Help wanted in H-2 copper theft

The state is asking for help in catching the thief or thieves who stole copper wire from the H-2 freeway early Wednesday morning.

The Department of Transportation said about 700 feet of stranded copper wire was stolen from electrical circuits on the H-2 freeway near the northbound Wahiawa offramp, rendering the street lights inoperative. Wires were also cut at four other electrical pull boxes, but were not taken. The estimated street value of the stolen wiring is about $4,300.

Highway repair crews replaced the wiring near the busy offramp yesterday and reactivated the street lighting.

Motorists who observe possible copper wiring thefts or suspicious activity are asked to call 911 and report the location to police.

Copper theft from freeways was a major problem until 2008 when police, with help from tipsters, busted a gang of thieves who prosecutors say stripped 72,000 pounds of copper wire worth $563,000 from 12 sites.

State officials said the thefts, which went on for several years, darkened large stretches of freeway and cost taxpayers more than $3 million to repair.

Public warned of spill into Ala Wai

The Department of Health is posting warning signs along the Ala Wai Canal after 5,000 gallons of wastewater overflowed from a manhole near Nehoa Street and Manoa Road on Thursday.

The city Department of Environmental Services said the spill was reported at 6:15 p.m. after roots clogged a 6-inch terra cotta pipe.

About 4,600 gallons entered a storm drain that feeds into the Ala Wai Canal between Kalakaua Avenue and McCully Street, the Clean Water Branch said in a news release.

The public is advised to stay out of the canal.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Mayor wants Maalo landfill

Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho has announced that the county is no longer trying to put its new landfill at Kalaheo and will opt for a more central location at Maalo.

The announcement came yesterday after nine months of deliberations following two public meetings that were held last year to discuss the Kalaheo site. Carvalho said putting a landfill at Kalaheo could be a costly and lengthy process and that those lands are important agricultural lands.

The county is looking for a new site because there is less than seven years of capacity at the Kekaha landfill.

During a news briefing yesterday at the Lihue Civic Center, the mayor outlined the county’s plans for a new landfill at Maalo.

Carvalho is targeting roughly 120 acres at Maalo about 2.5 miles north of Lihue, just makai of Maalo Road. It is owned by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and is currently leased to ranchers as pasture land.

Victims to get job training

The Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. will be using federal funds to assist low-income farm workers who were alleged victims in a federal human trafficking case.

The National Farmworker Jobs Program is a job training and employment assistance program that will be available to help eligible participants obtain professional certificates and licenses for other jobs.

The program can be applied to the workers as long as they receive their green cards by the time the application process is complete. An immigration attorney representing 62 victims in the case said she expects 25 of them to obtain green cards within the next year.

Anyone who wishes to apply for the funds can call 808-249-2990.