Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi is delaying the sale of 737 acres of Hamakua land until after the holidays. Finance Director Nancy Crawford tells the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald” that the county needs a marketing period to promote and sell the land near Paauilo. Crawford says msot of the marketing effort will take place after January 1st.
A paroled murderer who molested a 12-year old girl in a Pepeekeo church could spend the rest of his life behind bars. According to the “Hawaii Tribune-Herald”, Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara sentenced Peter Bailey to 20 years imprisonment on each of four counts of first-degree attempted sex assault for his attack on the girl on July 22nd, 2007.
(AP). Big Island police are asking for help in locating a man reported missing in South Kohala. They say a green kayak was found floating upside down off the South Kohala coast on November 27th. They also found identification for Jason Winbush, who is a 6-foot-2, 160-pound African-American with a tatoo on his forehead.
(AP). Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi wants to withhold scheduled pay raises from the county’s top government employees. He is asking the Salary Commission to freeze public executive pay at current levels to help deal with a projected $45 million budget deficit. Their annual salaries range from nearly $90,000 for some deputy directors to $115,000 paid to a police chief.
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service are establishing a 14-member citizens’ Laupahoehoe Advisory Council. The council would provide guidance to DLNR and the Forest Service on management issues covering the Hawaii Experimental Tropical Forest and state lands in Laupahoehoe. Those who want to apply for the advisory council should call Roger Imoto at 974-4221.
Roadwork update: Grace Community Church (West Hawaii) is tentatively planning night roadwork during the week of December 21st. HELCO has not closed Palani Road between Pallihiolo and Kealaka’a this week, as previously mentioned. The work planned for this week was completed Sunday, December 6th. Palani Road between Palihiolo and Kealaka’a remains open.
Road Closure Notice: The Department of Water Supply will be closing Halai Street between Haili Street and Alae Street in Hilo for the purpose of changing a service lateral. This work and road closure will occur Friday, December 11th, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. For details, call Carl Nishimura at 961-8790.
Most Hawaii County solid waste transfer stations will be scheduling early morning hours again to accommodate morning communters with rubbish to dump. Effective December 15th, 11 transfer stations will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 4:00 p.m. Transfer stations in Hilo, Honomu, Kealakehe, Kalapana, Milolii, Pahala, Pahoa, Puako, Waimea, and Waiohinu are not affected by the time changes.