CITY ROUNDUP:

The City Council is scheduled to meet in closed session Friday to discuss the appointment of an interim city administrator.

With City Administrator Penny Culbreth-Graft’s recent announcement she was leaving for a new job as city manager of Colorado Springs, Colo., council members will have to pick someone to fill the job after she leaves in January. One thing they will have to consider is whether to look within the city or search elsewhere, Mayor Gil Coerper said.

They will also have to decide how to search for a permanent replacement.

The closed session meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday at City Hall, fourth floor conference room No. 2, 2000 Main St. The public is barred from watching the closed session, but anyone who wishes to make a comment ahead of time may do so.

Any action taken by the council will be announced after the meeting concludes.

State beach gets recycling signs in next few weeks

Visitors to state beaches like Huntington State Beach will get a little bit more of a reminder not to throw away that plastic bottle. A partnership between the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Keep California Beautiful and a plastic industry group is bringing more recycle bins to some beaches and plenty more signs to others, said Jennifer Killinger, a spokeswoman for the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council.

“When you think about Californians’ active lifestyles, from running to bicycling to beachgoers, it seemed like beaches were logical places for the bins,” she said.

As Huntington State Beach already has bins, the focus will be on more signs showing residents what they can recycle in them, she said. New signs are expected in the next few weeks, she added.

Rep. speaks out about U.S. Atty. Johnny Sutton

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher’s claws were out again as another chapter of the controversial case against Osvaldo Aldrete Davila unfolded in Texas last week.

Davila, who was shot in the buttocks in February 2005 as he ran from Border Patrol agents, was arrested this month and faces charges of smuggling marijuana into the country in September and October 2005.

Rohrabacher, who has carried out a very public campaign against the prosecution of the border patrol agents, particularly U.S. Atty. Johnny Sutton, had no praise for Sutton after Davila’s arrest.

“Johnny Sutton’s self-congratulatory tone in announcing the long overdue arrest of Davila is shameful,” Rohrabacher stated in a news release. “He should be begging forgiveness for taking the side of a drug smuggler.”

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, the two border patrol agents convicted of shooting Davila, are serving 11- and 12-year prison sentences.

Rohrabacher also criticized the timing of the arrest, contending Sutton cared more about shielding his administration from criticism than administering justice.

“If Mr. Sutton thinks he’s going to escape culpability for this miscarriage of justice by conveniently arresting the drug smuggler 2 ½ weeks before the Ramos and Compean appeal is heard, he is sadly mistaken,” he said.

“The bottom line is this: Johnny Sutton believed it was more important to protect the civil rights of an admitted illegal alien drug smuggler than to side with the law enforcement heroes that tried to stop him.”

In a follow-up call, Rohrabacher reiterated his call for President Bush to pardon the agents, calling on his constituents to conjure up “wrathful anger” toward the president should he decline to do so soon.

“They should be pardoned, given back pay and awarded medals for putting up for what they’ve had to put up with,” he said.

In a prepared statement, Sutton said, “Compean and Ramos had their day in court and received justice in accordance with well established laws. Now, Aldrete will have his day in court and my office will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is done.”

Sen. Harman hosts mobile office hours

Got questions of your state senator? If so, residents can pose them directly to State Sen. Tom Harman today. He will have “mobile office hours” from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Gooing Chiropractic Clinic, 2787 Bristol St., Ste. 102, Costa Mesa. You can ask Harman questions in an informal setting.

The event is open to the public, and refreshments will be provided. For more information, call (714) 957-4555.

Donate for children, women, Africa

Seven nonprofit organizations from Orange County, Los Angeles County, Mexico and Africa are hosting a charity event Friday at the Hyatt Regency, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., to collect goods for the needy throughout the world.

For otherwise free admission, attendees are asked to bring one of the following: blankets in new or good condition, shoes in new or good condition, unwrapped toys, clothing, or monetary donations.

The seven organizations involved are Orangewood Children’s Foundation, Catholic Workers Isaiah House, Long Beach Women’s Shelter, Kids’ Global Outreach, A Blanket of Love, Shoes of Hope, and Miller Children’s Hospital.

The event lasts from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Friday.