By local and wire sources
Likely traffic delays ahead
Alternating lane closures in both directions are planned this week on Mamalahoa Highway between mile marker 27 and mile marker 31, in the vicinity of Makalei, for guardrail installation and pavement striping work, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The department also said 24-hour alternating lane closures in both directions are planned this week on Hawaii Belt Road between Kapuna Road and Pikake Street in Honokaa for road reconstruction work. According to the department, a temporary traffic signal will be placed in the area to control traffic flow around the site.
Crews will be working from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted. Road work is weather permitting.
Kauai sex offender to serve 10-year sentence
LIHUE, Kauai — A convicted Kauai sex offender must serve 10 years for molesting an 8-year-old girl.
The Hawaii Paroling Authority has set Eaton Rivera’s minimum imprisonment term, which Kauai County Prosecuting Attorney Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho announced earlier this week.
Last year, Rivera was convicted of 11 counts of second-degree sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years.
At a parole authority hearing in October, Iseri-Carvalho argued he shouldn’t be released sooner. She said he violated his position of trust as a family member, repeatedly sexually assaulting the girl during the summer months of 2007 through July 2009.
The defense argued for leniency, saying he took responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty.
Iseri-Carvalho said a 10 year term is minimal considering the “lifetime sentence” that the victim has been subjected to.
Military IDs Marines killed in helicopter crash
HONOLULU — Military officials have released the names of six Hawaii-based Marines who were killed when their helicopter crashed earlier this week in Afghanistan.
The Department of Defense said Saturday that 27-year-old Capt. Daniel Bartle of Ferndale, Wash, 29-year-old Capt. Nathan McHone of Crystal Lake, Ill., 40-year-old Master Sgt. Travis Riddick of Centerville, Iowa, 23-year-old Cpl. Jesse Stites of North Beach, Md., 25-year-old Cpl. Kevin Reinhard of Colonia, N.J. and 22-year-old Cpl. Joseph Logan, of Willis, Texas, were killed when their CH-53D helicopter crashed Thursday.
The crash in the southern province of Helmand was the deadliest in Afghanistan since August.
All six Marines were based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu.
The Vietnam War-era CH-53D is the same model as a helicopter that crashed and killed a Marine in a bay off Hawaii on March 29. An investigation later revealed mechanical failure caused that accident.
By local and wire sources