Scott Barnett

Faced with changing customer demand, Scott Barnett is looking for ways to broaden the appeal of the upscale Rusty Pelican restaurants. The 38-year-old president of the San Juan Capistrano-based chain of 27 restaurants has launched experiments that include dividing restaurants in Brea and San Bruno into two eateries under one roof. He converted the company's Ancient Mariner restaurant in Newport Beach into the a-la-carte-only Sand Dancer Grill.

His plan was to use his Army experience to jump-start his life. Pfc. Scott G. Barnett of Concord, Calif., intended to move his wife to Germany, where he was stationed in the Bavarian town of Katterbach. When his tour of duty was over, the 24-year-old hoped to parlay the mechanical training he was receiving with the 412th Aviation Support Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade into a possible future career back home as a civilian mechanic. But before he could move his wife, Nikki, to his German base, Barnett's unit packed up in November and was sent to Iraq.

His plan was to use his Army experience to jump-start his life. Pfc. Scott G. Barnett of Concord, Calif., intended to move his wife to Germany, where he was stationed in the Bavarian town of Katterbach. When his tour of duty was over, the 24-year-old hoped to parlay the mechanical training he was receiving with the 412th Aviation Support Battalion, 12th Combat Aviation Brigade into a possible future career back home as a civilian mechanic. But before he could move his wife, Nikki, to his German base, Barnett's unit packed up in November and was sent to Iraq.

Faced with changing customer demand, Scott Barnett is looking for ways to broaden the appeal of the upscale Rusty Pelican restaurants. The 38-year-old president of the San Juan Capistrano-based chain of 27 restaurants has launched experiments that include dividing restaurants in Brea and San Bruno into two eateries under one roof. He converted the company's Ancient Mariner restaurant in Newport Beach into the a-la-carte-only Sand Dancer Grill.

The show must go on, even when someone's waving an ax around in the studio. Disc jockey Scott Barnett was on the air playing country music Saturday at WFMB when a man entered the studio with an ax. "The man was not drunk, but there was madness and rage in his eyes," Barnett said. While the music played uninterrupted, Barnett managed to grab the ax when the man moved toward him. The 52-year-old man was hospitalized for mental evaluation. No charges were filed.

Scott P. Barnett has been chosen as president and chief executive of Rusty Pelican Restaurants Inc. of San Juan Capistrano. He fills the position vacated by Gregory G. Dollarhyde, who resigned to pursue other interests, the company said. Also at Rusty Pelican, Ed Casey has been promoted to vice president of operations from director of operations.

In other Freeway League games: La Habra 1, Buena Park 0--Matt Huffalse scored for host La Habra (2-2-1). Buena Park is 4-10, 1-4. Sonora 2, Fullerton 0--Ryan Lewis and Scott Barnett scored for host Sonora (7-4-5, 2-2-1). In the Sea View League: Woodbridge 1, Newport Harbor 1--Jason Szcuzka scored for Woodbridge and Bryan Mallin for host Newport Harbor (11-4-5, 1-0-3).

The Del Mar City Council has passed an ordinance that gives preference to retail use of all street-level office space in the downtown district. The ordinance was adopted Monday night despite objections from business owners, who called it discriminatory and an effort to "legislate economics."

Ronnie Steckbauer pleaded innocent Tuesday to 29 new sex charges alleging he molested 14 more boys in Ocean Beach, where Steckbauer ran a Bible study group and a video arcade. The new charges bring the total to 51 counts of performing lewd, lascivious acts with minors and one count of failing to register as a sex offender. Municipal Judge Joe Littlejohn rescheduled the preliminary hearing for Steckbauer for March 30. Deputy Dist. Atty.