Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, April 9, 2001

Mink to attend meeting on Oahu public housing

U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink is scheduled to attend a public meeting at Windward Oahu today to hear comments on a complaint filed by a statewide coalition of public-housing leaders against the Housing and Community Development Corporation of Hawaii.

Island Tenants on the Rise filed the complaint with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The group said the Development Corporation refused to recognize it as a resident advisory board speaking for tenants statewide, despite the fact that the coalition meets all federal requirements.

The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Hookipa public housing project in Kahaluu.

Lt. Gen. Begert chosen to head Pacific Air Forces

The Pacific Air Forces is getting a new boss.

Lt. Gen. William J. Begert, Air Force assistant vice chief of staff, has been nominated for his fourth star as commander of the Pacific Air Forces and air component commander for United States Pacific Command. His appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

He will replace Gen. Patrick Gamble, who retires today to become president and chief executive officer for Alaska Railroad Corp. in Anchorage.

Begert will assume a command of 45,000 people and more than 350 aircraft. He will be responsible for Air Force activities in a command that includes Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, Korea and Japan.

Haleakala park dropped from most-threatened list

In its third annual list of what it considers the 10 most threatened parks, the National Parks Conservation Association has removed Haleakala National Park.

The park was named among the 10 most threatened last year because of plans to expand the airport on Maui. Those plans have since been dropped.

The NPCA complained that too much of President Bush's proposed parks budget is directed toward "bricks and mortar" projects rather than preservation.

In addition to Haleakala, three other parks the group identified last year as being among the 10 most threatened are not on this year's list:

>> Joshua Tree National Park in California, where plans for a proposed landfill were suspended indefinitely.

>> Underground Railroad Network to Freedom in the Eastern United States, for which the National Park Service has devoted $2.5 million to preserving its facilities and documents.

>> Ozark National Scenic River in Missouri, near where lead mining exploration has been suspended.

State, U.S. begin census of Maui forest birds

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK >> State and federal agencies are conducting a census to determine population trends of East Maui's forest birds.

The 2001 Maui Forest Bird Census is an accounting of native and non-native birds primarily above 4,000-foot elevation, said Ron Nagata, chief of resources management at Haleakala National Park.

The survey, which starts today and continues through April 19, will cover more than 20,000 acres of East Maui's north rain forest slope and Kipahulu Valley. Data will be compared to surveys conducted in 1980 and 1992.

Red Cross to offer CPR, first-aid classes

The state chapter of the American Red Cross plans to offer CPR and first-aid training in Honolulu. Courses will include instruction on how to recognize and care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, how to assist choking victims and how to care for life-threatening bleeding, sudden illness and injuries.

Companies can sign up their employees for first-aid training, CPR classes or both.

Courses will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, April 25 and May 9 and 29. For more information, contact the Red Cross at 734-2101.

Parents invited to forum on crowded classrooms

A community forum is being held for Leeward parents concerned with crowded classrooms. Residents from Waipahu, Village Park, Makakilo and Ewa Beach are urged to participate in a meeting with the Department of Education, Department of Accounting and General Services, and area representatives to discuss what can be done about school overcrowding.

The meeting will be held tonight from 7 to 9 at Kaleiopuu Elementary School in Village Park. Those with questions can call any one of the following state representatives: Nestor Garcia, Mark Moses, Roy Takumi and Willie Espero.

Principals, psychologists are waiting for your call

A nationwide organization of educators has a hot line parents and caregivers can call for free information from school principals and school psychologists. The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) will hold its 12th annual Hotline for anyone with a question about education or children.

Approximately 150 school principals will staff the once-a-year, toll-free service. The service started yesterday and continues today through tomorrow.

The hot line is 1-800-944-1201. It will be open from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and from 4 to 10 a.m. tomorrow. Information is also available via e-mail at www.naesp.org.

Corrections and clarifications The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Prison escapee arrested while driving stolen car

Honolulu police yesterday recaptured prison escapee Arnold Willets, who ran away from the Laumaka work furlough facility after trying to provide public safety officials with a false urine sample. Police thought they had arrested Willets, 34, March 28 but the man they arrested turned out to be someone who resembled Willets and was wanted for violating parole. Police arrested Willets after being stopped while driving a stolen vehicle in Kalaeloa.

Star-Bulletin papers allegedly stolen from kids

Police are investigating the alleged theft of newspapers from two street vendors yesterday.

The vendors, both minors, were selling copies of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and the Honolulu Advertiser when a district manager from the Advertiser informed them they could not sell both newspapers and confiscated their copies of the Star-Bulletin, said Brian Borges, single-copy sales manager for the Star-Bulletin.

Borges said he retrieved the newspapers from the Advertiser later yesterday and filed a police report accusing an Advertiser district manager of fourth-degree theft, a misdemeanor.

Reached at home last night, the manager said the incident was "just a misunderstanding."

National Guard soldiers hurt by broken power line

Two Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers suffered burns on their legs from a power line that snapped off its pole yesterday, a spokesman said.

Pvt. Luis Moran-Nieves, 18, and Pvt. Kacinisau Yalimaiwai, 17, were struck by the power line shortly after completing physical training exercises near the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade headquarters at Kalaeloa, said Capt. Charles J. Anthony, a Hawaii Army National Guard spokesman.

Both were taken to Queen's Medical Center and later transferred to Tripler Army Medical Center. Anthony said the burns didn't appear to be serious.