LIHU'E, Kaua'i — While a group of burglars was stealing gear from a Paradise Ranch barn in Kilauea on Nov. 5, their dogs were attacking ranch horses, damaging one so badly that it had to be killed.

Police Chief George Freitas said four suspects have been arrested in the burglary case.

He said most of the stolen items, including saddles, tools and other ranch equipment, have been recovered.

Police are working with the Kaua'i Humane Society on issues surrounding the attack on the horses and the county's new dangerous-dog ordinance. The law provides for penalties when dangerous dogs are not restrained and attack humans or other animals.

Kaua'i Humane Society Director Becky Rhoades, a veterinarian, said all of the horses suffered multiple bite wounds, and one suffered a broken leg in the attack, an injury so serious the animal had to be destroyed.

Union leader's trial winds down

Closing arguments in the federal court trial against United Public Workers Union leader Gary Rodrigues and his daughter, Robin Sabatini, are scheduled to begin this morning.

Federal prosecutors and lawyers for Rodrigues and Sabatini had been expected to make their final remarks to the jury yesterday but spent most of the day instead working with federal Judge David Ezra on jury instructions.

Rodrigues is accused of including consultant fees in contracts he negotiated on behalf of UPW members for medical and dental insurance and then using the consulting fees, without telling union members, to repay a personal loan and channel money to Sabatini, who prosecutors claim did little or no work for the union.

The defense contends the government failed to prove its case against either Rodrigues or Sabatini.

Group pitches Waimea plan

About six dozen people crowded into the Hale'iwa Surf Center at Ali'i Beach Park last night to hear what the National Audubon Society had in mind should it get the nod from the city to manage the 1,875-acre Waimea Valley.

Diana King, project director for the society's proposed Waimea Valley Audubon Center, gave a slide presentation and answered questions.

The park is currently operated by Waimea Management LLC, which is competing for the management contract but declined to appear at last night's meeting.

King said the society would like to create a center that emphasizes restoration and education. And although she said the society expects tourists to make up the largest number of visitors, she said the target group would be residents.

"If it doesn't sound like it would appeal to a local resident, we probably aren't interested in it," she said.

Most who attended the meeting seemed pleased with King's comments.

"I liked what I heard," resident Chip Hartman said. "For me the highlight was that the target group will be local residents."

Group on watch for illegal signs

Members of the Outdoor Circle will be walking the streets of Kailua, Hale'iwa and Honolulu tomorrow pointing out illegal signs and providing information about Hawai'i's sign laws.

The group has dubbed the event Sign Law Awareness Day, which is a response to questions about the legality of the signs held by political candidates during the recent election campaign. Members will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Kailua District Park.

State law bans billboards and regulates off-site advertising as well as the sizes and locations of commercial signs.

To attend a walk or learn more about the sign ordinances, call 593-0300.

Water main in Wai'anae fixed

A water main break Wednesday evening that forced the closure of two lanes of Farrington Highway in front of Wai'anae High School was repaired by yesterday afternoon.