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Garden Isle to reopen rental assistance list

LIHUE » Kauai officials are preparing to reopen the waiting list for the county housing agency's Section 8 rental assistance program, after clearing the previous list.

The housing program, which gives vouchers to eligible residents to be used for renting a house, condo or apartment, will begin its new list on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will be available at the housing agency in the Piikoi Building starting Sept. 21.

"Currently, we were able to expire the current list," leading to the announcement, said Bernard Carvalho, director of the office of community assistance.

The 200 or so who were on the previous list are being screened by the agency, the final step before receiving their vouchers, Carvalho said. 'We're just encouraging people to come," he added.

Families and individuals with incomes at or below 50 percent of the median income for the County of Kauai are eligible for the Section 8 program.

Current income limits start at $22,600 for a single person and increases relative to household size. A household consisting of eight members would qualify if the household's income is below $42,650.

For more information, call the county housing agency at 241-4440.

Annual Century Ride scheduled for Sept. 25

The Honolulu Century Ride will be held Sept. 25, starting at 6:15 a.m.

The annual bicycling event, which has courses for experienced and novice riders, was started in 1981 and attracts hundreds annually.

"The Century Ride is always one of most highly anticipated cycling events of the year," said Chuck Rosa-Coleman, executive director of the Hawaii Bicycling League.

The ride starts at Kapiolani Park. Refreshment and mechanical aid stations will be offered, along with live entertainment and food booths.

For more information, go to the league's Web site at www.hbl.org.

B.A. in business OK'd for students on Maui

Maui Community College is the first Hawaii community college to offer a four-year bachelor's degree after receiving notice that the applied business and information technology program has been given the go-ahead by a regional commission.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges' Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities recently recognized the baccalaureate program as a candidate for accreditation, meaning the program can enroll students this fall. This candidacy approval is effective through July 15, 2009.

Since 1993, bachelor's and master's degrees from UH-Manoa, UH-Hilo and UH-West Oahu have been offered to Maui County residents through the University of Hawaii Center on the MCC campus.

The degree itself is unique within the UH system because it is a business degree, emphasizing small- to medium-size business management, with a strong information technology component.

The first two years of the program consist of classes currently available at MCC. In addition, seven third-year courses are being offered to students this fall.

For more information, go to www.hawaii.edu/maui/abit.

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Taking Notice

» Ken Hockridge of Honolulu, who works for American Medical Response, was honored by the American Ambulance Association as an Everyday Hero and one of its 100 "Stars of Life" award recipients in Washington, D.C.

» Rosalyn Cooper will serve as district governor of the Rotary International, providing leadership for 41 clubs, until 2006. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu, which helped with extensive garden renovations at the Honolulu Clubhouse, a rehabilitation program for adults with mental illness.

» Mothers Against Drunk Driving-Hawaii has recognized these individuals, agencies and companies for their support: Sgt. Ryan T. Nishibun of the Honolulu Police Department Selective Enforcement Unit of the Traffic Division received the law Enforcement Award for Drunken Driving Prevention; Officer Melvin R. Andres Jr. of the HPD Traffic Safety Section, the Underage Drinking Prevention Award; Rosalind Luther, an 18-year member of MADD-Hawaii, the Carol McNamee Award for outstanding volunteer service. Other awards went to Joan Bennet and Associates, the Brand Strategy Group, Olomana Marketing, Cutter Family Auto Center, KHNL News 8/KFVE, Tesoro Hawaii, Spunge, Visionary Radio, Clear Channel Communications, Signature Theatres and Double Talk Publishing. Elsa Honma was named new board president.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

LEEWARD OAHU

Chemical workers exposed to chlorine

Two workers at a chemical company in Campbell Industrial Park were treated for exposure to chlorine gas yesterday after a lid on a container blew open, said a Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.

A fire hazardous materials team responded to a 1:36 p.m. call of a chemical spill at BEI Hawaii Inc., 91-150 Kaomi Loop.

The spokesman said the workers were mixing two chemicals to make bleach.

The immediate area of the spill was initially evacuated.

The two workers were decontaminated, and one worker was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

WINDWARD OAHU

Hauula house empty as bedroom burns

Fire investigators are continuing to look into the cause of a Hauula house fire yesterday.

Firefighters brought the 2:02 p.m. fire under control by 2:18 p.m.

The fire was confined to a bedroom at the 54-034 Kukuna Road residence, where the blaze began, said fire Capt. Emmit Kane.

No damage estimates were available last night.

No one was at home at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries, Kane said.

HONOLULU

Man drowns in pool at hotel near airport

A 32-year-old man drowned Sunday while swimming in a hotel swimming pool near the Honolulu Airport.

The Honolulu medical examiner has identified the man as Nathaniel Dunham.

Police said Dunham was seen swimming alone in the pool at the Plaza Hotel before 9 a.m. A witness later spotted him at the bottom of the pool and notified hotel staff who retrieved him and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

An ambulance took Dunham to a nearby hospital, where he died.