Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Honolulu, Hawaii • 4

A4 HAWAII HONOLULU STAI-BULIETIN TUESDAY, Shelton to leave KHON July 6 i a. 1 Justin Fujioka's 5-day Oahu forecast Today Partly cloudy 8776 Friday Partly cloudy. Trades Saturday Partly cloudy. Trades Tomorrow Partly cloudy. Trades 1S-2S.

8776 Thuraday Partly cloudy. Trades 10-20. Breezy trade winds should peak on tomorrow and then drop off to more moderate levels by the weekend. Clouds and showers should affect mainly windward and mauka areas with showers decreasing after tomorrow. Trade winds 15-25 mph.

If you have a question for Justin, you can e-mail him at jmjioka9kitv.com could start her new career. "These opportunities don come along often for people. Life's too short," he said. "You want to give everybody every opportunity theyhave out there within reason." Born in North Carolina, Shelton arrived In Hawaii as a high-schooler, attended Kapiolani Community College and graduated with a journalism degree from UH-Manoa, in the days before broadcast journalism was taught there. "Print journalism that's what we learned," she said.

"The key is writing and reporting. That's how Channel 9 was run under Bob Sevey. "It's never been about being on TV." While a student at KCC, she got her start in broadcast news in 1977 at KHET (PBS Hawaii), did news radio on KHVH in 1978, and did a stint at Oceanic Cable Television from 1978 to 1981. Tina Shelton: She got her start in TV news 30 years ago at PBS Hawaii Her last day will be July 6. The veteran newswoman, who loves science and medicine, said she is "awed" to have the opportunity.

Shelton was hired in 1980 by Hawaii news anchor Bob Sevey at KGMB-TV, where she worked until 1985. She then worked at KITV-4 from 1985 to 1999, and began reporting for KHON-TV in 1999. Joe McNamara, president and general manager of KHON-TV said, "We're very sad to see her go. Not only has she had a long history with us, but a long history in the marketplace." He said KHON was letting her out of contract so that she MOLOKAI Kaunakakai 0 KAUAI Lihue OAHU Neighbor Islands Forecast lor today and tomorrow for selected cities throughout the state: Hllo: Mild today into tomorrow with windward showers. 8368.

Kahului: Breezy today and tomorrow with ashowerortwo.877l. Lanai MAUI uwaiTN City HAWAII aU1'10 Kona Kaunakakai: Some sun today with a shower. 8672. A windward shower or two tomorrow. Kona: Clouds and sun with windward showers today into tomorrow, breezy.

8674. Lanal City. Breezy with windward showers and a mix of clouds and sun today and tomorrow. 8369. Labalna: Some windward showers: otherwise, breezy with a mix of sunshine and clouds today and tomorrow.

867I. Lihue: Partial sunshine with windward showers today and tomorrow. 8476. Murder suspect deemed mentally unfit to be tried Thursday wra 1 I Spm Kffli 1 gpn Nr-f1 1 Today Feet 3 2 I Honolulu Halewi Kaneohe NawiltwiU Hanalei Kahului Lahaina Kailua-Kona Hilo Kaunakakai 12:17 a.m. I 6:21 am.

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6:13 a.m. 2:08 p.m. IM p.m. 1:07 6:48 On the water OAHU SURF REPORT Forecast surf heights are estimates of the height of the faces or fronts of waves. This may be up to twice the surf height traditionally reported in Hawaii.

Wave height for Today: North: 2 feet or less South: 2 lo 3 feet East: 3 to 5 feet West: 2 feet or less Extended forecast: The next south swell is expected to arrive late Thursday. 9 MARINE ADVISORIES Coastal waters: Wind east 15-20 knots today. Wind waves averaging 8 feet, which may require a small craft advisory. Minimal swells. Visibility reduced in showers.

Channela: Wind east 15-25 knots today. Wind waves averaging 10 feet throughout the day, which may require a small craft advisory. Minimal swells. Visibility lowered in showers. ml mm 1 I 9 pm an) I L- Day and night WEATHER IN The higher the UV the greater the need skin protection.

highest value of Tomorrow's forecast: 1 I I I AREA SKIES 90T FuH Last New June 30 July 7 July MOON Rises Tue. tl7p.ms Wed. 5:13 p.m7 SUN Tue. 5:52 a.m. Wed.

5:52 a.m. PUNETS Venus 9:11 a.m. Mara 1:53 a.m. Jupiter 5:32 p.m. Tomorrow 6:56 5:54 6:30 The TV veteran will be UH medical school's communications chief By Leila Fujimori lfujimonstarbulletm.com Reporter Tina Shelton, who has been in Hawaii broadcast news for nearly 30 years, is leaving KHON-TV to become communications director for the University of Hawaii's John A.

Burns School of Medicine. "If I didn't get this opportunity, I would have stayed," Shelton said yesterday. "It's just too good. It's just too perfect a fit." In May, Shelton signed a two-year contract with KHON, but will be released from it because the new position is not with a competitor. She said the station's management has been supportive and generous, but that she couldn't pass up the opportunity.

Deal forces accountant to repay funds By Debra Barayuga dbarayugastarbulletin.com A former bookkeeper for ABC Music in Kakaako has repaid $200,000 that he stole from the company to pay off credit card debts incurred at strip clubs. The restitution payment was part of a plea agreement reached between the state and Ronald Ching, 42, who pleaded no contest yesterday in Circuit Court to first-degree theft. In exchange for his plea, the state has agreed to not seek a prison term. Ching was facing a 10-year sentence had he not reached an agreement. According to prosecutors, Ching wrote 57 company checks totaling $374,000 directly to his creditors when he worked as a bookkeeper between 2000 to 2004.

He apparently disguised the payments by altering the company ledger to make it appear that he was paying legitimate company expenses, said Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter. The embezzlement, which nearly put ABC Music out of business, was uncovered during an audit, he said. Ching submitted a check yesterday for $175,000 and agreed to have his $25,000 bail applied to the restitution. In addition to the $200,000 payment, Ching has agreed to pay the balance of the $374,000 during the term that he receives when sentenced Sept. 7, Van Marter said.

Defense attorney Howard Luke said he will ask the court to defer Ching's no-contest plea, which would allow him to keep his record clean. Ching has no prior criminal history. Russell Tsubota, president of ABC Music, which has been selling musical instruments for 10 years, said the theft seriously affected his business and that he will object to a deferral. "I can see him getting off on a charge without jail but to get a deferred acceptance of guilty plea and wipe his record clear, I don't think that's right," he said. "The damage is permanent to me, so he should have some damage as well." Tsubota said he is relieved that he received some of the stolen money and hopes Ching will make full restitution.

Van Marter said it's significant when a victim of fraud can recover a substantial portion of their losses up front. "Most fraud victims are lucky to recover 10 percent," he said. Or INDEX" Index number, for eye and Shown is the the day. Shelton, known for her investigative reporting and coverage of courts and local politics, has also filled in as anchor for Joe Moore and Leslie Wilcox, and anchored at KITV-4. Shelton has won numerous local reporting awards and she said she is proud of making a TV news beat out of federal court, which wasn't being covered on television because cameras aren't allowed in federal courtrooms.

That allowed her to cover stories involving FBI corruption and constitutional law cases. She said she will miss KHON-TV, but she eagerly awaits the start of her new job. Shelton said public information officers are becoming more important than ever since newsrooms are' smaller. As for returning to TV news, Shelton said: "I don't know if I'll have a longing to return to television, but I'll never say helpless for months because of his girlfriend's alleged infidelity. According to the report, Higa said he was upset with his girlfriend because she apparently was "going out to the clubs" and he suspected she was cheating on him at least once a month.

He also was concerned that she was only seeing him "for money." I Higa owned a pig farm in Waianae, taking care of as many as 400 pigs. He had been seeing his girlfriend for about two years but their relationship was described as tumultuous. Crandall ordered that Higa be transferred from the Oahu Community Correctional Center to the Hawaii State Hospital In Kaneohe for evaluation. A review hearing was set for Sept. 17.

Knudsen said the school has also initiated an investigation. Knudsen could not confirm the details of the allegations, nor whether the victim was a student, what school it was and what grade level the pect taught. The suspect was arrested at noon yesterday and was released pending investigation. Suspect arrested in double theft A 36-year-old man was ar-rested yesterday after he al- legedly stole an elderly woman's purse and car, ac- cording to police. Police said the suspect stole a 73-year-old woman's bag from the beach in the Ewa Beach area; the bag held her car keys.

The suspect than allegedly took the car. Soon after the woman filed a stolen vehicle report, the sus-, pect was pulled over nearby. After police Informed the sus-, pect of the arrest, he allegedly fled the vehicle but was caught soon after. He was booked on suspicion of auto theft, third-degree theft, resisting arrest and driving without a license. I Star-Bulletin staff ADVERTISING classifledstarbulletln.com Retail: 5294700 dlsplayadsstarbulletln.com Legal 5294344 or 5294825 legalsstarbulletln.com Online: 5294357 onllneadsstarbulletin.com Webmaster Blaine Fergerstrom webmasterstarbulletin.com Online advertising r' TroyFujlmoto Online advertising director 5294357 tfuimotostarbulletin.com First 14 July 21 Sets 3:17 a.m.

7:17 p.m. 7:17 p.m. Satum 9:28 a.m. Mainland forecast Hot, humid weather is in store from the Mississippi Valley to the Atlantic coast today. Thunderstorms will drench an area from Texas to Missouri.

Sunshine will bake the interior West. By Debra Barayuga dbarayugastarbulletin.com The case against a Waianae man accused of bludgeoning his girlfriend to death with a hammer after his gun didn't work has been suspended, Circuit Judge Virginia Cran-dall suspended all proceedings relating to the prosecution of Clayton Higa, 40, after finding that he was not fit to proceed to trial. Deputy Public Defender Edward Aquino asked the court to make the finding based on the conclusions of two out of three court-appointed doctors who examined Higa to determine whether he understood the charges against him and can assist in his defense. The doctors said that while Higa understands the charge against him, he has problems with cognitive reasoning, be- LEEWARD OAHU Man critically hurt in Waianae crash A 30-year-old Waianae man remained in critical condition this morning after his vehicle ran into a wall at Waianae High School. At about 10:57 last night, a white 1993 Honda Accord was traveling west on Farrington Highway, apparently speeding and passing other vehicles, pojice said.

The victim lost control, veered left onto the eastbound lanes, over a curb, through a fence and into a concrete wall in school property. The man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. He was not wearing a seat belt and speed was a factor in the crash, police said. Fire crew contains blaze in minutes Firefighters brought a Nanakuli townhouse fire quickly under control last night. About 20 firefighters responded to an 8:06 p.m.

alarm, and got to the scene five min- CIRCULATION A SUBSCRIPTIONS 5294848 circulatlonstarbulletin.com subscriptlonsstarbulletln.com For home delivery, missing deliveries, wet or damaged papers on Oahu, call 5294848. Our hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 6 to 10 a.m. Saturdays and holidays, and 6 a.m.

to noon on Sundays. Monthly home delivery rate on Oahu Daily, Monday-Saturday: $8.75 Saturday and Sunday: $4.70 Dally plus Sunday: $12 NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION For subscription rates, speakers, workshops, instructional guidance and tours ol the newsroom, please contact: Je (Tenon Finney 5294735 jflnney starbulletln.com shantel Figueroa: Police say she 1 argued with her boy friend before she was killed havior and insight, as well as poor judgment. The state agreed. According to police, Higa had argued with his girlfriend, Shantel Figueroa, before he attacked her, then stabbed himself in February At the hospital, he admitted that he had tried to kill himself, saying, "I don't want to go to jail." While the doctors were not asked to review Higa's state of mind at the time of the killing, the reports submitted to the court Indicate that he apparently had been feeling POLICE FIRE utes later. The fire was under control at 8:16 p.m.

One of four upstairs bedrooms of 87-2142 Helelua Unit 2, was destroyed, and the three others sustained smoke and heat damage, a fire official said. The downstairs portion of the unit had some water damage. A man and woman who live at the townhouse requested Red Cross assistance, Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said, but refused treatment by Emergency Medical Services personnel. WEST OAHU Teacher arrested in sexual assault A 57-year-old substitute teacher who taught at an Ewa-area school was arrested yesterday for allegedly sexually assaulting a girl.

Police said the girl reported the man touched her inappropriately at 10:30 a.m. June 1. Department of Education spokesman Greg Knudsen confirmed the suspect is a substitute teacher, and that he has taught at other schools. He said the school wasn't notified of the allegations until June 6 and that school was on break June 7. NEWSROOM Address: 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana, Honolulu, HI 96813 New tips 5294747 Fax 5294750 local newa 5294762 Buslneaa 5294792 Feature 5294777 Sporte 5294786 National world newt 5294764 Editorial 5294748 Photo 5294799 Bureaus Big Island 808-935-1012 Capitol 294-7593 Kauai 291-5205 Maui 808-244-3207 Photo reprints 5294700 Story reprint 5294791 or fbridgewaterstarbulletin.com Llia.m.

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GCtwrigbiOctFun Publishing Ud www4u.coju Yesterday RAIN IN INCHES At Honolulu Airport as of 4 p.m. Yesterday trace Month-to-date 0.17" Normal month-to-date 0.37" Year-to-date 2.33" Normal year-to-date 9.23" TEMPERATURE At Honolulu Airport High yesterday 88 Low yesterday 73 Record high 92 (1987) Record low 69 (1985) Normal high 87 Normal low 73 Average humidity 52 Volcano Kilauet: All indicators of a possible eruption have declined, and the eruption alert level has been lowered to "advisory." More information National Weather Service Oahu forecast: 973-4380 or 4381 Oahu surf report: 973-4383 Marine advisories: 973-4382 Wind buoy reports: 973-61 14 11 2:32 p.m. 4:26 a.m. 10:22 p.m. and AccuWeather.com 50s 60s 70s I 80s 90s 100 110s Warm front Cold let High law tthunderstorms rrain sfsnov flurries AccuWeather, Inc.

2007 ItSExtrmM (Far the 41 contiguous statu) Nat Death Valley, Calif. CoU spot 26 at Boca Reservoir, Calif. Shown are today's noon positions of weather systems precipitation. Temperature bands are highs. 10 -0 Of 10a I Me I 40 I ES E3 3 cs Showirs Rain T-ttormi Snow Flurries Kay: ssunny pcpartly cloudy ccloudy shshowers snsnowiice Mainland International Today's highlowAveather Today's highlowAveather JUbairy 9271pc Lansing SWlpc Baghdad Ul81s Nguouorqua 9869j Lai Vagal 10574s Bangkok 9279A Ancharigt 6M2S UtbtRoci 867M Beijing 9776s Atlanta 8869pc 1st Angelas 8262pc Berlin 6541t Atlantic Qty WlWpc Louitvilli 9472A Bombay W.2A leltlmaro 9070A Mimphis 9074A Butnos Aim 5548pc Bangor 8864pc Miami 8878A Dublin 5946r latanRonga Wlto Mihnuko WIVpc Hogotna, Bum 8976pc IIHingt 7752s Minmipolil 9067pc Havana 88273t Birmingham 8871pc Newark 9372pc Hongkong 8982t Boisa 9062s NewOrleens 8775t Jakarta 8873pc Boston 9470pc New York 9070pc London 65SOc Burlington 9069pc Oklahoma City 8469A Manila 8477A Caspar IKWs Omaha Mulct Chy 7355A 8MM Philadelphia 9172pc Naha, Okinawa 8578A 927t Phoenix IIZWs Onka 8a'67c Cheyenne 7tV5(Vpc Pittsburgh SWt Paris 6548c Chiciga 9l7ft'pc Portland, Miim 90Ws Perth 6546s Cincinnati 93AM Portland, On 8354s Ret) dt Janeiro 7770pc Omland 90701 Pmidanct 9Wpc Rami 82Wnc 92TM Raleigh MfflVpc Seoul M'pc Concert 9WS5fec Richmond 8969pc Shanghai 8679pc Dallas 8672A Rtna 929s Singapan 887M Omar 7857pc Secremente 8955s Sydney 6148r On Maims 90Wc SL Louis 9274JI Taipei 8877A Ottntt 9370pc Salt Lata Btj 9262s Tokyo We Forgo 7855rt StnOioga 7464pc Wenew 7252c Ftegiteff 854Vs SonFroncitct 6754s CANADA Harriiburg 92701 Seattle 7754s Edmonlon 6752pc Hartford 94Wpc Sioux Fills 86624 Montreal 90774pc Houston 8573t Spokano 8255s Toronto 8972pc mdianipolli Topoka 9068c Vancouver 7054pc Jackson 8769A Washington, DC.

9072A Victoria 6950pc Kansas CHy MWc Wilmington, Del. 9470AK Winnipeg 7049r Dennis Francis President and publisher 5294702 dlrancisstarbulletln.com Frank Bridgewater Editor 5294791 fbridgewaterstarbulletln.com JoeLeong Circulation director 5294871 Dave Kennedy Vice president, marketing 5294818 dkennedystarbulletln.com GusTonnelller Vice president, production 235-5881 gusstarbulletln.com Glenn Zuehls Vice president, advertising 5294704 gzuehlsstarbulletln.com All forecasts and maps provided by.