HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Honolulu march honors Sarah Fay
Advertiser Staff
Friends and family of a pregnant Big Island woman left brain-dead after a beating honored her memory yesterday with a silent march at Honolulu Hale.
Sarah Fay, 34, was pronounced legally dead on Nov. 27 after allegedly being beaten by her boyfriend, Marwann Jackson. Seven months pregnant, Fay is being kept on life support at The Queen's Medical Center until her baby can be delivered. Doctors hope to deliver the baby between Saturday and Monday.
Jackson was charged yesterday with second-degree murder, second-degree murder by omission, kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault, second-degree robbery and violation of an order for protection.
The Hawai'i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence led the march in Honolulu.
Fay is survived by two children, ages 7 and 10.
A concert fundraiser held Saturday in Pahoa attracted 200 to 300 people and raised $1,800 for Fay's children.
Organizer Josie Harmon said turquoise-colored ribbons were distributed in memory of Fay, who had "crystal blue eyes." Harmon said most of the people who attended knew Fay.
HUMAN RIGHTS RALLY IN HILO
Ah Quon McElrath, a pioneer in Hawai'i's labor movement, will be the featured speaker at a Hilo rally Saturday marking International Human Rights Day.
Other speakers include Mayor Harry Kim, Hawai'i County Council Chairman Stacy Higa, Hawai'i State AFL-CIO president Randy Perreira and Hawai'i Newspaper Guild official Wayne Cahill.
The rally will be from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Kamehameha Avenue parking lot in front of the canoe halau.
MAUI
READINESS IS GOAL OF ANNUAL DRILLS
Annual terrorism response exercises are being conducted this week on Maui.
An overnight drill simulating the release of a biological agent into the air will be conducted tonight at the War Memorial Baseball Stadium. The exercise is expected to start at 4 p.m. and conclude at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Civil Defense officials said.
A separate exercise is scheduled for earlier today at Kahului Harbor.
Yesterday, crews responded to a simulated attack at the 'Iao Water Treatment Plant.
Participating agencies are the Maui Fire Department and Police Department; the state Health Department; the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the Army National Guard 93rd Civil Support Team.
$1 MILLION MORE FOR BOAT RAMP
Improvements to the Kahului Boat Ramp are continuing, with the state's release of $1 million for a wider and longer boarding pier and connecting walkway.
The work follows a $5 million Army Corps of Engineers project to dredge the entrance and access channels, replace the loading dock and install a three-lane boat ramp. The additional improvements, which include a parking stall for the disabled, are expected to be done by next summer.
WAILUKU OFFICE SETS OPEN HOUSE
Mayor Alan Arakawa and other county officials will be present when the county Office of Economic Development holds an open house Tuesday at its new location in Suite 305, One Main Plaza, in Wailuku.
The event will run from 4 to 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
STATE
SHOPO ELECTIONS HELD STATEWIDE
The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers is holding elections for board member positions for all four chapters today. Election results will be announced tonight at the general membership meeting on O'ahu.
The police union's labor contract with the city expires at the end of 2006. Those elected as chapter chairpersons on O'ahu, Maui County, Hawai'i and Kaua'i will be thrown into the negotiations starting Jan. 1.
Chapter chairpersons will be elected to four-year terms instead of the previous two-year terms.
