WEEK IN REVIEW

A 19-year-old member of Orange Coast College’s renowned crew team

collapsed on the bleachers and died during an informal, off-season

practice session Thursday.

The Orange County coroner still does not know what killed Brian Sweet

of Costa Mesa, who family and friends say was an outgoing, happy and

healthy teen.

Sweet’s friend and fellow crew team member Chris Pope, who was running

the bleachers with Sweet at the time, said he was shocked when it

happened. Pope said he ran up the steps to find his friend collapsed on

top of the bleachers.

He called 911 and tried to resuscitate Sweet but said he did not have

a pulse and that his breathing was irregular. Sweet was pronounced dead

at Hoag Hospital less than an hour after he collapsed.

Initial autopsy tests proved inconclusive and officials said they were

going to perform additional tests to determine what exactly caused

Sweet’s death.

Costa Mesa police also arrested a local motel manager after a

four-hour standoff Wednesday when he allegedly locked himself in his

office when he heard the owner was coming to fire him.

Officials arrested Brooks Alan Reedy on suspicion of grand theft,

embezzlement and preventing a police officer from doing his duties,

police said.

The episode lasted a whole day as officers tried to obtain search

warrants to inspect Reedy’s apartment and office, police said.-- Deepa

Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at (949)

574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

A library of sources

Costa Mesa residents will finally get increased returns on all the

property tax revenue they have been dishing out for library services over

the years with the addition of a new technological library on Bristol

Street.

The Technology Branch Library is scheduled to open in November and

will offer about 25 computer work stations with Internet access,

officials said. The new branch will have a limited supply of print

materials -- consisting mainly of children’s books and best sellers --

but will serve as a place for residents to order and pick up any of the 2

million books available in the Orange County Public Library system,

County Librarian John Adams said.

Libraries in the county’s system are funded by property taxes of

member cities, Adams said. A 1998 study found that Costa Mesa is a donor

city, meaning it gives more money in property taxes than it receives in

library services, Schultz said. The money goes to fund other system

libraries with poor property tax bases, officials said.

The fact that residents have been receiving less than they’ve given

has angered some residents. Officials are hoping a new library will help

calm their rage. The branch will be in a suite at 3033 Bristol St.

-- Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

City Hall to become a speak-easy?

Think Tony Blair might make a Newport Beach City Council meeting?

Well, the man who has to stand up to ribbing from his political

opponents in Great Britain’s parlimentary-style government might at least

find the meeting a bit familiar if the council goes ahead with a proposal

made last week to allow its members and city staff to respond to audience

comments.

The plan was pitched by Mayor Gary Adams, who said he wanted to build

a responsive government. But open-meeting advocates question whether the

proposed five-minute response time meets the state’s legal test.

The council will take up the idea at its next meeting.

-- Daily Pilot staff. To contact the newsroom, call (949) 642-5680 or

by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

A Web wonder

In the midst of the Internet bust, one Corona de Mar High School

graduate is proving a little education might be the way to Web wealth.

Phil Dade, 18, is making money with his online business,

APConnection.com, by serving up resources for those dastardly Advanced

Placement classes that have become the smart student’s reason for waking

up in the morning.

The Bluffs resident started the business after he had trouble finding

AP aids himself.

His age -- 17 at the time -- didn’t deter backers, who gave him

$250,000, said Dade, who was able to graduate early, thanks to extra

class units.

It’s an educated way to cash in on what others need to know.

-- Daily Pilot staff. To contact the newsroom, call (949) 642-5680 or

by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .

Now is the map of our discontent

The redrawing of Orange County’s supervisorial district boundaries was

bound to leave some communities in a sour mood.

One of those, it turned out, was Newport Coast.

The unincorporated community of more than 2,600 souls were dealt a

disappointment Tuesday when the Board of Supervisors approved a new

county map that split it from Newport Beach.

Coast residents have welcomed the city’s bid to annex them, a change

expected to occur in January.

City officials also endorsed the move as a way to keep the city whole.

Instead of moving into Jim Silva’s district, Newport Coast is likely

to stay with Tom Wilson. On Thursday, Wilson said the move is now “highly

unlikely.”

The board will consider make a final determination at its Tuesday

meeting.

-- Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He may

be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

[email protected] .