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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
LEGISLATORS GET MEMORIAL TOUR
Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, left, gestured yesterday while leading a tour of the World War II Memorial for members of Congress in Washington, D.C. Dole helped in fund raising for the memorial, which is scheduled for dedication May 29. From left are Dole; Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C.; Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.; Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii; Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii; Rep. Ralph Hall, D-Texas; and Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska.
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Paratroopers miss mark during jump
Three Special Operations paratroopers on a routine training jump over Schofield Barracks yesterday landed in adjoining private property.Army Maj. Guillermo Canedo, Pacific Command spokesman, said one jumper suffered minor injuries when he veered away from the jump zone in East Range just before 1 p.m. A witness said that at least two people landed in private property.
Canedo said he did not know how many people were involved in the jump and what military branches they belonged to since the Special Operations Command is composed of all services.
Public warned to guard against leptospirosis
The number of leptospirosis cases reported to Hawaii health officials has more than quadrupled so far this year, prompting the state to advise residents to protect themselves against the water-borne bacteria.The state Health Department reported 21 cases this year, compared with four in the same time last year. Last year, Big Island resident Simon Hultman died of the disease.
To avoid contracting the disease, health officials urge residents and visitors to:
>> Not drink stream water without boiling or treating it.Also, people with cuts or abrasions should not swim or play in fresh water or mud.
>> Drain standing water from potentially contaminated areas.
>> Vaccinate pets and farm animals.
>> Control rats, mice and mongooses around home and work sites.Leptospirosis is primarily carried by rats and mice. Humans generally contract it through contact with fresh water contaminated with urine from infected animals. Symptoms are similar to the flu.
Vegas virus cases stay steady, officials say
The number of people who contracted the Norwalk virus during a Las Vegas visit remained at a steady rate over the past two weeks."It's at the lowest right now since the outbreak began," said spokesman David Tonelli of the Clark County Health District in Las Vegas.
Health officials said six people reported suffering from the flulike virus between April 17 and April 23, Tonelli said. Six people also suffered from the virus between April 10 and April 16.
A total of 1,660 cases were reported between Dec. 3 and Monday, Tonelli said.
Those who reported contracting the illness visited or stayed at the California Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, a site popular with Hawaii visitors. Symptoms of the Norwalk virus include acute vomiting or diarrhea for up to three days.
Health officials will consider the outbreak over when they see a sustained decline to four complaints per week over a one-month period.
Mariana Islands warned of possible volcanic ash
SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands >> Health officials are advising residents to be prepared to protect themselves from volcanic ash from an erupting volcano on an uninhabited island of the Northern Marianas.Anatahan volcano began erupting Sunday after nearly a year of inactivity, sending an ash plume as high as 3,500 feet that afternoon. The maximum height of the steam and ash plume was down to about 2,000 feet by Monday.
While the volcanic plume has not been confirmed to be headed toward populated islands of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 75 miles to the south, any change in wind direction may affect the people there, said Mark Pangelinan, acting director of the commonwealth's Emergency Management Office.
Anatahan last erupted from May to August last year, covering the island that bears its name in several feet of ash but causing no casualties or damage to communities in the U.S. commonwealth, where about 70,000 people live.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU
4 arrested in string of mini-market thefts
Police arrested four male teenagers yesterday after they were allegedly involved in a rash of robberies at convenience stores in Kalihi, Kapalama, Nuuanu and Palama.Capt. Clayton Saito of the Kalihi Police Station said the teenagers, from Kalihi -- three age 17 and the other age 16 -- allegedly stole liquor and other items from four 7-Eleven convenience stores at 1755 Nuuanu Ave., 2404 N. School St., 1900 Dillingham Blvd. and 1136 N. King St. as well as a 2-Go Tesoro convenience store at 1311 Palama St. between 10 p.m. Monday and 1:10 a.m. yesterday.
Saito said a clerk at the 7-Eleven store at 1900 Dillingham Blvd. was punched in the face by one of the suspects. The suspects attempted to take cash from a safe or cash register but it was locked, he said.
Sometime between 2:30 and 3 a.m., police arrested the four teenagers near another 7-Eleven store in the Downtown area. That store was not robbed.
The four were arrested on suspicion of robbery, theft and criminal property damage.
Man, 22, arrested in alleged sex assault
Police arrested a 22-year-old man Monday after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 15-year-old Kaimuki girl.On March 2, the victim's mother told police that her daughter told her she was sexually assaulted by the suspect at a friend's home, police said.
Police located the suspect, who has no local address, in Kailua Monday and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree sexual assault.
WINDWARD OAHU
Boy alleges sex abuse by man for 3 years
Police are investigating a 54-year-old man who allegedly sexually assaulted a boy in Kailua over three years.The boy, 7, told police that he was sexually assaulted by the suspect on numerous occasions between Dec. 19, 1999, and Dec. 18, 2002.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
