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CAR CRASHES IN LAIE

BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN The Polynesian Cultural Center offered a courtesy visit to the center, plus cold bottled water, to John Hasychak Jr. of New Hampshire and his passenger after their rental car went off the road. Neither occupant was seriously hurt in the crash.

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American Legion picks Colorado vet as leader

Thomas L. Bock, a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran from Colorado, has been elected national commander of the 2.7 million-member American Legion, the organization announced yesterday in Honolulu.

Bock took the oath of office after being chosen for the one-year term by delegates to the Legion's 87th national convention at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

He is a member of the Paul C. Beck American Legion Post 23 in Aurora, Colo., and has served in a number of leadership roles during his 35 years with the Legion.

Bock was president of the United Veterans Committee of Colorado, a coalition of more than 45 veterans organizations.

Reservoir work to cut Leeward water supply

The Board of Water Supply is asking Leeward residents to conserve water today through Sunday as crew members work on the construction of a new reservoir.

A major water source for residents from Waipahu to Makaha will be temporarily shut to allow Hawaiian Electric Co. to do electrical work as well as the construction of a new 6 million-gallon reservoir.

A new reservoir will increase the water supply capacity for area residents, said spokeswoman Su Shin. The Board of Water Supply will fill area reservoirs to maximum capacity as they work on the water system.

Company is fined for mothball imports

State Department of Agriculture inspectors stop illegal imports, from fruit to insects to snakes, from entering the state.

This time, it was unregistered mothballs.

The pungent balls used to keep insects from devouring wool and other fabrics are covered by federal pesticide regulations that require labels describing the chemical contents and instructions for use.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined Flash International Trading Inc. $2,376 for the violation, which was discovered in a December 2003 inspection by state officers.

"Importing unregistered pesticides is a serious violation, as the registration process ensures we know what the pesticide contains and whether it is properly packaged and labeled," said Enrique Manzanilla, EPA Pacific Southwest Region director, in a press release.

The mothballs allegedly imported by Daiso Naphthalene were not registered and did not have approved labels with directions in English.

5K run at UH-Manoa to benefit sick children

Run or walk your way around the University of Hawaii-Manoa tomorrow to raise funds for seriously ill children and their families.

The June Jones Foundation/ Hawaiian Telcom 5K Run & Walk begins at 8:30 a.m. at Cooke Field. Registration begins at 6 a.m. The fee is $30, $20 for children, with proceeds to benefit Help, Understanding & Group Support, better known as HUGS.

All participants will receive T-shirts, with medals going to the top three male and female finishers. Participants will also be invited to watch UH Warrior football practice after the race, and players will be available to sign autographs.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU

Waianae woman is charged in connection with fire

A 27-year-old Waianae woman, who allegedly had a Molotov cocktail in her car, was charged yesterday with a federal offense of possession of a prohibited weapon in connection with an Aug. 6 brush fire on the Waianae Coast.

On Aug. 7, police arrested the suspect, Willolyn Jose, at Kahe Point Beach Park after they found a beer bottle filled with an unidentified liquid and a wick protruding from the top in the vehicle she was driving. Police also discovered an empty gas container in the vehicle.

A witness reported seeing a driver in a suspicious vehicle near a 400-acre brush fire on Aug. 6 on Farrington Highway and Laaloa Street near Honokai Hale. On Aug. 7, police found a driver and the vehicle fitting the witness's description.

After the Aug. 7 arrest, police released Jose, and a federal warrant for her arrest was issued. Police found and arrested Jose in Kapolei and charged her at 8 p.m. yesterday.

Police recover stolen lumber in Maili

Police recovered 50 sheets of stolen Maple Veneer Lumber during the search of a van Wednesday at a business in Maili.

Police said the lumber was stolen from a Campbell Industrial Park warehouse on July 21. Police found the lumber at Pacific Trucking on Paakea Road. Police said the owner of Pacific Trucking let the suspect store the lumber there, not knowing that it was stolen. Police were looking for a suspect.

NORTH SHORE

Alleged car thief had naked woman on hood

Police arrested a 28-year-old man Wednesday for allegedly stealing a car and driving off as a naked woman jumped on the hood to try and stop him.

Police said the suspect stole the car from a Mokuleia campsite Monday and was driving away when the woman, 21, who was camping nearby, jumped on the hood.

Police said the suspect swerved violently to throw the woman off the car, rammed a vehicle that was following him and then abandoned the car and took off.

Officers found the suspect Wednesday near Kahalewai Place and Kamehameha Highway near Haleiwa Beach Park and arrested him for investigation of first-degree robbery.

HONOLULU

2 men arrested in Kalihi robbery

Police arrested two men after they allegedly robbed another man of his compact disc player at a Kalihi bus stop Wednesday night.

Police said the suspects, ages 18 and 26, approached the 23-year-old victim at about 11 p.m. and asked to see his CD player. The victim handed the CD player to one of the suspects who then refused to give it back, police said.

Police said the victim grabbed his CD player back, and the suspect hit him in the head with a beer bottle. The second suspect prevented the victim from running away and took the CD player from him, police said. Both were later arrested for investigation of first-degree robbery.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Unborn baby's life in danger after crash

KAPAIA, Kauai » A woman who was eight months pregnant was in danger of losing her baby after the vehicle she was driving collided head-on with another vehicle around 2 p.m. yesterday.

The 25-year-old Kauai woman and her 2-year-old were traveling on Kuhio Highway when a vehicle crossed the center line and hit their vehicle, Kauai Police Department Capt. Ale Quibilan said. The 2-year-old was in a car seat and was uninjured, he said.

The man who was driving the other vehicle, and accompanied by his young daughter, apparently fell asleep at the wheel. They both wore their seat belts and were uninjured, Quibilan said.

The woman, who was not identified, was transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital.

The accident also caused the closure of the highway in both directions for a while as police conducted an investigation before the vehicles were removed, Quibilan said.

Kauai skateboarder in tow is hospitalized

A 29-year-old man suffered head injuries after he lost control of his skateboard while being towed by a vehicle.

Kauai police said the accident happened late Tuesday night on Halaulani Place in Kilauea. Officials said the man fell onto the roadway after letting go of the vehicle while traveling between 20 and 30 mph.

The man was transported by air ambulance to the Queen's Medical Center for further treatment.