Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Straub patients asked to be early
Straub Clinic & Hospital is asking patients to arrive 15 minutes earlier than usual for appointments because of renovations and expansion of the front entrance.Work began at the 888 S. King St. hospital Feb. 9 and will continue from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday until the end of June.
The entrance is being redesigned and expanded. Portions of the car path, wait areas and sidewalks will be within barricaded areas at times.
Demolition work will be conducted between 4 and 10 p.m. until the middle of this month.
Fatal bus accident backs up highway
A city bus was involved in a fatal pedestrian accident yesterday afternoon, backing up traffic for miles during rush hour, police said.The accident, reported at 3:47 p.m., closed a portion of the eastbound lanes of Kalanianaole Highway near Kalani High School for several hours.
Witnesses said the man apparently moved in front of the bus. He was not in a crosswalk when he was struck.
No passengers aboard the bus were injured.
Ameron and union set to return to the table
Ameron Hawaii and the union representing 144 striking workers are scheduled to resume contract negotiations today for the first time since the walkout began nearly a month ago.Federal negotiator Ken Kawamoto will assist in the talks between the company and the Teamsters Local 996. The strike at Ameron Hawaii began Feb. 6, and the 67 workers at Hawaiian Cement walked off the job the following day.
Teamsters negotiators and Hawaiian Cement broke off their talks last Wednesday. Ameron Hawaii and the union have not held talks since the walkout began.
The companies met separately with Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday.
Lingle has expressed concern over the impact the strike is having on Hawaii's construction industry.
The key issue remains over health benefits. The company wants employees to pay for a portion of their health insurance premiums.
"The hottest issue that's currently on the bargaining table is the co-payments," Local 996 President Mel Kahele said. "If we get over that hurdle, I believe we'll be able to return back to work soon."
Hawaiian Cement Vice President Michael Coad said the company will continue to put several ideas and proposals on the table.
Sewage spill dumps into Kalihi Stream
City officials said a manhole clogged with roots overflowed yesterday and spilled 1,500 gallons of raw sewage into Kalihi Stream.The spill, reported at Alu Place about 7:55 a.m., ended about 3 p.m.
Warning signs were posted along areas of Kalihi Stream and Keehi Lagoon.
Affected waters have been tested. There will be further testing for contamination.
The state Health Department has been notified.
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[Taking Notice]
>> The Kaneohe Outdoor Circle has honored five of its members with a rainbow shower tree dedication ceremony at Kaneohe District Park. They are Edna Shoup, Carolyn Heinrich, Barbara Sunderland Duran, Rom Duran and Joan Imes.>> Harold Hall, a neuropsychologist and director of the Pacific Institute for the Study of Conflict and Aggression in Waimea, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture and conduct research at the Psychology Institute in Lublin, Poland, for three months.
>> Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu has received a $3,500 donation from the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation and the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association's 25th Annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk. The funds will be used to develop its Site-Based mentoring programs and its efforts to provide high school students with volunteering opportunities to mentor and befriend elementary school students.
>> Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii, which provides a home away from home for families whose seriously ill children are undergoing medical treatment, has received a $50,000 grant from the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation.
The funds will be used for the expansion of the children's play area, an important phase of an excavation and construction project needed to stem erosion at the Ronald McDonald House's Judd Hillside location.
>> Verizon Wireless has awarded more than $13,000 in HopeLine program grants to agencies addressing domestic violence in Hawaii in 2003. It also awarded more than 140 HopeLine wireless phones with one year of prepaid air time to domestic violence agencies.
>> The Nanakuli Housing Corp. has received a $10,000 grant from the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation to support the recycling of construction materials for families to use in renovating their homes. This year, NHC will implement a program to train 15 to 20 low- to moderate-income individuals in construction field supervision, beginning in late January.
>> Read Aloud America has received $7,500 from the G.N. Wilcox Trust; $2,500 from the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation and the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association; $20,000 from the Gannett Foundation/Honolulu Advertiser; and $20,000 from the James and Abigail Campbell Foundation to conduct its reading program at public schools. The innovative family literacy program brings families together twice a month during a school semester to share the enrichment of reading.
"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 staffHONOLULU
Police arrest suspect in stabbing death
Police arrested a 22-year-old Kalihi man Sunday for suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of a man who was stabbed eight days ago in a Kalihi park.Police said the victim, 22, whose name has not been released, died Sunday at the Queen's Medical Center.
Police said the victim was with five to six friends in the parking lot at Kalakaua District Park on Feb. 22 when the suspect was hit by another male at about 9:30 p.m.
The suspect then allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim. The victim sustained an 8-inch puncture wound to his stomach and liver, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Ice Task Force nets 2 arrests in drug search
Officers from the West Hawaii Vice Section and Ice Task Force arrested two men Friday after executing a search warrant for narcotics at a Kealakehe, North Kona, home.William Kaohu, 33, and Chet Fallwind, 23, both of Kealakehe, were arrested after officers recovered 0.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," 7.2 grams of marijuana, glass smoking pipes, gram scales and other drug paraphernalia from the residence.
Kaohu was charged with three counts of promoting dangerous drugs, three counts of possessing illegal drug paraphernalia and one count of promoting harmful drugs. He was held in lieu of $15,050 bail.
Fallwind was charged with one count of promoting dangerous drugs and two counts of possessing illegal drug paraphernalia. He was held in lieu of $6,600 bail.
Officers obtained the search warrant in response to complaints and other information about drug activity at the residence.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
