🌱 Niguel Fire + Dog Saved In Coto de Caza Fire + Burglar Caught

Welcome back, Orange County! Today’s National Words With Friends Day; did you know that Zynga’s popular game has been around since 2009? I'm here with what's going on in the area, including news about:

• 🎥 Cameras in Newport Beach.
• 🤔 A Creep Catchers update.
• 👮 Mission Viejo burglary suspect arrested.

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☀️ But first, today's weather:

Low clouds, then sun. High: 83 Low: 69.

⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Across Orange County

• Bolsa Petroleum at 8961 Bolsa Ave. in Westminster, $4.15
• Costco at 5401 Katella Ave. in Cypress, $4.29
• ARCO at 300 N. Bristol St. in Costa Mesa, $4.43

💰 Powerball® Win Poll
The odds of winning the Powerball® are 1 in 292,201,338.00. However, the chance of winning millions sells the tickets. How would you want to receive the money if you won? So far, 66.7 percent would take the lump sum, and the other 33.3 percent would take the annuity.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Orange County:

1. A brush fire erupted in Laguna Niguel near Niguel Road and Ridgeway. Firefighters closed Beacon Hill and Ridgeway Avenue. "A Care and Reception Shelter is currently open at Crown Valley Community Center, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway." (Patch, City of Laguna Niguel)
2. In Coto de Caza, firefighters were called to a garage fire that reached the home. While searching for victims, they found the family’s golden retriever hiding in the backyard. “While firefighters extinguished the fire, our partners, the OC Sheriff, sheltered the dog in place in the backyard and kept him calm until it was safe to relocate him.” A huge shoutout to Deputy Hughes! (Orange County Fire Authority, Orange County Sheriff’s Department)
3. Mission Viejo neighbors returned home Thursday evening to strange noises from upstairs. Reportedly, three burglary suspects entered the home via the balcony on the second floor. “They ransacked the house, stealing jewelry, breaking open two gun safes, and grabbing anything of value that they could find.” Two ran away when police arrived, but one suspect wasn’t fast enough and got caught. (ABC)
4. Creep Catchers Update: Earlier, we reported that the Creep Catchers provided authorities with information about a 39-year-old man who “had made arrangements to meet whom he thought was a 14-year-old boy near the Anaheim-Fullerton border.” The boy was a decoy and Creep Catchers volunteer. After the Fullerton police investigated the case and arrested the man, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office nevertheless declined to charge him. (KTLA)
5. The Newport Beach city council approved a plan for “homeowner associations with at least 50 single-family homes in contiguous neighborhoods to install cameras.” There are an estimated ten neighborhoods that are eligible to have cameras installed. Proponents say it adds a layer of security. Critics call it “big brotherish.” Several communities are interested in participating. (Voice of OC)

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📆 Today in Orange County:

Wednesday, July 19

• StemUP4Youth STEAM Fair at the East Anaheim Branch Library (11 AM)
• Adult Craft Time at the Irvine Heritage Park Library (11:15 AM)
• Classic Car Show at Duke's Café Parking Lot in Placentia (4 PM)
• Concert in Orange's Hart Park featuring Echo Love Chamber (6:30 PM)
• C.S. Lewis' "Further Up & Further In" debuts at the Irvine Barclay Theatre (8 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "We are so grateful to the wonderful animal lovers at Max & Neo for their generous donation to help our dogs! If you are looking for top quality leashes, collars, toys or CBD products, Max & Neo donates one item to charity for every item purchased!" (German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County via Facebook)
• "ICYMI: Did you know about the range of enriching summer opportunities for OUSD students, ensuring that learning continues year-round?" (Orange Unified School District via Instagram)
• "Star Command, come in! 💫 Join us on a mission to discover the origin story of the iconic Space Ranger in a heartfelt screening of Lightyear, this Friday, July 21 at Irvine Regional Park in Orange. The show begins after sundown." (OC Parks via Instagram)
• "Calling All Volunteers!! Did you register for VolCon 2023? You're not going to want to miss this opportunity! 💚 Click the link to register https://bit.ly/3pQPnp9 A special thank you to this year's exhibitors!" (Girl Scouts of Orange County via Facebook)
• "The remodeled Garden Grove OC Goodwill store is jaw-dropping!😱 📍11052 Magnolia St., Garden Grove, CA 92841" (Goodwill of Orange County via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones! (July 23)
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That's it for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Orange County Patch newsletter? Contact me at orangecounty@patch.com