• Investigation hasn’t resolved child-injury case • Too many cows, not enough acres • KCC students enjoyed visit with TGI Investigation hasn’t resolved child-injury case A precious Kauai child was severely hurt in child care on Oct. 24, 2013, when
• Investigation hasn’t resolved child-injury case • Too many cows, not enough acres • KCC students enjoyed visit with TGI
Investigation hasn’t resolved child-injury case
A precious Kauai child was severely hurt in child care on Oct. 24, 2013, when he was 10 months old. He was flown to Oahu where he was in a coma, had a stroke, had part of his skull removed, spent two months in the hospital and he now has permanent brain damage and is blind.
Although this matter has been under investigation by Kauai Police Department and Child Protective Services for nearly five months, the child care provider, and her husband (who were both there at the time of this injury) have not been charged with any crime. Furthermore, this child care provider continues to advertise, on Craigslist, offering child care services.
I find this shocking and unacceptable. I do not understand why it is taking the police, and CPS, so long to do right by this child and make sure these child care providers receive consequences for their actions. If a parent harmed a child, in the manner this child was harmed by a babysitter, that parent would immediately be in jail. Why has that not happened to this babysitter?
I hope this letter will be printed for many reasons including demanding justice for this child in a timely manner, preventing these childcare providers from harming any more children, for all parents to show up unexpectedly and diligently monitor how their children are cared for and mostly to thank everyone on Kauai for all the prayers and love sent to this baby. That fact that he is still alive is a miracle.
Carla Hart
Anahola
Too many cows, not enough acres
Holy cow! I’ve just learned 1,880 cows will be placed on 440 acres of grazing land near Poipu. That’s over four cows per acre. A grand experiment is underway. Kauai is on the cutting edge! Can 440 acres support this?
The plan’s nucleus: 300-plus cows will be placed on three-acre parcels of kikuyu grass for four to six hours. They will then be moved to the next three acres. This continues until milking. Manure will be left on each parcel to disintegrate in 18 days. The cycle continues in the hope grass recovers and grazing can continue. How much poop and urine is produced by each cow each day? 1,880 cows on 440 acres, 90 tons and 13,160 gallons of urine.
The grass may not be able to see the light of day under that much poop and may even be drowned by the urine. It gets worse with repeated grazing.
Whenever it rains, expect to see a moving green flood plain toward the ocean and, with it, the fragrant essence of manure and a humming, buzzing cloud of flies (Hawaii Dairy Farms will control flies with fly parasites, which have never been successful. California Agriculture, Vol. 44, No. 3.).
Since irrigation equipment has already been put in place, it’s assumed KDF has an inside track to approval, even though approval has not been granted. The state and/or county officials who sign off on this will be greatly embarrassed.
Carlos White, entomologist
Princeville
KCC students enjoyed visit with TGI
Mahalo on behalf of the Kauai Community College Board of Publications and journalism students who attended our recent tour of The Garden Island. For the students to meet The Garden Island staff in action as they worked on stories and designed layout and ads was a meaningful experience.
The result: TGI has created a new group of supporters that understands how hard you all work and care for our island.
It was great of you all to put up with the grilling and questions from these budding journalists. Though KCC offers sophomore journalism news writing classes, a few students may be motivated to continue in this field and apply their skills to help readers better understand the world and changes that affect us all.
This visit to TGI reinforced the student’s understanding of the community service TGI provides. A daily, local newspaper presenting accurate information and encouraging independent viewpoints is essential. Our island is fortunate to have The Garden Island newspaper.
Carol Bain
KCC journalism instructor
