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'Binzo' to be tried after 14 years on the run
An Oahu grand jury has re-indicted Joseph "Binzo" Victorino on charges that he murdered his business partner 15 years ago and carried a firearm without a license.Victorino, 65, is charged in the shooting of Michael B. Maher, 49, at a Kalihi bar on Nov. 22, 1986. The two were partners in a roofing business.
Victorino was indicted by a grand jury in 1986 but was never arrested. He apparently fled Hawaii, changed his name and eluded police for 14 years.
He was recently stopped for a minor traffic violation in Washington state and officials there learned he was wanted.
Box jellyfish invasion closes Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay was closed today because of a large number of box jellyfish in the area.Bay manager Alan Hong said lifeguards will assess the situation tomorrow morning to determine if the bay will be reopened.
Checkpoints set up for holiday weekend
Checkpoints to look for drinking or drug-impaired drivers are up for this Presidents Day weekend at unannounced times and places.Police were to begin manning the roadblocks last night, continuing through Monday.
The Oahu traffic death toll for the year stands at five, compared to 10 at the same time last year. Two of the five traffic deaths this year have been determined to be alcohol- or drug-related, compared to one at this time last year.
Fluorescent dyes color two Newtown pools
Two pools at the Newtown Estates Community Association-Recreation Center were closed today after maintenance workers discovered the water was discolored from dye bags.Water in the large pool was dyed fluorescent green while the smaller pool was dyed flourescent yellow.
HazMat units determined the dyes were non-toxic.
Workers at the recreation center are in the process of draining the pools. Manager Howard Tocman said the pool is expected to reopen on Monday.
Fallen tree blocks Tantalus for 3 hours
A large tree blew down high up on Tantalus Drive about 4 p.m. yesterday, blocking the entire roadway for more than three hours.City crews finished removing the tree and reopened Tantalus Drive shortly before 7:30 p.m.
The tree fell on Tantalus about 1 1/2 miles above Makiki Heights Drive.
Maui sets meetings targeting traffic jams
WAILUKU -- Mayor James Apana has scheduled a series of public meetings to discuss traffic problems facing Maui residents.The meetings follow hourslong traffic tie-ups that have occurred following fires in West Maui this year.
During the afternoon rush hour, back-to-back traffic has extended for miles on roads leading to Paia and Kihei.
The Apana administration hopes to develop a report with recommendations by April 4.
The meetings will take place on Monday, Feb. 26, at the Kihei Community Center; Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Mayor Hannibal Tavares Community Center; Thursday, March 1, at the Wailuku Community Center; and Friday, March 2, at the Lahaina Civic Center.
All meetings start at 7 p.m.
Attorney Cooper tapped for Maui judgeship
Chief Justice Ronald T.Y. Moon has appointed Maui attorney Reinette Cooper a District Court judge, subject to confirmation by the state Senate.Cooper would fill a Maui vacancy created in December 1999 when Judge Yoshio Shigezawa retired from the bench.
Cooper is currently a sole practitioner and per diem Family Court judge. The Southwestern University School of Law graduate was previously with the law office of Joy Yanagida and the office of the public defender.
Copter over Palolo will be doing Heco work
A helicopter this weekend will be transporting Hawaiian Electric construction materials in the back of Palolo Valley not accessible by road.Crews were to perform emergency repair work made necessary by recent high winds.
Helicopter flights were to begin about 9 a.m. today and tomorrow and continue through the afternoon, until about 3 p.m. Heco said it apologizes for any inconvenience.
Looking Ahead
Some events of interest7 p.m. Monday, Wahiawa Recreation Center: Wahiawa No. 26 Neighborhood Board meeting, Halekoa Building. For information, call 527-5749.
Corrections
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Woman accused of con against 82-year-old bus rider
A Kapalama woman has been charged for allegedly stealing a credit card from an elderly man as he got off a city bus.Pisa Marvell Tuvale, 31, was arrested last night and charged with theft and fradulent use of a credit card.
Police said Tuvale approached an 82-year-old man on Dec. 18 at a bus stop near 180 S. King St. She asked for his identification and then distracted him and took his credit card, police said.
Tuvale is also wanted for questioning in a case in which a woman posed as an employee of the Gas Co. investigating a gas leak in a Pauoa neighborhood and entered the residence of 79-year-old woman.
That suspect charged the resident about $600 for fixing a nonexistent problem and is believed to have stolen her credit card, police said.
Visitor from Austria, 57, drowns off Kauai's east shore
LIHUE -- A 57-year-old tourist from Innsbruck, Austria, drowned yesterday at Polihale State Park on Kauai's east shore, the Kauai Fire Department said today.The man's body was recovered by a Navy rescue crew near the Pacific Missile Range Facility at about 4 p.m.
Tips sought on stolen poster bearing golf pros' autographs
Police are looking for a thief who apparently stole an autographed poster from last year's PGA Grand Slam of Golf.The poster -- signed by Tiger Woods, Tom Lehman, Paul Azinger and Vijay Singh -- is valued at $5,000.
The poster, along with a similar one from 1999, was delivered to the Artboard at Ala Moana Center for framing on Jan. 11, police said. The cardboard tube that contained both posters was opened a day or two later, and only the 1999 poster was found.
Anyone with information in this case may call Detective David Lock directly at 547-7214 or call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 955-8300.
Wahiawa student arrested following counselor's report
A student from Wahiawa Intermediate School at 275 Rose St. has been arrested for stating to her counselor that she wanted to kill her teacher, police said.On Thursday at about 12:15 p.m., a girl told her counselor she needed to talk to her about a problem she was having with one of her teachers. The girl told the counselor she wanted to kill the teacher, police said.
The counselor asked her again yesterday if she still wanted to kill the man. When she answered yes, police were called.
Chemical odor sickens three adults at preschool
Three people complained of lightheadedness, nausea and shortness of breath after a chemical odor was detected at Calvary by the Sea School on 5339 Kalanianaole Highway.A 28-year-old female preschool teacher, a 39-year-old female preschool teacher and a 69-year-old male pastor felt the effects at 10:30 a.m., the fire department said.
Capt. Nathan Kapule of the Kaimuki Fire Station said about 12 to 15 children, ages 3 to 4, were in the playground area, away from the odor.
"The children were never in any danger," said Kapule.
HazMat units did not detect any gas. The teachers were taken to Straub Clinic and Hospital and released.
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