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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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Republican Jerry Coffee cites health for quitting Senate race
Republican candidate Jerry Coffee has indicated he will withdraw from the election for U.S. Senate for health reasons.
Coffee suspended his campaign early last month after undergoing an emergency heart bypass operation in Texas.
State chief election officer Dwayne Yoshina said Coffee's withdrawal would be posted at polling places and included in absentee voter mail packets.
Under state law the Hawaii Republican Party would pick a replacement for Coffee if he should win the Sept. 23 primary election.
Coast Guard surveys damage from storm
The Coast Guard was to send a C-130 cargo plane to Wake Island today to do an aerial survey following the passage of the most powerful storm to pass through the Central Pacific since 1994.
Rear Adm. Sally Brice-O'Hara, commandant of the 14th Coast Guard District, yesterday said it will take about four hours for the propeller-driven cargo plane to make the 2,300-mile trip from the Barbers Point Coast Guard Air Station.
Super Typhoon Ioke slammed through Wake Wednesday night with wind gusts of more than 100 mph.
The Air Force, which maintains an emergency airfield, refueling and research operation on Wake, evacuated the 188 people it employs on Monday. It also will send an aircraft this weekend to do an aerial survey.
Ioke is the most powerful storm to pass through the Central Pacific since Hurricanes Emilia and Gilma, both in July 1994.
Henry Lau, National Weather Service forecaster, said that Ioke's high winds knocked out its agency's weather sensors at about 8 p.m. Wednesday night. At that time winds were clocked at 78 mph, with gusts more than 100 mph.
Big Island beaches ruled clear of sharks
Kohala beaches reopened yesterday after a slew of tiger shark sightings over the past few days.
Big Island lifeguards, civil defense officials and state park representatives opened the beaches on the Kohala Coast after 11 a.m., when no sharks were sighted after a helicopter fly-by, Ocean Safety District Captain Chris Stelfox said.
But on Tuesday, a Big Island lifeguard came within a few feet of a 15-foot tiger while clearing Hapuna Park waters, park caretaker Charlie Akina said.
Kohala beaches were partially closed three times because of shark sightings this week, Akina said. Three different tiger sharks, from 9 to 15 feet in length, have been spotted.
Beaches are expected to be open normal hours today and over the holiday weekend, officials said.
Stelfox said there will be signs posted along affected beaches, and lifeguards will keep watch for any more sharks.
It is rare, Akina said, to have so many sightings so close to shore.
Calling future doctors
High school students interested in becoming doctors will have a chance to meet some Hawaii physicians at a symposium from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 23 at the Waialae Building, 3660 Waialae Ave.
Student participants are invited to submit a 200-word essay describing why they want to be a doctor. The top essay will win $500. The deadline is next Friday. For more information, call 735-1935 or toll-free from the neighbor islands, 877-735-1935.
What's inside your Star-Bulletin this weekend:
Sunday
Today: The Honolulu Academy of Arts is opening an exhibit of images taken by famed photographer Ansel Adams at the Relocation Center of Manzanar. His portraits of the Japanese Americans interned there are a lasting legacy of World War II.
Business: Three generations have kept Chinatown's Kaya Fishing Supply Inc. going for 95 years despite the influx of larger competitors that threaten to steal away customers.
Business: Millions of shoppers continue to clip paper coupons from their Sunday newspapers despite a threat from the Internet and its ability to target narrow groups and measure results.
Sports: Hawaii opens the 2007 season at Alabama to play one of the more storied programs in college football. The Crimson Tide has won 12 national championships over the years. This is one of the bigger road trips for the Warriors in nearly a dozen years.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WEST OAHU
Clothing store arson investigated
Police are investigating an arson case after someone set fire to a clothing rack Wednesday night at Jeans Warehouse in the Pearl Highlands Center.
The store's manager reported noticing flames coming from the back of the business. Firefighters were called, but the fire was extinguished by the store's sprinkler system before they arrived.
Police are investigating the case as second-degree arson and said they believe an unknown customer started the fire.
Damage was estimated at $200,000 to the contents of the clothing store and $10,000 to the building, according to the Honolulu Fire Department.
WINDWARD OAHU
Man allegedly lights gas on fire at station
Police arrested a 42-year-old man Wednesday night for allegedly igniting gasoline at a Shell station in Kaneohe.
At about 7:40 p.m. the man paid for the gasoline, but instead of pumping it into his vehicle, he ignited the gas and fled, police said.
The fire had been extinguished by the time firefighters arrived at about 8 p.m. Officers found the suspect and arrested him for suspicion of second-degree arson.
WAIKIKI
Guard is attacked at shopping complex
Police arrested two men Wednesday who allegedly assaulted a security guard at a Waikiki shopping complex and choked him until he was unconscious.
A witness told police the three men were arguing when the 27-year-old man punched the 36-year-old male guard. The third man, 23, helped beat the guard while he was on the ground, police reported.
The 27-year-old man held the victim in a choke hold until he was unconscious, police said.
The witness, 22, identified the two men, and police arrested them on suspicion of assault at about 10:35 p.m. The 27-year-old was released without charges.
Driver allegedly tries to bribe police officer
A 23-year-old man was arrested yesterday morning for allegedly trying to bribe a police officer to let him go during a drunken-driving stop in Waikiki, police said.
Police said as they were arresting the man for driving a vehicle under the influence, he offered the officer money to go free.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of bribery and driving a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
HONOLULU
Man held for alleged sex assault of child
Police arrested a 46-year-old Kaimuki man Tuesday for alleged sexual assault of a family member.
On Friday a 10-year-old girl reported that a family member had assaulted her on Jan. 1 in Kaimuki. Police located and arrested the suspect on Tuesday morning and charged him with third-degree sexual assault.
LEEWARD OAHU
2 suspects are sought in necklace robbery
Police were looking for two men who allegedly robbed another man of a gold necklace and then threatened him with a gun.
Police said the suspects, ages 33 and 36, confronted the victim, 27, in Waianae at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The suspects drove away after assaulting the victim and taking his chain, police said.
The victim followed them in another car, but as he pulled up next to them, they threatened him with a gun, police said.
The victim then backed off and the suspects fled. The suspects had been identified but not arrested, police said.
NORTH SHORE
Man, 20, caught with stolen car tries to flee
Police arrested a 20-year-old man who allegedly tried to flee after police saw him driving a stolen vehicle on Kahalewai Place in Haleiwa.
A police officer noticed the parked vehicle at about 11:45 a.m. yesterday that had been reported stolen earlier in the morning, police said.
A plainclothes officer watching the vehicle saw the man get in and drive away, police reported.
Police stopped the vehicle, and the man allegedly tried to flee but was apprehended.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of car theft and driving without a license.