NEWPORT BEACH Team Newport raised $40,000...

NEWPORT BEACH

Team Newport raised $40,000 in 2002 campaign

Team Newport, a new slate mailer organization that produced

campaign literature for four candidates, began collecting money the

day after the last preelection finance reporting period ended. The

group spent about $40,000 to produce mailers for Tod Ridgeway, Gary

Adams, Don Webb and Bernie Svalstad.

* 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.

ENVIRONMENT

County moves water lab to Newport Beach

Almost six months after Newport Beach officials gave them the

digs, the Orange County supervisors moved their water-quality testing

lab to Back Bay.

At its Tuesday meeting, the board approved moving the lab from a

Santa Ana government building to an office-trailer on Shellmaker

Island.

Members of the Health Care Agency will now be able to process

water samples closer to the areas that routinely register with

bacterial outbreaks. The trailer will cost the county $19,539 per

year. Some utilities will be paid by Newport Beach.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.

COSTA MESA

Council will reconsider Home Ranch

The $2-million Home Ranch education grant is homeless again as the

City Council decided Monday to hold a rehearing on how the funds

should best be distributed.

Previously, the council had decided on two foundations that did

not have to abide by the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law. But

Mayor Karen Robinson missed the vote and asked for the rehearing

mainly because she believes the foundations should have to adhere to

the strict open-meeting law. The council will hear the issue again

Feb. 18.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

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

PUBLIC SAFETY

Threats to sheriff lead to Costa Mesa man’s arrest

A former Newport Harbor High student critically injured in a

traffic accident on Irvine Avenue five years ago was arrested on

Sunday on suspicion of threatening to kill Orange County Sheriff Mike

Carona.

Daniel Townsend, 23, was 18 years old when a Chevy Blazer loaded

with 10 teens overturned on Irvine Avenue. Townsend and 17-year-old

Amanda Arthur suffered brain injuries and were in critical condition

after the accident, which killed their friend Donny Bridgman, 18.

On Sunday, sheriff’s deputies arrested Townsend in is Costa Mesa

home for allegedly telling two of his friends that he was going to

kill Carona and also for threatening to kill a friend’s mother

earlier.

Townsend’s family maintains that he has a mental illness and needs

care and treatment. He is being held without bail in Orange County

jail.

In other news, Newport Beach Police is looking for a man who

reportedly attacked a 21-year-old female janitorial worker in an

office building Wednesday night. Police said the woman was cleaning a

restroom when the man approached her from behind with a handgun and

sexually assaulted her.

The man is reportedly in his early 30s, about 5 feet and 10 inches

weighing about 165 pounds with curly brown hair and was wearing jeans

and a T-shirt.

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

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

EDUCATION

Student pushes for prom at Middle College High

Senior Crystal Nay tries to organize the first ever prom at Orange

Coast Middle College High School. Looking for help from the

community, Nay hopes to raise enough money to give the students at

the high school a dance they’ll never forget.

* CHRISTINE CARRILLO covers education and may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at christine.carrillo@latimes.com.