Michelle Obama and daughters isle-bound

Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha were scheduled to leave Washington, D.C., Friday for their annual holiday trip to Hawaii.

The first lady said she didn’t know when the president would be able to join them. Congress is still grappling with budget issues to close out the year.

Earlier in Washington, Michelle Obama brought more than 800 gifts from White House staff to donate to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign. She urged people to donate to charity this holiday season.

Care home operator to do time for fraud

A Honolulu man has received a six-month prison term for his part in a scam that cost a care home resident, 84, more than $200,000.

Hawaii Attorney General David Louie said Friday that Joel Tacras, 55, of Waipahu, and his partner, Nora Bell, 46, of Ewa Beach, ran the Classic Residential Care Home on Hookele Street in Waianae.

The victim, who suffers from age-related dementia, entered the care home in 2004. In April 2007, Bell and Tacras began to withdraw cash from the victim’s bank accounts and redeem his Treasury bonds without his knowledge, Louie said. By July 2008, Bell and Tacras had nearly cleaned him out, Louie said.

Transfers made by Bell caught the attention of American Savings Bank personnel, who notified state Adult Protective Services, which reported the activity to the attorney general’s office. Bell and Tacras were indicted in May.

Circuit Judge Richard Pollack also ordered Tacras to perform 200 hours of community service and repay the victim $66,000. Bell will be sentenced Jan. 18.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Hawaii island will witness bombing runs

Navy aircraft are scheduled to conduct live-fire training at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island Monday and Tuesday, the Army announced.

Training will take place between 10 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day and will include bombing exercises.

The aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 2 embarked aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, which is in Hawaii en route to deployment to the western Pacific and the Middle East. The wing has four fighter attack squadrons flying F/A-18 Hornets.

People in neighboring communities can expect to hear noise and see the glow of flares and explosions, the Army said.