Obituaries for August 18
Ronald Eldon Bachman, 84, of Hilo died Aug. 6 at home. Born in Hoolehua, Molokai, he was a retired wildlife biologist and avid outdoorsman, starting with the Territory of Hawaii Department of Fish &Game, a graduate of Oregon State University and Hawaii Army National Guard veteran. Drive-thru visitation 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11, at 85 Kalo Street in Hilo. Face masks and social distancing required. Online condolences: ballardfamilymortuaries.com. Survived by children, Diana Awaa of Makawao, Maui, and Randall Bachman of Hilo; five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren; nieces, aunts and cousins. Arrangements by Ballard Family Mortuary Hilo.
Nishimoto honored for bravery under fire
A 13-year veteran of the Hawaii Police Department was named the East Hawaii Aloha Exchange Club’s Officer of the Month for June 2021 for his bravery in an armed confrontation during a domestic incident.
Study finds link between ungulates and spread of rapid ohia death
A new study shows rapid ohia death, a fungal disease which has killed off hundreds of thousands of mature ohia trees on the Big Island, can be exacerbated by the presence of animals with hooves, or ungulates.
Clamping down: County could return to beach closures amid coronavirus spike
Closing parks and beaches and canceling the Ironman World Championship are among measures being considered by Mayor Mitch Roth as the administration works to tamp down a surging coronavirus pandemic on the island.
Dog days return: Humane Society ‘happy to have people back’
The Hawaii Island Humane Society has officially welcomed the public back to its shelters after closing at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council members hear pitch on Sentinel Landscape designation
Hawaii County might seek a partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies in an attempt to obtain federal conservation funds.
Police: Collision between school bus and pickup truck leaves one dead
A man is dead after the pickup truck he was driving crossed the centerline of Highway 19 between Honokaa and Waimea and collided head-on with a school bus, police said.
DOH: 460 new COVID-19 cases statewide, 84 on Big Island
The state Department of Health today reported 460 new cases of COVID-19 statewide amid a continuing surge of cases driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant.
Hurricane Linda weakening far ESE of Big Island
Hurricane Linda weakened slightly Monday as it continued its trek westward to the Hawaiian Islands.
More than 50 cases reported at Big Island schools
The state Department of Education each week provides a list of COVID-19 cases reported in schools statewide.
Ethics Board finds Van Pernis wasn’t courteous
The Board of Ethics last week ruled Leeward Planning Commissioner Mark Van Pernis violated the county ethics code requiring officials treat everyone respectfully, even as he faces one final County Council vote Wednesday to oust him as a commissioner.
Hundreds of goats removed from National Park
More than 400 goats were removed from Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park last week.
Student vaccination clinic at UH-Hilo scheduled for Thursday
Students from the University of Hawaii at Hilo are invited to a free COVID-19 vaccination clinic from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
State mandates have little impact on HVNP
The state’s latest gathering size restrictions have not significantly impacted operations at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Chief Justice: No jury trials until October
Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald on Monday ordered jury trials statewide be postponed through Oct. 4.
Schools try to ‘stay the course’: COVID-19 cases creep up at DOE campuses statewide
Coronavirus cases are climbing on school campuses across the state.
Emaciated bear cub may have lost mom to California wildfire
QUINCY, Calif. — Firefighters are keeping an eye on a lone, emaciated bear cub that may have lost its mother to the country’s largest wildfire now burning in Northern California.
Your Views for August 17
Afghanistan hysteria
Wind forecasts bring new worries to California fire lines
QUINCY, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters battling flames in Northern California forests girded Monday for new bouts of windy weather, and a utility warned thousands of customers it might cut their electricity to prevent new fires from igniting if gusts damage power lines.
Kabul airport plunges into chaos as Taliban patrol capital
KABUL, Afghanistan — Thousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul’s main airport Monday, some so desperate to escape the Taliban that they held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their deaths. At least seven people died in the chaos, U.S. officials said, as America’s longest war ended with its enemy the victor.
A coronavirus vaccination mandate for US troops shouldn’t be controversial
The Biden administration next month will mandate that all active-duty military personnel be vaccinated against the coronavirus. This commonsense imperative is nothing new — troops are already mandated for vaccination against 17 diseases — but it is nonetheless controversial among those who have turned anti-vaccination hokum into a culture war sacrament.
Obituaries for August 17
Craig A. Deisroth, 68, of Kailua-Kona, died July 6 in Honolulu. Born in Levittown, Pa., he was an engineer for Hawaiian Telcom. Services at a later date. Survived by wife, Natalie Deisroth of Kailua-Kona; son, Daniel Deisroth of Levittown, Pa.; daughter, Colleen (Randy) Deisroth-Hicks of Union Beach, N.J.; stepchildren, Natasha (Cisco) Quiocho; Kanamu (Trisha) Evangelista (Trisha), Raynae (Jason) Evangelista of Hilo; sisters, Arlene Massaro of Pennsylvania and Sharon (Jerry) Walker of Virginia; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary.
US probing Autopilot problems on 765,000 Tesla vehicles
DETROIT — The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot partially automated driving system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles.
We need quicker tests to contain the delta variant
With the delta variant surging throughout the U.S., Biden administration chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci has advocated for more testing — including for the vaccinated. More testing is essential, but how we test is important, too.
