CRITICAL LIST: The city of Orange has...

CRITICAL LIST: The city of Orange has never lacked for eagle-eyed citizens keeping tabs on what city officials are doing with their tax dollars. The city’s embroilment in the county’s bankruptcy problems, however, has brought an explosion of fact-finders. . . . So the normally cooperative city clerk’s office has had to stiffen its policy: No more rifling through city financial files. . . . Now city gadflies must request documents in writing--10 days in advance. Mayor Joanne Coontz fully supports the decision: “We have people coming in every day and saying, ‘I want it now!’ ”

WHIPPED CREAM: Despite severe damage from recent rains, the California Strawberry Commission is sticking by its earlier prediction of 1 billion pounds of strawberries grown statewide in 1995. It recently met in Irvine to decide how to best get the word out. Results: A $3.4-million marketing budget. More than 100 million pounds were grown in Orange and Los Angeles counties in 1994. . . . The marketing campaign emphasis: Strawberries are low in calories--and taste great.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: It was a special treat for Merle Haggard fans at Santa Ana’s Crazy Horse Steak House on Monday: Garth Brooks turned up to see Haggard’s show. Brooks, who calls Haggard a legend, had moseyed down from the American Music Awards in Los Angeles, having just snagged its male country artist trophy. . . . Haggard says he was honored by the visit: “It’s kind of like the mailman going out for a walk.”

PRE-PRODUCTION: Mogul builds empire, loses it, then fights to an honorable finish. Does that have Hollywood written all over it? . . . They haven’t called Karl Malden or Ed Asner to audition yet, but conservative restaurateur Carl Karcher, whose battles with his own corporate board made headlines last year, wants to see his life on the big screen. He’s teamed up with producer Danny Sheridan to develop a screenplay. Sheridan quips that their politics may differ, but “we both believe in big dreams.”