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Monday, November 13, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023

Honey Girl dances hula at Veterans Day celebration at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji on Saturday, backed up by musician
Sonny Ramos, himself a Navy veteran w
ho sang and played music. Photo by June Domondon

VETERANS DAY was celebrated Saturday at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji. Vietnam War veteran Wayne Kawachi President of ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, hosted the event. Joining him were veterans, including musician Sonny Ramos, OKK members, hula dancer Honey Girl and the Pāhala Hongwanji Taiko Drummers. Lunch and snacks were served to all.
Pāhala Hongwanji Taiko traveled to Nāʻālehu for the Veterans Day celebration on Saturday.
Photo by June Domondon

THE FATAL DOG ATTACK IN OCEAN VIEW on Aug. 1 has led to a story in Hawai‘i Tribune Herald by John Burnett, who reports the case has gone to the Prosecuting Attorney for Hawai‘i County to consider charges against the owners of the dogs.
    Bob Northrop, 71, of Ocean View, died after being attacked by four large dogs when he was walking
Bob Northrop was killed by four dogs in Ocean
View on Aug. 1. The case involving the dog
owners is being considered by County Prosecutors.
Photo from facebook
along Outrigger Drive to a friend's house.
    Burnett wrote that Northrop's ex-wife is calling for prosecutors to speed up their investigation and make charges. While the dogs that killed Northrop were turned over to Animal Control for euthanasia with ten puppies, Stephanie Northrop said that she heard that the same dogs attacked another person, before killing Northrop. She said police were called and that no one was charged. 
    Hawai‘i Tribune Herald reported that "The police investigation into Bob Northrop’s death was classified as a negligent failure to control a dangerous dog case. A Thursday call by the Tribune-Herald to county Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen wasn’t returned in time for this story. The dogs’ owners, whose names haven’t been made public, haven’t been arrested or booked on suspicion of the charges — which could be as serious as a Class B felony with a potential 10-year prison term."
  Sharon Matson, daughter of Bob Northrop, earlier told The Ka‘ū Calendar that his death seemed unreal since he was such a dog lover. She adopted her dad's puppy after he died and said the young dog has adjusted to living at her home with farm animals. 
    Matson, who is active in public service, is an aide at the County Council and is working with council members to see if the laws regarding dangerous dogs can be strengthened. She said she is shocked her father's death represents the second time the new law has been used this year alone to prosecute and investigate deadly dog attacks.
    Council member Michelle Galimba, who represents Ocean View was quoted earlier by Big Island Now concerning Northrop's death. “If the dogs had been secured in a fenced area or kennels, this would have been preventable.”
    Northrop was a school bus driver at the time of his death and also a retired county inspector and a glazier and carpenter. A Life Celebration was held at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.


POLICE HAVE ISSUED A STATEMENT ABOUT THE EARLY MORNING WRECK that killed a Nāʻālehu woman on Sunday shutting down Highway 11, around 2 a.m., near the 83 Mile Marker, west of Ocean View.
Responding to a call at 2:06 a.m., police investigators determined that a silver 2011 Mazda CX-9 was traveling south on the highway when it ran off the right (makai) shoulder, went down a 20-foot embankment, rolled over, and caught on fire.
Responding Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel extinguished the blaze at which time a female body was located within the vehicle. The woman, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 8:32 a.m.
Police said they believe that speed and impairment are factors in the crash. The driver was not wearing her seatbelt. She has not been positively identified, pending the notification of next of kin.
Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.