Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
[ TAKING NOTICE ]
>> Palama Lee, a Honolulu clinical social worker, has been appointed director of the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program. Lee received the scholarship in 1995 while attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is also president of the National Association of Social Workers, Hawaii Chapter.Lee replaces Thomas J. Foye, who has been named director of Papa Ola Lokahi's Hawaiian Health Resource Development.
>> Jessica Cole, of Kailua, has been inducted into the Northeast Region's AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. She will spend 1,700 hours in public service and receive $4,725 for educational expenses.
>> Mark Nakagawa has been promoted to the rank of major, and will command the Honolulu Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division. He replaced Maj. Darryl Perry, who retired at the end of 2002.
Other promotions at HPD include:
>> To captain from lieutenant, Michael Correa, Moana Heu, Kurt Kendro and Clayton Saito.
>> To lieutenant from sergeant, Robert Green, Lester Hite, Bonnie McKewen and Craig Tavares.
>> To lieutenant from detective, John McEntire.
>> To detective from officer, Randall Borges, Andrew Brito and Mark Thompson.
>> To sergeant from officer, Michael Cannella, Jay Chang and Harry Coelho.
>> To metropolitan police officer II from officer, Wallace Aina III, Todd Conradt, Benjamin Perez Jr. and Robert Takamiya.
Civilian worker Michelle Oki was promoted to auto repair supervisor from auto mechanic, and civilian trades helper Harold Ohashi was made an auto mechanic.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Listings also appear online at www.starbulletin.com. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Cruise ship hoax artist is in parents' custody
A pregnant California woman who pleaded guilty to planting notes inside a cruise ship restroom threatening to kill Americans was released from federal custody to her parents' custody yesterday.Kelley Marie Ferguson, 20, arrived at John Wayne Airport in Orange County yesterday and is to remain under house arrest at her parents' Laguna Hills home. She had been held in federal custody since her April 26 arrest.
Ferguson is to return to U.S. District Court in Honolulu after she gives birth. Sentencing is set for Sept. 22.
Ferguson pleaded guilty Thursday to a single federal count stemming from the hoax. Prosecutors dropped a second count in exchange for the plea. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conveying false information about an attempt to kill passengers on a vehicle of mass transportation under the USA Patriot Act.
Hawaii fails to make '03 clean beaches list
Hawaii failed to make the Clean Beaches Council's 2003 "Blue Wave" list of the nation's cleanest beaches.Last year, Hawaii had three sites on the 2002 list -- all on the Big Island -- Halape, Kaahu and Keauhou.
Walton County in the Florida Panhandle has 16 of 49 sites certified by the Clean Beaches Council as the nation's cleanest, safest and environmentally healthiest. The nonprofit Clean Beaches, of Fredericksburg, Va., issues an annual list of clean beaches.
ACLU Hawaii seeks youth award nominees
The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking nominations for its new ACLU of Hawaii Youth Award, which will honor a high school student who has increased awareness of the Bill of Rights.The winner will receive a $1,000 cash award.
"We know that youth are doing good work, and we encourage schools, churches, parents and other community groups to let us know who they are so we can recognize these unsung heroes," said Vanessa Chong, executive director of the ACLU of Hawaii.
Anyone can make nominations, but candidates for the award should be no older than a senior in a public or private school in the state, and have taken some action to promote civil liberties from Dec. 15, 2001, to Dec. 15, 2002.
Efforts could range from setting up forums to discuss issues such as the First Amendment to taking action over a school or public policy.
The deadline for nominations is next Tuesday, and the winner will be announced July 4.
To nominate someone or request more information, call 522-5900 or e-mail office@acluhawaii.org.
Agencies offer grants for trees
Money may not grow on trees -- but it is available to plant them.The state Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Forestry & Wildlife and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service jointly offer $500 to $10,000 for qualifying tree-planting projects through their Kaulunani Urban Forestry Cost-Share grants.
The grants are accepted from nonprofit community and grass-roots organizations, local and state governments, schools and tree groups for programs that enhance Hawaii's urban forests.
There are five categories: tree planting in urban public areas; educational or informational programs; technical tree care programs; Arbor Day activities; and partnership enhancement projects.
Since 1992 when the program began, more than $1 million has been awarded to more than 180 Hawaii groups.
Kaulunani application deadlines for 2003 are Aug. 15 and Nov. 15.
For more information, contact Jackie Lee Ralya at 672-5167 or Teresa Trueman-Madriaga at 672-3383, or visit www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/kaulunani.
Schools raise $95,000 in pennies to fight leukemia
Students from 66 public and private schools on Oahu and the Big Island have donated $95,000 worth of pennies to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. surpassing the amount they collected last year.Schools participating in a three-week Pennies for Patients program raised $25,000 more than they did last year.
Raising the most money per school were Mililani Middle School, Waiakea Elementary and Mid-Pacific Institute.
Schools raising the most money per student were E'Makaala, Assets School and Our Lady of Sorrows School.
"We are amazed by the outpouring and the giving spirit," said MEA Neal, with the society's Hawaii office.
While raising the money, participating schools learned about leukemia and blood cancers.
The bags of coins were transported by Loomis, Fargo & Co. to First Hawaiian Bank for processing.
Classrooms that collected the most change received a Domino's Pizza party at the end of the program, and top-raising schools received a gift certificate to Education Works for school supplies.
Domino's, Education Works, FHB and Loomis, Fargo & Co. sponsor the Pennies for Patients program.
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>> Holualoa Public Library on the Big Island will be closed Saturday. A story on Page A5 yesterday incorrectly stated that it would be open. 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 Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers BUCKLE UP OR PAY UP
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Honolulu police officers Pearl Lung and Mel Andres issued tickets to motorists and passengers not wearing seat belts at King and Isenberg streets yesterday, the first day of the "Click It or Ticket" safety campaign running through June 1. Authorities are stepping up efforts to enforce the law requiring all front-seat passengers, and back-seat passengers under the age of 18, to wear seat belts. Violators will be fined $77.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Puna resident killed in crash near Keaau
Big Island police said an 18-year-old Puna man was killed over the weekend after a vehicle he was driving collided with a pickup truck on Route 130 in Keaau, Puna.Police said Sunny Kang, of Kurtistown, lost control of a 1999 Acura as he was changing lanes on the Keaau-Pahoa highway and collided with a 1994 Nissan pickup truck headed in the opposite direction about 11:36 a.m. Saturday. He was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 12:16 p.m.
Police said two people in the truck, Santiago Tadeo, 82, and Rosalita Tadeo, 79, both of Hawaiian Beaches, were injured and also taken to Hilo Medical Center.
Crackdown on illegal road racing nets 15
Big Island police arrested 15 people in the Red Road area of Puna during a crackdown on illegal road racing last Friday. Six people were charged with illegal road racing. Officers also initiated five felony drug cases and a misdemeanor drug case and issued 56 citations as a result of the crackdown.
WINDWARD OAHU
Info sought in death of Marine
Police and Navy investigators want the public's help in investigating the death of a Kaneohe Marine whose body washed ashore on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay.Marine Corps officials said Sgt. David Xiong, 24, was last seen at 5 p.m. last Tuesday near the 7 Day Store at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. His body was found at 8:45 a.m. Saturday on Coconut Island. Honolulu police had said Xiong suffered several gunshot wounds to his upper body, including two to his head.
However, a source close to the investigation said police now believe that some of the wounds were not gunshot wounds and some of the injuries might have been self-inflicted, though foul play has not been ruled out.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office has deferred filing a cause of death report pending more information.
Marine Corps officials said Xiong, a reserve officer from Macomb, Mich., had been in Hawaii since he was activated in January 2002, and was scheduled to go home June 15.
Xiong served with base military police until November and then worked as a communications specialist.
Xiong was 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, with a medium build, black hair and brown eyes. He was clean-shaven. He was wearing a camouflage utility uniform when he was last seen on base. However, his body was clad in a gray T-shirt, white knee-length dress shorts, a black leather belt and black Vans sandals.
Anyone with information about Xiong's whereabouts after 5 p.m. last Tuesday may contact Detective James Anderson at 529-3356 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Missing girl, 13, found safe at shopping mall
A 13-year-old girl who was believed missing was found unharmed last night at Ala Moana Center.Air Force officials asked for the public's help yesterday after Aisha Phillips failed to show up at Aliamanu Middle School.
She was last seen by her parents at Hickam Air Force Base at 6:45 a.m. School officials called her mother to say that she did not come to class.
Police officers conducting a routine after-hours check of the shopping center found her about 11 p.m.
[ COURT BRIEFS ]
Another man charged in 1999 fireworks case
A second man has been charged in federal court with making fraudulent statements to import illegal fireworks into Hawaii.According to an information filed yesterday, Ivan Hermosura, doing business as Discount Fireworks, is accused of importing about 1,187 cases of display fireworks between March 1 and April 5, 1999, and falsely declaring that he was the intended recipient when in fact he was planning to split the receipt and payment with a wholesale food company official. Hermosura could not be reached for comment.
Last June, a federal grand jury indicted Sam Hugh, vice president of Ham Produce and Seafood Inc., after 466 crates of aerial fireworks were discovered in a Kalihi warehouse. The June 20 indictment charged Hugh with importing and possessing illegal fireworks without proper licenses and making false declarations on shipping documents.
Hugh has pleaded not guilty.
Makiki school's files again sought by state
The state has gone to court for the second time in two years to force a Makiki school that provides educational and mental health services to autistic children to turn over records as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged overbilling practices.Loveland Academy, which contracted with the state Department of Health, came under scrutiny by the Joint Senate-House Investigative Committee last year after a doctor questioned the school's billing practices. The school denied the allegations.
State Auditor Marion Higa went to court last year seeking student records as part of that investigation.
The state attorney general's Medicaid Investigations Division is now seeking records documenting services provided by three therapists to six special-needs students who attended Loveland Academy and Lokahi Montessori School to determine whether they were entitled to reimbursement.
The documents sought include including monthly treatment and progress summaries, time sheets, daily attendance logs and billing or invoices for services rendered.
According to court filings, Loveland's attorney, Ted Baker, initially objected to the subpoena on the basis that it was overly broad, unduly burdensome and was seeking privileged and confidential information. While some documents were later provided on two of the students, Baker objected, noting that the records did not fall under the requirements of the contract.
Baker could not be reached for comment.
