(AP). A suspect is out of the hospital and is due in court today after police say he was shot after attacking a man in his home. Detectives say Richard Justin McNeely was shot during a bizarre incident at a Ka’u home Thursday night. Police say the 34-year old climbed through a window of John Fitzsimmon’s home and punched the 45-year old man while he was in bed. Police say McNeely left the house, but Fizsimmons shot him in the leg when he tried to get back inside.
The Hawaii County Council is moving its Puna District office to a smaller place in the same Pahoa Marketplace Center. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, the move will save $2,000 a month in rent. The office is used by Puna Councilwoman Emily Naeole-Beason, who has agreed to relocate to the nearby Elections Office that is being vacated because of infrequent use.
An intense brush fire covering an acre-sized area where building materials were stored threatened several South Point Road homes Saturday afternoon before fire personnel established a fire break to help contain the blaze. According to a fire department press release, a private bulldozer owned by Wally Andrade was used to create the fire barrier, which was completed about five hours after the fire was reported. The fire was contained by 2:30 pm Sunday.
All Hawaii police stations will serve as drop off points for the upcoming Toys for Tots Campaign. Members of the police department and SHOPO will contribute funds for the purchase of bicycles for the event. Residents can drop off unwrapped toys for children 12 and under at any police station through December 11th.
The University of Hawaii Board of Regents has approved two sub-plans for the management of Mauna Kea, clearing the way for reviews by the state and the Board of Land and Natural Resources. The plans cover the use of cultural and natural resources in the summit area. Two more sub-plans, governing public access and telescope decommissioning, still need approval by the regents and BLNR. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, a group of Hawaiians and environmental advocates will appeal the decision in Third Circuit Court on December 9th before Hilo Judge Glenn Hara.
Due HGEA contract leave days and cost cutting measures such as conserving electricity, Hawaii Community College will be closed on the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27th and the last two weeks of the year, Monday, December 21st to Friday, January 1st, 2010. The school will re-open for the new year on January 4th, 2010.
The staff of the Department of Parks and Recreation will be removing a large tree at Ainaloa Park on Tuesday, November 24th. The work requires a temporary road closure on Kilaha Street between Kilaha Place and Maunakai Street beginning 8 am until approximately 2 pm.