Honolulu Star-Bulletin News - Briefs /2005/09/17/

Teacher and aide sue after reporting abuse

A teacher and a therapeutic aide have sued Loveland Academy, alleging that school officials retaliated against them for reporting that a therapeutic aide assaulted an autistic child.

Cathleen Matsushima, a teacher, and Anthony Mendez, a therapeutic aide, filed the lawsuit in Circuit Court yesterday, alleging Loveland Academy and its acting principal, Patricia Dukes, also failed to take action against the alleged assailant. The suit said Dukes "stated that it was simply a conspiracy to try and get the assailant of the assaulted minor fired."

Matsushima called police and reported the incident on Sept. 10, 2003, the day it allegedly occurred, the suit said.

The attorney for the school for special-needs students could not be reached for comment.

The suit states that the plaintiffs were required by law to report the assault of a minor disabled child while in a licensed public education program. The suit also said "Matsushima and Mendez became the target of serious retaliation from high-level staff at Loveland."

The school allegedly reduced Mendez's contracted hours of work and eventually fired both of them, the complaint said. Mendez and Matsushima were also allegedly subjected to abuse, antagonism and harassment, the suit said.

Vaccinations offered at Ward Warehouse

Flu and pneumonia vaccinations will be offered at three workshops scheduled at Ward Warehouse by Victoria Ward Centers and Clinical Health Systems.

The workshops will be near the amphitheater stage from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 1 and noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 2.

The cost is $25 for a flu shot and $35 for a pneumonia shot.

Registered nurses will administer the shots according to federal guidelines.

Federal science bill gives isles $65.4M

Hawaii is set to receive nearly $65.4 million for marine protection, management and research programs, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye said yesterday.

The funds are part of the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for the 2006 fiscal year. The Senate passed the bill this week. Its details will be worked out by a joint committee before receiving final approval by both the House and the Senate.

The funds include programs to protect endangered sea turtles and the Hawaiian Islands' fragile coral reef ecosystems.

The bill, which funds science and ocean education initiatives, sets aside $7.8 million for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's ship Hi'ialakai and provides $20 million for construction of a regional facility for NOAA on Ford Island.

TAKING NOTICE

» The Language Documentation Project, organized by students in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, received the Test of English as a Foreign Language, Partners in Excellence $1,500 award.

» Teams from Saint Louis and Mililani Middle schools won first-place awards in their grade-level categories, and $1,000 CompUSA gift certificates in Meadow Gold Dairies of Hawaii's ninth annual Milk Carton Regatta in April. The regatta gave students the chance to apply science and industrial arts skills by designing, building and racing a boat made almost entirely of milk cartons. Nathan Houghtailing of Mililani won the Teachers Race with help from student Kevin Avery, who paddled with him.

» At the senior art thesis exhibition at Sheehan Gallery in Walla Walla, Wash., artwork by Mika Schuster, a graduate of Hawaii Baptist Academy, was put on display for a month. Schuster is a senior majoring in art at Whitman College in Washington.

>> Maile Zeng, a graduate of La Pietra-Hawaii School for girls, played percussion in the annual Whitman College Symphony spring concert. Zeng is a freshman at the college.

» Sacred Hearts Academy, represented by Dai Ngo and Anne Yamanoha, won the seventh annual Loyola Law School and Dr. Edison H. Miyawaki Moot Court competition in April. Ngo earned the top oralist award for exceptional presentation skills and case expertise. Punahou School came in second, and Iolani School, third.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU
Kakaako oil spill takes 3 hours to clean up

An oil supply truck leaked a part of its load along Kakaako roadways yesterday morning, and it took about three hours to clean up the mess.

The oil spill was "quite sizable," said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada. Although he did not know how much had leaked, the truck had a 275-gallon capacity tank and a pump, he said.

The leak started from Ala Moana Boulevard and Cooke Street and continued as the truck drove up Cooke.

Tejada said the oil created a hazard because people were running over it.

At 10:45 a.m. the Fire Department sent a hazardous-materials team and a fire engine to clean the roads, completing the cleanup at 1:25 p.m. PENCO also assisted in the cleanup.

LEEWARD OAHU
Fugitive is spotted in Leeward auto crimes

Police are looking for a fugitive who is a suspect in several auto thefts and car break-ins in the Leeward area.

James "Kimo" Pickard, 42, is also wanted on several warrants totaling $90,000.

Police officers spotted a Dodge pickup truck in the parking lot of Waikele Premium Outlets at 7 p.m. Monday.

Responding officers identified Pickard as the driver of the pickup. When Pickard began driving erratically, officers stopped the pursuit.

Pickard is described as 5 feet 11 inches tall, 195 pounds, with numerous tattoos on his arms and body. One just below his chest reads "Palisades."

Anyone with information on Pickard's whereabouts is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island woman missing since July

Big Island police are asking the public for assistance in locating a 52-year-old woman who has been reported missing since July.

The woman has been identified as Mary Pung of Hilo. Family reported last having contact with her via telephone in late July.

Pung is described as 5 feet 1 inch tall, weighing about 105 pounds, with a slim build and long brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. She is known to frequent the Banyan Drive area.

Anyone with information on Pung's whereabouts is asked to call officer Jason Grouns at 961-2213 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Attack leads to probe into attempted murder

Big Island police have initiated an attempted-murder investigation into yesterday morning's shooting of a 43-year-old Kau man.

Police said the man, of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, received superficial gunshot wounds to the upper part of his body.

The man was taken by fire rescue to Kau Hospital and later transported to Hilo Medical Center, where he was listed in good condition and is expected to fully recover, police said.

Police are investigating the motive for the shooting, and a positive identification on the suspect was pending.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Kona Criminal Investigation Section at 326-4646, ext. 268, or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Anonymous calls may be made by calling CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.