HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Child drowning investigated
Advertiser Staff
KIHEI — Police are investigating the death of a 7-month-old girl who apparently drowned in a bathtub at Kihei Villages.
The baby's 16-year-old mother reported the death at 11:11 a.m. Tuesday. Lt. Glenn Cuomo of the Maui Police Department said an autopsy was performed yesterday. Police initially have classified the death as an accident.
WIND FARM OFFERS COMPENSATION
The Kaheawa Wind Power wind farm on Maui will perform $3.8 million in work to benefit birds and bats to make up for any damage the species suffer from the rotating blades of 20 wind turbines.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawai'i DLNR have approved federal and state permits for the firm's Kaheawa Pastures Wind Energy Generation Facility, which will place the turbines in a single row at elevations from 2,000 to 3,200 feet near the existing Maui Electric transmission lines mauka of Ma'alaea.
A 20-year habitat conservation plan for the project calls for a range of programs on behalf of the native Hawaiian hoary bat, the Hawaiian goose or nene, and two seabirds that nest in the mountains, the Hawaiian petrel and Newell's shearwater.
CLASSROOM LOST IN BALDWIN FIRE
WAILUKU — A fire yesterday destroyed a Baldwin High School portable classroom used for special education classes.
The fire was reported at 3:40 a.m., under control at 4:14 and extinguished by 7:25, firefighters said.
One portable classroom was destroyed and two damaged. No damage estimate was available.
Principal Stephen Yamada said the 30 students who use the room during the day were accommodated elsewhere on campus.
KAUA'I
RECYCLABLE-ITEMS LIST EXPANDED
LIHU'E — The county-sponsored islandwide recycling program has expanded the list of items that can be dropped off at Kaua'i Recycles bins.
In addition to the standard corrugated cardboard, newspaper, aluminum and glass, the bins now will take certain plastics. Plastics Nos. 1 and 2 can be dropped in the same bin with aluminum. There are now separate containers for assorted paper products, such as junk mail, magazines, glossy advertisements, phone books and food boxes. For more information, call the county Recycling Office at 241-6891.
TWO REASONS TO CELEBRATE
LIHU'E — The county will hold a joint celebration March 4 to welcome home service members from the state's Army National Guard and Air National Guard, and to celebrate the completion of Kaua'i's first rubberized track at Lihu'e Stadium.
The welcome-home parade for the soldiers starts at the County Building at 10 a.m. The track will be blessed at 11 a.m.
For more information, call Beverley Pang at 241-6392, Theresa Koki at 241-6246 or Kaui Tanaka at 241-6300.
EAST HONOLULU
SCHOOL HOLDING RECYCLING DRIVE
Queen Lili'uokalani Elementary School, at the top of the hill of Kaimuki, will hold a beverage container recycling drive from 10 a.m. to noon on Feb. 19 in the Mahina Street parking lot of the school at 3633 Wai'alae Ave.
Donations will be used for enrichment courses for students. Beverage containers made of glass, plastic and aluminum with the "HI-5" imprint will be accepted. For more information, call Lori Yamada at 295-3294.
WAIKIKI
ROYAL HAWAIIAN VALENTINE'S SHOW
The Royal Hawaiian Band will give a free Valentine's concert at 12:15 p.m. Monday at the Waikiki Community Center, 310 Paoakalani Ave. For reservations, call 923-1802.
BIG ISLAND
DRUG DEFENDANTS PLEAD GUILTY
Two Big Island men have pleaded guilty to methamphetamine distribution charges and face prison terms of 10 years to life.
Shannon Ebanies, 28, of Pahoa, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Bruce K. Kepa'a, 33, of Kailua, Kona, pleaded guilty Tuesday to an identical conspiracy count and to one count of distributing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.
Ebanies and Kepa'a were arrested in November after authorities found a half-pound of the drug in Ebanies' vehicle.
