Staffing shortages prompt prison visit cuts

The Department of Public Safety canceled regularly scheduled visitation to the Oahu Community Correctional Center and Kulani Correctional Facility on Sunday due to ongoing staffing shortages.

There have been more than 40 staffing-related cancellations at state correctional facilities since March.

Man indicted in assault of his sister

A grand jury has indicted a 36-year-old Kau man with attempted second-degree murder in an assault on his 42-year-old sister, West Hawaii Today reports.

The indictment last week also charges Samuel Smith of Ocean View with second-degree assault, domestic abuse and two counts of terroristic threatening.

A bench warrant set Smith’s bail at $500,000 and ordered him to have no contact with his sister or family friend Jeffrey Plate.

Smith attacked his sister, Abalone Smith, with a fire extinguisher and a rock, police said, and the 34-year-old Plate was assaulted when he attempted to intervene. The alleged incident happened Aug. 8 in Ocean View.

Abalone Smith was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was listed in critical condition. Her current condition is unknown.

County clerk’s term of service placed on ballot

A proposed Hawaii County Charter amendment would lengthen the term of the county clerk to four years from two and require a two-thirds’ vote of the County Council for the clerk’s dismissal.

Council Chairman J Yoshimoto introduced the measure, originally specifying a six-year term that allowed the Council to fire the clerk only for cause, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports. But other Council members objected, so the ballot measure is a compromise.

"I believe having the clerk appointed for a four-year term will provide stability and continuity to the clerk’s office and benefit the Council and the public," Yoshimoto said.

Election Day is Nov. 4.