Man injured in fall is rescued
A man who survived falling 115 feet at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was rescued by park rangers Tuesday after being stranded overnight.
Park officials said 73-year-old Harry Osachy of Kurtistown had been climbing over a barrier Monday when he fell down a sheer cliff behind Volcano House in the park.
About 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, a hiker reported to park rangers that she heard someone crying for help along Halemaumau Trail among thick vegetation.
Rangers found Osachy, and the park’s search and rescue coordinator was lowered by helicopter and pulled him to safety just before nightfall.
He was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center with injuries to his pelvis and shoulder. He had numerous scrapes and was suffering from dehydration.
“Luckily, he landed in a dense thicket of native uluhe fern, which broke his fall,” park search and rescue coordinator John Broward said.
Leader of meth ring sentenced
A federal judge Tuesday sentenced a 39-year-old Wailuku man to 220 months’ imprisonment for his major role in a methamphetamine trafficking operation.
Chief U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway sentenced John Lee Balberdi, the leader and organizer of a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Balberdi was arrested after Maui police seized 550 grams of pure methamphetamine in February 2009 from the Kahului home of one of his co-conspirators, U.S. Attorney Florence Nakakuni said.
He also has a prior felony drug conviction, Nakakuni said.
Balberdi admitted to distributing an additional 40 pounds of meth between March 2007 and February 2009.
Rapozo leads liquor board
The Kauai County Liquor Control Commission has named Gerald T. Rapozo, acting director, as the permanent replacement for former director Eric Honma, who retired in April.
Rapozo has been with the agency for 20 years, starting as a liquor control investigator in 1993.
Roughly a year ago, he was named acting director when Honma took an extended medical leave.
“Gerald has decades of experience and has served the department well for the past year as acting director,” said commission Chairman Billy Gibson. “In voting on this matter, the commissioners felt he has the requisite experience and qualifications, and can continue to lead the agency in a seamless transition.”
The Department of Liquor Control provides administrative support for the Liquor Control Commission and investigates all applications for liquor licenses.
Puna incident puts pair in jail
Hawaii County police have charged a Puna man and his son after a police officer was struck by a person who threatened him while investigating a case of domestic abuse Saturday night in Pahoa.
Christopher Gonsalves, 48, was arrested Sunday for allegedly striking and threatening an officer. He was charged Tuesday with first-degree terroristic threatening, assaulting a police officer and abuse.
His bail was set at $22,000.
Police also arrested and charged his son, Gordon A.E. Gonsalves, 21, with second-degree hindering prosecution for allegedly using force against an officer to allow his father to get away. His bail was set at $500.
