Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Kuapa Pond water OK after sewage spill
Water quality at Kuapa Pond in Hawaii Kai has returned to normal following a Dec. 13 spill that released 65,000 gallons of untreated sewage upstream of Wailua Bridge.The spill was the result of a valve failure at a privately owned waste-water facility.
Hawaii-American Water Co., which serves 10,000 households in the Hawaii Kai area, announced yesterday that residents can resume their normal activities in the pond.
Isles get $6 million to aid the homeless
Honolulu will get more than $2.6 million in federal grants to help provide permanent and transitional housing to the homeless.The funds, which will also go to supplementing job training, health care, mental health counseling and substance abuse services, are part of more than $6 million awarded statewide this year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
State agencies were awarded more than $1.2 million by the department. Nonprofits, including Catholic Charities Community and Immigrant Services, Mental Health Kokua and others, also received grants.
Iroquois Elementary hits federal standards
Iroquois Point Elementary School has been added to the list of public schools that met strict federal criteria for academic progress.The Department of Education released a preliminary list of schools that made "adequate yearly progress" in September. Since then, 14 more schools have been added to the list of those making the grade, for a total of 109 out of 280 schools.
In most cases, the appeals were based on fluctuating student enrollment at the schools. Federal rules require that 95 percent of students in various categories at each school be tested and meet benchmarks for English and math performance.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kona drug raid leads to arrests of 4 residents
Three South Kona residents have been charged with multiple drug counts after a raid of a Captain Cook home Friday, police said.More than 7 grams of crystal methamphetamine, small amounts of marijuana and various pills were found at the home, police said.
Police arrested two men and two women who were at the home when the raid occurred. One, a 21-year-old Waikoloa woman, was released pending investigation.
Forty-one-year-old John Krems, of Captain Cook, was charged with nine drug counts, including two counts promoting dangerous drugs.
He is being held in lieu of $19,750 bail.
Gretta Rebardi, 35, was also arrested and charged with four drug counts. Her bail has been set at $8,250.
Donald Oliveros, 45, was charged with promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia. His $2,000 bail has been posted, police said.
Krems and Rebardi are being held at the Kona District Station in Kealakehe.
LEEWARD OAHU
5 people caught using robbery getaway car
Honolulu police said they recovered a stolen car used as the getaway vehicle for an armed robbery at an Aiea convenience store on Monday and arrested the driver and four occupants.A patrol officer stopped the 1996 Honda at Moanalua and Waimano Home roads in Pearl City at 1:45 a.m. yesterday. Police said the license plate indicated it had been stolen and the car matched the description of a car used in the robbery of a 7-Eleven store at 99-187 Aiea Heights Drive.
Three men threatened a store cashier with a handgun and took cash, cigarettes, beer and liquor during the robbery at 11:50 p.m. Monday, police said.
The four men and one woman in the car face potential drug charges in connection with a glass pipe with drug residue that was in the car, police said. They also will be questioned about the robbery.
CENTRAL OAHU
Man allegedly hits neighbor with shovel
A Wahiawa man allegedly hit a neighbor on the face with a shovel Friday evening, breaking his nose.Police said the 26-year-old suspect may have been drinking.
The 21-year-old victim, who was walking home after tending to the family garden, told police the two had not been arguing before the incident occurred.
The suspect was arrested and charges are pending.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
