NEWS BRIEFS

• HONOKAA FIRE – A fire on Kahili Street in Honokaa fully engulfed the second story of a 2000 square foot home on Sunday afternoon. Hawaii County Fire crews fought back the blaze. No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is being investigated. UPDATE: The American Red Cross issued a media release on eforts to assist the family:

American Red Cross volunteers are responding to a residential fire that occurred yesterday in Honokaa. The fire destroyed the home and affected one family. Red Cross volunteers are going to the scene to ensure the immediate emergency needs of anyone affected, such as shelter, food and clothing, were met. Caseworkers will continue to follow up with the family to ensure their immediate needs are met, and to provide referrals to assist with their disaster recovery.

The Red Cross encourages all families to make a disaster plan to include an evacuation plan with two different routes of escape, a communications plan to help families reconnect after disaster and a disaster supplies kit that is readily available to aid in a quick evacuation. Information on developing a family plan is available to the public at www.redcross.org, or a brochure can be requested by calling 734-2101.American Red Cross on Dec. 8, 2014

• VIDEO: HAMAKUA BROADBAND ASSESSMENT – A number of measures relating to building broadband capacity on Hawaii Island passed quickly through the Hawaii County Council on November 19. Two resolutions and two bills were introduced by Hamakua councilwoman Valerie Poidexter. Resolution 595-14 allowed the county to recieve $188,500 from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (appropriated in Bill 321) in order to conduct “pilot projects to expand broadband Internet service to unserved and underserved areas” on the island. Resolution 596-14 allowed the county to recieve $40,000 from the DCCA (appropriated in Bill 322) in order to conduct a “community assessment of the broadband probability in the Hamakua District.”

• TRAFFIC ALERTS: Here are the planned lane closures on Hawaii Belt Road for December 6 through December 12, courtesy the Hawaii Department of Transportation:

VICINITY OF LAUPAHOEHOE GULCH
Alternating single lane closures on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) in both directions between Milepost Markers 26.0 and 27.0 in the vicinity of Laupahoehoe Gulch on Monday, December 8, through Thursday, December 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for roadway improvements.

VICINITY OF UMAUMA BRIDGE
Alternating lane closures on Umauma Bridge in the vicinity of Hakalau (Route 19, Milepost 16) in both directions over a twenty-four hour period, seven days a week for bridge rehabilitation. Travel speed on Umauma Bridge is reduced to 20-mph, and vehicles that exceed statutory size-weight limits will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis upon application of their respective oversize-overweight vehicle permits. Maximum width for any vehicle with permit passing over the bridge is 12 feet.

VICINITY OF KAAWALII GULCH
Alternating single lane closures on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) in both directions between Milepost Markers 27.9 and 29.0 in the vicinity of Kaawalii Gulch on Monday, December 8, through Thursday, December 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for roadway improvements.Hawaii Department of Transportation