INSIDE SCOOP

Despite rumors to the contrary, journalists aren’t all greedy -- or on

the take. And a Pilot editor had the chance to prove that last week at a

meeting of the Newport Harbor Republican Women.

At the opening of the meeting, the group held a raffle -- and the

woman hosting the Pilot editor was nice enough (over protests) to offer

her tickets. And one of them was the winner.

But rather than pocket the $86, our editor turned the money back to

the group and its internship program, which goes to show how lucky we

aren’t.

A BEARABLE RELATIONSHIP When Costa Mesa resident Robin Gowers opened

the paper this past weekend and saw her friend, Huntington Beach Police

Officer Nick Ekovich Jr., was involved in a shootout, she was overcome

with emotions.

Gowers has known the wounded officer since their days growing up in

Westminster. When Gowers was 5, she said she had a crush on the elder

Ekovich, who is 10 years older.

Gowers called some of the folks in her old neighborhood and they all

pitched in to get Ekovich a gift. On Thursday, they will send a Vermont

teddy bear to UCI Medical Center in Orange, where Ekovich is recovering.

The cuddly bear will be dressed up in a police uniform with a bandage on

his left arm, the same place where Ekovich was shot.

“I think he will like it,” Gowers said. “I’m just glad we’re not

sending flowers for a funeral.”

A PARKING PERMIT

In the handing-over of the Pilot’s reigns from William Lobdell to Tony

Dodero, titles didn’t really matter. The talk between them -- and in the

newsroom -- was whether new Editor Dodero will be getting Lobdell’s

prized parking spot.

So far, he hasn’t, but the outgoing Piloteer has had to get to work

plenty early to make sure the spot remains his.