Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Noncooperation earns attorney a suspension
The state Supreme Court suspended a 46-year-old Maui attorney Wednesday for failing to cooperate with an investigation into his professional conduct.Herman Ling remains on suspension until further notice while the Office of Disciplinary Counsel continues its investigation of complaints against him.
Board of Water Supply warns of masquerader
The Board of Water Supply is warning the public about a person who is apparently going door to door in the Kahala area asking to enter homes to check water quality.BWS spokeswoman Denise DeCosta said Kahala area residents called the BWS Saturday concerned that the person may be trying to case their homes. DeCosta said police have been informed of the solicitation.
The BWS did send out a survey by mail about customer service but is not going door to door to check tap water, she said.
Team trained in Guam ready to rustle snakes
Hawaii now has a "rapid response" team trained to locate and capture snakes.Representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state departments of Agriculture and Land & Natural Resources trained recently for three weeks in Guam.
Although the Hawaii team was trained using brown tree snakes, the lessons are transferable to many species of snakes, said Christy Martin, of the Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.
Brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis) were introduced to Guam in the 1950s, and within 20 years they decimated the island's bird populations, caused power outages and bit human babies. One of Hawaii conservationists' top priorities is keeping the snakes out of the state, which has no native snakes.
In Hawaii there were 236 credible sightings of any kind of snake between 1990 and 2000, of which 63 were either captured roaming free or found dead in the wild, 74 were surrendered as pets and 99 were never recovered.
"We are asking everyone to be aware that all snakes pose a threat to Hawaii, not just the brown tree snake. If you see a snake, contain or kill it, then call for help immediately," said Domingo Cravalho, of the Agriculture Department.
Snake reports can be made to the Pest Hotline, 586-PEST (7378), and captive-held snakes can be surrendered under the state's amnesty program.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
California man dies after ocean rescue
A 56-year-old California man died yesterday after being pulled from the ocean off Pololu Valley in North Kohala on the Big Island, officials said.The man was pulled onto shore by a bystander before firefighters arrived at about 3:23 p.m., fire officials said. The bystander was trying to revive the man when firefighters arrived.
The man was airlifted from the valley by helicopter and was transported by ambulance to Kohala Hospital in critical condition but later died.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
