Online reservations start for state parks

The state has launched a new online camping and lodging reservation and permit system for Hawaii's state parks.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources said the new online system eliminates the need to visit state park offices, or to call and ask for camp site and cabin availability, and then mail in permit applications and payment.

The site started late last month and accepts payment by credit card. Officials say it also saves staff time and cuts costs on processing mailed or faxed permit applications and payments for camping and lodging reservations. Mail-in permit requests will be discontinued, but members of the public are still able to visit the respective office for personal, same-day permit service.

Brig. Gen. Lynn gets command in Georgia

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Lynn, commanding general of the 311th Theater Signal Command at Fort Shafter, has been selected to be the next commander of the Army Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon in Georgia.

Fort Gordon is the current home of the Army Signal Corps.

Lynn has commanded the 311th Theater Signal Command since October 2008.

He was commissioned through the Army ROTC program after graduating from the California University of Pennsylvania.

Lynn participated in the 1991 Desert Storm war and commanded the 13th Signal Battalion with the 1st Cavalry Division from 1997 to 1999, participating in the Bosnia-Herzegovina operations.

In June 2002, Lynn assumed command of the 3rd Signal Brigade at III Corps at Fort Hood in Texas and deployed to Iraq.

From 1995 to 2006 the 311th was a Ready Reserve Theater Signal Command with the mission to deploy and provide command and control to signal units operating in the Pacific and on the Korean peninsula. It was converted to an active operational force in 2006.

Kolekole Pass to close 2 days for training

Kolekole Pass, which connects Schofield Barracks to Waianae through the Lualualei Naval Magazine, will be closed tomorrow and Friday for military training, Army officials said.

They encourage motorists to use alternate routes and to allow for additional travel time.

Grand jury indicts 2 on marijuana charges

A federal grand jury in Honolulu indicted two Pahoa men for allegedly growing marijuana in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Andre K. Victor, 23, and Mano A. White, 20, were indicted Thursday on three felony charges for allegedly conspiring to cultivate/distribute marijuana, possession/cultivation of marijuana and intent to distribute marijuana. Park rangers caught the two men in December trying to plant 47 marijuana plants in the forest along Mauna Loa Road, the National Park Service said in a news release.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Island's property tax take to fall

HILO » Hawaii County officials say the preliminary net assessed value on all taxable land and buildings on the Big Island is about $3 billion less than a year ago.

Based on its latest assessments and no change in tax rates, property tax collections are expected to fall $22 million, to $193.2 million for the next fiscal year.

The largest drop occurred in the hotel and resort category. The net taxable building hotel and resort values are off more than $600 million. Land values are down another $500 million from a year ago.

Mayor Billy Kenoi has said that he will propose higher tax rates in an amended spending request he will give to the Council next month to offset a predicted 9.6 percent decline in property values.