Robert Dale

A city commission is circulating a survey to find out what the public envisions for the city's future. The La Habra 2000 Founder's Day Committee has mailed 80 questionnaires to community activists, service organizations, businesses and residents seeking ideas on how to commemorate the city's 75th anniversary in the year 2000. The survey also seeks comments on the direction the city should take beyond the turn of the century, committee member Robert Dale said.

The man accused of kidnaping and murdering 12-year-old Polly Klaas pleaded innocent Tuesday to all charges. Richard Allen Davis appeared in Sonoma County Municipal Court to answer to eight felony counts, including accusations he kidnaped the girl Oct. 1 and killed her. Authorities found Polly's body Dec. 4 in a wooded area off California 101 near Cloverdale. Judge Robert Dale set a Jan. 21 court date to schedule a preliminary hearing. If convicted, Davis, could face the death penalty.

A Chatsworth man has been charged with stealing about $150,000 from Lion's Gate Studio, where he was the controller. Robert Dale Grey, 40, was charged Thursday with one count of grand theft and five counts of forgery. He is scheduled for arraignment in Van Nuys Municipal Court Sept. 14. Grey is suspected of depositing company checks intended for vendors in his personal bank account, according to Los Angeles Police Lt. Duane Gansemer.

Two Ventura County men convicted in March of cocaine trafficking and possession of automatic weapons have been sentenced to prison, officials in the U.S. attorney's office said Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Robert M. Takasugi on Friday sentenced Gardner Ernest Flockhart, 31, of Simi Valley to 17 1/2 years in prison and Robert Dale Lloyd, 27, of Ventura to 10 years.

A Sonoma County judge ruled this week that Eric Silk Hoaglin was mentally competent to stand trial in the slaying of a cabdriver in Santa Rosa in November. Hoaglin, 32, has pleaded not guilty in the killing of A.C. Taxi driver Daniel I. Newell, 49. Hoaglin is being held without bail in Sonoma County Jail. Last month, Judge Robert Dale appointed a psychiatrist to examine Hoaglin after his attorney, Harry Allen, claimed that Hoaglin appeared unfit to stand trial.

Activist Shirley Grindle deserves praise for her continued heroic efforts at creating open and honest government ("Politics '96" column, May 5). The citizens of Orange County are very lucky to have such a responsible citizen watchdog. For years Grindle has been an outspoken advocate of grass-roots democracy and proper checks and balances on government power. Grindle has the type of honest visionary leadership this pathetic county needs. She should be elected to the Board of Supervisors.

Thanks to William Mitchell and Shirley Grindle for campaign finance reform in Orange County ("TINCUP Proves That Reforms Are Possible," June 21). Common Cause and TINCUP prove that grass-roots democracy works. Mitchell is correct; regulating special-interest money is but one part of the electoral equation. It's time for these two public interest watchdogs to seek their political destiny. These leaders are role models for activists in every community. The public deserves honest, visionary leadership.

U. S. prosecutors in Los Angeles filed drug-possession charges Wednesday against two Simi Valley men after a drug raid Sunday yielded six kilograms of cocaine, $500,000 in cash and 125 guns, including many illegal weapons. Gardner Ernest Flockhart, 31, and Robert Dale Lloyd, 27, were charged with one count each of possession with intent to distribute about one kilogram of cocaine, Assistant U. S. Atty. Sally Meloch said.