Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Lifeguards in Waikiki treat jellyfish stings
Lifeguards treated more than 40 cases of box jellyfish stings on Waikiki beaches yesterday and two at Ala Moana Beach, the city's Ocean Safety Division reported.Today should see a reduction in the number of jellyfish in the water and tomorrow the monthly influx of the stinging creatures should be over, said the division's Rob Miller.
Lifeguards are equipped to treat stings. Anyone who has a severe toxic reaction should seek medical help, he said.
Meetings set for isle 'Seal of Quality'
The state Department of Agriculture is holding public meetings this month to get feedback on a new program, Hawaii Seal of Quality.The program states that producers who want to use the seal must show that their products are grown, processed or manufactured in the state and meet a specific quality standard.
The meeting will include presentations on the Seal of Quality law, background, regulation and enforcement, qualifications for participation, cost to participants and the actual seal.
For more information on the meetings and the program, contact the department's Market Development Branch at 973-9465 or 973-9594.
The meetings will be held at:
>> West Hawaii, 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at UH Cooperative Extension Center, 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua>> Maui and Molokai, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Maui Community College, Kalama Building Room 107, 310 Kaahumanu Ave., Kahului
>> East Hawaii, 10 a.m. to noon June 22 at UH Cooperative Extension Center Conference Room, 875 Komohana St., Hilo
>> Kauai, 3 to 5 p.m. June 30 at Moikeha, County Building, meeting rooms A & B (Planning Commission Hearing Room)
Public asked to nominate librarians
Hawaii's library patrons are invited to nominate their favorite public librarian for the 2004 Public Librarian of the Year award, and possibly win cash for their library branches.Nomination forms are available at all public libraries and Borders Books and Music stores statewide for the award, which was created by the Hawaii Library Foundation. The deadline for entries is July 10.
The winner will receive gift certificates and the winner's library branch will be given a $1,000 gift certificate to Borders, the award program's corporate co-sponsor, as well as a $500 cash award from the Library Foundation to buy library materials.
To be eligible for the award, nominees must be branch managers and have a Masters in Library Science degree.
For more information, contact the Hawaii Library Foundation at (808) 837-8069.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffNORTH SHORE
Homeless man charged with murder Police have filed a murder charge against a homeless man suspected in the killing of a 61-year-old North Shore resident.
Anthony Mercado, 40, remained in police custody last night in lieu of $75,000 bail on a charge of second-degree murder.
Mercado was arrested Thursday on two outstanding warrants, and was rearrested later for suspicion of second-degree murder.
Police found the body of Percy Baker at his Kamehameha Highway home in Sunset Beach on June 2 after his employer became concerned when he failed to show up for work.
Baker and Mercado were known to hang out together, police said.
An autopsy determined Baker died of multiple stab wounds to the chest.
Motorcycle accident injures two in Haleiwa
A man and woman on a stolen motorcycle were critically injured when the motorcycle crashed just after midnight yesterday in Haleiwa, police said.The black and white 2002 Honda motorcycle was traveling southeast on the Kamehameha Highway when the male driver apparently lost control, according to traffic investigators. The motorcycle hit the highway, then the right shoulder guard rail.
The man, whose age and address unavailable, and the 24-year-old Mililani woman riding on the motorcycle were both thrown off.
The man received head and neck injuries and the woman received facial and other injuries. Both were flown to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, police reported.
Neither person was wearing a helmet and speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash, police said.
The motorcycle had been reported stolen May 19 and the people injured in the wreck are suspects in the theft, police said. The driver also is being investigated for negligent injury to the passenger.
Waimea crash victims escape serious injury
A two-vehicle collision on the Kamehameha Highway near Waimea Bay Beach Park closed the highway between 5:49 a.m. and 6:51 a.m. yesterday, Honolulu police reported. Some occupants of the vehicles were taken to Wahiawa General Hospital for treatment, but their injuries were not life-threatening, a police officer said. Further details about the collision were not available yesterday.
LEEWARD OAHU
Nanakuli brush blaze brought under control Honolulu firefighters were called to a brush fire near Helelua Place in Nanakuli about 8 p.m. yesterday. Four fire companies had the fire under control by 9 p.m., but expected to stay at the scene another hour or more, a dispatcher said. No homes were threatened.
WINDWARD OAHU
Airlift required after hiking misadventure A 22-year-old woman was airlifted from the Maunawili Falls Trail yesterday, after she jumped into the pond at the end of the trail. The woman complained of neck pain after landing on her back in the pond, said a firefighter at the Olomana Fire Station No. 39. Firefighters received the call at 2:50 p.m. The woman was taken to Queen's Hospital for observation.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
