Freeway work to pause for UH game

The state Department of Transportation will suspend work on the H-1 freeway Airport Viaduct project from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Saturday to avoid affecting University of Hawaii game day traffic.

The state plans to close two right lanes in the Ewa direction of the H-1 freeway between the airport offramp and the Radford Drive overpass from 10 p.m. Friday through 9 a.m. Saturday and from 11 p.m. Saturday through 4 p.m. Sunday for deck surveys. The ramps will remain open.

The work is to replace the concrete deck on the viaduct, repair expansion joints and re-stripe the pavement.

Other freeway work this weekend will continue:

» Left lanes will be closed on the H-1 freeway in the Koko Head direction between the Ward Avenue overpass and the Keeaumoku Street overpass from 9 p.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday. Left lanes on the freeway in the same area in both directions will be closed from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly until Sept. 12 for overhead sign demolition and installation.

» Vineyard Boulevard also will be closed in the Ewa direction from the offramp to Queen Emma Street from 5:30 p.m. Sunday through 5 a.m. Monday for paving.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Farmers can get post-Iselle aid 

Federal disaster loans and other assistance are available for farmers who suffered losses from the wind, rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Iselle last month.

Hawaii County has been designated a primary natural disaster area by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, members of Hawaii’s congressional declaration said Thursday.

Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack declared an agricultural disaster Wednesday after examining loss reports and determining that agricultural production losses from the storm met eligibility requirements.

The state is appealing an earlier decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency denying a request for a major disaster declaration that would provide federal aid to residents, the state and county for damage from Iselle.

Man denies he targeted activist

KAILUA-KONA >> A Hawaii man collecting tropical fish has pleaded not guilty to a terroristic threatening charge for allegedly pulling the air-supply regulator from the mouth of an anti-aquarium industry activist while underwater.

West Hawaii News reported Jay Lovell did not speak during an arraignment Tuesday. A jury trial is set for Thursday on the misdemeanor charge.

The incident took place in May off West Hawaii when activist Rene Umberger and other divers neared Lovell while he was collecting aquarium fish to sell. Umberger has said they approached with cameras to document him collecting tropical fish on the reef.

Jay Lovell’s lawyer, Evans Smith, said his client was surrounded by six strangers and that Lovell is "not the criminal here."

Star-Advertiser staff and Associated Press