Briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
NAVY
USS Lincoln will remain deployed
The USS Abraham Lincoln battle group — which includes three Pearl Harbor-based ships — will not return to home port this month as previously scheduled.
The deployment extension has fueled speculation the Everett, Wash.-based carrier and its escorts could be used in a war with Iraq.
"Due to heightened concerns in the Pacific and the Arabian Gulf, the Lincoln battle group, which is at a high state of readiness, will remain deployed and will be available as required to meet national security requirements," the Navy said.
Pearl-based destroyers Fletcher and Paul Hamilton and the frigate Reuben James are part of the battle group. The Lincoln left home port in July for a regularly scheduled deployment.
The carrier over the weekend was headed back to Fremantle, Australia, for maintenance and repairs after making a Christmas stop there.
HOMELAND SECURITY
Threat levels match national system
Emergency management officials announced that Hawai'i's Homeland Security Advisory System now parallels the national system released last year.
Hawai'i's color-coded threat conditions match national conditions, with one exception: code black has been added to the top of the chart to signal that an actual terrorism incident has occurred somewhere in the state.
Hawai'i's system also is tailored to meet local needs. As a result, the threat levels locally may differ from those of the rest of the nation.
The Hawai'i threat condition system was developed in October of 2001, and served as a model for the development of a national system.
Hawai'i State Civil Defense has partnered with the American Red Cross Hawai'i State Chapter to publish a community preparedness guide.
The publication details preparations for each level from "Blue" (normal) to "Black" (an actual strike). The guide is available online at www.hawaiiredcross.org or www.scd.state.hi.us.
ARMY
Sewer line work planned at Tripler
Tripler Army Medical Center's Logistics Division will be working on another phase of sewer line replacement near the Oceanside entrance that will affect traffic beginning in mid to late January.
Workers will be replacing an existing 10-inch sewer line at the Oceanside entrance in front of Kyser Auditorium to the upper Oceanside parking lot.
All work, other than excavation, is scheduled to take place at night and after regular business hours, said Michael Toyama of the Engineering Projects Section.
Some parking lot sections will be closed and entrances and exits will be changed during the 10- to 12-week project. Tripler has been replacing sewer lines for approximately three years.
USS ARIZONA
New security rules at WWII memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial is implementing new security guidelines that relax restrictions on personal items including purses, handbags, fanny packs, backpacks, camera bags, diaper bags and luggage. The new rules took effect Thursday.
A park security "measurement box" has been set up to check baggage size. Items no larger than 12 inches tall by 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep will be allowed into the park.
The new security policy also applies to the USS Bowfin Submarine Park and battleship USS Missouri Memorial.
The submarine park will have a storage container for carry-ons 30 inches high by 30 inches wide by 18 inches deep or smaller.
