Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Electric workers union sets Oct. 31 deadline
Contract negotiations continued last night for about 1,000 employees of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc., which provides electricity for Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.Unionized HEI employees are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260. The current contract expires at the end of the month and includes mostly employees involved in field operations.
Sources said both sides are far from reaching a settlement and that if no agreement is reached by midnight Oct. 31, the union will walk. The two sides have been talking for several months.
Maui cat will be sent to zoo after its capture
WAILUKU >> State Land Board Chairman Peter Young said that once captured, the big cat roaming Upcountry Maui will be transferred to a zoo on the Big Island."Our eventual goal is to safely capture the cat, tranquilize it and transfer it to the Panaewa Zoo in Hilo," Young said. "Every effort will be made to bring this animal in alive and harm-free."
An Arizona expert in setting snares is scheduled to arrive on Maui today to assist in the capture. Sightings of the animal were reported Oct. 8 and 10, and a set of tracks was found in moist soil during a sighting on Oct. 11, the state Department of Land & Natural Resources said.
Arizona biologist William Van Pelt said he believes the cat might be a leopard, jaguar or mountain lion.
Monk seal is returned to remote Big Isle spot
KAILUA-KONA >> A 2-year-old Hawaiian monk seal has been returned to his birth area after he was reported to have come into contact with some swimmers in Kealakekua Bay, wildlife officials said yesterday.The seal was taken to a remote location at the southern end of the Big Island to prevent possible harm, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service said.
The seal was first seen interacting with people on the Kona side of the island last week.
Eyewitnesses said that late Friday, swimmers had been "nipped and groped" as the seal grabbed at swimmers with its teeth and flippers, the fisheries service said.
Although the behavior is normal for a seal, it becomes a danger when humans are involved, said Brad Ryon, a fisheries service official in Hawaii.
The seal, known as RM34, was born in March 2001 and was the first recorded birth on the Big Island.
He is one of about 1,200 to 1,400 monk seals in the world today, NOAA said.
UH to hold annual peer training program
A program to help University of Hawaii-Manoa students develop health resources, public speaking and other skills will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Queen Liliuokalani Center for Student Services, Room 312.University Health Services sponsors the annual Peer Educator Training, giving students opportunities to work on special-event plans and promotion, a UH research project and community events.
Peer Educator Training is part of the UH-Manoa Lokahi Program, formed in 1987 to fight the growing threat of HIV infection on university campuses and support students with knowledge and skills to live healthy lives.
Peer educators provide information and presentations addressing topics such as health and wellness, sexual relationships and health, body imaging, eating disorders and tobacco education/cessation.
Lunch and snacks will be provided. For more information or to respond by tomorrow's deadline, call 956-3574.
National group honors St. Francis physician
Dr. Steven Jon Berman, medical director of infection control and epidemiology at St. Francis Medical Center, has received the Infectious Disease Society of America's Clinician Award for 2003.Berman became involved with infectious-disease issues while working as a medical epidemiologist for the Preventive Medicine Detachment, Naval Support Hospital, in Danang, Vietnam, and as project director for a study of fevers of unknown origin in Vietnam for the Naval Medical Research Unit-2.
He is consulted by many agencies needing information on infectious issues ranging from tropical diseases to bioterrorism. He has written many papers, with a special interest in the infectious problems of patients with end-stage renal disease.
Berman has been named Teacher of the Year at the University of Hawaii and Internist of the Year by the Hawaii Society of Internal Medicine.
Proposals are sought for research projects
Health care professionals interested in conducting clinical research projects are invited to submit proposals for Straub Foundation's Competitive Grants Program.Instead of cash grants, investigators will receive resource support for project-related needs, such as study design, project coordination, statistical analysis, database establishment and assistance in publishing and presenting results.
The foundation is particularly interested in cardiovascular, orthopedics and cancer research.
Applications may be obtained by calling the foundation, 524-6755. A one-page executive summary of the project or letter of intent must be submitted by Nov. 14. The deadline to submit a proposal is Dec. 12.
Specialist will speak on infectious diseases
Dr. Alan Tice, infectious-disease specialist and associate professor, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, will present an update on viral infectious disease from 9 to 10 a.m. Oct. 30.He will discuss HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, herpes and other diseases infecting Hawaii's at-risk populations at the Drug Addiction Services of Hawaii, Inc., main third-floor conference room, 1130 N. Nimitz Highway, Suite C-302.
For reservations, e-mail KenAkinaka@aol.com or call 808-221-6204.
Seminar to discuss care for Alzheimer's
Geriatric physician Dr. Warren Wong will discuss the latest research and treatment available for Alzheimer's disease at a workshop from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 1 at the Boy Scouts Council of America, 42 Puiwa Road, off Pali Highway.Families, caregivers and the public are invited to the event, entitled "What's Up Doc?"
For reservations or more information, call 591-2771. The workshop is free but donations are accepted.
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[Taking Notice]
>> Keiki O Ka 'Aina Family Learning Centers has been awarded a $1.9 million three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The funds are part of the $31 million set aside under the Native Hawaiian Education Act, made available in conjunction with the No Child Left Behind Act.>> Sts. Peter & Paul Church's Outreach Program has received $1,000 from the Honolulu office of Smith Barney, donated through the Citigroup Foundation. The funds will be used for the purchase of food for the needy.
>> PBS Hawaii has received commitment for another year of financial support from Alexander & Baldwin Inc., which brings "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" to Hawaii; and the Mary D. and Walter F. Frear Eleemosynary Trust, which supports the "Between the Lions" and Ready to Learn children's literacy programs.
>> Aloha Harvest has received $50,000 from Kraft Foods to expand the collection and distribution of donated foods delivered to social service agencies on Oahu, and to help purchase a new delivery truck.
>> Labman Hawaii Inc. in Kamuela on the Big Island has received the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress grant of $116,281 to develop its physical education program for students.
"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 staffWAIKIKI
Tourist using phone is robbed at knifepoint
Police are looking for a suspect who robbed a tourist at knifepoint Tuesday night as she was using a pay telephone in Waikiki.The tourist, 32, from Japan, told police she was using a telephone fronting 445 Seaside Ave. about 9 p.m. when the suspect threatened her with a knife, took her cash and jewelry, then told her to run away and not to turn around.
She said the suspect was wearing a black beanie cap and a black bandanna covering his face.
LEEWARD OAHU
Man threatening police subdued and arrested
Police fired at least four beanbag rounds to subdue a 51-year-old man who was allegedly threatening to kill officers with a large knife Tuesday in Waianae.Police responded to a call from the man's sister about 5:20 p.m. When officers arrived at the home on Kuwale Road, the man was outside holding a large knife and threatening to kill them, police said.
The man eventually moved to an open field where, police said, they used the nonlethal rounds to subdue him just before 8 p.m.
He was arrested for terroristic threatening and drug promotion.
The man had a pipe containing what appeared to be methamphetamine, police said.
HONOLULU
Man charged for role in shooting near school
Police charged a 26-year-old Kalihi man Tuesday night with one count of first-degree attempted murder and two counts of second-degree attempted murder in connection with a shooting Saturday near Kalakaua Middle School.John Madrid was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Police said Madrid and another man confronted two other men behind the school. Madrid tried to stab the two but could not, police said.
His companion, 19, shot at the men, critically wounding one -- a 19-year-old -- who was taken to the Queen's Medical Center.
Police are still looking for Madrid's companion.
Lottery scam claims new victim in Manoa
Honolulu CrimeStoppers, the U.S. Secret Service and local financial institutions are reminding the public of a lottery scam that has been going on for several years, the latest one aimed at a Manoa resident.Police said the victim received a Federal Express package containing a $29,500 Scotiabank cashier's check along with a letter that stated the resident had won a $2 million sweepstakes prize from "International Golden Award."
According to the letter, the company sent the winner a check to pay for "fees." She was supposed to deposit the check into her bank and then send back the entire amount via a money order to a Seattle address. However, the check was fraudulent.
In another, similar case, police said the victim deposited the check into her account, believing it to be valid, and then sent the money to a foreign country so she could claim her prize.
Roughly a month later, it was discovered that the check was fraudulent and the victim responsible for the money she had sent overseas.
In many cases, police say, there is no way to recover money sent by victims to foreign countries.
Investigators advise that if someone is depositing a cashier's check from an unknown party or bank, ask the bank to send "for collection," which means the individual will not get credit for the money until it is actually collected.
This may mean waiting up to a month or more, especially if it is an international check.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
