NEWPORT BEACH A steeple decision that...

NEWPORT BEACH

A steeple decision

that is start of debate?

Months of debate over a Mormon temple and its towering steeple

came to a conclusion Thursday as the Planning Commission voted to

approve the 17,575-foot temple with a steeple reduced from 124 feet

to 99.75 feet. They also required that building lights come on no

sooner than 6 a.m. and that they be turned off at 10 p.m.

Locals were relieved to finally get word from the new owners of

the Newport Dunes that they currently have no plans to build a hotel

there. Goldrich & Kest and Terra Vista Management, which took over

the property in August after the $25.5 million sale closed, say they

want to bring back July 4 fireworks to the resort.

Lobster season kicked off last week with not-bad-but-not-great

hauls by local lobster fishers. But it’s still good news for lobster

lovers, who can enjoy the fresh California spiny lobsters through

March.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport.

She may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.

SCHOOLS

High bar hurdled

Results from last March’s state exit exam showed that only 29% of

Newport-Mesa Unified School District students still need to pass the

math portions and 14% still need to pass the English section of the

test required for graduation for the class of 2004.

Although a majority of district students have passed the test,

some members of the state Board of Education have expressed concern

that not enough students statewide will clear this hurdle and may

decide to postpone the requirement when they meet next August.

A facility snafu for SAT test-taking was resolved this week when

385 area high school students found out they can take the college

admissions test at Newport Harbor High School in November, free of

charge. The students had originally signed up to take the test in

October but no one was available to administer the test, so the

students were transferred to a high school in Los Angeles. After a

flurry of phone calls between parents and the testing service and

efforts by the school to find someone, a staff member finally

volunteered. The school just needs to confirm the volunteer’s

application, said principal Michael Vossen.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.

COPS & COURTS

A second arrest no substitute

A 35-year-old substitute teacher who once worked at Corona del Mar

High and TeWinkle Middle School was arrested for a second time on

Monday after he turned himself in at a Newport Beach courtroom. Todd

Jerome Haluch, of Huntington Beach faced a second arrest warrant with

additional charges alleging that he indulged in sexual acts with

several female students.

Haluch was arrested for the first time on Sept. 13 on suspicion of

13 counts of felony sexual assault. He was released after posting a

$250,000 bail. A second warrant issued Sept. 26 reflected four felony

counts of sexual acts with a female juvenile and one count of witness

intimidation.

Newport Beach police said they are in the process of interviewing

more people who say they have been victimized.

In other news, five Costa Mesa firefighters formed a team to make

up the city’s first ever Arson Investigation Unit. The group, which

trained over the last three years mainly with Costa Mesa police

detectives, will be called whenever arson is suspected.

The team also trained at the FBI Academy in Virginia and the

National Fire Academy in Maryland. During this period, they learned

several aspects of criminal investigation including photography,

investigation of what is known as the “origin and cause” of the fire,

basic crime scene investigation, witness interview techniques, legal

proceedings and courtroom testimony.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

City attorney finds

himself back in action

The Costa Mesa City Attorney’s office was restored to full staff

on paper last week when City Council members voted to reinstate the

city’s top legal official after placing him on paid administrative

leave in the course of a performance review.

In reality, the office is still reeling from four chaotic weeks

that included a flurry of council votes to dig deeper into the city’s

legal dealings and the removal -- and subsequent return -- of both

the city attorney and assistant city attorney.

And although City Atty. Jerry Scheer was formally invited to come

back, without suffering any disciplinary action, the 63-year-old

remains at home in poor health as a result of stress from being

placed on leave, said Greg Peterson, Scheer’s attorney.

Now Costa Mesa faces possible litigation from the man whose job it

is to make sure the city stays out of legal trouble.

* LOLITA HARPER covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.