The Orange County Tribune Jan. 7, 2023

Weather Forecast

WEEKEND EDITION

64 / 46

Saturday: 64/56 cloudy Sunday: 64/51 partly cloudy Monday: 65/56 p.m. showers Tuesday: 61/48 thunderstorms

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Volume 3, Number 2 n orangecountytribune.com n Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023 n orangecountytribune@gmail.com

OUSD Board Fires Veteran Top Educator

THREE’S A CROWD ... ON THE COURT

New majority ousts Hansen Over the protests of many speakers, the Orange Unified School District Board of Education fired superintendent Gunn Marie Hanson on Thursday night.

By a 4-3 margin, the board voted to put her on paid administrative leave during a 30-day notice of termination. Also placed on leave was Cathleen Corella, assistant superintendent of education.

(The OUSD serves that part of Garden Grove east of Haster Street).

Ousting Hanson comes as a new conservative majority has emerged after the Nov. 8 election when Madison Klovstad Miner defeated long-time trustee Kathy Moffat by 221 votes.

Among the issues raised by the four members of the new majority are “parents’ rights,” ethnic studies and sex education.

The meeting lasted over three hours and only one person out of 60 making public comments supported Hansen’s dismissal.

n GARDEN GROVE CITY COUNCIL

Parade sponsorship of $5400 on agenda As the saying goes, everyone loves a parade and the Garden Grove City Council will be asked at its Tuesday meeting to show $5,400 worth of love for the annual West Garden Grove Youth Baseball Opening Day Parade.

The yearly event takes place on streets in the West Grove area and features youth baseball and softball players, and typi-

cally also includes members of the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education and school officials, members of the city council and the Orange County Fire Authority.

According to Erin Fales, vice president of West Garden Grove Youth Baseball, the organization is requesting that the city Continued on page 2

THREE RANCHO ALAMITOS defenders confront Bolsa Grande’s Brighton Maae (24) in Friday’s Garden Grove League boys’ basketball game in the Matador gym. Rancho won 70-58. See story, other results, page 8

“New council” is to be sworn in The swearing-in and seating of city council members highlights Tuesday’s meeting of the Stanton City Council.

Incumbent Mayor David Shawver will be sworn in as the city’s chief elected officer, and Gary Taylor

n STANTON CITY COUNCIL will take the oath of office as councilmember representing District 3.

New to the council will be Donald Torres, who will represent District 1.

Coronavirus numbers down, but deaths up The number of confirmed new coronavirus cases in Orange County has declined for the third consecutive week, but deaths and hospitalizations tied to COVID increased this week.

According to the Or-

ange County Health Care Agency, for the week concluding Jan. 4, there were 3,195 new cases. That compares to 3,269 the week before and 4,449 on Dec. 8 The use of intensive care Continued on page 2

Also on Tuesday the council will consider approving an ordinance that will result in lifting a moratorium on new “personal care” and medical office businesses in the city.

Continued on page 2

Inside The Trib

“Forrest Grump” ARTS&LIVING PAGES 5,6

For breaking news and sports all week long, go to www.orangecountytribune.com

2 SATURDAY, JAN.7, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

Stanton City Council Continued from page 1

The moratorium was approved in June 2022 and since been extended. It was enacted because – according to a staff report – some establishments and other enterprises in which the customer might end up partially or fully undressed have been connected

Garden Grove City Council

to illegal sexual activities and human trafficking.

The new ordinance, going for a second and final reading on Tuesday, is intended to eliminate such abuses in certain businesses, which could include a barber shop, beauty salon, nail salon, tanning salon, non-medical skin or facial skin care, eyelash extensions or eyebrow waxing, threading or tattooing, acupuncture or acupressure.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 7800 Katella Ave.

Continued from page 1

enter into a co-sponsorship.

The cost to provide police staff and equipment required to close city streets is about $5000, and the rental and staff for the city’s Snowmobile stage is about $400.

The parade is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25.

Also on the agenda will be a written request from the City of Westminster for the use of the Showmobile for the Tet Parade on Jan. 25 at a cost of $250.

The parade, honoring the lunar new year, will be held on Bolsa Avenue between Magnolia and Bushard streets.

Tuesday’s council meeting will be held in the Community Meeting Center, 11300 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove.

Coronavirus cases down Continued from page 1

units to treat coronavirus cases declined from 47 to 30. But deaths increased from 24 to 32 and hospitalizations rose from 329 to 352.

To date, Orange County has had 700,624 confirmed cases and 7,706 deaths.

Reach thousands for pennies. Advertise in The Orange County Tribune.

Call Jim at (714) 458-1860

JIm Tortolano Editor and Publisher Marilyn Lewis Tortolano General Manager The Orange County Tribune is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays with some exceptions. Address is 9402 Luders Ave., Garden Grove, 92844.

E-mail : orangecountytribune@gmail.com.

Website: www.orangecountytribune.com.

Phone: (714) 458-1860.

Established Aug. 6, 2016. All opinions expressed in The Tribune, unless otherwise stated, are those of the individual writer or artist and not necessarily those of The Tribune.

A member of The Associated Press, and Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.

The Tribune’s electronic paper is published on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

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ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7, 2023 3

News&Views

Arrest Deputy On Jail Sex Crime Charge

Stanton man faces 18-month sentence

ARTIST RENDERING of OC Ronald McDonald House

Strawberry Festival donates $50k to the Ronald Mc D House Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, producers of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival held annually every Memorial Day Weekend, is set to continue its support of the Orange County Ronald McDonald House with the completion of its $50,000 pledge in 2023.

The Orange County Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms provide a comforting “home away from home” for the families of seriously ill children receiving treatment in Orange County hospitals.

Since their opening in 1989, the House has adjusted to a changing ratio in care for children from almost all cancer-related stays to about an even split between families with children who need cancer treatments and those that need neonatal care, which together account for about 70% of those who stay at the House.

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association has been a longtime supporter of the Orange County Ronald McDonald House, helping to fund many of their initiatives and projects since the house’s inception in 1989.

“Garden Grove Strawberry Festival is truly about community.

In addition to the joy they bring to thousands at the festival, they make a difference by supporting the work of charities such as Ronald McDonald House,” said Noel Burcelis, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Orange County.

“They supported the building of the Orange County House over 32 years ago and have come back to support our expansion efforts to more than double our capacity in 2023. Thank you Garden Grove Strawberry Festival for supporting our mission to provide care, comfort, and supContinued on page 6

An Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy has been charged with sexually assaulting two female inmates, including directing them to engage in sexual activity, while assigned to work at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange.

Arcadio Rodriguez, 30, of Stanton, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to one misdemeanor count of sexual battery, one misdemeanor count of a detention facility employee engaging in sexual activity with a confined consenting adult and one misdemeanor count of possession of a cell phone in a correctional facility, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in the Orange County Jail if convicted on all counts.

The deputy is accused of establishing an inappropriate relationship with two female inmates incarcerated at the Theo Lacy Facility, including sexually assaulting the inmates on multiple

occasions by touching them over their jail uniforms and showing them pornographic videos of himself while they were in their housing locations.

The assaults are believed to have begun in May 2022. Rodriguez was arrested after the Orange County Sheriff’s Department launched an investigation after discovering communications regarding inappropriate sexual behavior by a deputy toward a female inmate.

California law only allows prosecutors to charge a misdemeanor when a detention facility employee engages in sexual activity with a confined adult over the clothes instead of skin to skin.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer is seeking a change to state law to allow prosecutors to charge the behavior as a felony or a misdemeanor.

Deputy District Attorney David McMurrin of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

An expensive “welfare check” Westminster police on a routine mission of checking on the welfare of a resident found more than they expected on Tuesday.

Officers responding to a residence in the area of 18th Street and Beach Boulevard found one person in the home, but also saw “a large quantity” of methamphetamine “in plain sight.”

That person was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail for possession of drugs for sale.

SEIZED DRUGS (WPD photo)

4 SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

NewsUpdate

After four days, McCarthy is the Speaker

After four days and 15 ballots, Kevin McCarthy was finally elected Speaker of the House of Representatives early Saturday morning.

According to the Associated Press, the deadlock among Republicans was broken when McCarthy was able to swing a dozen conservative holdouts to

support him.

The final tally was 216 for McCarthy, 212 for Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries with six members voting “present.”

There was more drama, though, before the issue was finally decided, as McCarthy confronted Rep. Matt Gaetz and tempers flared.

The Speaker of the House is usually the leader of the majority party in the House and is third in line of succession to the presidency.

Cease-fire? What’s that?

Shelling continues in Ukraine as the supposed 36-hour cease-fire proved to be a non-starter on Friday.

According to The New York Times, Russian artillery fire still is aimed at territory held by Ukrainian forces. The cease-fire announced by Russian President

Vladimir Putin was dismissed by the Ukrainian leadership as “propaganda.”

In related news, France and the United States have agreed to provide Ukraine with lightand medium armored vehicles that will be replaced with newer models.

Sports: Damar Hamlin is breathing on his own

Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills player who suffered a heart attack Monday on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, is breathing on his own.

The breathing tube was removed from his mouth and throat as he lay in his hospital bed in Cincinnati and he said, “Love you, boys.”

He is now able to walk on his own and he’s continually showing signs of improvement.

Weather: Clouds, rain

It was nice to have a respite from the rainy weather in the West Orange County area, but clouds and more rainfall are coming our way.

Saturday’s forecast calls for cloudy skies and a daytime high of 64 with an overnight low of 56. Sunday will be partly cloudy with a high of 64 and a low of 51.

Afternoon showers should roll in on Monday with thunderstorms on Tuesday.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY JAN. 7, 2023 5

Arts&Living

TOM HANKS stars in “A Man Called Otto,” a story about a cranky old man’s softer side (Playtone/Sony Pictures).

“Man Called Otto” is Forrest Grump “America’s Dad” Movie Review starts out cranky, Forrest Grump – whose suicide attempts are foiled by needy oh, but then ... neighbors and, ultimately, his

By Jake Coyle AP Film Writer

Sentimental tales about grumpy old men and American decline have, until recently, typically been the domain of Clint Eastwood.

But in “A Man Called Otto,” Marc Forster’s adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s bestseller and a remake of the 2016 Swedish film “A Man Called Ove,” it’s Tom Hanks prowling the neighborhood and irritably grumbling about how things used to be.

In the original, Rolf Lassgard richly inhabited the role of Ove, a curmudgeonly widower – a

grudging, sincere devotion to them.

Exasperation, whether directed at a crying ballplayer or a slobbering canine, has always been squarely in Hanks’ wheelhouse.

But despondency or even plain get-off-my-lawn orneriness are less obvious traits possessed by the actor sometimes called “America’s Dad.” Following Hanks’ villainous turn as Col. Tom Parker in “Elvis,” the 66-year-old has found in ``A Man Called Otto’’ another role that interestingly, if not always entirely successfully, caters to his strengths while tweaking his familiar screen presence.

It also may rob “A Man Called Otto,” which opens with Otto

buying rope to hang himself with, of some of its spirit. We know there are dark roads that Hanks just isn’t going to go down, and some of the early, more caustic scenes of Forster’s film strike a false note. But as “A Man Called Otto” makes its way through Otto’s life, cutting between his present-day squabbles and flashbacks of happier times with his wife, Sonya (Rachel Keller), Hanks movingly tailors the role to himself. How “A Man Called Otto” unfolds won’t surprise anyone, but it does the trick for a little post-holidays heart-warming.

“A Man Called Otto” is set in the prefab row-house development Otto has long lived in, where he tirelessly tisk-tisks any rule breakers, re-sorts misplaced recycling and berates drivers who violate the street’s regulation against through traffic.

Screenwriter David Magee

Good: HHH (“Life of Pi,” “Finding Neverland”) hues closely to the Swedish film as a kind of parable of community.

Up and down the street are all the people the freshly retired Otto barely tolerates: friendsturned-enemies (Peter Lawson Jones, Juanita Jennings), a friendly exerciser (a delightful Cameron Britton), a transgender paper deliverer and former student of Otto’s wife (Mack Bayda). Most of all there is Marisol (a terrific Mariana Trevino), a pregnant mother of two has just moved in with her husband (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo). Various needs – a stray cat, a borrowed ladder, driving lessons – intrude on Otto’s desires for a peaceful death and, in between aborted Continued on page 6

6 SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

“Otto” is a kind of Forrest Grump Continued from page 5

suicide attempts, gradually rekindle his will to live.

It’s sometimes too broadly drawn. Mike Birbiglia plays a predatory real estate agent from a company not-so-subtly called Dye & Merica. (“Sounds like Dying America, which it is,” says Otto.) But “A Man Called Otto” is less after realism than

it is a modern-day fable, with shades of Scrooge and the Grinch. As a tale of a solitary man, Hanks has made it a poignant work of family. Rita Wilson, his wife, is a producer and is heard singing a song in the film.

The younger Otto is played in flashbacks by their son, Truman Hanks. Even Chet Hanks’ “White Boy Summer” blares

from a car radio.

Another tune, though, is a more thrilling needle drop. The less said probably the better, but suffice to say, it could be a sign that the Kate Bush renaissance so hearteningly kicked up by “Stranger Things” has not yet abated. If that’s not life-affirming, I don’t know what is.

Festival Assn. gives $50k to McDonald House Continued from page 3

port to families with seriouslyill children and for making a difference!”

By the time this project is completed, the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival will have donated almost $85,000 to support the efforts of Ronald McDonald House OC. This is indicative of a larger theme and motivation behind the Festival Association, which is to support philanthropic initiatives within Garden Grove.

In the last 3 years (excluding the pandemic period), the Festival

Association has donated over $341,000 to groups providing services to Garden Grove families, including: • Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club • Thomas House Family Shelter • Garden Grove Lions Club • Garden Grove Elks #1952 • H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Prepare for Eternity) • Garden Grove Assistance League • Healthy Aging Center: Acacia “With the Ronald McDonald house in our backyard, our deci-

sion to support this project has been an easy one,” said Andrea Perez, 2023 president of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association.

“Not only do they provide shelter and services to Garden Grove Families, but they also serve families throughout Southern California who have seriously ill children. It is an honor and a privilege to be able to touch the lives of so many families who have a need to stay at this supportive house.”

GG Police Dept. is seeking applications The City of Garden Grove is now accepting online applications for sworn and non-sworn positions with the police department. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 30, 2023. To apply online, visit ggpd.org/ join.

Job openings for full-time and part-time positions include: • Police Recruit • Police Recruit – Academy Enrolled • Police Officer – Academy Trained • Lateral Police Officer • Police Cadet Centrally located in Orange County, Garden Grove is a diverse city that values and relies on a community policing philosophy.

The City of Garden Grove offers competitive benefits including contributions toward medical, dental, and vision coverage; Garden Grove Police Association paid percentage of lifetime medical; tuition reimbursement; bilingual pay; military leave

with pay; military service buyback through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS); and flexible job opportunities across the department.

For sworn police officers, the GGPD offers in-service training programs and specializations in the areas of canine handling, gang suppression, investigations, juvenile services, motorcycle traffic enforcement, patrol, special weapons and tactics, vice-narcotic enforcement, and more after sufficient experience in the police department.

The Garden Grove Police Cadet Program introduces young men and women to the various aspects of the police department to prepare them for a career in law enforcement.

Visit ggpd.org/join to apply online or for more information, including job details and qualifications, or contact Cpl. Jason Johnson from the GGPD at (714) 741-5922 or jasonj@ggcity.org.

For a free subscription via e-mail, please send us a request to: orangecountytribune@ gmail.com.

ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE/SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 2023 7

What can the Rams learn from their adversity?

Continued from page 8

eight of 10 as they head to Seattle on Sunday to wrap up McVay’s first losing season in six years as a head coach.

McVay hasn’t definitively said what his future holds, but he’s speaking about 2023 as a chance to rebound and build on the experience of being battered by

the rest of the league for fourth months. He hasn’t been through a losing season since 2014, when Washington went 4-12 in his first season as a 28-year-old offensive coordinator. “ You’re always trying to grow, and there’s certainly lessons I’ll take moving forward from every day of this year,” McVay said.

“You have to be able to adjust and adapt. It’s never been something that’s quite so drastic from a week-to-week perspective, but over the past few weeks, there’s been some good things if you want to pull out regarding positivity.”

McVay’s players say the coach has remained positive and kept control of the locker room throughout their struggles. He doesn’t hesitate to identify the positive angles on this overwhelmingly negative season.

For instance, Cam Akers is all the way off the trade block and into possible offseason discussions of a contract extension after his impressive second half, including 306 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams’ last three games.

Rookie cornerback Cobie Durant has seized extensive playing time in the secondary, bucking the Rams’ disappointing recent

track record with mid-round draft picks. Bobby Wagner has been one of the NFL’s best linebackers all season while also teaching understudy Ernest Jones and most of his teammates about professionalism, work ethic and resilience.

But the last three months have still been an ordeal for the Rams – several of whom are going through their first losing season of college or pro football.

“You can feel in the locker room, guys are tired of losing,’’ Jones said. “We came into this year expecting a totally different outcome than we’re getting, so I think there was a little bit of shellshock early on. I think over time, this is only going to make this organization and the players that are going to be here only hungrier.

“I think this is a learning experience, but it will benefit us in the end.’’

Chargers await their fate in season’s final weekend Continued from page 8

Our e-paper comes out on Wednesdays, and Saturdays.

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have to beat the Broncos to secure the fifth seed. Both teams would finish 11-6, but Los Angeles would win the tiebreaker by having a better conference record.

The fifth seed would face either Jacksonville or Tennessee in the first round.

“We’re definitely going to prepare this week to try and go win this football game with the guys that we have on our team, the 48 guys that are going to be up,” Staley said.

“You have to take the facts on the ground, as they happen, to make your determinations.

Once we find out about that game, we’ll make the appropriate decisions moving forward, just take it case-by-case.

“Our approach this week is to go beat the Broncos and to play our best.”

Staley likened this situation to when he was an assistant with the Chicago Bears in 2018. The Bears and Rams were in a battle for the second seed going into the final game, but Los Angeles needed to lose for Chicago to

gain a first-round bye.

Both games though were going on at the same time, but once the Rams took a big lead, the Bears decided to sit some players in the second half with a playoff game the following week.

When asked if backups would receive extra snaps in practice in case they see game action, Staley said they would not.

The Chargers pulled most of their starters early in the fourth quarter during last Sunday’s 3110 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Quarterback Chase Daniel played two series after Justin Herbert was taken out.

Daniel is likely to see more time than that if Sunday’s game has no bearing on the Chargers’ playoff seeding.

Herbert was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice but showed up on the injury report with a left shoulder issue.

Staley attributed the listing to “just bumps and bruises from the game’’ and that Herbert would again be a full practice participant on Thursday.

8 SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 2023/ORANGE COUNTY TRIBUNE

TheSportsPage

Vaqs Defeat Mats 70-58 In GGL Play 43 – and withstood a late Bolsa charge to post the win.

Luis Rico of Rancho In a game that featured about as many floor burns led all scorers with 28 as free throws, the Ran- points. JB Castaneto had cho Alamitos High boys’ 14 and Henry Phan 13.

For Bolsa, Nathan Tran basketball team defeated host Bolsa Grande 70-58 had 14 points, followed Friday night and squared by Ethan Nguyen with its Garden Grove League 12 and Huy Tran with 11.

On Wednesday, Rancho record at 1-1.

The Vaqueros are now will visit La Quinta and Bolsa will visit Los Ami10-9 overall.

The Matadors fell to 0-2 gos. in GGL play and 5-13 In other area action on Friday, Loara edged Los overall.

The contest was physical Amigos 56-54 in another and the visitors had only Garden Grove League a 28-26 lead at halftime. boys’contest.

Santiago remained unBut Rancho blew the game open in the third beaten in GGL play with quarter as they outscored a 54-35 win over La Quinta.

Bolsa 23-8 in that span.

In girls’ action, Rancho In the final period, the Vaqs built up a 19-point Alamitos defeated Bolsa lead at one point – 62- Grande 52-38.

By Jim Tortolano Orange County Tribune

Prep Hoops Scores Friday, Jan. 6 (boys) Rancho Alamitos 70, Bolsa Grande 58 Loara 56, Los Amigos 54 Santiago 54, La Quinta 35 Edison 53, Laguna Beach 45 Huntington Beach 76, Fountain Valley 75 (OT) Friday, Jan. 6 (girls) Segerstrom 48, Westminster 42 Ocean View 63, Garden Grove 18 Rancho Alamitos 52, Bolsa Grande 38 Thursday, Jan. 5 (boys) Western 55, Magnolia 38 Thursday, Jan. 5 (girls) St. Margaret’s 59, Orange 25 Magnolia 52, Western 48 Corona del Mar 56, Marina 43 Fountain Valley 39, Edison 35 Orangewood 65, Immaculate Heart 31

CAM PROVES HE CAN DO IT Cam Akers (3) rushed for 123 yards against the Chargers last week in the “Battle of Los Angeles.” The Rams will visit Seattle on Sunday, and the Chargers at the Denver Broncos, also on Sunday (Brevin Townsell/Rams photo).

Rams hope to learn from their adversity

By Greg Beacham AP Sports Writer

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) – Although Sean McVay is not often at a loss for words, the Los Angeles Rams boss can be momentarily silenced by contemplation when asked to identify the biggest lessons

from the toughest year of his head coaching career.

“I think what I used to refer to as adversity is a very different thing now,” McVay said Monday.

The Rams (5-11) have one week left in the worst Super Bowl title defense in NFL history. They’ve lost

This Week in Area Football • Los Angeles Rams (5-11) at Seattle Seahawks (8-8) Sunday at 1:25 p.m..

Channel 11.

• Los Angeles Chargers (10-6) at Denver Broncos (4-12): Sunday, 1:25 p.m. Channel 2

Continued on page 7

Chargers’ playoff fate uncertain

By Joe Reedy AP Sports Writer

COSTA MESA (AP) – Brandon Staley is approaching the final week of regular-season practices for the Los Angeles Chargers with a business as usual approach.

What happens in the three hours leading up to Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos

though will have a lot of bearing on the Chargers’ strategy though.

The playoff-bound Bolts should know by kickoff if their game has any bearing on the AFC’s fifth seed for the playoffs.

The NFL made that a reality on Wednesday when it scheduled the Baltimore Ravens-Cincinnati Bengals game for 1 p.m.

EST instead of 4:25 p.m.

EST. A Bengals win would not only give them the AFC North title, but it would assure the Chargers the fifth seed and the Ravens sixth seed regardless of what happens in Denver.

However, a Ravens victory would mean the Chargers would also Continued on page 7