Los Osos

Despite years of alleged pollution from septic tanks in Los Osos, a state agency has withdrawn a $135-million loan for new sewage facilities in the Central Coast community because local officials stopped work on an approved treatment plant and insisted on moving it.

Rank, School (Record), Playoff division . 1. MATER DEI (24-2) SS-Division 1¿ 2. OAKS CHRISTIAN (24-3-1) SS-Division 4¿ 3. BONITA (25-3-1) SS-Division 3¿ 4. EL TORO (21-6) SS-Division 1¿ 5. ORANGE LUTHERAN (19-7) SS-Division 1 ¿6. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (23-4) SS-Division 1¿ 7. FOUNTAIN VALLEY (24-4) SS-Division 1 ¿8. GARDENA SERRA (23-5) SS-Division 3¿ 9. ANAHEIM CANYON (22-5) SS-Division 1¿ 10. REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (22-4-1) SS-Division 2¿ 11. GAHR (20-5)

Josh Nunes and Richard Brehaut figured their arms would take them places. Palo Alto and Westwood? More like Anaheim and New York. Those were once the dream destinations of the Pacific 10 Conference-bound quarterbacks who until only a few years ago projected as major league baseball players. Nunes was a hard-throwing right-hander who once struck out all 18 batters in a Little League game. Brehaut was a catcher with a penchant for throwing out would-be base stealers.

At an age when many baby boomers cast their eyes toward retirement, Duane G. Wolfe opted for military duty in Iraq, an assignment that on Memorial Day took him to the still volatile Fallouja area west of Baghdad. At 54, he was a Navy Reserve commander who had spent decades in the Seabees, the service's storied construction battalions. Off duty, he worked the last 24 years at Vandenberg Air Force Base, most recently as the civilian deputy commander of the 30th Space Wing Mission Support Group.

Contaminants from the Central Coast beach town of Los Osos, which still uses septic tanks to treat sewage from thousands of homes, are fouling groundwater and seeping into the neighboring Morro Bay National Estuary, according to state officials. Although groundwater pollution was discovered in the town of 15,000 more than two decades ago, state officials have not been able to stop it -- despite a ban on new septic tank hookups in most of the town.

It's a strange thing to hear someone shout, "Shark!" and not feel the least bit terrified--especially when the sea creature in question is swimming straight toward your kayak. But that's the beauty of Baywood Park. This quiet, coastal town, just west of San Luis Obispo, is the psychological equivalent of a two-hour massage. You can't help but feel totally relaxed, in any situation. Although only a few miles south of the city of Morro Bay, Baywood Park is a relative unknown. ("Baywood where?

Rank, School (Record), Playoff division ¿ 1. MATER DEI (22-2) SS-Division 1 2. FOUNTAIN VALLEY (24-2) SS-Division 1 3. OAKS CHRISTIAN (22-3-1) SS-Division 4 4. BONITA (23-3-1) SS-Division 3 5. EL TORO (18-6) SS-Division 1 6. ORANGE LUTHERAN (17-7) SS-Division 1 7. LOYOLA (19-8) SS-Division 1 8. HARVARD-WESTLAKE (21-4) SS-Division 1 9. GARDENA SERRA (21-5) SS-Division 3 10. ANAHEIM CANYON (19-5) SS-Division 1 11. SAN CLEMENTE (22-6) SS-Division 2 12. REDLANDS EAST VALLEY (20-4-1)

Remember the good old days when gas was only $1.50 a gallon? CHRIS UNGAR Los Osos

If President Clinton had made money on Whitewater instead of losing it, he probably would have become a Republican. EMMAJEAN MILLER Los Osos

If we wanted a real change in our schools, we'd give merit pay to parents! CHRIS UNGAR Los Osos

Long Beach Poly 51, Pasadena 43. Leading contributors: Junior guard Shelton Boykin of Long Beach Poly led a balanced attack with 13 points, one of eight players to score for the Jackrabbits. George Toyama had 18 points for Pasadena. The scoop: Poly held the Bulldogs scoreless in the first quarter, finishing with a 9-0 lead thanks to a smothering defense. The Jackrabbits led by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter. Except for four-of-15 free-throw shooting in the fourth quarter, Poly dominated from start to finish.

Josh Nunes and Richard Brehaut figured their arms would take them places. Palo Alto and Westwood? More like Anaheim and New York. Those were once the dream destinations of the Pacific 10 Conference-bound quarterbacks who until only a few years ago projected as major league baseball players. Nunes was a hard-throwing right-hander who once struck out all 18 batters in a Little League game. Brehaut was a catcher with a penchant for throwing out would-be base stealers.

Matt Barkley of Santa Ana Mater Dei, a starter since his freshman year and the Gatorade national player of the year as a junior, is the choice as the top quarterback in Southern California. But when he committed to USC on Jan. 23, college recruiters immediately focused on identifying the second-best prospect. By the end of April, few had mentioned Richard Brehaut of Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos as a viable candidate. He had two scholarship offers and wasn't considered a national recruit.

Re "Doctors' faith must yield to gays' rights, court says," Aug. 19 What struck me in this article about doctors having no right to refuse to perform a procedure in violation of their consciences was the statement that "civil libertarian groups sided with [Guadalupe T.] Benitez," the plaintiff. The proper response of a civil libertarian would be to inform Benitez that she was free to seek a doctor who believed in her right to have artificial insemination. She is not free to violate another person's right to decline such treatment.

Will all those who are still in favor of legalizing assault weapons and drugs please take a closer look at Somalia. CATHERINE COVENEY Los Osos