Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Waimea principal gets national 'Star' award
Pat Rice, a former English teacher who is now the principal at Waimea Middle School, was recognized as an "American Star of Teaching" yesterday by the U.S. Department of Education.Ken Meyer, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, visited the public charter school on the Big Island to present the award, as part of an effort to reward effective teaching under the No Child Left Behind law.
Rice's success as a classroom instructor helped lead to her promotion to principal this school year. Waimea Middle School became a charter school in the summer of 2003.
"Pat Rice epitomizes the true spirit of teaching," Secretary of Education Rod Paige said in a prepared statement. "She has the great gifts required for outstanding teaching: knowledge of subject, ability to communicate, displaying magic in the classroom, inspiring students and being empathetic."
State offers strategies to fight alien seaweed
New information cards are available to advise boaters, divers and fishers on how to identify and help stop the spread of alien seaweed.Seaweed overgrowth, often prompted by excess fertilizer running off from land, can smother live coral and change the underwater ecosystem.
The cards offer tips on avoiding the transfer of algae from one place to another, including:
» Dry dive gear, wet suits and dive bag after each use.The cards will be made available at marine fishing, boating and diving businesses, state harbors or by contacting David Gulko, at the state Division of Aquatic Resources, at 587-0318 or the Environmental Protection Agency at 541-2710.» Do not dump aquarium animals or plants into streams or coastal waters.
» Report any unusual seaweed blooms to the state Division of Aquatic Resources.
» Joann C. Matsuo, a 2003 graduate of Leeward Community College's Television Production program, has been selected as one of 15 international candidates for the Director's Guild of America's two-year assistant directors training program. Matsuo is working on the TV series, "North Shore."
» Dr. Diane Drigot of Kailua, senior natural resources management specialist at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay, was named one of eight finalists to be awarded a prestigious 2004 Service to America Medal. The awards will be announced in Washington, D.C.
» Louise K.Y. Ing, founding shareholder, director and officer of the Honolulu law firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing, has been named chair of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu's Capital Campaign.
» The state Board of Water Supply' has been honored by the National Water Research Institute-USA for efforts to utilize an alternate source of water to accommodate com- munity growth and demands.
» Salvatore Sorbera, who operates a Kirby Distributorship in Honolulu, won a trip to Rome, Italy, from the company as a prize for his yearlong business efforts in its Challenge of Champions Campaign.
» Heald College gave its Excellence in Career Education Teaching Awards to Krista Nielsen of Kahuku High School; Malia Shimomura of Lahainaluna High School; and Stacy Staley of Saint Anthony School. The student-nominated award recognizes teachers who have contributed to the growth of career education and have made a positive impression on the lives of students.
Jody Foster, a financial services assistant, was named the 2004 inductee to the Heald College Alumni Hall of Fame. She was recognized as a member of the 1995 Ginancial Aid Team of the year and the 1998 Business Office Team of the Year. She graduated with honors from one of Heald's predecessor schools, Cannon's Business College, specializing in accounting and management.
Michael Van Lear, formerly Evening Dean, has been promoted to director of Career Services. He is enrolled at the University of Phoenix, and working toward his masters degree in education.
By Star-Bulletin staff
HONOLULU
Tip leads police to last suspect in prison escape
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Jacqueline Mahoe, 51, was arrested in Kapahulu based upon a tip, officials with Honolulu CrimeStoppers said yesterday.
Police had been looking for Mahoe after she was identified as having been with Daphne Capol after Capol escaped Monday from the prison by running out on her outdoor-landscaping class and scaling a chain link fence.
Police arrested Capol and two other alleged accomplices the day after her escape, but Mahoe got away.
Mahoe was arrested for a parole revocation warrant and has eight felony convictions for burglary, theft, forgery and drugs.
Police arrest 20 year old in UH dorm rape case
Police arrested a 20-year-old Makiki man yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman in her dormitory room at the University of Hawaii-Manoa in August.Police said the two met on the UH campus.
On Aug. 28 the woman took the man back to her dorm room, where he sexually assaulted her at about 11 p.m., police said.
Police arrested the suspect at 9:30 a.m. yesterday at the UHÕs Hale Wainani dormitory at 2591 Dole St.
Drug raid in Kalihi nets 14 suspects
Police raided a Kalihi Valley home early today and arrested 14 people.Using a warrant, police entered the house at 2240 Wilson St. and arrested 11 men and three women for drug promotion and drug paraphernalia possession, as well as on warrants at about 2:30 a.m.
No other details were available.
LEEWARD OAHU
Kapolei man arrested for alleged plant thefts
Police arrested a 35-year-old Kapolei man last night for allegedly stealing plants from a Honokai Hale nursery.Police said witnesses spotted the man at about 11:30 p.m. loading his pickup truck with plants at a landscaping company nursery, which was closed at the time. Police recovered plants valued at $800 from the suspectÕs truck. He was arrested for second-degree theft.
NEIGHBOR ISLAND
Fuel-truck collision kills Big Isle car driver
A 20-year-old male Puna man died of injuries after a two-vehicle collision early yesterday morning along Hawaii Belt Road near Papaikou.Police said the victim, Stephen A. Dela Cruz, had been driving a 2004 Ford Mustang two-door sedan south when his car crossed the center line and struck a fuel truck coming from the opposite direction before 2:55 a.m.
Dela Cruz was taken to the Hilo Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 10:05 a.m.
The truck driver was also taken to the Hilo hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
Police said last night that they had not determined if speed or alcohol were factors in the collision. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are investigating the case.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call Officer Reed Mahuna or Acting Sgt. Norbert Serrao at 961-2332.
Friday's death was the 32nd traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared with 23 during the same period last year.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers