Kaʻū News Briefs, Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022

A memorial for Brandy Ebanez on the mainland, where she was murdered in an alleged
domestic abuse killing. Photo from the Tri-City Herald

MAN ARRESTED IN BRANDY EBANEZ MURDER CASE: Richard Michael Jacobson has been arrested in Portland, Oregon as a felony fugitive, related to the murder case of Brandy Ebanez, formerly of Pāhala. Ebanez's body was found on Sept. 27, floating in the Columbia River, southeast of Cable Bridge by Clover Island, near her home in Kennewick, WA. Her body was wrapped in plastic sheeting and a comforter, her legs tied together with rope attached to two rocks, according to local media reports in Washington and Oregon.

     Those reports said that she he was discovered by an off-duty policeman who was fishing.  Ebanez had been missing for about two weeks. The autopsy showed she suffered a broken neck and was also about 16 to 20 weeks pregnant.

The late Brandy Ebanez, whose
children are subject of a GoFundMe
 Campaign to help bring them to Pāhala.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-the-
loving-memory-of-brandy-ebanez

    A Gofundme page has been set up to help bring Ebanez's nine and 12 year old daughters to live with their grandmother, who has filed for custody. As of Thursday night, $11,717 is raised toward a $20,000 goal.

     Ebanez's family members, including her older sister, have described the murder as one of domestic violence and an example of weak laws and weak enforcement of protection for women and children. They said they had long hoped that Ebanez could have extricated herself from the dangerous relationship and moved back home to Pāhala. They said they hope the future will include the children being cared for with their family members in Pāhala. Ebanez worked in the health care field in Washington and colleagues described her as very caring.

    A statement from the Kennewick Police Department, released Wednesday, said, "Kennewick PD detectives have identified a suspect in the murder of 34-year-old Brandy Ebanez. This suspect was known to Brandy and has been taken into custody in the State of Oregon on an arrest warrant and a no bail order related to charges in the City of Kennewick. The suspect is currently awaiting extradition to Washington State. Kennewick PD will provide an update once the suspect arrives to the Benton County Jail."

     The suspect was identified by media in Washington state as Jacobson and as being held in the Portland's Multnomah County Jail. He is also 34 years of age, according to the media reports, as well as the father of Ebanez's children.

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OCTOBER IS SAFE SLEEP AND SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH, and the state Department of Health reminds all parents and caregivers of the importance of making sure their infant is sleeping in a safe environment.

    "There are about 3,500 sleep-related deaths among US babies each year, many of which are preventable," said Sage Goto, head of Safe Sleep Hawai'i, a public-private initiative led by DOH. "The death of an infant affects everyone—parents, grandparents, siblings, and others—who all experience the grief of losing a baby."

   The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated its recommendations for the first time since 2016, urging parents to make sure babies sleep on a flat, non-inclined surface and discouraging bedsharing.
    The AAP's Updated 2022 Recommendations for parents/caregivers can help reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths in Hawaiʻi and includes the following:
    Always place babies on their backs for naptime and bedtime, or whenever they sleep.
    Never put any soft objects such as pillows, blankets, toys, or crib bumpers where babies are sleeping.
Infants should sleep in the parent's room and close to the bed, but on a separate surface designed for infants, ideally for at least the first six months.
    Always have babies sleep on a firm, flat surface like a mattress with a fitted sheet. This surface must not have an incline larger than 10 degrees.
    Breastfeed and/or feed human milk to both term and preterm infants for at least the first six months if possible.
    Offer babies pacifiers at naptime and bedtime to reduce the risk of SIDS.
Never smoke or use substances around babies or let anyone smoke or use substances around babies. Smoking and using substances such as alcohol, marijuana, opioids, or other illicit drugs should be avoided during pregnancy and after birth.
    To learn more about safe sleep, attend a virtual workshop, or download an informational Safe Sleep Guide for Parents, visit TheParentLine.org/SafeSleep.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

A  KAʻŪ COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MEETING is set for Wednesday, Oct. 19 at noon at the Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room in Pāhala. There is no zoom option for the public meeting. The meeting will include election of a Chair and Vice-Chair for the Action Committee.
    The agenda from the Action Committee also lists "Project Prioritization Discussion: Action Committee members will engage in an exercise to establish priority implementation projects and interests. Discussion will include exploring mutual interests between Action Committee members to create investigatory subcommittees and community liaison groups, as applicable. Joint Intitiatives with community members or partner organizations are encouraged." The agenda refers to a "Kumu Map of Action Committee member networks" and a "Community-Based Collaborative Action Guide."
    More is available through an online Community Development Plan Action Committee folder in the County of Hawai'i Public Documents Repository at https://records.hawaiicounty.gov/weblink/1/fol/88959/Row1.aspx. The documents may also be requested from the Planning Department by calling (808) 961- 8288 or emailing cdp@hawaiicounty.gov.
    Kaʻū Community Development Plan Action Committee is comprised of Kaʻū citizens tasked with helping move forward the Kaʻū CDP, in partnership with the Hawai'i County Planing Department and other community stakeholders. Kaʻū's Action Committee members are: Leina'ala Enos, Babette Morrow, Catherine Williams, Kaohinani Mokuali'i, Pernell Hanoa, Jason Masters, Kaweni Ibarra and Jessie Ke. See story at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022_08_22_archive.html

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THE ROBERT E. HERKES KAʻŪ DISTRICT GYM WILL HOST GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINALS for the Big Island Interscholastic Federation this Saturday afternoon. In football, the Trojans will host Kohala at 1:30 p.m.

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In the mail, on stands and at www.kaucalendar.com