Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Isle residents asked to rid mercury from their homes
The state is asking residents to rid their homes of common household products containing mercury.Mercury, which can cause damage to the nervous system, brain, kidneys, liver and immune system, is found in items such as thermometers, fluorescent light bulbs, switches and button batteries.
The items should be properly disposed of at hazardous-waste collection sites. They should not be thrown out with the household trash and sent to landfills or incinerators, where they can pollute the environment.
Anyone turning in an old mercury thermometer during the mercury cleanup will receive a coupon toward the purchase of a new nonmercury thermometer at participating pharmacies.
The state will accept only items containing mercury from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays during May:
>> Maui: Tomorrow, Lahainaluna and Baldwin high schools
>> Oahu: May 24, Central and Leeward Oahu, locations to be announced
>> Oahu: May 31, Windward Oahu, Honolulu, locations to be announced
For more information, call Marlyn Aguilar, Department of Health, 586-4226.
Leis wanted for graves of veterans
The city wants donations of 50,000 flower leis for the traditional Memorial Day decoration of military veterans' graves.Each strand should be 20 to 24 inches long and tied. They may be dropped off next Friday at the following locations:
>> Parks, 9-11:30 a.m.: district parks at Ala Wai, Halawa, Waianae, Wahiawa, Waiau and Waipahu, and Makua Alii Senior Center, Waikiki Community Center and Kaneohe Community and Senior Center.
>> Fire stations, 6 a.m.-noon: at Kalihi, Waipahu, Waialua, Kaneohe, Kailua, Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai.
>> Honolulu Municipal Building, 8 a.m.-noon: first-floor Parks & Recreation Department permit section.
Blossoms are also being sought for lei making by senior citizens and schoolchildren. Call Ann Niino, 523-4535, for information.
Volunteers will transport the leis to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Punchbowl, and other veterans cemeteries. Boy Scouts will place them on graves May 26.
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>> Honolulu businessman Harold Johnston did not deny making a loan to the company Summit Communications Inc. A story on Page C1 Wednesday said incorrectly that Johnston denied making a loan. Corrections and clarifications
>> Animal cruelty is a misdemeanor under state law. A story on Page A-1 May 9 incorrectly stated that animal cruelty is a Class C felony.
>> Ronald Ogata is president of the Hawaii Credit Union League's Oahu Aloha Chapter. The chapter title was omitted from a Page C2 item yesterday.
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 VEHICLE BLAZE STARTS BRUSH FIRE
KEN IGE / KIGE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Fire Capt. Kevin Chow signaled a truck driver as they positioned themselves to fight a brush fire near Leeward Community College yesterday afternoon. The fence divides Navy property from property near the college. Officials said the fire started in a vehicle and spread to nearby brush after winds picked up. It burned 10 to 12 acres before it was contained by city and federal firefighters.
HONOLULU
Restaurant brawl ends with 2 arrests
Police arrested two men for allegedly throwing a shopping cart and a brick at a third man yesterday.Police said a fight began in a Sheridan Street restaurant about 4 a.m. and continued into the street. The victim, a 26-year-old man, got into his sport utility vehicle, and two men threw objects at him, police said. They first threw a Foodland shopping cart at the back window, then they threw a cement brick at a rear passenger window.
The suspects, ages 19 and 20, were arrested for investigation of first-degree criminal property damage.
Charges sought in sex assault of grandchild
Police are seeking charges against a 61-year-old Makiki man for allegedly sexually assaulting his 15-year-old granddaughter.The girl reported the assault to her aunt yesterday, and the aunt contacted police.
The suspect was arrested at his home for investigation of first-degree sexual assault.
Cash and merchandise taken in store holdup
Honolulu police are looking for four men involved yesterday morning in a convenience store robbery.Police said the robbery took place at the 7-Eleven at 1900 Dillingham Blvd. at 1:45 a.m. According to police, one of the suspects entered the store, walked up to a salesclerk while brandishing a knife and demanded money. After taking the money, the suspect, along with a second male, walked behind the counter and took liquor and cigarettes. Meanwhile, two other men stole beer from the store cooler, police said.
LEEWARD OAHU
Robbery suspect abandons her partner
A 37-year-old man has been arrested for robbery investigation after he allegedly stole a generator from a Pearl City cemetery but was left behind by his accomplice, who drove off in a pickup truck with the generator.Workers at Leeward Funeral Home at 848 4th St. told police they saw the suspect and a woman take the generator and put it into a pickup truck just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. When they gave chase, the woman got into the truck and drove off, the worker said.
The workers detained the suspect after a brief struggle and held him for police.
CENTRAL OAHU
Mililani man charged in hit-and-run death
A 23-year-old man has been charged with negligent homicide in connection with a 2001 hit-and-run accident that killed a bicyclist.Manuel Elias Jaime, of Mililani, was charged Tuesday after he turned himself in to police.
Police said Jaime was driving a black convertible and struck Lanette Acasia, 35, who was riding her bicycle on Kamehameha Highway near Kipapa Street.Acasia died at the scene.
Alcohol use was a factor in the accident, police said.
Victim, 57, dies, after Saturday 1-car crash
A 57-year-old man who was injured in a one-car crash in Kapolei Saturday died yesterday.Theodore Pacheco died at The Queen's Medical Center. He had been taken to the hospital in serious condition after he crashed into a light pole on Kamokila Boulevard, police said.
Police said alcohol use appeared to be a factor in the crash.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Unconscious swimmer dies after rescue effort
Big Island police said a 63-year-old man died Wednesday after he was found face down in the ocean off Kapoho in Puna.Steven Dragon, of a Kapoho address, was unconscious when other swimmers pulled him out of the water, police said. Attempts to revive him failed.
Fire rescue personnel took him to Hilo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
