Briefs
Advertiser Staff
NAVY
Lingle to get tour of USS Lake Erie
Gov. Linda Lingle will join Acting Secretary of the Navy Hansford T. Johnson for a tour today aboard the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie at Pearl Harbor.
Last year, the ship — a pioneer in the Navy's ballistic missile defense program — successfully tracked, engaged and destroyed an Aries ballistic missile with an experimental SM-3 missile launched at sea within the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kaua'i.
USS Lake Erie, commanded by Capt. Scott T. Anhalt, has a crew of 32 officers, 45 chief petty officers and 327 enlisted personnel.
COAST GUARD
Security zones off Hawai'i waters set
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard, last month issued a final rule establishing permanent security zones in designated waters near O'ahu, Maui, Hawai'i and Kaua'i.
The security zones, and related amendments to regulations for anchorage grounds in Mamala Bay, are necessary to protect personnel, vessels and facilities from acts of sabotage and accidents, according to a federal notice.
Entry into the zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard.
CONGRESS
Committee votes to beef up defense bill
The House Armed Services Committee has voted to include $46.58 million in the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization bill for Hawai'i-based research and development.
Congressman Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, a senior member of the committee, said he expects the total to increase beyond $50 million. Last year, the committee voted to authorize just over half that amount, or $26.2 million.
"The trend is up," Abercrombie said, "and the confidence I think of the armed services in the capacity of Hawai'i companies to do unique and specialized and high-tech jobs is improving with every budget."
VETERANS
Proposal includes veterans center
The O'ahu Veterans Council, with a $2.8 million grant from the Defense Department, is proposing to build a veterans center at Haloa Drive and Kukila Street in Foster Village.
Plans call for the existing 2,700-square-foot building to be replaced on the 2.8-acre parcel with a 10,000- to 12,000-foot structure, and include a meeting hall, kitchen/dining area and offices among other renovations.
Public comment on the plan will be taken until June 7. The council can be reached at 433-0049.
Memorial service planned for Sunday
The 19th annual sunset memorial service sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 10276, will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the State Armed Forces Eternal Flame, mauka of the State Capitol.
In recognition of the 50-year anniversary of the Korean War, special homage will be paid to those killed in the war.
The memorial address will be given by Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, the state adjutant general.
