Reports of dengue fever on Maui increase to 41
WAILUKU >> The number of suspected cases of dengue fever in east Maui increased to 41 as of Tuesday from 30 last week.Of those 41 cases in Hana and Nahiku, four have been confirmed as dengue by the Center for Disease Control. Officials believe the outbreak began locally -- the first since the mid-1900s in Hawaii -- instead of being contracted by someone outside Hawaii. No one has died or been hospitalized and few have seen a physician, state health spokeswoman Janice Okubo said.
Suspects face additional charges in 1999 robbery
Two accused bank robbers could face a life term in prison after a federal grand jury indicted them with additional charges in the American Savings Bank takeover in July 1999.Sean Matsunaga and Jacob Hayme, who had pleaded guilty to bank robbery and two firearms charges, now face additional charges of conspiracy and another firearms offense.
Both had agreed to testify against codefendant Albert Batalona, 26, but withdrew the guilty pleas and didn't testify. Batalona is serving a life term without parole after being convicted in state court for the attempted murder of a police officer.
Brewer to pay $236,000 in environmental fines
Brewer Environmental Industries will pay almost $236,000 to all four counties, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA says the fines are for violations resulting from a 1999 sulfuric acid spill on Oahu and facility inspections on Maui, Kauai and Hilo.The EPA alleges that Brewer failed to immediately notify the National Response Center on Nov. 25, 1999, after about 70,000 pounds of sulfuric acid were released at Campbell Industrial Park.
Pacific Rehab has new hand therapist on board
Rehabilitation of the Pacific has expanded its services to offer hand therapy to patients affected by trauma resulting in wounds, scars, amputation and injured tendons or nerves.Patsy Colvin, who operated a hand therapy clinic in Los Angeles, has been recruited by REHAB to provide the service. She is one of three certified hand therapists on Oahu, the hospital said. There are seven in the state.
Certification requires at least five years experience as an occupational or physical therapist, 2000 hours devoted to treating hand patients and an exam with a 40 percent pass rate.
The hand therapy program provides specialized expertise for people disabled from repetitive motion disorders, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, and chronic problems such as arthritis.
Foundation has gift for isle kids with cancer
The American Cancer Society has received $10,000 from the Bretzlaff Foundation to support camp programs for children with cancer.All island children, ages 7 to 21, who have been diagnosed with cancer are invited to participate in the society's three camp programs without charge.
Oahu doctor to use grant to give free breast exams
Dr. Clayton Chong has received a $10,000 grant from the Patricia Chang Fund for breast cancer screening and gene therapy. He said a large amount of the money will be used to provide mammograms to uninsured Oahu women who are 40 or older since October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.The mammograms will be available through the Cancer Screening and Education Program at St. Francis Medical Center.
Additional grant funds will be used to purchase breast educational materials.
Free breast cancer screenings by St. Francis will be scheduled by appointment next month on a first-call, first-served basis.
To be eligible, women must be 40 or older, without medical insurance, with no mammogram in the past year, no breast implants or current breast problems and not pregnant or breast-feeding.
Early detection is the best prevention of breast cancer, the leading cause of death in women 40 to 50 years old, the sponsoring groups point out.
Call 547-6798 to make an appointment.
Ovarian cancer seminar will be held this evening
The public is invited to a free informational event about ovarian cancer from 6:30 to 8 tonight at Kapiolani Women's Center, 1907 S. Beretania St.Hui Malama O Ola, Kapiolani's ovarian cancer support group, is sponsoring the event, featuring a display of the National Ovarian Cancer Support Quilt.
Corrections and clarifications
>> The last name of Elizabeth Goyne, Kauai Police Chief George Freitas' girlfriend, was incorrectly spelled as Going in a story on Tuesday.
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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Man dies in traffic crash; police suspect racing
Police believe two cars involved in a fatal collision on Ala Moana Boulevard this morning were racing.The crash killed a 26-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier and sent two others to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Police also arrested the driver of one of the cars for manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police said the two cars were traveling Ewa on Ala Moana Boulevard about 2:49 a.m. when they struck each other sending one into a concrete wall near the Atkinson Drive intersection. The soldier who died was the front seat passenger in that car. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, a 23-year-old woman, and another passenger, a 27-year-old man, both of Schofield Barracks, were taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Their conditions later improved to fair. Police said none of the occupants were wearing seat belts.
The driver of the other car, a 23-year-old man, and his passenger, a 21-year-old man, both of Schofield Barracks, were not injured. The driver was arrested at the scene for manslaughter and DUI.
Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call them. Police closed the Ewa-bound lanes of Ala Moana Boulevard between Hobron Lane and Atkinson Drive for over four hours as they conducted their investigation.
Suspicious object found at Shafter; H-1 closed
Police closed the H-1 Freeway King Street/Fort Shafter off-ramp for about two hours this morning after a suspicious bag was found hanging on Fort Shafter's Pyle Gate.The gate is a seldom-used entrance to a portion of Fort Shafter known as Shafter Flats. Police also closed the makai-bound lanes of Middle Street at the King Street intersection.
However, Chuck Muston, Fort Shafter spokesman, said the main gate to the Army installation remained open.
The plastic bag was found at 6:15 a.m. Ordnance specialists from the 25th Infantry Division were dispatched to examine the bag which contained some telephone and electrical equipment. The contents were cleared at approximately 8 a.m. and all operating gates were opened.
Makiki man charged in Kaimuki bank robbery
The U.S. government charged parolee Timothy W. Kornegay yesterday with robbing Territorial Savings and Loan in Kaimuki on Monday.Kornegay, 40, of Mott-Smith Drive in Makiki was arrested less than 24 hours after the hold-up after authorities received anonymous tips from callers identifying him as the suspect and where he lived.
On Tuesday, Kornegay's parole officer identified him from bank surveillance camera photos. The teller who was held up also identified him as the person who told her he had a weapon and demanded money.
CENTRAL OAHU
Medical examiner IDs man in fatal car accident
The Honolulu medical examiner has identified the driver who died in a one-car traffic accident in Mililani last Thursday as Jade T. Obrien, 45, of Mililani.Police said Obrien was traveling south on Kamehameha Highway just past the Lanikuhana Avenue intersection when she failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. Obrien's car flipped over, ejecting her from the car. She died at the scene.
