Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Warm weather blamed for rising water use
Oahu's water consumption rose by an average of more than 5 million gallons a day during the week of Oct. 16-22, compared with the week before.Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials blamed the increase on recent warm, dry weather.
The board also noted that use the previous week was at the lowest level since the beginning of summer.
Oahu residents used about 160 million gallons of water a day during the week that ended Wednesday, almost 14 million gallons more a day than last year.
Water usage increased in six of the seven water districts from the week before. The highest increase, of 2 million gallons a day, was recorded in the Ewa-Waianae water district.
Water usage decreased in the Pearl Harbor water district by about 1 million gallons a day.
Since August the board has asked consumers to voluntarily conserve water use by watering lawns before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Water levels in island wells remain below the levels of a year ago, the board said yesterday.
Kauai businessman sentenced in tax case
A Kauai businessman convicted of violating state tax laws was sentenced to 45 days in jail and a $10,000 fine, the state attorney general's office said yesterday.Harry H. Ikeda, 60, was found guilty Oct. 9 of operating his Lihue barbershop without a general excise tax license and failing to file excise tax returns for 1998 and 1999, state Attorney General Mark Bennett said in a statement.
Ikeda argued that he was constitutionally exempt from paying state general excise taxes.
Excise tax is uniformly applicable to all persons who conduct business in Hawaii, Bennett said.
Bennett said he has noticed a recent trend of people seeking to avoid the reporting and payment of not only excise taxes, but other state taxes.
State gets $5.5 million for services for seniors
Hawaii will receive more than $5.5 million for in-home and community-based services for seniors, according to the state Executive Office on Aging.The grant is good for the next four years and will benefit such senior services as transportation, home-delivered meals and in-home case management, which includes housekeeping and personal care services.
"As Hawaii's and America's older population continues to increase, so does the need for programs and services," said Pat Sasaki, executive director of the state Executive Office on Aging.
"Only by working together, with public and private sectors and in community partnerships, can the ever-growing challenges of an aging society be addressed," Sasaki said.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Single-engine plane crashes on Lanai
A single-engine plane crashed about 1:55 p.m. yesterday at Lanai Airport.The aircraft's landing gear failed, and the plane veered off the runway, according to fire officials. No one was injured in the accident. No other details were available.
Waikiki
Early Halloween prank gets man, 21, arrested
An early Halloween prank in Waikiki Wednesday night got a 21-year-old Salt Lake man arrested for unauthorized entry into a vehicle.Police said the man, who was wearing a monster mask, went up to a car that was stopped at a traffic light at the corner of Kalakaua and Ohua avenues about 10 p.m., stuck his head through an open window and screamed.
The driver of the vehicle notified police, who located the suspect and arrested him. Police later released the man without charges pending investigation.
LEEWARD OAHU
Investigation opens into baby's head injury
Police opened an assault investigation Wednesday after a 2-month-old Makakilo girl was found to have a skull fracture.The girl's 26-year-old father told police he took his daughter to an area hospital emergency room after noticing a lump on the baby's head.
As of this morning, police had not made any arrests. They said the father was the baby's primary caregiver.
Honolulu
Man is beaten after he refuses to give up keys
Police arrested a 24-year-old Waipahu man Wednesday night for assault and robbery after he allegedly beat another man for not giving him his car keys.Police said the suspect approached the victim, a 43-year-old Liliha man, at the corner of Maunakea and Pauahi streets in downtown Honolulu about 10:30 p.m. and asked him for his car keys. The victim refused, and when the suspect asked him again, the victim told police he ran away.
The suspect chased the victim, and when he caught up with him, he slammed his body to the ground and beat him while he was on the ground, police said.
It was determined later that the victim suffered a skull fracture.
Police located the suspect about 90 minutes later and arrested him for second-degree robbery and first-degree assault.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
