Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Proposal would delay gas-cap law until 2005
The latest proposal to adjust Hawaii's unique gasoline price-cap law would delay implementation of the regulations until Jan. 1, 2005.Regulations are scheduled to take effect July 1, but lawmakers have been working this year to adjust the price-cap legislation to address concerns raised since it was passed in 2002.
Senate Consumer Protection Chairman Ron Menor (D, Mililani) said yesterday that the delay is needed to give the Public Utilities Commission time to prepare the rules and regulations.
The commission, which would oversee the price controls, had sought a delay of at least one year.
House lawmakers said they would consider the proposal. Lawmakers have until tomorrow to come up with a final proposal.
$10.2 million awarded for water quality loans
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $10.2 million grant to a revolving fund that offers the state's four counties low-interest loans for water quality improvement projects.The Clean Water State Revolving Fund is administered by the state Department of Health. The EPA has awarded $149 million to the fund since 1990.
The fund was created in 1987. Its loans have gone to protecting or restoring watersheds and improving waste-water treatment equipment.
Some 45 waste-water treatment projects, totaling $222 million, have been paid for statewide by the fund's loans. The fund totaled $334 million last year.
"We are working with the state of Hawaii in developing loans for projects to decrease the effects of non-point source pollution and improve watersheds," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri.
Woman is indicted in attempted murder
An Oahu grand jury has indicted a 44-year-old woman in the attempted murder of her estranged husband.Gwendolyn Yomes was charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree terroristic threatening and two firearm offenses.
She is accused of shooting her husband, Stephen Yomes, in the stomach when the two were arguing April 11 in a Kalihi home. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in guarded condition.
Heart symposium and golf tourney next week
The 30th annual American Heart Golf Classic, a benefit for the American Heart Association, and a Cardiovascular Medical Symposium will be held Wednesday at the Hawaii Prince Golf Club in Ewa Beach.Lunch and registration will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by a putting contest. The winner will have a chance for a $1 million hole-in-one shot at noon. The tournament will begin at 12:30 p.m. with a shotgun start, and an awards banquet will be held after the play.
The tournament format is a modified three-person best ball. Prizes will include a round trip for two to "a golfer's paradise."
The symposium, free to the public, will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Bird of Paradise Restaurant on the golf club grounds. Speakers will include Drs. John Cogan, William Dang, William Madauss, Scott McAffree and S.Y. Tan.
The entry fee for a golf team is $480. Those interested should contact Danielle at 538-7021, ext. 30. Proceeds will support heart and stroke research and public and professional cardiac education programs.
Program emphasizes infant immunizations
An average of 49 babies are born daily in Hawaii, and each needs to be immunized against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases by age 2, according to the Department of Health's Women, Infants and Children program.The program is reminding parents and caregivers during National Infant Immunization week, through Saturday, to keep their children's vaccinations up to date.
The program's services include monitoring the immunization records of infants and children.
Hawaii is at higher risk for imported diseases, increasing chances for exposure, and immunizations provide protection against these diseases, the officials said.
For more information about the WIC program, see www.hawaiiwic.com, or call 586-8175 or toll-free 800-820-6425.
For information about immunizations, see www.vaxhawaii.com or call 586-8332 or 800-933-4832.
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[Taking Notice]
>> The Honolulu Police Department has announced the following promotions that were effective April 4:
Major -- Delbert Tatsu-yama, Finance Division.
Captains -- Michael Moses, Finance Division; Mitchell Kiyuna, District 8 (Leeward Oahu).
Lieutenants -- Roy Sugimoto, District 1 (Downtown, Kakaako, Ala Moana) Burglary, Theft Detail; Crizalmer Caraang, District 8 Receiving Desk; Brently Hume, Juvenile Services Division; Cary Okimoto, District 6 Waikiki).
Sergeants -- Darren Nihipali, District 5 (Kalihi-Salt Lake); Kevin Oshiro, District 1.
Detectives -- Brent Kagawa, Brian Lynch, Sterling Solusod, Allan Kuaana, Herbert Soria, John Asing Jr., David Vines, Criminal Investigation Division; Samuel Fontanilla, District 5 Burglary, Theft Detail; Darin Evangelista, District 6 Burglary, Theft Detail; Carl Thorstad Jr., District 4 (Windward Oahu) Burglary, Theft Detail.
Metropolitan Police Officer II -- Jaime Pabalan, District 1; Patricia Wilson, Training Division; Pearl Lung, Narcotics, Vice Division; David Ardren, Mark Suaglar, Michael Russo, Leslie Morris, Dayle Morita, Kevin Lopez, Grant Jhun, Keith Ben-Rajab, Sean Hughes, Wyllie Lum Jr., District 6.
>> Andre Bachman, a researcher at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii's Molecular Carcinogenesis Section of the Cancer Etiology Program, has been elected chairman of the American Chemical Society in Hawaii for 2004. Bonnie Warn Cramer, also a researcher at the center, was voted chair-elect and will advance to chairwoman next year.
Other officers are I-Chia Shih, secretary designate; F. David Horgen, of Hawaii Pacific University's College of Natural Sciences, treasurer; and Blake Vance Jr., councilor.
"Taking Notice" also runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffCENTRAL OAHU
15 cows are killed as truck overturns on road
Fifteen cows were killed yesterday when the cattle truck they were riding in flipped near the S-turn on Kaukonahua Road.The road was closed, and traffic was being turned around in both directions for more than six hours as police investigated the incident and cleared the wreckage.
A Fire Department dispatcher said the truck's driver was taken to an area hospital. His condition, which officials confirmed was not critical, was unavailable last night.
The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. when the cattle truck overturned. Some 90 cows were aboard the truck, police said.
HONOLULU
4 teens are charged in holdups at stores
Police charged four male teenagers Tuesday with robbery and theft in connection with a rash of holdups at convenience stores in Kalihi, Kapalama, Nuuanu and Palama.Police said the suspects, three of whom are 17 and the fourth one 16, stole liquor from four 7-Eleven stores and a 2-Go Tesoro convenience store between 10 p.m. Monday and 1:10 a.m. Tuesday.
Police said they attempted to take cash from registers at the last two stores they struck and physically assaulted the clerks.
Police said the teenagers each were charged with two counts of second-degree robbery and three counts of fourth-degree theft.
Homeless man found in harbor is identified
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office identified the homeless man whose body was found Monday floating in Honolulu Harbor as 25-year-old Ruben Kimura.Workers from Pacific Environmental Corp. spotted Kimura floating face down in the middle of the harbor at about 7 a.m.
The cause of death has yet to be released.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man allegedly tries to stab wife at home
A 27-year-old man was taken to the Castle Medical Center for a mental evaluation Tuesday after he allegedly attempted to stab his wife at her Kahuku home.Police said the suspect and the victim, 23, are married but have been separated for the past six months. About 2 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect broke into his wife's home and locked her in a bedroom, police said.
The suspect grabbed a knife and lunged toward his wife, police said. The knife, however, got lodged into a wall, and the wife was able to escape, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Boy caught, charged in high school break-in
Big Island police filed several charges against a teenage boy in connection with a break-in at Waiakea High School in Hilo on Monday night.Police responded to an alarm at the school at about 10:07 p.m. and saw someone crouching inside a classroom. Police said the suspect dashed out of the room through an opposite door, ran down the stairs and out of the building.
He was caught near Lokahi Park where he was found carrying a crowbar, a flashlight and a large garbage bag. He was also wearing latex gloves, police said.
Police charged the juvenile with second-degree burglary, illegal possession of burglary tools, fourth-degree criminal property damage and fourth-degree theft.
He was later flown to Oahu and is being held at a youth detention facility.
Police have responded to several break-ins at Waiakea High in recent months. Anyone with information can call Detective Randall Ishii at 961-2278, the police nonemergency number at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
