Isle postal worker tests negative for anthrax
A 34-year-old postal worker came into the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center emergency room late yesterday afternoon. Tests for possible exposure to anthrax were negative, according to a hospital spokeswoman.The man told hospital personnel that while working at the airport post office he cut a strap on a pallet of mail and some powder came out, said hospital spokeswoman Jan Kagehiro.
The man was decontaminated, then examined by physicians and was released last night, Kagehiro said.
Tests will be conducted to determine what the substance is, she said.
"If it was anthrax, he's been decontaminated," Kagehiro said. "We just have to await the results of the tests."
Hawaii hazardous materials team keeps busy
The number of cases the Honolulu Fire Department hazardous materials team responds to has increased in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Yesterday alone the team had as many incidents* to check out as in a whole month in 2000.>> Sept. 11-Oct. 11, 2000: 9 incidents
>> Sept. 11-Oct. 11, 2001: 17 incidents
>> Oct. 12, 2001: 6 incidents
>> Oct. 13, 2001: 9 incidents as of 8 p.m.
*Response does not indicate whether a hazardous material was found.
Hawaii gets $2.8 million for endangered species
The state has received $2.8 million in federal funds to protect threatened and endangered species, as well as species in decline on non-federal lands.That includes $150,000 that will go toward purchasing a 900-acre tract of coastline at Kaena Point.
The funding is the largest single increase the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife has ever received for its conservation projects.
The funding comes from the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund, a new federal program which requires a 25 percent non-federal contribution to match the federal contribution.
Most of the funding went toward 13 projects for planning, development and implementing agreements to protect species on state and private lands.
Hawaii has received $1,147,206 for these projects, a fourth of the total granted nationwide ($5 million), because it has the largest number of threatened and endangered species of any state.
Hawaii received $981,899 in Candidate Conservation Agreement Grants that fund species in decline, though are not yet threatened or endangered.
The funds will develop plans for 34 plants and 11 animals either threatened or endangered, and 14 species of concern where development and conservation uses conflict. And $517,134 will go toward developing and employing habitat conservation plans.
"This program is based on the concept of protecting large tracts of endangered species habitat," said Randy Kennedy, state natural area reserves system manager.
Grant to help Big Island plan for natural disaster
HILO >> The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency has received a $200,000 grant to plan for the economic effects of natural disasters on the Big Island.The grant was made by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
"The EDA works with local government and community groups to generate new jobs, help retain existing jobs and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed communities," a county news release said.
Emergency services honored in march against violence
Mayor Jeremy Harris will lead the seventh annual Men's March Against Violence at noon Thursday from Kekaulike Plaza in Chinatown, down S. King Street, to Skygate Park next to Honolulu Hale.This year's theme is "Teen Dating Violence." The event is sponsored by Catholic Charities, the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, and the City and County of Honolulu.
The march will honor the Honolulu Police and Fire Departments and the city Emergency Medical Services employees who assist victims of domestic violence. Police Chief Lee Donohue, Fire Chief Attilio Leonardi and EMS Chief Robin McCulloch will receive awards for their departments.
Verizon Wireless is sponsoring a drop box at the event for donations of cellular phones. The company will collect the phones and send them to its main office to be reprogrammed and distributed nationwide to victims of domestic violence.
In tandem with the event the YMCA is sponsoring a candlelight vigil Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. at Kawaiahao Church. For more information, call Joe Bloom at 535-0159.
Corrections and clarifications
>> Persons needing help with financial or social problems who do not know where to seek assistance should call Ask Aloha United Way at 275-2000 on Oahu or toll-free from the neighbor islands at 1-877-275-6569. An A-3 story in yesterday's paper about aid for persons needing help because of the state's economic crisis contained an incorrect telephone number.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
HONOLULU
HPD arrests third man in Kaimuki home robbery
Police arrested a 27-year-old man yesterday in connection with a July 26, 1999, home invasion robbery of eight adults in Kaimuki.Two men who were convicted for the robbery in which six men and two women were robbed of cash and property are now cooperating with authorities in apprehending the last suspect involved, police said.
The robbery was committed by three men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, police said.
The suspect was arrested for first-degree robbery, but was released at 11:10 a.m. yesterday pending further investigation.
WINDWARD OAHU
Suspect arrested after fight outside Kailua bar
Police arrested a 22-year-old Kailua man after he knocked a man unconscious outside a Kailua bar Friday night.The victim was asked to leave Tropics Bar, 590 Kailua Road, Friday night after he got into a fight about 11 p.m.
While he was standing in the bar parking lot, the suspect assaulted him, police said.
An ambulance and police were called to the scene.
The victim, in his 20s of an unknown address, was taken to Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.
Witnesses identified the suspect and he was arrested for second-degree assault.
The case is pending investigation.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Search ensues for wife of man found dead off Lanai
The body of a 72-year-old Lanai City man was found yesterday morning off Manele Bay, and a search began shortly thereafter for his wife who was thought to be shoreline fishing with him.A Maui County Fire Department official said a fisherman on a boat found the man's body about a 1/2 mile to 3/4 mile off Manele Bay.
Fire rescue helicopter lifted the body from the water.
When police went to the man's home, neighbors said the couple usually went fishing together.
Police, fire, Department of Land and Natural Resources and Coast Guard personnel began searching for the woman believed to be in her late 60s or early 70s. Both Maui County Fire Department and Coast Guard helicopters searched until dusk.
The search will resume this morning at first light.
Identification of the man is pending notification of next of kin.
WAIKIKI
Man nabbed after he allegedly posed as a cop
A 25-year-old man, posing as an undercover police officer, robbed a woman in Waikiki early yesterday morning, police said.The man allegedly confronted a 21-year-old woman and told her he was an undercover cop and asked for her identification, police said.
When she refused, he grabbed her purse and pushed her down, police said.
The man fled on foot and a police officer saw him running toward Kaioo Street. He was found and arrested for second-degree robbery.
The matter is pending investigation.
LEEWARD OAHU
Unlucky moped ride gets man charged on warrant
Police arrested a 31-year-old man for stealing a moped and discovered that he was wanted on an $11,000 warrant.Police charged Lowell-Dale Farias on the warrant, but officers had initially stopped him for riding an allegedly stolen moped.
A 38-year-old moped owner had called police after he saw the suspect operating his moped in Pearl City.
The officers stopped him at 941 Kamehameha Highway. While running a check on the rider and the moped, the suspect ran from the officers, but he fell and police apprehended him.
Dispatch informed the officers the rider had an $11,000 warrant out for his arrest.
He was arrested but was not charged for operating a stolen vehicle. He was detained and charged on the warrant.
