Coast Guard cutter on display
One of the Coast Guard’s new national security cutters is scheduled to be open for public tours today.
The 418-foot Waesche, based at Alameda, Calif., is one of six such cutters built or being funded by the Coast Guard to replace the aging 378-foot high-endurance Hamilton-class cutters that have been in service since the 1960s.
The cutter has a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles and a crew of 110. It’s equipped with a 4,000-square-foot flight deck which has the capability to recover MH-65 Dolphin and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters.
In Honolulu the Coast Guard wants to retire two of its aging high-endurance cutters, the Jarvis and the Rush, but can’t because it has no replacements, officials said.
The Waesche will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday on Coast Guard Base Sand Island, 400 Sand Island Access Road.
Funds to aid homeless veterans
Honolulu will receive $636,000 in federal funds to help homeless veterans.
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s office announced Tuesday that the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is to provide permanent housing assistance and case management to homeless veterans.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Pilot faces drug charges
A pilot who flies Kauai County’s helicopter for rescue and training missions has been indicted on drug charges.
A grand jury Thursday indicted Kurt Patrick Ventura, a pilot who works for the company that is contracted by the county to fly and maintain its helicopter. The indictment alleges promoting a harmful drug, use of drug paraphernalia, possession of an anabolic steroid and other charges.
The Garden Island reports he was arrested on March 12 and posted bail.
A county spokeswoman says a warrant has been issued for his arrest after the indictment was returned.
Ventura could not be reached for comment Friday.
Kauai Fire Chief Robert Westerman has notified the company that Ventura is prohibited from flying the helicopter pending the outcome of the investigation.
