9A WEST HAWAII TODAY | FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 Puuanahulu green waste fire under control WAIKOLOA — Firefighters worked Thursday evening to extinguish a green waste fire that broke out at the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill. The fire was sparked while green waste was being ground at the facility, which is located south of the Waikoloa Beach Resort area, Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management Deputy Director John Medeiros said. “It’s now under control and the fire department is there,” he said. He noted that while few flames were visible, wind conditions were creating very smoky conditions in the area along Queen Kaahumanu Highway. The landfill was expected to reopen today. Mother, daughter sentenced for defrauding state Medicaid program A Hawaii Island woman and her daughter were sentenced Wednesday to pay restitution and perform community service work for committing Medicaid fraud. Susan Escobar and her daughter, Yolanda Cristina Escobar Hiro pleaded guilty to second-degree theft for committing Medicaid fraud before 3rd Circuit Court before Judge Glenn Hara in Hilo. Under the terms of a plea agreement, Hara granted the defendants’ request for a deferral and ordered them to pay $7,000 as partial repayment for investigative costs to the Medicaid Special Fund and restitution in the amount of $7,068, as well as 200 hours of community service work. The defendants paid for the full amount owed for investigative costs and restitution at the time of sentencing. Susan Escobar, the former office manager of Mastercare, a home health care services company that was contracted by the state to provide home care services to Medicaid recipients in their home, created false progress notes and time sheets, according to Attorney General Doug Chin. The notes and time sheets were for work that was never actually performed by Hiro. The fraudulently billed services were for Escobar’s former mother-in-law, a Medicaid recipient, living with Escobar. The investigation, conducted by the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Department of the Attorney General with assistance from the Hawaii Police Department, revealed that it was impossible for Hiro to provide any services in Hilo since she resided, operated a child care business, and held a part-time job at a hotel in Kona. Alleged shooter released from custody HILO — A 72-year-old man police say shot a neighbor to death early Monday evening in a gated lower Puna subdivision was released from custody pending further investigation. Richard “Rick” R. Edwards of Kapoho Beach Lots was arrested at the scene on suspicion of second-degree murder and detained at the Hilo police cellblock. After conferring with prosecutors, detectives released him at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday. The medical examiner determined the victim, 56-yearold Bryan Lynn Thomas, died of gunshot wounds to the abdomen and chest. Media reports say Thomas came onto Edwards’ property on Kumukahi Road, confronted Edwards with a baseball bat and was shot to death with a 12-gauge shotgun. Edwards reportedly called 911 to report the shooting at 5:14 p.m. Officers reportedly found Thomas unresponsive, face down on the driveway. Anyone with any information about the shooting, should call the Hawaii Police Department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Dean Uyetake at 961-2379 or dean.uyetake@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity can call the Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and might be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Police search for wanted Kona man Hawaii Island police are searching for a 22-year-old Kona man wanted for questioning in connection with a stolen pickup truck. The truck was stolen Jan. 29 from the parking lot of an apartment complex on Alii Drive. Police recovered the truck in Hookena on Tuesday. Police want to question Kainoa Lindo, whose last known address was in Hookena. He is described as 5-foot-9, 175-190 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. Police ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call the police department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or walter.ahmow@hawaiicounty. gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Keamuku open for spring turkey hunting this weekend Army officials are opening the Keamuku Maneuver Area for turkey hunting March 12-13. Keamuku Maneuver Area will be open for spring bearded turkey hunting only, from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Hunters can use bow or shotgun, however shotgun slugs are not permitted. The area is accessible by foot only from designated parking areas. In the interest of safety, entry into recently burned areas is not permitted. If hunters see any suspicious activity, they should call police/fire immediately. All hunters must check in and check out at one of the Army check-in stations located at the following locations: . Old Saddle Road Gate, across from the Mauna Kea State Park entrance . Mile Marker 49.5 gate on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, approximately one-and-a-half miles from Mamalahoa Highway on the left . Gate 10 near mile marker 53 on Old Saddle Road, one mile from Mamalahoa Highway Spring turkey hunting at PTA follows state of Hawaii regulations, found at dlnr.hawaii.gov/dofaw/announcements/ Info: PTA Hunter’s Hotline, 969-3474, visit garrison. hawaii.army.mil/pta, and click on the “Hunting” tab. Hunters with disabilities can call the PTA Game Warden at 969-2429. By West Hawaii Today staff and wire sources IN BRIEF | BIG ISLAND & STATE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8A Firefighters work to extinguish a green waste fire that broke out Thursday afternoon at the West Hawaii Sanitary Landfill. LAURA SHIMABUKU/WEST HAWAII TODAY Lindo SEIZEDFORFEITEDASSETSAUCTION.ORG Items include IRS, TSA lost and abandoned jewelry or Police Department property JEWELRY & WATCH AUCTION RARE ALEXANDRITE’S GIA CERTIFIED TIFFANY & CO. • ROLEX WATCHES • OMEGA PATEK PHILIPPE • BAUME & MERCIER • HARRY WINSTON ONE DAY ONLY! 1. TO 10CT CERTIFIED DIAMONDS ASSORTED NECKLACES & EARRINGS Seized or Confi scated Valuables Assets Previously Held, Sold or Released by the IRS or Police Departments to be Re-auctioned to the Public Piece By Piece with other FREE ADMISSION OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ONE DAY ONLY RUBIES, EMERALDS, SAPPHIRES, TANZANITES AND MANY MORE non-government items which Constitute the Majority of other Inventory from Private or Commercial Interests. SUNDAY, MARCH 13TH Preview 9:00 am / Auction 9:30 am KING KAMEHAMEHA COURTYARD – MARRIOTT 75-5660 Palani Rd., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 206-307-2647 Terms: Cash, Visa, MC, Disc, Amex, • JCB and Union Pay • 15% Buyer’s Premium • Auction not affi liated with US customs or any government agency, All items subject to prior sale, error or omission.
11
To see the actual publication please follow the link above