Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Scam solicits donations for retired firefighters
CrimeStoppers, the Better Business Bureau, the Honolulu Fire Department and the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association are warning the public about a possible telemarketing scam.CrimeStoppers has received reports of a male telephone solicitor representing the Association of Retired Fire Fighters and requesting donations on behalf of the Disabled and Retired Fire Fighters program. The caller stated that donations would pay for magazine advertisements.
Other callers offered firefighter badges (gold, silver and bronze) and decals in exchange for a monetary donation.
The HFFA is not affiliated with this association, and the HFD has not been contacted by this organization, officials said. They are unaware of any fund-raising efforts by this retired-firefighter group.
Despite numerous requests from the Better Business Bureau in the past year, this organization has not provided information about its finances, programs and governance, according to a news release.
An investigation by the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau in Milwaukee was launched in 2002 without success, the release said.
Check out the Better Business Bureau Web site at hawaii.bbb.org for more information on telephone solicitation and charitable organizations.
Marine falls from deck of ship north of isles
SAN DIEGO >> A Marine was recuperating yesterday after he apparently fell off the flight deck of the USS Tarawa as the assault ship passed north of Hawaii, headed home from the war in Iraq.Lance Cpl. Daniel Flores, 21, of Hammond, Ind., was in "good condition" in the ship's medical ward, a Navy spokesman said.
Flores fell into the Pacific Ocean, about 560 miles northeast of Hawaii, late Monday night. He was rescued about 75 minutes later, after sailors with night-vision goggles spotted him and helped direct a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter to him.
Marine Corps officials are investigating why Flores fell. Flores is assigned to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which is to return to Camp Pendleton on Saturday.
The Tarawa is leading two other ships and more than 2,200 Marines home from the Persian Gulf. The Marines joined British troops in combat against Iraqi soldiers during the first month of combat operations to unseat Saddam Hussein.
The ships will return to San Diego Naval Station on Sunday.
Shopping center hosts Sunset on the Beach
The Market City Shopping Center will sponsor the Sunset on the Beach event at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki this weekend.The event will start at 4 p.m. Saturday with food and live entertainment.
The film "Tuck Everlasting," starring Alexis Bledel, William Hurt, Sissy Spacek and Amy Irving, will be featured at 7:30 p.m.
The film "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, will be featured at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
The event will also feature a craft fair of Hawaii-made products by the Hawaii Handcrafters and Artists Alliance.
For more information, call the Waikiki Improvement Association at 923-1094 or the city at 523-CITY.
Seventh-graders need shots to attend school
The state Department of Health is reminding all seventh-graders that they must be vaccinated to start school.According to health officials, seventh-graders need to show proof of the following vaccinations: 3 Hepatitis B, 2 MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and 1 or 2 Varicella (chickenpox). Students who have not completed their vaccinations or who do not show documentation of a scheduled vaccination appointment will not be permitted to attend school.
The completed seventh-grade immunization record, known as the yellow card, is required by state law. Students are encouraged to turn in the cards to the school office during the summer.
Families who do not have a doctor or are uninsured can call Ask Aloha United Way at 211 for a free or low-cost immunization clinic in their neighborhood.
For more information about school immunization requirements, call 586-8323 or visit the Department of Health Web site at www.vaxoschool.com. Neighbor islanders can call toll-free at 800-933-4832.
Free bone marrow registration available
The St. Francis Medical Center will conduct free bone marrow donor registration and testing this month as part of the American Cancer's Society's Relay for Life.Drives will be held Saturday at Moanalua High School from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, and on July 19 at Magic Island from 6 to 10 p.m.
Donors must be between 18 and 60 years old and in good health. A small blood sample will be collected for tissue typing.
The St. Francis Medical Center's Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry matches registered marrow donors with patients who need bone marrow because of a terminal blood disease. More than 16,000 people nationwide are diagnosed with a type of fatal blood disease each year.
For more information, call 547-6154.
Caution needed with self-serve beverages
The state Department of Health is warning the public about possible bacteria contamination from self-serve beverage machines.According to the DOH, bacteria can spread if a used cup comes in contact with the dispensing nozzle of a self-serve drink machine and is later used by another individual.
The department is asking food establishments that use self-serve drink dispensers to post signs and educate employees to avoid possible cross-contamination of beverages.
Program to highlight ways to live with MS
People with multiple sclerosis, their families and friends are invited to attend the Fifth Annual Education Day program Saturday, 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel.Speakers will present information on enhancing life with adaptive equipment and exercise guidelines.
To make a reservation or for more information, call 800-344-4867.
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[Taking Notice]
>> Hawaiian Electric Industries Charitable Foundation has given $20,000 to two American Cancer Society programs: $17,500 for Camp Ikaika, an annual retreat for young people with cancer; and $2,500 for the Central Maui Relay for Life.>> Read Aloud America has received $5,000 from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation. RAP is a literacy program designed to create lifelong readers.
>> Hospice Hawaii has received $5,000 from the Junior League of Honolulu for its Volunteer Training Program in Molokai, and $1,000 from NFL Charities to underwrite the cost of the Children's Bereavement Program and camp.
>> The March of Dimes raised $360,000 from its 33rd Annual WalkAmerica. Bank of Hawaii, the lead corporate sponsor, and its employees raised $87,000 of that amount.
>> Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu has received a $10,000 grant from the Hawaii Community Foundation's Mo' Bettah Together program. The grant will be used to further develop the organization's Site-Based Mentoring program, which involves high school students as one-on-one mentors for elementary school children.
>> Grace Pacific Corp. gave $10,000 to sponsor an educational retreat at Camp Timberline in Makakilo for 72 fifth-grade students who won its 2003 Outstanding Keiki of the Year Awards. The students are from Barbers Point, Kapolei, Makakilo and Mauka Lani elementary schools.
"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNumber of Oahu brush fires is up
There has been a 69 percent increase in the number of brush fires on Oahu this year compared with last year, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.Through yesterday there were 205 brush fires on Oahu compared with 121 during the same period last year, HFD says.
Police are asking that the public look out for suspicious activity in potential brush fire areas.
"Be vigilant during the summertime," said Detective Robert Cravalho. "If someone sees any suspicious activity, they should call the police."
One of this summer's larger brush fires occurred Tuesday in Haleiwa, where flames came within 50 feet of homes and businesses.
The cause of the fire has not been determined.
WINDWARD OAHU
Fourth arrest made in Waimanalo assault
Police made a fourth arrest in connection with the assault of a man who tried to stop another man from beating his own dog at Waimanalo Beach Park in March.The suspect, a 39-year-old man with no local address, was arrested under suspicion of assault Monday in Waimanalo and then released pending investigation.
Police arrested the dog owner and two other men in the case earlier but released them without charges.
A 51-year-old Kaneohe man sustained several broken ribs March 30 after he was allegedly attacked by the dog owner and the three other men.
He told police he was attacked after he tried to stop the dog owner from choking the dog and shoving its face underwater. Police later found the dog dead at the owner's home.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Victim of house fire identified as man, 49
Big Island police have identified the badly burned body found Sunday in the charred remains of a home outside Hilo as Kim Wissing, 49, of 66 Makakai Place. Detectives said Wissing was identified through dental records.Investigators have not determined the cause of Wissing's death or the cause of the fire that destroyed his home in the Honolii Lookout area about 6:53 a.m.
Bicyclist killed in race not struck by a vehicle
Big Island police have determined that a bicyclist who died on May 26 was not killed by a hit-and-run driver as was originally reported.The victim, Wayne Scrimshaw, 48, of Kailua-Kona, was bicycling in a triathlon on Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Route 19) near Kiholo, North Kona, when he was involved in a collision, police said.
Police at first thought it was a hit-and-run accident involving a motor vehicle but now believe he collided with another bicyclist he was trying to pass near the 84-mile marker.
The collision caused both cyclists to lose their balance, sending the victim's bicycle toward the southbound traffic lane and the other bicycle toward a lava field, police said. Scrimshaw was flown to the Queen's Medical Center, where he later died.
Police said after interviewing witnesses and inspecting the bicycle, investigators found no evidence that the bicycle had been struck by a vehicle.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
