Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Federal grant aids valley land purchase
The state is getting a $900,000 federal grant to acquire 1,625 acres of a valley above Pearl City, federal wildlife officials said Thursday.The money from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Recovery Land Acquisition Grants Program will pay for two parcels of land in the Manana Valley watershed owned by Manana Valley Farm, the federal agency said in a news release.
Manana Valley Farm agreed to lower the price of the two parcels, which together were appraised at $1.58 million, as an in-kind match to the federal grant to promote conservation and protection of the area.
The land, located in the Manana section of the Ewa Forest Reserve, is home to endangered plants, birds and tree snails. The land includes five distinct forest types and four miles of streams next to the state forest reserve.
"Land acquisition is the first step in conservation of our precious natural resources," said Gina Schultz, acting field supervisor for the federal agency's Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife office. "This grant award will help strengthen partnerships between government agencies and private landowners while protecting and linking essential habitat for threatened and endangered species."
State AG's office auctions seized items
Items forfeited or seized this year by the state attorney general's office, including motorcycles, cars and jewelry, will be auctioned today at the Blaisdell Center.Inspection will start at 11 a.m. and the auction will begin at noon. Items include a 2000 Kawasaki KX 250 competition motocross bike, a 1998 Dodge Caravan, a 1995 Dodge Neon, stereo equipment and jewelry.
For a list of property to be sold, visit the state attorney general's Web page at www.state.hi.us/ag.
The items were seized or forfeited after criminal investigations. Proceeds will go to state and county law enforcement agencies.
Registration to open for new preschool
Kama'aina Kids will begin registration Monday for a new preschool in Alewa Heights for children ages 2 to 5.The school will open next month at St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church on Ilima Drive. Registration will be available at that location starting Monday.
For more information, call 262-4538, or visit kamaainakids.com.
» Nathan Malinoski of The Education Laboratory public charter school and Erin Horiuchi of Punahou School were designated as state representatives to the world Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C. at the 2004 HOBY (Hugh O'Brian Youth) Hawaii Leadership Seminar.
Alternates were Gerald Santos of Iolani School; Mercedes Tappe of Education Laboratory; and Maureen Martin of Sacred Hearts Academy.
» Cynthia Acierto, a teacher at Kalihi Kai Elementary School, was one of 200 educators to go to Japan in June as part of the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program. The three-week program for distinguished primary and secondary educators from the United States is designed to promote greater intercultural understanding between the two nations.
» Stanley J. Yamane, an optometrist and founder of Eye Care Associates of Hawaii on Oahu, was made an Honorary Doctor of Science by the Pennsylvania College of Optometry for his lifetime accomplishments in advancing the profession and the support of the college.
» Heald College has awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships to high school seniors this year.
Merit Scholarships, valued at $13,200, went to Devan Ito of Mililani High School; Elsa Batangan of Farrington High School; Gisela Revilla of Pearl City High School; Romelyn Arrelano of Kailua High School; Gary Napoleon Jr. of Pahoa High School; Adam Campbell of Kapaa High School; and Teona Marie Cosare of Baldwin High School on Maui.
Quarterly Scholarships, worth $3,600, were given to Lucelyn Bolo of Lanai High and Elementary School; Tara Bonilla of Kapaa; Christine Buenavista and Benerva Maruquin of Campbell High School; Jasmine Fa'alelea and Kevin Tran of Kailua High; Shavonn Gonsalves of Pahoa High; Gilmore Guirao of Waimea High School on Kauai; Krissy Luga of Kohala High School; Warren Nawatani of Farrington High; Carlo Raneses and Peter Raneses of Mililani High; and Janissa Rivera of Baldwin High.
» Esther Dye has received the 2004 Distinguished Service Award from the Samaritan Counseling Center of Hawaii. She worked for the center's fund-raising campaigns for years with her late husband, Bob Dye, former YMCA executive director.
By Star-Bulletin staff
HONOLULU
Man arrested after online chat
A 26-year-old Kaneohe man was charged with first-degree electronic enticement of a child yesterday.According to police, the suspect, Anthony Romero, chatted online with an undercover agent posing as a child.
He agreed to meet the child at a McCully fast-food restaurant to have sex, police said.
Romero was arrested 9:40 a.m. when he arrived at the restaurant.
His bail was set at $15,000.
LEEWARD OAHU
Robbery suspect named but remains at large
Police are looking for a man who robbed an Aiea fast-food restaurant yesterday afternoon wearing a ski mask and brandishing a rifle.Police said the robber allegedly leaped through a fast-food restaurant drive-through window and displayed a bag with a rifle barrel protruding out of it.
He then allegedly grabbed a bag of money and jumped out the window, police said.
Police said the man ran down the street and hid, but was spotted by the restaurant manager as he removed his ski mask.
The man jumped over a fence and left his rifle behind.
Police said the suspect has been identified but not found.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers