Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Heads up, Mr. Mayor: Skull sent back to isle
It was just another day yesterday at Honolulu Hale until Mayor Jeremy Harris' secretary opened a package addressed to her boss.Wrapped in newspaper inside the box was a human skull.
"This is the strangest thing we've ever received," said Vicki Borges, Harris' executive assistant.
The package also contained a note from the anonymous sender, apparently a former Marine who had been stationed in Hawaii in the early 1950s, Borges said.
The man said in the note that he had taken the skull and now wanted to return it, she said.
The sender wasn't sure where the skull came from, but he believed it was from the Bellows area of Windward Oahu, Borges said.
Police took the skull to the city medical examiner's office, where it was determined to be ancient. More tests were to be conducted.
Council OKs DeCosta as new city clerk
The City Council confirmed Denise DeCosta yesterday to be the new city clerk.DeCosta, the longtime community relations officer for the Board of Water Supply, begins her new role Sept. 1.
"I think the committee had a very good choice in Denise DeCosta. She's an outstanding person. We had many applicants, and Denise DeCosta was ... heads above everyone," said Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi, a member of the four-person search committee that selected DeCosta.
The city clerk is the chief election officer for the county and is also responsible for maintaining city records, legislation and rules.
DeCosta succeeds Genny Wong, who retired July 1.
Measles on Oahu has health officials alerted
The state Department of Health has identified nine cases of locally acquired measles on Oahu so far this year, compared with no cases over the same period last year."We're concerned about these locally acquired cases because measles is such a highly contagious disease," state epidemiologist Paul Effler said yesterday.
"The best defense against measles is vaccination," he said. "Parents are strongly urged to check their child's vaccination schedule and keep it up to date."
The Health Department is alerting physicians to keep a watchful eye for measles among patients.
Measles is characterized by a red blotchy rash, high fever, runny nose, cough and reddened eyes. The rash commonly begins on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body.
Symposium covering TB treatment guide
Dr. Kenneth Castro, U.S. Public Health Service assistant surgeon general, will lead a discussion on new tuberculosis treatment guidelines at 7 p.m. today at the Lanakila Health Center, 1700 Lanakila Ave.Castro also is director of TB elimination at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. He will discuss the latest diagnostic tools and infection control, as well as treatment recommendations.
All Hawaii health care providers who diagnose and treat TB are affected.
The free symposium is sponsored by the Hawaii Thoracic Society, American Lung Association of Hawaii and Hawaii Tuberculosis Control Program.
Registration and a dinner buffet will begin at 6 p.m. Participants are asked to respond to Annie Soriano at the TB Control Program, 832-5737, or e-mail absorian@tb.health.state.hi.us.
Pacific Fleet Sub Force to get new commander
Rear Adm. Paul Sullivan will relieve Rear Adm. John Padgett III as the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet Submarine Force, in a change-of-command ceremony this afternoon aboard the nuclear attack submarine USS La Jolla.Sullivan, the 31st flag officer to serve as Submarine Force commander, will be responsible for more than 9,300 Navy and civilian personnel, 27 attack and eight ballistic submarines, one support ship and one deep-sea salvage rescue vessel.
The vessels are home-ported at Pearl Harbor, Guam, San Diego and Bangor, Wash.
Cane fires force detours on Maui roads
WAILUKU >> A series of fires that burned some 450 acres of sugar cane forced traffic to be diverted from the main highway connecting Upcountry Maui to the central valley for about 2 1/2 hours yesterday.Assistant Fire Chief Gordon Cordeiro said the cause of the fires, about four to five in different locations, was "very suspicious."
The fires near the Kehua Junction and Haleakala Highway forced vehicles to be rerouted onto secondary roads and caused several miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic on Baldwin Avenue and Omaopio Road.
Cordeiro said firefighters and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. workers controlled the blaze about 4 1/2 hours after receiving the alarm at 1:54 p.m.
Seminar to cover increasing energy
Dr. Joseph Pepping, specialist in nutritional pharmacology and pain management, will conduct a free public seminar on "Keeping the Mind and Body Active and Healthy" from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 16 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Coral Ballroom.The Hawaii Medical Service Association is sponsoring the event as part of an "Akamai Living" wellness program designed for HMSA and Health Plan Hawaii members age 55 and older.
The seminar is intended to help health professionals and residents learn how nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes may increase energy, vitality and mental clarity and improve quality of life.
Pepping, president and founder of the Wellness Institute International, will discuss the safety and effectiveness of anti-aging strategies, mind-body exercises, nutrition and the "right attitude" as part of a "Healthy Me" program.
Call 948-6398 to register. Space is limited. Validated parking is available at the hotel, and self-parking costs $3.
Golf benefit set to aid Sisters of St. Francis
St. Francis Healthcare Foundation's annual golf benefit will be held Sept. 11 at Hawaii Prince Golf Course, starting with check-in at 11 a.m.Proceeds will benefit the Sisters of St. Francis health-care ministry in Hawaii. The golf tournaments have raised nearly $1 million since 1982 for the Franciscan Sisters' health-care programs and services.
The entry fee is $450 per team, with a portion tax-deductible. The deadline for entries is Aug. 22 on a first-come, first-served basis.
A seven-day Hawaii cruise for two, courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line, will be presented to the winner.
For more information, call the St. Francis Healthcare Foundation at 547-6877.
Golf chips in money for isle cancer group
The Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation has received a total of $44,144 from three golf tournaments to provide services to children with cancer and their families.The foundation held a tournament at Mililani Golf Course that generated $26,000. Greens fees and a catered dinner were underwritten through Bert Kobayashi, of Kobayashi Development Group LLC.
Ace Auto Glass Inc. and Airbag Service raised $8,144 at its fourth annual golf tournament at Waikele Golf Club to support the foundation's program.
A $10,000 grant was given to the organization by Friends of Hawaii Charities from Sony Open 2003.
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[ Taking notice ]
Grants
>> The School of Nursing at Hawaii Pacific University has received a $34,000 Advance Practice Nursing Traineeship grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Service Administration.>> Aloha Harvest, which provides food for the needy through 90 social service agencies on Oahu, has received $10,000 from the Friends of Hawaii Charities. The money was part of the proceeds raised by this year's Sony Open golf tournament at the Waialae Country Club.
>> The Aloha Council of the Boy Scouts of America will receive $50,000, in three years from First Hawaiian Foundation. The money will go toward camping and outdoor activities.
>> The Hawaii Pizza Hut Literacy Fund has given $60,000 to the Read to Me International Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes reading aloud to children. The grant was used to fund the Read to Me Conference in June, the Leeward "Run and Read for Literacy" event, the production of a CD, a prison reading project and other projects.
>> Child & Family Service has been awarded $5,000 from the Atherton Family Foundation for its group home for troubled youth and children with autism. It also was awarded $20,000 from the Sony Open and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation for its school for autistic children.
>> The Institute for Human Services, Oahu's emergency homeless shelter, has received the following grants: more than $13,000 from the Mary & Paul Wagner Fund for general operating expenses; $4,000 from Central Union Church for the IHS Meal Program; $25,000 from the Cooke Family Foundation for a flatbed truck with a hydraulic lift to pick up donated food; $25,000 from the Atherton Family Foundation for the Supportive Housing Program; $5,000 from the Kitaro Wata-nabe Fund for the Homeless Family Support program; $15,000 from the Bank of Hawaii for organization capacity building; $8,000 from the Bretzlaff Foundation for a triage counselor; and $10,000 from The Pettus Foundation for general operating expenses.
>> The Public Health Fund of the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce has given $10,000 to Hina Mauka for drug and alcohol assessments and counseling to homeless women at the Institute for Human Services.
>> Winners at Work has been awarded a $20,000 grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation to provide job training and placement services for disabled people.
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, CourtsBy Star-Bulletin staff
LEEWARD OAHU
Woman critically hurt in Maili accident A woman was flown in critical condition to The Queen's Medical Center this morning after an accident in Maili.
Details were not immediately available but police said she was injured in a crash about 6:20 a.m. on Hakimo Road near Kapiki Road. She was pinned in her vehicle and firefighters were dispatched to free her from the wreckage.
WAIKIKI
Woman drowns near Hilton Hawaiian Village A 76-year-old woman apparently drowned Tuesday in the ocean fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
The woman's niece told police her aunt went for a swim about 10:30 a.m. About an hour later, firefighters were called to the beach. When they arrived, bystanders were performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the woman.
The woman was taken by ambulance to Straub Hospital where she died about 6:30 p.m.
Police arrest couple for firing rifle at beach
A 23-year-old Waikiki man and his 21-year-old girlfriend were arrested this morning for allegedly firing a rifle at Diamond Head Beach.A patrol officer, who stopped at the Diamond Head Lookout about 2:30 a.m., saw the couple's car parked illegally and heard shots being fired, police said. The suspects were arrested when they returned to their car.
Halawa inmate, 42, found dead in his cell
The body of a 42-year-old Halawa Correctional Facility inmate was found in his cell Tuesday, the victim of an apparent suicide, officials said.The inmate's identity has not been released. Correctional officers making routine checks in the Medium Security Facility found the inmate at 8 a.m.
He had apparently hanged himself, said Warden Clayton Frank.
CENTRAL OAHU
HPD has camouflage jacket as clue in heist
The man who robbed the Mililani branch of American Savings Bank July 30 was wearing a camouflage jacket with the name "EVANS" embroidered on a chest pocket, police said.
CRIMESTOPPERS
This camouflage jacket with "U.S. Army" and "EVANS" embroidered on the pockets was left behind by a man who allegedly robbed a Mililani bank last week.
The robber left the jacket behind after a dye pack exploded as he was fleeing, police said. The jacket also is embroidered with "U.S. Army" on the other chest pocket.
Police said the robber also may have held up the same bank on June 26. He is described as in his 30s, 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 160 pounds. He carried a silver-colored handgun and covered his head with a black T-shirt.
Anyone with information may call Robbery Detective Brian Johnson at 692-4602 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island man dies of July 27 crash injuries A 51-year-old Puna man died Saturday after he was injured in a traffic accident July 27.
Big Island police said Kelly McKee of Mountain View was injured at the intersection of Volcano Highway and Paahana Street where his car went off the road and hit a traffic signal pole.
McKee had been taken to Hilo Medical Center but a friend found him at home Saturday, police said. He was taken back to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
