A 61-year old Leilani Estates man has confessed to shooting his 27-year old son to death. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, Randal K. Randrup pleaded guilty to manslaughter for the December 11th, 2008 death of Hans Randrup, whose body was found wrapped in a blanket the following day at MacKenzie State Park in lower Puna. Randal Randrup remains in custody at the Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of one million dollars bail.
Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara has ruled there will be no life sentence for a paroled murderer convicted of trying to rape a 12-year old girl in the Pepeekeo church where he once served as music director. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Peter Bailey would present a danger to the community if he was released from prison. Without a possible extended sentence of life imprisonment, Bailey could face up to 20 years for each count of his conviction.
It has been a long wait for a former Navy radioman from Punaluu, but after more than four decades, Ronald Ebert has finally received the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal for service in Southeast Asia. Ebert told the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald” that awareness of his national service has finally arrived. Ebert wants returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to receive the welcome-home celebration he and his friends were denied.
Dexter Irvin has been named director of athletics at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, effective today (01 September 2009). Irvin spent the past decade as the director of athletics at Pacific West Conference member Dixie State College in St. George, Utah. During that time, Irvin increased fundraising and contributions to over $500,000 per year, and guided the program from junior college status to the NCAA Division II level.
(AP). The state Department of Education is again seeking the authority to replace the principals and most teachers at failing public schools. A measure during the last legislative session to grant the superintendent the authority to “reconstitiute” schools failed to gain support, mainly because of concerns about collective bargaining.
(AP). The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund is delaying a portion of its new prescription drug plans for state and county workers. Fund Administrator James Williams says the start of the program is being delayed to January 1st to ensure other changes go smoothly.