Soo said.

The fire gutted the kitchen and left heavy smoke damage in the living area, Soo said. Damage was estimated at $10,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the apartment.

The cause was under investigation. American Red Cross volunteers helped provide temporary shelter for the family last night.

Police arrest suspect in Kalihi stabbing case

A 31-year-old man who fled after allegedly stabbing another man during a fight was arrested Saturday night at his Piikoi Street apartment and booked for attempted murder.

The victim, 33, was stabbed in the abdomen and is at Queen's Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Police were called to break up a fight between the two men, attending a birthday party for the suspect's girlfriend at an Auiki Street residence in Kalihi.

Witnesses told police the man was stabbed with a large kitchen knife.

The suspect was arrested at 9:40 p.m. when he returned home.

Drug raid nets 6 arrests, meth packets, gun, cash

Police arrested six men in a drug raid at a Waipahu home yesterday morning.

Maj. Susan Dowsett, commander of the Narcotics/Vice Division, said a small amount of methamphetamine packets, drug paraphernalia, a .22-caliber derringer and $2,000 cash were seized in the 6 a.m. raid at 94-407 Kahulena St.

The men, 18 to 31 years old, were booked for third-degree promotion of dangerous drugs.