Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Prison drug treatment funding is renewed
The state Department of Public Safety has received $377,995 in federal funds for the continuation of a prison drug and alcohol abuse treatment program.The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Formula Grant Program assists in developing and implementing treatment programs in state and local correctional facilities.
It also assists in creating and maintaining community-based after-care services.
The state will use the funds, awarded last week by the U.S. Department of Justice, to expand its Project Bridge, a transitional living and substance abuse program.
Project Bridge will double its capacity to 64 beds for male offenders, according to a statement by U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr.
The project is currently operating at the Laumaka Work Furlough Facility at the Oahu Community Correctional Center and the Women's Community Correctional Center.
Inouye acts to restore native veterans' loans
About 50 veterans of native Hawaiian ancestry have been affected by the suspension of the Native American Veterans Direct Loan Program, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said.The Bush administration suspended new loans under the program because it had exceeded a $5 million cap, Democrat Inouye said Friday in a news release issued by his Washington office.
The Office of Veteran Affairs in Honolulu was ordered on May 30 to halt all disbursements for the program, he said.
The action led contractors to halt construction of houses on state Hawaiian homelands for nine native Hawaiian veterans, and other new home construction loans and interest rate reduction loans also came to an abrupt halt.
To remedy the situation, Inouye said he has inserted language into the Defense Appropriations Bill to remove the cap, retroactive to Feb. 20.
"This is the right thing to do," Inouye said. "Native Hawaiian veterans should be able to take advantage of low interest rates to achieve their dream of homeownership."
Son of author booked for Korean War talk
Mililani Public Library will host a discussion program called "Korean War: 50th Anniversary of Armistice (1953-2003)" at 6:30 p.m. July 23.Steve Kalnasy, whose father, Kal, wrote "Korea: The Last of the Fun Wars from the Beach to the Reservoir & Other Heroic Events," will speak at the event.
The program will run for about 45 minutes and is suitable for ages 9 and up, according to organizers.
For more information, call the library at 627-7470.
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[Taking Notice]
>> Stephanie Zane has been recognized as the Outstanding Rehabilitant of the Year by the state Department of Human Services' Vocational Rehabilitation and Services for the Blind Division. She has been an employee of the Hawaii Kai McDonald's for 14 years and is a longtime volunteer with Special Olympics.Also, the Dave and Buster's restaurant/electronic game emporium has been selected as an Outstanding Employer of the Year by the division for hiring four deaf employees for diverse positions.
>> David W. Eyre, a longtime supporter of the arts and co-founder of Honolulu magazine, is the 2003 Roselani Medallion Honoree of the Hawaii chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters. The chapter also awarded $1,000 to Christopher Schmicker, of Punahou, who received an all-expenses-paid trip to the national competition in Lexington, Ky.
>> Corey Johnson, of Hilo High School, and Kelcie Suda, of St. Anthony Junior High in Wailuku, have received 2003 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards for outstanding volunteer service at a national ceremony in Washington, D.C.
>> The International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England, has appointed Walter Tuck Chang, of Waipahu, a deputy director general of the center, which has published 29 Who's Who books in the past 30 years.
>> Audrey Rocha-Reed has been promoted to president and chief executive officer of the J. Walter Cameron Center, a nonprofit organization that houses and supports agencies that provide assistance in health and services in Wailuku. She served as executive vice president for seven of her 21 years at the center.
>> The Honolulu Police Department has presented its 2003 Citizenship Award to Kenneth Tano, regional coordinator for the Western States Information Network, for his efforts in combating drug trafficking in Hawaii. The retired HPD major has been employed by the federal network since 1998.
>> Winners of the 14th Annual Kapolei Outstanding Achievement Awards are the Rotary Club of Kapolei, for community service; special-education teacher Kari Terjeson, for education; Jeffrey J. Prostor, president of Brookfield Homes Southland Inc., for entrepreneurship; Covanta-HPOWER, for environment; and Mike Freitas, community volunteer, for lifetime service.
>> JN Mazda has donated a 2003 MX-5 Miata and a trip for two to Las Vegas to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii for a fund-raising auction.
"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 staffHONOLULU
Teen girl escapee surrenders
A 16-year-old female escapee has surrendered to police after having been on the run for several months.Police said that on April 22 the suspect left the juvenile detention facility on Alder Street for a medical visit and did not come back. The suspect's social worker later reported her as an escapee. The suspect finally turned herself in yesterday.
LEEWARD
Brush fire in Makaha burns about 40 acres
A Makaha Valley brush fire burned an estimated 40 acres of land before firefighters could get flames under control yesterday.Fire officials said the blaze started at 2:30 p.m. along Kili Drive and continued up the mountain until firefighters were able to contain it along the ridge 3 1/2 hours later. The Fire Department's Air One helicopter, along with a military helicopter, provided water drops throughout the day.
No firefighters were injured or homes damaged during the fire. According to fire officials, the closest residences were the Makaha Valley Towers, some quarter-mile away and over the ridge from the blaze.
WAIKIKI
Police arrest alleged hotel room intruder
Honolulu police arrested a man who allegedly broke into a Waikiki hotel room and fondled a woman while her husband was also in the room.Police said the 24-year-old victim was asleep in her room and awoke to find the suspect, 21, fondling her. The victim then woke up her husband and called police. The suspect was arrested for burglary and fourth-degree sexual assault.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Cop-assault charges filed in dragging case
Big Island police have charged a 21-year-old man after he allegedly injured an officer by dragging him with his vehicle.Acting on a tip from residents, South Kohala patrol officers arrested the suspect, Timothy Jackson, at 4:40 p.m. Saturday at Spencer Beach Park.
Police said that on July 3 a driver had been stopped by a community-policing officer during a function at the Pahoa Community Center for reckless driving in the parking lot.
The officer flagged the motorist down on Kau Hale Street and was talking with him when the vehicle accelerated. The officer's arm was caught in the window, and he was dragged about 30 feet before he got his arm loose. The motorist then sped away.
The officer was treated by medics at the Pahoa Fire Station for abrasions to his arms, back and legs.
After his arrest, Jackson was charged with assault on a police officer, reckless endangering and resisting an order to stop as well as other charges stemming from outstanding warrants. He is being held in lieu of $26,250 bail.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
