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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service
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Sick Maui man leaves hospital
A Maui man who may have contracted botulism was released from the hospital yesterday in stable condition.
Jonathan Stockton was released before noon from Maui Memorial Medical Center, a nursing supervisor said. He was hospitalized Thursday with muscle weakness and paralysis in his face after eating Cattle Drive brand chili, which has been recalled nationwide.
The state Department of Health said it will be sending Stockton's blood samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week for testing to confirm he has botulism. It is a rare illness that can lead to paralysis, respiratory failure and death.
Castleberry's Food Co., which makes Cattle Drive brand chili and dozens of other food products, recalled more than 90 of its canned food products out of fear of botulism poisoning. Two people in Texas and two people in Indiana were confirmed to be sick and hospitalized from the contaminated food.
Agency receives $1 million grant
A nonprofit social-service agency is getting a $1 million federal grant for its Native Hawaiian Child Care Assistance Project.
Honolulu-based Alu Like Inc. will use the money awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services to offer child-care assistance and workshops on child development and early childhood education.
The department also is awarding about $549,000 to Maui Family Support Services Inc. for its Early Head Start Program and nearly $181,000 to the National Institute of Nursing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa for a project involving cultural risk-reduction intervention with native Hawaiian mothers.
Host families sought for teens
More than 2,000 teenagers from 60 different countries will be coming to the United States next month as Youth For Understanding high school exchange students, and many of them are still waiting for host families.
The program is seeking families who want to share the American lifestyle with the students. Host families are expected to provide a place to live and three meals a day, plus the encouragement, advice and love to help their new "family" member through a year away from home.
Students will bring their own spending money and health insurance. They are also expected to help out with family responsibilities. The program provides local representatives who mentor the students and families to make sure it is a positive experience for all involved.
Interested families can request profiles of students with interests similar to their own. For more information, call (866) 493-8872 or visit www.yfu-usa.org.
$10,000 awarded to church
The Atherton Family Foundation recently awarded $10,000 to the Windward Baptist Church for its Rebuilders Addictions Ministry program.
The mission of the nonprofit program is to help rebuild the lives of those struggling with addictions, according to its president, the Rev. Kevin Akana.
The program provides transitional housing, addiction education, support group meetings, job training and counseling, he said.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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Big Isle blaze chars 3,000 acres
A brush fire burned about 3,000 acres of wild land in Waikoloa on the Big Island.
Big Island Civil Defense officials said about 30 firefighters battled a hot spot from the blaze, and were expected to contain the fire last night. Three bulldozers were used.
The fire was reported at 1:45 p.m. Thursday at the makai side of Highway 190 in Waikoloa.
No structures were threatened, and the cause is under investigation.
Small brush fires are extinguished
Firefighters extinguished small brush fires in Waianae and Kahuku yesterday.
About 6:45 p.m., a brush fire started off Waianae Valley Road near Kaneaki Street. It took firefighters about an hour to extinguish the fire that burned about an acre of land, said Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Frank Johnson.
At about 6:20 a.m. another fire started in an undeveloped area across from Turtle Bay in Kahuku, Johnson said.
Firefighters hiked 30 minutes to the fire and dug up pine needles to put out the fire. A helicopter assisted, Johnson said.
Because of the fire's location, firefighters worked most of the day on the 1-acre fire, finishing at about 4:20 p.m. The cause of both fires is under investigation.
CENTRAL OAHU
DUI suspected in highway crash
Police arrested a man who apparently caused a three-vehicle accident late Friday that hospitalized seven people.
Police said that at about 10:05 p.m., a 2005 Toyota pickup was traveling Wahiawa-bound on Kamehameha Highway at the Kipapa Gulch bridge when it crossed the double-solid line and collided with an oncoming 1999 Chevy van.
The pickup then struck a 1996 Honda sedan that was right behind the van, police said. There were five people in the van, four of whom were sent to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition, including the driver, a 39-year-old Waipahu man.
The driver of the pickup, a 38-year-old Mililani man, a passenger in the van, and the Honda's driver were treated and released from Queen's.
Police said speed and alcohol were factors in the crash. Police arrested the driver of the pickup on suspicion of driving under the influence, driving with an open container of alcohol, and four counts of negligent injury.
LEEWARD OAHU
Pair damages car with child inside
Police arrested two people who allegedly attacked two men and damaged a car while a child was sitting inside.
At about 5:30 p.m. Friday, a mob surrounded a car with two men inside on Farrington Highway in Waianae, police said.
The two men inside the car, ages 25 and 31, were scared and got out their car, police said. A 32-year-old man allegedly punched and struck the 25-year-old victim with his fists and a small club, police said.
The suspect then allegedly used the club to break the rear window of the car, while a 5-year-old child sat in the rear seat. A 20-year-old woman allegedly threw a beer bottle through the rear window of the car, breaking glass, police said. Some of the breaking glass fell on the child, police said. The child was apparently not seriously injured.
Police arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion of second-degree assault and criminal property damage. The woman was arrested on suspicion of criminal property damage.
