Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
KAUA'I
Lihu'e police threat called suicide try
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Although he showed up at the Lihu'e police station threatening to shoot a police officer, the person Gerard Silva says he wanted shot was himself.
Silva, 46, of Kalaheo, originally was charged with attempted murder for the March 15, 2001, incident. He pleaded no contest Monday to attempted manslaughter, improperly storing a firearm and possessing a switchblade. He will be sentenced May 30.
Silva said he was chronically depressed as a result of painful arthritis in his legs, which limited his ability to move or to work. He told police he was unwilling to commit suicide, but hoped that if he threatened police with a gun, he would be shot to death. Instead, officer Randy Chong Tim wrestled Silva to the ground outside the police headquarters in Lihu'e. During the scuffle, Silva's rifle went off, knocking a chunk of concrete out of a wall.
MAUI
Maui Memorial names CEO
Maui Memorial Medical Center has named John Schaumburg as the hospital's chief executive officer.
Schaumburg, 55, has served as the hospital's interim chief executive since November, when Boyd Kleefisch announced his resignation from the position because of "family reasons."
Schaumburg's appointment was announced Monday.
"One of John's greatest assets is his humility and his team approach to things rather than the unilateral approach that we've had in the past," said Dr. Anthony Manoukian, a member of the search committee that selected Schaumburg from among 65 applicants. "John's a genuinely nice and good person, but he didn't get the job because he's a nice guy. He brings a lot of talent and experience to the job."
In his new position, Schaumburg also becomes regional chief executive for the Maui district facilities under the umbrella of the Hawaii Health Systems Corp.
His salary will be $184,252 annually. Before becoming the interim chief executive at Maui Memorial, Schaumburg had been the administrator for four years at Lanai Community Hospital.
Among Schaumburg's biggest challenges will be to get a $38 million bond appropriation from the state Legislature for overdue renovations at Maui Memorial and working to get more beds in local nursing care facilities to free up more beds at the hospital.
Maui highway plan to be discussed
KIHEI, Maui — The state Department of Transportation will hold a meeting tomorrow to gather input about an interim proposal to reconfigure Pi'ilani Highway from two lanes to four lanes.
Project consultants will provide information and answer questions at 6 p.m. at the Kihei Community Center.
Proposed improvements include restriping road shoulders to create two additional travel lanes, shoulder widening, intersection modification, traffic signal adjustments and drainage system construction.
For more information, call Ferdinand Cajigal at (808) 873-3535.
