Staffing shortages prevent visits to prison
The state Department of Public Safety canceled visitation to the Oahu Community Correctional Center on Sunday due to ongoing staffing shortages.
The department has canceled visitation to at least one prison facility every weekend since March 22, when it first began posting updates on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Visitation, allowed on weekends only, was also canceled Saturday.
Science contest closes mid-July
The deadline is July 15 for entries into a student science and technology contest sponsored by the Maui Economic Development Board.
The Daniel K. Inouye Innovation Award was created last year to reward students who demonstrate an innovative use of science, technology, engineering and math, the so-called STEM fields, to serve and improve the community.
Last year’s winning project was conceived and produced by King Kekaulike High School students Lotus Chen and Sierra Harrell. Using GPS technology and practical applications of math and science, the students mapped out roads leading to and from their school campus.
Then they marked areas that needed crosswalks and sidewalks and took note of troublesome spots where motorists might lose sight of pedestrians. They shared their geo-spatial map with state and county officials, and their work resulted in Gov. Neil Abercrombie releasing nearly $1 million for the Maui County Old Haleakala Highway Sidewalk project.
Maui County middle and high school students are eligible. Visit www.medb.org.
Conserve water, residents told
Kalaheo, Kauai, residents are being asked to use water for essential purposes only until further notice because of damage to the Kauai County Department of Water’s primary and backup wells.
Essential water needs include cooking, bathing and toilet flushing. Conservation measures include refraining from car washing and reducing outdoor irrigation.
The department said it is not known how long the repairs will take.
