TUESDAY, NOV. 9, 2010 - NEWS BRIEFS

DOMINIC YAGONG (left), the incoming chair for Hawai`i County Council, will travel to Ka`u today along with incoming council member Brittany Smart to study the roads in limbo issue. Outgoing council member Guy Enriques had suggested the county sell off a segment of Kamaoa Road, west of South Point Road. The plan faces objection from Smart and some other council members who fear it would set a precedent for selling off public access to grave sites as well as fishing and hunting grounds. The public is invited to the site visit, which begins at 3 p.m. today at the corner of Kamaoa and South Point roads with a public hearing to follow at Na`alehu Community Center.

DOMINIC YAGONG has been elected chair of the new County Council, which takes office on Monday, December 6 at noon at the Hilo Civic Auditorium. Yagong’s election is expected to mark a change in council philosophy. Yagong endorsed Ka`u’s new council member Brittany Smart and lobbies for open, transparent government, small business and community input. Smart says she wants an office in Ka`u.

INCOMING COUNCIL MEMBER BRITTANY SMART WILL CHAIR THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. She said “this is where my work experience benefits the most.” She said her first task is to get a transfer station for Ocean View. She vowed to upgrade all the transfer stations and make sure rubbish disposal areas are “available, safe and as comprehensive as we can get them.”

SMART WILL BE VICE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE serving with Chair Angel Pilago. She will also represent Hawai`i County with Pilago at the state, regional and national association of councils where city and county councils cooperate on projects.

THE KA`U COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING has been postponed from today to Tuesday, December 14. The committee meets to guide the creation of a plan for the future of Ka`u, including economic development, neighborhood planning and land use. The meeting was canceled so avoid conflict with today’s site visit and public hearing on Kamaoa Road.

TWO VETERANS DAY celebrations are being held this Thursday, November 11 at Kilauea Military Camp and Punalu`u Beach Park. The Kilauea Military Camp ceremony is at 3:30 p.m. on the front lawn and will offer a free dinner for all U.S. Active and Retired Military and Veterans who pre-register. A free concert with Hawaiian masters of Slack Key and Ukulele will take place at Punalu`u Beach from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. as part of the annual Kahumoku music workshop in Ka`u.

INTERESTED IN HELPING WITH THE MISS KA`U COFFEE PAGEANT? Coffee farmers are reaching out to the entire community to become involved with the pageant and the Ka`u Coffee Festival which will celebrate its third year in 2011. To volunteer for the pageant, call Nalani Parlin at 217-6893, Gloria Camba at 928-8155 or Pahala Plantation Cottages at 928-9811. The pageant is planned for Sunday, February 20. Girls and young ladies interested in vying for the pageant titles can also call for entry forms.

MANTRACKER the hit reality television show featuring local paniolo Leon Chow and Canadian tracker Terry Grant chasing down human prey in Ka`u will premiere today, November 9 on the Discovery Science Channel at 4 p.m. local time and will be repeated throughout the week. Check Discovery TV listings for time.