9A WEST HAWAII TODAY | FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2016 ARSON: Lindo is being held on $400,000 bail CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A damage and two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening. Both were allegedly involved in an arson against the Kona Drug Court building on March 3, the same day Banagan was scheduled to be sentenced on a probation violation. They also were reportedly involved in threatening teenagers at the scenic overlook on Kamehameha III Drive on Sunday. After being arrested for the threatening offense, they were later charged for the arson. Deputy prosecuting attorney Sheri Lawson asked that Banagan be held without bond, citing prior convictions for shooting a man in the chest in 2014, probation violation and violation of bail conditions. She is being held on $1 million bond. Judge Margaret Masunaga set the preliminary hearing for both defendants for 2:30 p.m. Monday. Judge Andrews Wilson will hear arguments about holding Banagan without bail at that time. Judge Melvin Fujino, who sits at the courthouse that was damaged by the fire, has recused himself from the cases, Lawson said. Banagan’s second count of terroristic threatening comes from an upgrade of the criminal property damage charge involved in the arson case, Lawson testified. Banagan is additionally charged with revocation of probation, as she was on probation from a 2014 Holualoa shooting that injured a man. Lindo is also charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle for allegedly driving a stolen truck seen at the arson scene. Lindo, who has no prior criminal convictions, is being held on $400,000 bail. FIREFIGHTERS: Rosario has been fire chief since September 2011 chief. Loyola, a 25-year employee, has since retired. Medeiros and Loyola had claimed Rosario was putting lives and safety at risk because there were inadequate emergency plans in place that became obvious during tsunami and hurricane threats. But Deputy Corporation Counsel Steven Strauss characterized their actions not as a loss of confidence in their chief, but a “failed coup.” Rosario, a 26-year employee, has been fire chief since September 2011. Strauss said Thursday that there’s a heavy burden of proof on the plaintiffs in employment actions. Putting employees on paid leave while an investigation is conducted is considered an administrative action, not a disciplinary one, he said. “In just about all jurisdictions, it’s treated as an employer’s right,” Strauss bigislandtoyota.com Sha mro ckS a l e! 2016 TOYOTA CAMRY $23,905* 0% APR 60 MONTHS* 2016 TOYOTA COROLLA G684840 $18,673* $827 Off msrp of: $19,500 0.9% HILO: 935-2920 811 Kanoelehua Ave. KONA: 329-8517 74-5504 Kaiwi St. *FINANCING ON APPROVED CREDIT. ALL PRICES ARE AFTER ALL APPLICABLE REBATES APPLIED. OFFERS ARE NOT COMBINABLE. RESTRICTIONS APPLY. VEHICLES MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS PICTURED. ALL PRICES PLUS 4.166% TAX, LIC., & $249 DOCUMENTATION FEE. DEALER AND ITS AGENTS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. SEE DEALER FOR DETAILS. OFFER ENDS MARCH 31, 2016. APR 60 MONTHS* G683732 said. “I really think it was a failure of (meeting the) burden of proof.” During the course of the hearing, Loyola and Medeiros estimated they lost tens of thousands of dollars in overtime they otherwise would have earned, and in lower retirement benefits because the retirement income is based on prior earnings. A third fire official, a captain, was investigated for talking about the case to the media, but that investigation was subsequently dropped. The fire department has a regulation stating, “no member shall publicly criticize or ridicule the department, its policies or the members … when such action tends to impair the good order or efficiency of the department, interferes with the ability of officers to maintain discipline or it’s made with reckless disregard for truth or falsity.” Employees agree to follow the rules as a condition of employment. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A By the afternoon of March 3, the door damaged by what police consider an arson committed by Randi-Keali Banagan, 24, Captain Cook, and Kainoa Lindo, 22, Honaunau, that morning was replaced. GRAHAM MILLDRUM / WEST HAWAII TODAY Waipio could reopen The Waipio Valley could reopen soon after being closed due to the dengue fever outbreak. HOLLYN JOHNSON/HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD Plateau of dengue fever cases means business may get back to normal SOON HILO — Hawaii County officials are considering reopening Waipio Valley to the public as the Big Island’s dengue fever outbreak continues to subside. Civil Defense Administrator Darryl Oliveira said he might know today whether the valley is safe to reopen after two months of limited access. The last confirmed case of the mosquito-borne disease there was Feb. 1, and he said he is awaiting test results on another possible infection. If that test turns up negative, the visitor ban would be lifted. “We’re asking for the results as soon as possible,” Oliveira said. While it might not be considered an “all clear,” opening up the valley would come as a huge relief to residents and tour operators, who have felt the bite of the closure. Jennifer Hannum, business manager for Naalapa Stables, said the restrictions have been “nerve-wracking.” Because the stables are located in the valley, she said they had to relocate more than 25 horses to new pastures as a result of the closure. In the meantime, feeding, shoeing and other costs continue to stack up. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “To even think a tiny insect can make this much of an impact, to me, that would have been unthinkable a year ago.” Jesse Potter, president of Ha Ola O Waipio Valley, said the outbreak remains on the minds of residents who worry about the disease becoming endemic in the valley, known for its taro farms, tall waterfalls and lush forest. “If it’s in the valley, it is very easy to spread,” he said. “People are very aware.” While the closure has placed additional burdens on residents, it has had the benefit of making the valley a more private place, said Potter, who leases land in Waipio. “Some enjoy the peace and quiet,” he said. “Nobody wants to have Waipio at high risk of having dengue,” Potter added. Like other tour operators, Hannum said she understands this is a sacrifice they needed to make. “We definitely want to make sure everyone is safe and in good health,” she said. “Our highest concern is not only the community, but also the people we are bringing in.” Waipio remains the only public area where access is restricted due to the outbreak after Milolii Beach Park reopened March 11. The number of confirmed cases on the island has reached 261 since the outbreak started late last year, but that figure appears to be stabilizing. The last confirmed case was March 4. None of those cases are considered infectious, and the state Department of Health has only three areas listed as having “some risk” for contracting the disease based on recent infections. Those are Keauhou and Honaunau in West Hawaii and Volcano. BY TOM CALLIS HAWAII TRIBUNE-HERALD PUBLIC NOTICE Proposed Plan Public Meeting Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area Formerly Used Defense Sites Areas BOQJ-Cleared (Project 02) and BOQJ-Remnants (Project 04) The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled a public meeting to present the Proposed Plans identifying the Preferred Alternatives for environmental cleanup of Areas BOQJ-Cleared (Project 02) and Areas BOQJ-Remnants (Project 04) munitions response sites located within the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area. Areas BOQJ-Cleared (Project 02) and Areas BOQJ-Remnants (Project 04) are located in the northern section of the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area and are bounded by Area N to the west, Kawaihae Road (State Route 19) to the north, Area D to the south and Sector 15 to the east. A map showing the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area is located at: http://www.poh.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/FUDS/Waikoloa.aspx The former Waikoloa Maneuver Area is a formerly used defense site located within the South Kohala District on the Island of Hawaii. Historically, the former Waikoloa Maneuver Area was used by the Department of Defense for live fire and training during the WWII era. The general public is invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. Location Anna Ranch Heritage Center 65-1480 Kawaihae Road Kamuela, HI 96743 Date/Time Wednesday, 23 March 2016 Start: 6:30 p.m. At this public meeting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will present the Proposed Plan for each site. Each Proposed Plan is based on the results of a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. Each Proposed Plan describes the alternatives analyzed in the Feasibility Study and proposes a preferred remedial action alternative for addressing munitions suspected to be present. The Preferred Alternatives for both sites are to remove munitions on the surface and in the subsurface at areas where munitions removal work was not previously conducted and to implement land use controls for the entirety of both sites in the form of public education programs. The Proposed Plans will be made available at the Thelma Parker Library; 67-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI 96743 on March 23, 2016 for public review and comment. The Corps will accept written comments on the Proposed Plans starting on March 23, 2016 through April 25, 2016. After consideration of the public and stakeholder input, the Corps will develop separate Decision Documents for Areas BOQJ-Cleared and Areas BOQJ-Remnants. For media queries contact: Mr. Joseph Bonfiglio Honolulu District Public Affairs cepoh-pa@usace.army.mil Phone: 808-835-4004 For additional information please contact: Mr. Walter Nagai U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District Walter.T.Nagai@usace.army.mil Phone: 808-835-4089 Buy a Happy Meal® and Help Families McDonald’s® Restaurants of Hawaii will donate 5 cents to Ronald McDonald House Charities® for every Happy Meal and Mighty Kids Meal® sold. From now until December 31, 2016 Participating McDonald’s restaurants in the United States donate a penny per Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal. Hawaii restaurants donate an additional four cents per Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal. ©2013 McDonald’s Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii is a non-profit organization that depends on support from the community to fund its assistance programs. For more information, please visit www.RonaldHouseHawaii.org 1970 Judd Hillside Road Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 (808) 973-5683 • info@rmhchawaii.org You can join West Hawaii Today in lending a hand too. For every newspaper purchased at McDonalds, a portion of the proceeds is donated to RMHC-HI.
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