The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce honored the top 30 academic
all-stars from the city's two high schools on Thursday. The students
received kudos from community and business leaders.
Newport-Mesa Unified School District canceled two upcoming community
meetings with residents who live near Newport Harbor High School about a
proposed parking structure that would be jointly operated with St.
Andrew's Church on the school's campus. Many of the residents who had
attended three meetings this week said they didn't have enough
information about the church's expansion plans. The district stopped any
more discussion of the issue until the church completes its plans and
shares them with residents, said Mike Fine, the district's assistant
superintendent.Students from Newport Harbor High School bonded in person
with seniors from the Oasis Senior Center whom they had been
corresponding with by e-mail for the past few weeks. They met at a
luncheon Friday at the Newport Beach Central Library.
The school board agreed to add a portable building to Whittier
Elementary School next year to accommodate growth.
It also granted an easement to the Orange County Sanitation District
to build a sewer line on the property of Costa Mesa High School. The line
will eventually be turned over to the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.
* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)
574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .
Altered investigation continues
Autopsy results released by the Orange County coroner on Monday
revealed that the in-line skater who died a week ago after suffering a
head injury on Back Bay Drive was not struck by paint balls.
Officials said they are no longer sure what caused 54-year-old Gary
Holdren to lose his balance when he was skating down Back Bay Drive on
March 24.
Police said they are still looking for the three young men or boys who
were seen wielding paint-ball guns in the area before the incident,
according to witnesses. The autopsy reports also stated that the eye
injury Holdren suffered was caused "internally" -- not by an external
object.
Another witness also told police the paint-ball strike marks found on
Back Bay Drive near the site where Holdren reportedly fell were there
before the incident took place.
Police are still investigating the case and are looking for any
witnesses who may have actually seen the incident take place.
* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at
