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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 9 May 2018

Lingering residents forced to evacuate as lava cracks spread

By CALEB JONES Leilana Estates subdivision dumb. If I see a threat, I’m
Associated Press to make tough decisions. out of here,” he said.
PAHOA, Hawaii (AP) — Some residents insist on Hawaii County officials is-
Edwin Montoya’s family staying to watch over their sued mandatory evacua-
carved their farm on the property. Others have tion orders for two neigh-
slopes of the Kilauea vol- abandoned their homes borhoods — Leilani Estates
cano out of “raw jungle,” without knowing when and Lanipuna Gardens —
transforming it into a fertile they will be able to return, on Thursday when the lava
collection of gardens, ani- or if they will come back to first emerged. About 1,700
mal pens and fruit trees. find their houses turned to people live in Leilani and
Now the property is im- ash and buried under solid a few hundred live in Lani-
periled by the very land it rock. puna.
stands upon. A couple of Andrew Nisbet evacuated But on Tuesday, county of-
miles up the hill, lava has last week and has no idea ficials sent an emergency
destroyed dozens of homes what has happened since. cellphone alert telling any
and his daughter’s farm is in “My home is right in the stragglers in Lanipuna to
an evacuation zone. line of the major breakouts leave immediately. Act-
Despite the nearby danger, so maybe, maybe not.” ing Mayor Wil Okabe said A street destroyed by lava in the Leilani Estates subdivision near
the 76-year-old Montoya he said Monday during a that’s because two new Pahoa, Hawaii, is shown Tuesday, May 8, 2018.
planned to stay to care for community meeting. fissures were emitting dan- Associated Press
animals on the farm and Authorities urged Scott gerous gases. he saw most of the United property to prevent loot-
keep looters away. Wiggers to evacuate, but Hawaii Gov. David Ige told States as a truck driver for ing before being forced to
Those plans were dashed he refused. evacuees he has called 25 years on the mainland. leave.
Tuesday after two new fis- “I’m in the safest part in the White House and the He prefers life on Mystic For- Officials warn that lava
sures opened up, including the subdivision. There’s no Federal Emergency Man- est Farm, in a purple octag- could flow downhill and
one about a mile from the threat to my house whatso- agement Agency to tell of- onal house his family built burn areas that are not cur-
family home, and he was ever,” said Wiggers, a tour ficials that he believes the nearly 20 years ago. rently in danger, and toxic
forced to evacuate. guide. state will need help to deal The farm is at the end of volcanic gas could kill peo-
“I’m in my truck right now Wiggers said he wasn’t with the volcano on the Big a long, single-lane gravel ple, especially the elderly
on my way up the road,” leaving his home on the Island. road, with large volcanic and those with breathing
he said. “The police came outskirts of the evacuation Authorities are allowing rocks scattered about and problems.
down here and made me.” zone because he worried some evacuees to return large pools of water to There are 14 lava-produc-
Because there’s no indi- that if he did, he wouldn’t briefly each day to gather drive through. ing fissures in Leilani Estates,
cation when the eruption be able to get back in. But medicine, pets and other Montoya was tending after two new ones formed
might stop, or how far the he’s prepared in case the necessities. to the farm’s animals — Tuesday. But the flow of
lava might spread, the vol- situation takes a turn. Montoya, who moved to sheep, chickens, rabbits lava is not constant.
cano has forced people “I am packed. My truck is Hawaii to be with his fam- and several cats and dogs A total of 36 structures,
living in and around the loaded. I’m not a dumb- ily about six years ago, said — and watching over the including 26 confirmed

Feds: White man wanted hit man to kill black neighbor

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — gave the man a $100 down neighbor he wanted killed Lecroy, 32, has been sent
A white South Carolina payment and told him he in the small town of Hodges for a mental exam, ac-
man offered $500 to a sup- might have more people in Greenwood County, ac- cording to court papers.
posed hit man to kill his to kill later, according to cording to court papers. He’s charged with murder
black neighbor, hang his an affidavit unsealed after Hodges is about 85 miles for hire and solicitation to
body from a tree and burn Lecroy was indicted Tues- west of Columbia. commit a crime of violence.
a cross on his lawn — but day. The affidavit did not explain He faces up to 10 years in
This undated photo provided the hit man was really an Lecroy found the “hit man” why Lecroy allegedly want- prison and a $250,000 fine if
by the Spartanburg County undercover officer, federal through a white suprema- ed to kill his neighbor. convicted.
Detention Center in South prosecutors say. cist group, authorities said. But he did tell the officer An email to his federal pub-
Carolina shows Brandon Brandon Lecroy was ar- Lecroy sent the undercov- “$500 and he’s a ghost.” lic defender was not imme-
Lecroy. rested last month after he er officer pictures of the diately returned.q