Inmate from Hawaii sues prison guard

A Hawaii prison inmate is suing the state and private prison operator Corrections Corp. of America over a sexual assault he allegedly suffered at the hands of a prison guard in Arizona.

His lawyers filed the lawsuit Wednesday in state court.

The inmate, serving a five-year prison term for drug and drug paraphernalia possession at the Saguaro Correctional Center, said a prison guard sexually assaulted him in his cell on Oct. 27, 2009.

An Arizona grand jury indicted the prison guard, Richard Ketland, last February for felony unlawful sexual conduct involving a person incarcerated in a state or private prison.

Ketland, 64, pleaded guilty in July to a lesser charge in a plea agreement with the prosecutor and was sentenced the following month to probation.

There are about 1,800 male inmates from Hawaii at Saguaro.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has promised to bring back all Hawaii inmates serving prison sentences on the mainland because of previous allegations of mistreatment by guards at Saguaro.

Recycling, waste service put on hold

Green waste is not being accepted at several Kauai transfer stations including Hanalei, Kapaa and Hanapepe due to safety concerns caused by muddy conditions in drop-off areas.

The county has also suspended appliance and scrap-metal recycling services at the Kapaa transfer station.

When conditions improve, all services will resume at the transfer stations.

Call the Solid Waste Division at 241-4837.

Upper Kula area urged to boil water

The Maui County Department of Water Supply is advising Upper Kula residents and businesses to boil water for drinking and cooking after it rebuilt an 8-inch waterline that washed out Tuesday near Kawehi Place in Kula.

The affected area includes Alae, Naalae Road, Waipoli, Polipoli, Waiohuli, Keokea, Ulupalakua and Kanaio.

The broken waterline might have compromised the water quality in the water system. Until water lines are completely flushed and laboratory staff can collect samples to ensure the water’s safety, customers should boil water before consumption.

The Department of Water Supply will take water quality samples and inform customers when tests show no bacteria and boiling is no longer needed.

Potable water tankers remain at Ching Store and on Middle Road below the Department of Water Supply Waiohuli Tank for customers to fill their own containers.