Ka`u News Briefs Monday, April 17, 2017

Ka`u Trojans Boys Volleyball team invites the public to Senior Night at the Ka`u Regional Gym on Tuesday at 6 p.m., with JV and varsity competition. Team members: No. 21 Titan Ault, No. 12 Jacob Flores, No. 7 Travis Taylor, No. 17 Jamal Buyuan, No. 10 Joven Padrigo, No. 6 Chadwick Pajimola, No. 8 Pete Dacalio, and  No. 1 Trevor Taylor. Photo by Pam Taylor

TALMADGE MAGNO, THE NEW HAWAI`I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE DIRECTOR, met with the County Council last week as the Finance Committee reviewed the proposed budget for the department.      

Talmadge Magno, as Chief Ranger in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park

     Law enforcement and emergency services, with experience in special maritime and land operations on U.S. borders and for such disasters as Hurricane Katrina, are on his resume.    
     Magno explained his preparedness to work at Civil Defense. He served the National Park Service for 30  years, including time at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park in law enforcement supervision dealing with the volcanoes and hurricanes and coordinating with county Civil Defense. "All that exposure and that experience led me to this position."
     "I am very fortunate to be able to work in this position and support the island," he said. Magno explained that he was able to work for the county as retirement at age 57 in the federal government is required for positions with firefighting and other physical work.
     "It's my background work in the federal government qualified me for this position," he told the County Council members.
      Magno grew up in Mountain View. Mayor Harry Kim, who chose Magno last December to become Civil Defense Director, coached him in football when Magno was a teen.

Talmadge Magno, Hawai`i Couny Civil Defense Director. Photo from Big Island Video News

   
Kim has indicated that he is working closely with Magno in the Civil Defense Department, which is responsible for the County's "total emergency response program to ensure prompt and effective action when natural or manmade caused disaster threatens the County of Hawai`i," says the Civil Defense website. See https://countyofhawaii.bbcportal.com to sign up for Civil Defense messages. See www.hawaiicounty.gov/civil-defense for more on the department.
    See more at www.bigislandvideonews.com


CONGRESSWOMAN TULSI GABBARD AND SEN. BRIAN SCHATZ will hold Town Hall meetings in Hilo on Tuesday. The Schatz event location has been changed to the gymnasium at University of Hawai`i from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Gabbard event will be held at Waiakea High School at 7:30 p.m.

HAWAI`I PUBLIC RADIO is broadcast in Ka`u through the KAHU license which supported a community radio station in Pahala for years, featuring such musical and talk-story mentors as Uncle Bobby Gomes (right) and budding local musicians, playing live on the station in 2013. See HPR story below. Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAI`I PUBLIC RADIO, with two stations in Ka`u at 89.1 FM and 91.3 FM, will launch its on-air fund drive April 19. The goal for the 10-day fundraiser is $900,000. Nearly 800 donors responded to the pre-drive campaign with early gifts totaling $124,882.
   HPR President and General Manager José A. Fajardo pointed out that federal funding is in question under the new President Donald Trump administration. “Many in our community have expressed concern about the current administration’s proposed de-funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Whether or not that comes to pass, we are advising listeners that their financial contributions are critical to ensuring the station’s resilience and independence in the face of future challenges. Each listener’s generous support is needed now more than ever.” HPR is considered critical for Civil Defense communications in Ka`u.