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Newswatch
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Turtle biologist wins national recognition
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Balazs has devoted his 34-year career to recovery of the Hawaiian green sea turtle, which he began studying in 1971 while working at the University of Hawaii's Institute for Marine Biology.
In 1973 he began an annual count of turtles nesting in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that was instrumental in getting the species added to the Endangered Species List in 1978.
Now a protected-species biologist and team leader for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries Service, Balazs has become a world leader in sea turtle biology, publishing widely and serving as a scientific adviser for a number of turtle conservation groups.
Balazs received the award March 31 at the annual meeting of the National Wildlife Federation in Washington.
Maui Civil Defense official is named
WAILUKU » Gen Iinuma has been appointed Maui County Civil Defense administrator, effective tomorrow.Iinuma served as a public health educator with the Maui district office of the state Department of Health for about 20 years.
He succeeds Danilo "Danny" Agsalog, who took a position as special adviser to the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Energy Services.
A 1966 graduate of Kaimuki High School, Iinuma has a bachelor's degree in human development and a master's in public health from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Mayor Alan Arakawa said Iinuma has worked closely with Civil Defense on issues including dengue fever, West Nile virus and homeland security.
Muscular dystrophy fund-raiser planned
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is accepting reservations for its sixth annual Soiree Vegas in Paradise fund-raiser on April 23.The event will offer gaming tables and a silent auction, music, food and beverages from top restaurants. It starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel Monarch Ballroom and ocean lawn.
Tickets are $125 each. Information and sponsorship opportunities are available by calling 548-0588.
Taking notice
» Wilfred S. Pang has been awarded the American Association of Retired Persons Andrus Award for Community Service. The national award recognizes only one person from each state. He was nominated by the Palolo Chinese Home, where he is a volunteer.
» Keoni M.K. Isono of Honolulu has been promoted to the rank of Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council. He was chartered by Palolo Hongwanji.
» Foster Family Programs of Hawaii has received $70,000 from the Victoria S. & Bradley L. Geist Foundation and $20,000 from the Teresa F. Hughes Trust Estate to subsidize the agency's Enhancements Program to improve lives of foster children.
The organization also received $50,000 from the Geist Foundation and $12,000 from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation for the Hawaii Foster Youth Coalition.
By Star-Bulletin staff
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Isle police warn dirt bikers
Big Island police are warning the public that they will cite anyone operating a dirt bike or all-terrain vehicle on public roadways and may impound the vehicles."We have been receiving a lot of complaints about noise and speeding due to dirt bikes and ATVs on public roads and in subdivisions," Sgt. Dexter Veriato said.
Dirt bikes and ATVs are prohibited from all state and county roads and roads in private subdivisions used by motorists, said Veriato, head of the Traffic Services Section.
"The law requires officers to issue citations to anyone who is found operating these vehicles in an illegal manner," he said.
Veriato said the law allows police to impound dirt bikes and ATVs that are being operated on public roads.
Police are also reminding the public that any vehicle driven on a public road must have a valid weight tax, safety inspection sticker and no-fault insurance.
Dirt bikes and ATVs are not required to have them because they are intended for off-road use only.
"We are asking for the public's cooperation in keeping our roads safe to avoid needless injuries," Veriato said.
Police seek Hilo prison furlough violator
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Police said Christopher Neal Nasario allegedly violated the terms of his extended furlough and is classified as an escapee.
He failed to report his whereabouts, police said, and prison staff reported him missing Saturday.
Nasario is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 935-3311. Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo and 329-8181 in Kona.
LEEWARD OAHU
Pearl City man held after housemate hurt
Police arrested a 42-year-old Pearl City man after he allegedly shoved another man over a stair railing Tuesday night.Police said the suspect and the victim, 34, live in the same house and got into an argument about 7:45 p.m. The argument escalated, and the suspect allegedly shoved the victim over the railing. The victim fell about six feet, police said. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance, police said.
Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree attempted assault.
Arrest made after gun found under car seat
Police arrested a 61-year-old man for an alleged firearm violation after officers found a handgun as they helped his girlfriend adjust the seat in his car.Officers responded to an argument between the suspect and his girlfriend Tuesday morning in Ewa Beach, but when they arrived the suspect was already gone. Shortly afterward the suspect returned and his girlfriend wanted to leave, police said. She got into his car but was not sure how to adjust the seat, police said.
As officers were helping her, they found a revolver on the car floor, police said.
The suspect was arrested for investigation of a firearm violation.
HONOLULU
Police arrest suspect in check forgery case
Police arrested a 44-year-old man Tuesday who allegedly passed counterfeit checks totaling more than $3,400 last fall.The suspect, 44, allegedly forged two checks from a mainland brokerage firm on Oct. 28. He then allegedly deposited the checks into his bank savings account and withdrew the funds. Police arrested him for investigation of second-degree forgery.
McCully man charged in alleged sex assault
Police charged a 42-year-old McCully man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman Tuesday morning in Moiliili.Troy Glover was charged yesterday with first-degree sexual assault.
Police arrested Glover at 2:35 a.m. Tuesday at his home at 1861 Kapiolani Blvd., about an hour after the alleged assault.
The victim, 24, was sleeping but woke up as the suspect sexually assaulted her, police said. Police said the victim and the suspect, who know each other, got into an argument afterward. Officers were called after the argument escalated, police said.
Glover was being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Passenger charged in disruption of flight
A California man has been charged with interfering Monday with the duties of an airline flight crew on a flight to the mainland from Kauai.Raymond Cassidy, 31, allegedly became disruptive after he was refused alcohol on a United Airlines flight from Lihue to San Francisco.
Federal authorities said Cassidy was argumentative and stood up, refusing to sit despite being instructed to do so by the flight crew. Cassidy took off his shirt, confronted the flight attendants and pushed away the hand of a female flight attendant, authorities said.
The action caused the pilot to turn the plane around and land in Honolulu. After Cassidy was taken into custody, the flight continued to San Francisco.
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