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Police, Fire, Courts

Star-Bulletin staff and wire

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Hilo harbor renewal presentation tomorrow

Conceptual plans for Wailoa small-boat harbor improvements will be presented at a meeting tomorrow in Hilo.

Handouts will show plans for a fendering system and waterline replacements for Suisan Basin, parking lot improvements, additional trailer parking and a handicapped access ramp.

"We encourage friends of the harbor to attend and share any recommendations," said Peter Young, director of the state Department of Land & Natural Resources.

The harbor has funding for $600,000 in improvements.

The meeting will be 5-7 p.m. at the State Office Building, Conference Rooms A, B and C. For more information, call 933-0414 or 329-4997.

Pet quarantine rules undergo modifications

A series of modifications to the state's pet quarantine rules went into effect this month, including a reduction in fees for frequent-flying animals.

The changes are:

>> Hawaii pets must take a blood test no fewer than 14 days -- rather than 120 days -- prior to departure. A passing test must be received before the pet re-enters the state.

>> Pets that enter the state for a second time within an 18-month period will be charged a reduced fee of $78 for direct airport release or $110 for five-day-or-less quarantine.

>> Animals that meet all requirements for the five-day-or-less and 30-day programs, but are not able to complete the required waiting period prior to entry, will be allowed to stay in quarantine until their waiting period has elapsed.

Under previous rules, if a pet did not complete the waiting period, it would have to complete a 30- or 120-day quarantine.

>> Guide dog users can request inspection at Honolulu Airport by notifying the Rabies Quarantine Branch no less than seven days before their arrival. International guide dog users are also eligible for the exemption, which was not the case previously.

The rule changes were approved by the Hawaii Board of Agriculture in December and were signed Feb. 2 by Gov. Linda Lingle.

Pothole-patching crew to repair Piikoi Street

A pothole-patching crew will resurface Piikoi Street between Ala Moana and Kapiolani Boulevard between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on weekdays, starting tomorrow and continuing through Feb. 26.

The makai-bound lanes of Piikoi Street will be affected for the first four days, and the mauka-bound lanes the remaining four days.

At least one lane of traffic will be closed during the work.

Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Army identifies second of 3 soldiers dead in crash

CORRECTION Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2003 >> Carl Koonce III was driving the Safety Systems Hawaii Inc. truck that was rear-ended by a car suspected of racing on the H-1 freeway early Friday. A Page A1 article Sunday and a brief on Page A5 yesterday incorrectly reported his first name as Carol. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.

An Army spokeswoman identified yesterday the second of three Schofield Barracks soldiers who were killed in a Friday crash on the H-1 freeway near the Waipahu offramp.

Sgt. Shanta Bridges, 26, of McComb, Miss., was an infantryman assigned to Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division.

Army Spc. Jason J. Bordwell, 22, who was also killed in the accident, was driving a second car that crashed into a truck. Police said a passer-by pulled Bordwell's passenger, Army Spc. Carlos Molestina-Arteaga, 23, of Bloomfield, N.J., out of the car to safety.

The fourth soldier has yet to be identified pending notification of family members.

Forty-nine-year-old Mariano Salangdron Sr., a Safety Systems Hawaii worker, was also killed. He was riding in the cab of a flatbed truck when the first of two vehicles slammed into the rear of the truck.

The truck driver, Carol "Sonny" Koonce III, was released from the Queen's Medical Center on Saturday.

Witnesses said the two cars appeared to be speeding or racing on the highway before the crash. The truck's gas tank burst into flames upon impact while the second vehicle slammed into the first vehicle and caught fire.

Police are continuing their investigation.

WINDWARD OAHU
Medical examiner ID's boater found in bay

A medical examiner has identified a man who died Thursday after he was found floating face down at Kaneohe Bay as 63-year-old David M. Maeda, of Kaneohe.

Maeda was with family and friends on a private boat. A Honolulu Fire Department spokesman said a woman later spotted him floating face down in the water.

Family and friends performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Maeda before he was taken to Castle Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

HONOLULU
Police hold boyfriend in alleged kidnapping

Police have arrested a 30-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped and abused his 18-year-old girlfriend two weeks ago.

The victim was sitting in a vehicle in Kaimuki sometime after midnight Feb. 6 when the suspect approached the vehicle with a knife, police said. The suspect allegedly forced the victim out of the vehicle, struck her and dragged her to his home on 12th Avenue.

The man padlocked the victim in his room and left. Police said the victim escaped after she used a screwdriver and dug through the drywall to remove the lock.

The suspect was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree theft and was taken to the main cellblock when police discovered that he was wanted for kidnapping and abuse offenses.

Mom critically injured in attack at school

Police are searching for a 27-year-old man facing an attempted-murder charge for critically injuring his ex-girlfriend near Kuhio Elementary School Friday.

The 30-year-old woman told police she was picking up her children after school when the man struck her with an unknown object. She ran to a nearby store for help and was taken to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment.

Reported robbery leads to man's arrest

A 38-year-old man was arrested on second-degree robbery charges Friday based on a 33-year-old woman's report that he forcibly took money and jewelry from her at 3:15 p.m., police said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kula man identified as car collision fatality

A 34-year-old man who was killed Friday in a car crash on Maui has been identified as Stefan S. Bournakel, of Kula.

A 52-year-old woman was driving a black Toyota Tacoma on Pulehu Road about 1:35 p.m. Friday when she crossed the center line and struck a green Ford driven by Bournakel.

Big Island police seek parking law volunteers

Big Island police are seeking volunteers to enforce disabled-parking laws throughout South Hilo and Kona.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent and undergo a background check and training.

Deadline for applying is March 5. For more information, contact Traffic Services Sgt. Randy Apele at 961-2305.

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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers