Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Former Maui mayor has heart surgery
Former Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana is recovering from surgery to repair a congenital heart problem.Apana was listed in stable condition this morning, said Queen's Medical Center spokeswoman Lynn Kenton.
Kenton said doctors told her the surgery went well.
Apana "looks great," his mother, April, said today. "His mind is clear as a bell, so we're grateful for that."
She said her son had two holes in his heart that prevented blood from entering all of the four chambers. The surgeon used tissue from Apana's heart to plug the holes.
Maui hospital improves breast cancer imaging
Maui Memorial Medical Center has acquired a state-of-the-art breast cancer detection system and expanded its imaging services.The new technology, LORAD M-IV Platinum, is designed to improve the quality of images and patient comfort and reduce the time of the procedure, the hospital reported.
The imaging department also has added mammography and X-ray technicians and expanded operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
"Our staffing increase and expanded hours mean that patients don't have to wait to schedule a mammogram or learn the results of their test," hospital imaging director Sara McDonald said.
"If someone has a lump and they're worried about it, 90 percent of the time we can see them in less than 24 hours with their doctor's orders," she said.
The LORAD system creates higher-contrast images for early detection of breast cancers and has a patented compression paddle to prevent overcompression and to ensure more uniform compression of tissue, the hospital said.
For more information, call Maui Memorial at 242-2052.
Sports medicine update for doctors, therapists
Advances in surgical, evaluation and rehabilitation in sports medicine will be discussed at a seminar for health care practitioners April 19 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel.The course is tailored for primary-care physicians and those who work in physical therapy and athletic training.
Registration and breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m., and the seminar will end at 3:30 p.m.
Dr. Andrew Nichols, University of Hawaii head team physician, and Tom McConnell, physical therapist and owner of Greater Pittsburgh Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine, will join Kaiser Permanente Hawaii orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists in making presentations.
Kaiser's Rehabilitation Services Department and Division of Orthopedics is sponsoring the course, "Advances in Sports Medicine 2003: Diagnosis and Rehabilitation." Cost is $150 for those registering before Saturday, $175 afterward. Meals are included.
Eight Continuing Education Unit credits are offered for those taking the course. For more information, call Marc Lyomasa, 432-2180.
Attorney will discuss bioengineered food
Steven Druker, a public interest attorney, will speak at a Vegetarian Society of Hawaii meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse, 404 Kapahulu Ave.Druker organized a coalition of scientists and religious leaders to file a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration, forcing the agency to release its files on genetically engineered foods.
The case revealed that warnings by FDA scientists about hazards of such foods had been covered up by administrators and that facts had been misrepresented since 1992.
Druker will discuss risks of genetically engineered foods as reported by scientists at the FDA, Royal Society of Canada and Public Health Association of Australia and how to avoid such products.
The meeting is co-sponsored by Down to Earth Natural Foods, the Hawaii Genetic Engineering Action Network and Invisible Kingdom of Humanity. It is free to the public. Call 944-VEGI for more information or to volunteer to assist with the meeting.
Druker also will speak at 7 p.m. April 12 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 261 Puunene Ave., Kahului.
UH offers scholarships for students of aging
Students of gerontology and aging at the University of Hawaii may apply for a scholarship from the university's Center on Aging.Applicants must be full- or part-time UH-Manoa graduate or undergraduate students enrolled in a certificate, major or minor in aging or gerontology and enrolled in one aging class.
For more information or an application form, call 956-5001.
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>> Haven Malish is graduating from the University of Hawaii John A. Burns Medical School this year. A Page A10 article on March 22 used the wrong gender when referring to him. Corrections and clarifications
>> Anyone seeking more information on the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii and Kapolei High School's contest to design a multipurpose learning center in Kapolei should call 621-2008. An incorrect number was given in a "Newswatch" item on Page A15 on March 23.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Drug money scheme lands woman in prison
A former treasurer of the nonprofit Hawaii Credit Counseling who pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder drug proceeds using clients' money was sentenced yesterday to a year in prison and three years' supervised release.Citing the seriousness of the charge, U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway broke down the sentence for Yvonne Haxton, of Kailua, to 240 days of intermittent confinement at the Federal Detention Center -- or no less than two days a week -- immediately after she serves a four-month prison sentence.
In crafting the unusual sentence, Mollway said she tried to balance the need for punishment with the cooperation Haxton provided to the government and her rehabilitation from drugs after she was arrested in April 2001.
Due to her cooperation and the assistance of others, Haxton's husband, Michael Haxton, a former president of the debt management agency, and Jose Nunez-Curiel, a convicted drug dealer, were subsequently indicted, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Thomas.
Michael Haxton is scheduled to be sentenced Monday. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Haxtons are no longer with Hawaii Credit Counseling.
The couple were accused of exchanging large denominations of cash received from their clients for smaller denominations of currency supplied by Nunez-Curiel, enabling the drug dealer to transport large amounts of cash for heroin from Mexico, authorities said.
Son of Unity House president is indicted
A federal grand jury has indicted the son of Unity House President Anthony Rutledge with lying on the family business's tax return.The charge is in addition to a previous indictment brought last October against Aaron Rutledge, 32, secretary-treasurer of Star Beachboys Inc., a concession at Kuhio Beach.
Rutledge was accused then of concealing or destroying evidence relating to a federal grand jury proceeding and related criminal investigation. He has since pleaded not guilty.
According to the latest indictment, on July 22, 1997, Rutledge submitted a Form 1120 U.S. corporation income tax return for Star Beachboys Inc., reporting gross receipts of $85,305 -- an amount that was "substantially understated."
WEST OAHU
Youth, 15, charged with sexual assault
Honolulu police charged a 15-year-old boy yesterday with second-degree sex assault for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl Saturday in Pearl City.The boy was arrested Tuesday after school officials learned of the allegations and called police.
HONOLULU
Police ask help finding woman gone 3 weeks
Police want help locating Elizabeth Iseke, 38, who has been missing since she was last seen March 9 at a relative's home on Lunalilo Street in Makiki.
Iseke, also known as Kapi, is described as 5 feet 6, about 155 pounds, with long, straight black hair, brown eyes and a tan complexion. Police said Iseke has been known to frequent the Hauula area.Anyone with information may call Investigator Phil Camero at 529-3394 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Cops seek aid locating sexual assault suspect
Police and the Department of Public Safety want help locating Francisco Mendes, 34, who was charged by an Oahu grand jury with sexually assaulting a girl.
Mendes frequents East Honolulu and has had jobs in construction and food services, police said. Mendes is described as 5 feet 6, about 145 pounds, with a medium build, black hair, brown eyes and clean-shaven.Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Live grenade found in Hilo brings warning
Big Island police are asking residents not to touch any potential explosives after a man found a live grenade Monday at his Hilo home and brought it to police for disposal.Police immediately secured the area and called military personnel, who determined the device was a live hand grenade and disposed it.
Anyone who finds explosives should leave them alone and call police, police said.
Big Isle police recover Chinese artifacts
Three 19th-century Chinese artifacts stolen from a Hilo residence between March 18 and 26 have been recovered, Hilo police said.Recovered were an ivory incense burner, valued at $22,000; a carved ivory tusk, valued at $3,500; and a jade carving of flowers, valued at $20,000.
Other stolen items, including jewelry, remain missing, but police said they have identified possible suspects for the theft.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Greg Esteban at 961-2384, the police nonemergency number at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Phone scam solicits money for Shriners
Police are warning Big Island residents of a phone scam soliciting donations on behalf of sick children for Shriners Hospital for Children.Police said the Oahu hospital is not soliciting donations but there is the Hawaii Island Shrine Club soliciting donations for its Children's Transportation Fund.
To verify a solicitation, call Dick Santos, 959-9922, or Don Millard, 959-2665, both of the Hawaii Shrine Club.
