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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, September 17, 2005

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Calif. soldier with Hawai'i unit dies

Advertiser Staff

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A California member of Hawai'i's 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery died on Thursday from injuries received when a roadside bomb exploded near his Humvee while he was on a patrol in southeast Baghdad, the Army said.

Sgt. Alfredo B. Silva, 35, of Calexico, Calif., served as a forward artillery observer and was one of hundreds of California Army National Guard soldiers to deploy to Iraq with Hawai'i's 29th Brigade Combat Team.

Three other soldiers were injured.

The section of Baghdad patrolled by the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry of the California National Guard is known to be particularly dangerous.

CAMPAIGN DONOR CASE ENDS IN FINE

A Honolulu lawyer was fined $2,000 yesterday after he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor campaign-donation charge, but was given a chance to have the criminal case dropped if he stays out of trouble for a year.

Edward Y.C. Chun, 73, chose not to challenge the charge after Honolulu District Judge Fa'auuga To'oto'o denied a defense request to dismiss the case based on the statute of limitations.

Over objections by the prosecution, the judge granted the defense request to defer accepting the no-contest plea, which clears the way for a dismissal in a year.

Chun was accused of advising two Food Pantry grocery chain officials to write $5,000 in checks to former Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign. They were told they would be reimbursed. The legal limit is $4,000.

The hearing essentially concludes one of the oldest cases in the prosecution of dozens of architects, engineers and others over illegal campaign contributions.

PROPERTY TAXES TOPIC OF MEETING

The city will hold an informational meeting on real property tax exemptions from 9 to 11 a.m. today at the Washington Intermediate School cafeteria. The meeting will be conducted by City Council member Ann Kobayashi and the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services' Real Property Assessment Division.

The meeting will review real property tax exemptions available to homeowners. At least eight tax exemptions are available, in addition to the standard exemption. The deadline to file for multiple exemptions for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2006, is Sept. 30.

KATRINA RELIEF FUNDRAISER PLANNED

There will be a benefit car wash for Hurricane Katrina relief at the historic Hale'iwa Gym today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information or to volunteer, contact Jeff Alameida at 637-6211.