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Sewage spills into Lake Wilson

More than 9,000 gallons of partially treated sewage went into Lake Wilson on Wednesday after a pair of power failures cut off electricity to the Wahiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The city has posted warning signs and notified the state Health Department of the spill.

The outages were caused first by a problem at the substation in Helemano, then by a problem with a transformer at the substation in Kipapa, said Hawaiian Electric Co. spokeswoman Pepi Nieva.

She said the outages, which started at 7:49 p.m. and ended at 9:15 p.m., affected about 1,700 customers.

Consultant to help UH find president

A search consultant will be hired to help find a new president for the 10-campus University of Hawaii system.

The Board of Regents approved the hiring of a consultant yesterday at its monthly meeting.

Chairwoman Patricia Lee said the board hopes to have a new president selected by June 2006.

In June 2004, interim UH President David McClain was appointed for a two-year period after former President Evan Dobelle resigned from the position.

McClain is free to apply for the president's job.

Wednesday was also the last meeting for two regents: Lee and student regent Trent Kakuda. Their terms expire on Thursday.

Contamination document updated

Property owners, developers and lending institutions will now have an easier time identifying properties that have potential environmental contamination.

The Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response office of the Hawaii State Department of Health recently expanded the types of concerns and the number of chemicals addressed in a document containing recommended regulatory levels for inadvertent residue resulting from prior use or contamination.

Use of the document is entirely optional but strongly recommended by the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response office for sites currently undergoing investigation.

Officials say the new guidance greatly reduces the financial risk of purchasing and redeveloping potentially contaminated properties and ultimately helps to bring abandoned properties back into use and reduce urban sprawl.

Officials promise to periodically revise the document, which had not been updated in the past 10 years, and to hold periodic workshops to discuss it.

To view the updated document, go to www. hawaii.gov/health.

To comment or be included on the mailing list, please contact Roger Brewer of the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response office at 586-4328.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Family struggles to battle fire that engulfs home

A Big Island couple and their adult daughter escaped their burning Holualoa house and tried to put out the fire with their garden hoses yesterday, a Kailua-Kona fire captain said.

Family members began fighting the blaze reported at 8:22 a.m. before firefighters arrived at 8:38 a.m.

Capt. Richard Fong said the lack of nearby fire hydrants caused firefighters to use foam and water shuttled to the burning house using a private contractor's tanker. Isemoto Contractors used a 1,500-gallon tanker to assist.

The house was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.

Six fire units responded to the call and brought the fire under control within 35 minutes of their arrival.

The estimated damage to the structure and contents was $85,000. Fire investigators have not yet determined a cause.

HONOLULU

Male suspect sought in attempted assault

Police are looking for a man who allegedly tried to sexually assault a 19-year-old woman early yesterday morning in the Ala Moana area.

Police said the woman was walking on Atkinson Drive about 1:15 a.m. yesterday when the suspect allegedly grabbed her by the throat and attempted to sexually assault her.

The man fled in a mid-1990s-model teal or blue-green four-door sedan occupied by two other males.

The suspect is described as in his early to mid-20s and has a dark complexion, brown eyes, thin mustache and goatee. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a medium build, police said. He was also reportedly wearing a black T-shirt with "Sean John" in white lettering on the front.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone. All calls are confidential and anonymous.

Trio uses wheelchair in shoplifting attempt

Three female shoplifters used a wheelchair Wednesday to help them steal items from a Honolulu retail store, police said.

Police said that about 5 p.m., store security spotted the suspects hiding items in the rear compartment of a wheelchair. One of the suspects was riding in the wheelchair, police said. Store security officers followed the suspects as they left the store without paying for the items.

Security officers caught two suspects, ages 23 and 41, outside the store, but the third suspect got away. Police arrested the two women for investigation of second-degree theft. The police report did not say whether any of the suspects was handicapped.

WINDWARD OAHU

Woman, 22, allegedly stabs boyfriend's hand

Honolulu police arrested a 22-year-old Hauula woman Wednesday after she allegedly stabbed her boyfriend in the hand.

Police said the boyfriend, 26, was arguing with his girlfriend when he decided to leave with the couple's 1-year-old child. As the boyfriend was walking away, the suspect slapped his head from behind and went back into their Kaipapau Loop home, police said.

The victim then tried to go back to the house, but the door was locked. The boyfriend then took off a window screen and a glass louvre and reached in to open the door when the suspect stabbed his right hand twice, police said.

Police arrested the girlfriend for investigation of second-degree assault. The couple's child was put in the care of state Child Welfare Services.