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Ethics Commission accepting applications

The Judicial Council is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission once member Ronald Yoshida's term expires on June 30.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and Hawaii residents and may not hold any other public office.

The commission regulates the ethics of all legislators, registered lobbyists and state employees with the exception of judges, who are governed by the Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The Ethics Commission is responsible for investigating complaints, providing advisory opinions and enforcing its decisions. According to the state constitution, members are prohibited "from taking active part in political management or campaigns."

Those interested can submit an application along with a resume and three letters of recommendation by Feb. 18 to the Judicial Council, Hawaii Supreme Court, 417 S. King St., Second Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813-2902.

Applications are available on the Judiciary's Web site at www.courts.state.hi.us. Applications may also be obtained at the Public Affairs Office in Rm. 206-C, Aliiolani Hale, 417 South King St., Honolulu, HI 96813, or call the Judicial Council at 539-4702.

Faulty circuit breaker limits Kapolei Library

Kapolei Public Library will cut back evening hours and will reduce services this week because of a faulty main switch circuit breaker.

The library will resume regular hours once electrical parts arrive from the mainland and are installed, according to a Hawaii State Public Library System press release.

Because of the faulty circuit breaker, the library lacks the power to run its air conditioning system, elevators, telephone system and computers. The library will provide limited service, including manual book check-out and noncomputer reference questions.

Overdue fines or DVD/video rental fees will not be accepted during this period. Book drop service will continue.

The library's temporary public service hours will be: Monday, Thursday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 1 to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Baby-sitting benefits tsunami relief effort

CORRECTION Saturday, January 22, 2005 » Elliott Chen's name was misspelled in a news brief on Page A5 Wednesday. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Middle school students at Island Pacific Academy plan to baby-sit children Friday to raise money for a Thailand school that was destroyed by the tsunami.

Sixth- and seventh-graders plan to baby-sit only Pacific Academy students and their siblings ages 4 to 9 at the school from 6 to 11 p.m.

"The kids are voluntarily taking this on," said middle school coordinator Jennifer Kocek. The students are busy selecting the food, movies and games for the event.

"We're excited about it," said sixth-grader Elliot Chen.

Rehan Butt, a fifth-grader at Island Pacific Academy, attended school in Phuket for four years before he moved to Hawaii. Butt said his school was not affected by the tsunami, but a sister school near the shoreline was destroyed.

A notice was sent to parents Friday about the baby-sitting event. Donations to be collected will be sent to the school.

Supermarket chain accepting relief funds

Foodland and Sack N Save stores statewide are accepting cash donations for the American Red Cross tsunami relief effort.

Shoppers can make donations from a penny up to $249 at checkout. The donations will be added to their grocery purchase total. The amount donated and "Red Cross -- Tsunami Relief Effort" will appear on the their receipts.

The entire amount of the donation will be given to the American Red Cross Hawaii State Chapter.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NORTH SHORE

Man arrested in alleged beating has 21 prior arrests

A 40-year-old Waialua man who allegedly beat and robbed a 51-year-old man was identified yesterday as Destry R. Lunasco.

Police said Lunasco beat the man with a metal pipe and then stole his car and wallet. Lunasco was charged with first-degree robbery and car theft.

Lunasco has 21 prior arrests and seven convictions. He allegedly robbed the victim at his home Sunday night, police said. A neighbor found the bloodied man the next morning inside his home.

The car was spotted Monday near Waialua Beach Park, and the suspect led police on a chase. A police helicopter located the abandoned car, and officers caught and arrested Lunasco.

HONOLULU

Moiliili pair suspected in alleged robbery

Police arrested a man and his girlfriend for allegedly robbing a homeless woman at gunpoint in a Moiliili park bathroom Monday.

Police said the 27-year-old victim was in the public park restroom when she was approached by the female suspect, an acquaintance, who demanded money from her at about 10:10 a.m. When the victim refused, the suspect's boyfriend, 37, punched the victim in the face while telling his girlfriend, 32, to grab the victim's bag, police said.

Police said the man pointed a handgun at the victim and asked her if she wanted to die. He wrapped the gun in a T-shirt and hit the victim in the head with it.

The victim ran across the street to her sister's home and called police. The suspects took the victim's bag and her electric scooter and fled in a truck, police said. The suspects were later arrested at the female suspect's home for investigation of first-degree robbery.

LEEWARD OAHU

Mililani teen allegedly punches man at school

Police arrested a 16-year-old Mililani teen who entered a Pearl City High School classroom wearing a ski mask and allegedly punched a 32-year-old man yesterday at 7:45 a.m.

Police said the suspect was seen removing his mask as he fled and was identified by witnesses. Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of second-degree assault.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Police identify body found in sunken car

Big island police have identified a 54-year-old woman whose body was found in a car submerged off the Pohoiki boat ramp in Puna on Sunday as Janet Ruth Harless of Hawaiian Beaches.

Although the cause of death has not been determined, police do not suspect foul play.

Hilo man is burned in extensive house fire

An 86-year-old Hilo man suffered first- and second-degree burns to his head, back and right foot in a fire that heavily damaged his home Sunday evening, officials said.

It took firefighters about 45 minutes to extinguish the fire at 246 Pohakulani St. Damage was estimated at $240,000. Cause of the fire was under investigation.

Big Isle police seek missing 38-year-old

Big Island police are looking for Lisa Thomas, 38, who was last seen on Dec. 10.

Thomas was last seen leaving her home at 27-1015 Onomea Road north of Hilo. She was driving a green 1997 Honda Del Sol two-door coupe with license plate MCV-775. Thomas works at the Casey Family Program and has not shown up for work since Thanksgiving Day. Police said she has left several messages at her workplace, but no one has actually spoken to her.

Thomas is also known as Lisa Schorrig and Elizabeth Carol Schorrig. She is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, about 140 pounds, having a medium build, hazel eyes and shoulder-length blonde or red hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Darryel Tolentino at 961-2213 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Escaped teen thought to be on Big Island

Big Island police are looking for a 15-year-old girl who escaped Oct. 8 from a detention facility on Kauai.

Natasha Santos is believed to be on the Big Island, police said. She is 5 feet 2 inches tall, about 103 pounds, with a slim build, a tan complexion, shoulder-length brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Peter Kualii at 961-2373, the non-emergency police number at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Restaurant suffers $20,000 in damage

WAILUKU » A fire caused about $20,000 in damage to an outside dining area at Sarento's On The Beach in south Maui.

"It is a suspicious fire at this time and under investigation," said acting Battalion Chief Michael Cummings.

Cummings said the fire, which occurred just before 4 a.m. Monday, burned an awning area, and destroyed 20 chairs, several tables and dining settings.

Restaurant owner Aaron Placourakis said a cleaning man in the kitchen noticed the fire and put it out with a water hose. The restaurant was open on Monday night.