Lisette Chel

Appointed Deputy City Clerk Lisette Chel announced on Wednesday that she will run for the elected position of city clerk.

“I have served as deputy city clerk since 2008, under the guidance of Martha Anderson,” Chel said. “I believe my experience will benefit the community, and I am excited to announce my candidacy.”

As an elected official, the city clerk is independent and responsible only to the people of Laguna Beach, not to the council or the city administration.

“The city clerk’s job is varied and needs an experienced hand at the helm to meet regulatory requirements established by law,” Chel said. “Public documents and city records are entrusted to us. We oversee and preserve the integrity of elections, which requires familiarity with the election laws.”

The city clerk’s office also provides administrative and support services to the City Council and staff in other departments. The city clerk attends all council meetings and records the proceedings.

–Barbara Diamond, @coastlinepilot, Coastline Pilot

…Continue reading “Chel seeks city clerk job in Laguna”

CAL FIRE is increasing staff and equipment in preparation for high winds and low humidity expected throughout areas of California, including Orange County, according to a news release.

In some places, winds of up to 60 mph are expected, which can increase the risk of wildfires in Southern California.

“The recent devastating wildland fire in Reno is a reminder that fires can burn during the winter months even when temperatures are low,” Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director, said in a statement. “With the strong winds forecasted, the fire danger will increase in many areas and we will have extra firefighters on duty so that we can respond to any new wildfires that may ignite.”

High winds are expected to continue over the next few days.

–Kelly Parker, @KellyParkerTCN

Mike Modeer is the new assistant principal at Thuston Middle school. (DON LEACH)

Mikael Modeer, the newly appointed assistant principal at Thurston Middle School, never thought he would be a teacher.

After graduating from UC Davis in 2000, he went on to become a financial adviser but reached a roadblock. He wasn’t enjoying his job and couldn’t picture turning it into a career.

“Every teacher I met absolutely loved their job and their life,” he said.

So he decided to become one, starting out as a substitute.

In 2003, he received his teaching credential from Cal State Fullerton and went on to teach AVID, math and technology at a middle school in the Rowland Unified School District.

In 2007, he went to Chapman University to get his master’s degree in educational leadership and administration.

Since then, he’s held administrative positions at Las Flores Middle School in Las Flores and at Oak Crest Middle School in Encinitas.

The Irvine native said it’s good to be back in Orange County.

“The district itself is a dream district,” he said.

–Joanna Clay, @joannaclay, Coastline Pilot

…Continue reading “Working in a ‘dream district’”

At 8:37 p.m. Sunday in the gated Irvine Cove community, Tasmen Lamont Lorenson, 29, of Costa Mesa, is suspected of robbing a couple at knifepoint, taking the male victim’s wallet, keys and iPhone, Police Chief Paul Workman said in the release. Lorenson then allegedly drove off in the male victim’s silver 2003 Mercedes Benz.

Laguna Beach police notified the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force, who found the Mercedes parked in a Costa Mesa alley Monday morning, according to the release.

While investigators were watching the vehicle, Cassaira Leann Simmons, 19, of Costa Mesa, allegedly got in the car and drove it to the Harbor Bay Inn in Costa Mesa.

Laguna police responded to the scene, and Lorenson was arrested on three felony charges of robbery, auto theft and conspiracy to commit a crime. Simmons was arrested on one felony charge of possession of stolen property, according to the news release.

After interviewing the two suspects, police discovered that the female robbery victim, Alana Cosette Hayes, 27, of Mission Viejo, had allegedly planned the robbery herself, police said.

Hayes was found with the male victim in Mission Viejo late Monday night and arrested on four felony charges of robbery, auto theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of a controlled substance, according to the news release.

The man was shocked to find out his girlfriend had set him up, police said. The male robbery victim has only been identified as a 26-year-old from Rancho Santa Margarita.

All three suspects are believed to be involved with Orange County white supremacist groups, police said.

They were booked at the Laguna Beach Police Department before being transferred to Orange County Jail.

–Kelly Parker, @KellyParkerTCN, Coastline Pilot

The California League of Conservation Voters on Tuesday cheered Judge Ronald Prager’s decision to reject the suit filed by the United Anglers of Southern California, according to a news release from the league.

The suit was also backed by the Partnership for Sustainable Oceans, a fishing equipment group. Opponents included state conservation groups and the Fish and Game Commission.

“This slam-dunk win for the state and our oceans is the end of the line for the special interests who have burdened taxpayers with lawsuits and delaying tactics and have run a short-sighted campaign of scare tactics instead of looking out for the long-term health of our oceans,” California League of Conservation Voters Chief Executive Officer Warner Chabot said in a statement.

Implementation of the MPAs include regulations adopted last December that ban fishing and, in some cases, prohibit taking plants, animals and other marine life, including shells, from certain coastal areas. The MPAs, which extend from beaches in Santa Barbara County to the U.S./Mexico border, are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.

In Laguna, the issue of MPAs has been contested among city officials, residents and local anglers. All but one of the City Council members voted in support of the regulations.

“Commercial lobster fishermen will lose 30% to 40% of their income with the 7-mile closure of Laguna’s coastline,” Councilman Kelly Boyd said in July. “As for recreational fishing, sea mammals eat way more than a fisherman catches, and under the restrictions, a man can’t even take his grandson grunion hunting.”

For more information on marine protected areas, visit http://www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa/southcoast.asp.

–Kelly Parker, @KellyParkerTCN, Coastline Pilot

The car’s driver, Sharon Ann Niggemann, 62, of Laguna Beach, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and held on $100,000 bail.

“She [the victim] was hit dead center and launched a good distance,” said Cpl. D. McGill, a traffic investigator with the Laguna Beach Police Department.

Investigators are trying to figure out who had the right of way at the time of the incident, McGill said.

Niggemann was coming into downtown Laguna Beach on Laguna Canyon Road when she allegedly plowed into the victim, who was crossing the road several feet behind her husband, McGill said. The victim’s husband did not witness the collision, but his account of the direction he and his wife were walking contradicts that of the driver.

The victim’s husband said the two were crossing from the public parking lot toward the Playhouse; the driver reported they were walking from the Playhouse to the parking lot.

“We are looking at the phasing of lights and will get the black box from the car” to help determine how the incident happened, McGill said.

McGill said that skid marks show that Niggemann tried to stop. The area was busy that night, with a wedding and “Lagunatics” both going on, but there were no other pedestrians present when the incident took place, he said.

Niggemann was transported to Orange County Jail, where she posted bail and was released, McGill said.

–Cindy Frazier, @CindyFrazier1, Coastline Pilot

Nicholas James Needham, 28, a registered sex offender, pleaded guilty to one felony count of lewd acts on a child younger than 14.

On June 15, 2010, Needham went into a men’s restroom at the The Block at Orange, now called the Outlets at Orange, where the young boy was using a urinal, according to the news release. Needham approached the victim, touched the boy’s penis and then fled the scene.

The boy told his mother about the assault, and the Orange Police Department launched an investigation.

The district attorney’s office has also filed charges against Needham in a separate case for possession of child pornography, which is currently being prosecuted.

—Kelly Parker, @KellyParkerTCN, Coastline Pilot

Victoria Buzzo, 54, who lived on La Costa Court, died after the shooting inside the Salon Meritage beauty parlor Wednesday afternoon when suspected shooter Scott Evans Dekraai allegedly walked in and started firing.

Public records show she was married to David Buzzo.

Witnesses reported that Dekraai, 41, walked into the upscale salon inside shopping center on Pacific Coast Highway and began firing, shooting his ex-wife, her coworkers and salon customers.

Eight people died, including Dekraai’s ex-wife, Michelle Fournier. A ninth victim was listed in critical condition at Long Beach Memorial Hospital and was reportedly improving.

Buzzo’s family declined to speak with the media Thursday.

Dekraai was arrested not far away by Seal Beach police. He didn’t resist and officers found a small cache of weapons inside his car, authorities said.

The shooting — the largest single killing in Orange County history — sent shockwaves through the peaceful beach town of 25,000.

Grief counselors were sent to nearby schools in Los Alamitos, where many Seal Beach children attend, and a makeshift memorial was being set up outside the salon Thursday morning. A candlelight vigil was scheduled for Thursday night.

The Orange County district attorney’s office has scheduled a press conference for Friday to discuss charges against Dekraai. Media reports indicate Dekraai was a fisherman suffering from post traumatic stress from a boating accident in 2007 and was engaged in a custody dispute with his ex-wife.

The Los Angeles Times contributed to this report.

–Joseph Serna, @JosephSerna, Coastline Pilot

The board of directors for the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce has named Kristine Thalman as the interim executive director for the chamber.

Thalman will take over for Rose Hancock, who recently resigned to explore other opportunities.

Thalman previously was chief executive officer of the Building Industry Assn. of Orange County, and she currently operates her own consulting firm in Laguna.

She has also served on the Laguna Beach Seniors board of directors and is an ambassador for the Laguna Beach Community Foundation.

“We are confident that Kristine’s skills and experience will serve the Chamber of Commerce well, and we are glad to have her on board to execute exciting changes and oversee the development of great partnerships within the business community,” Chamber President Chris Keller said in a statement.

—Kelly Parker

Twitter: @KellyParkerTCN

Hancock is leaving to pursue other interests but will still consult with the Chamber through the end of the year.

“I have truly enjoyed my time as executive director and of my association with the Chamber,” Hancock said in a statement. “I have been privileged to work with an amazing group of volunteers, staff and board members and look forward to making sure the transition in Chamber leadership is a smooth one.”

Hancock has served on the city’s Business Task Force, the Mayor’s Homeless Task Force and was previously on the Chamber’s board of directors.

She has been the executive director since 2005.