The officer, whose name remains anonymous because of personnel concerns, is being investigated for allegedly failing to detail certain information required of mandated reporters, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

Wagstaffe expects the investigation to wrap up by next week.

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Stop the presses! There’s something more alarming than Belmont’s bid to ban smoking. Former Councilman Dave Bauer said he actually agreed with Mayor Coralin Feierbach when addressing the council at Tuesday’s much publicized meeting. Bauer, who was consistently at odds with Feierbach while serving on the council, said he supported the idea of banning smoking. However, he took a moment to question the council’s approach to the new ordinance. He suggested the council take some more time to hash out the details.

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Menlo Park Mayor Kelly Fergusson held a kickoff for a citizens’ climate crisis task force Wednesday.  The committee will be open to all — both Menlo Park residents, businesses, and others from the greater mid-Peninsula Region with expertise and interest in solving the climate crisis. 

Among the many areas this committee may consider are: Targeting cost savings with efficiencies that reduce greenhouse gas pollution, both as a municipal organization and as a broader community; and further positioning Menlo Park as a “clean technology” or “new energy” hub for businesses providing solutions the whole world needs, thereby expanding the city’s tax base. 

Global warming has been all the rage lately with a multitude of Peninsula cities forming such “green ribbon” committees.

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Supervisor Jerry Hill is expected to officially announce tonight what many county residents have assumed for quite a while — he plans to run in 2008 for the Assembly seat currently held by Gene Mullin, D-South San Francisco. Hill’s party is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Ben Franklin Hotel in San Mateo.

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Menlo-Atherton High School alum and local dancing queen Cheryl Burke will be returning to the small screen trying to prove she can teach anyone to dance — including “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Ian Ziering.

Burke, 22, competed in two of the three seasons of the hit show “Dancing with the Stars.” She first found victory in the arms of 98 degrees crooner Drew Lachey. Most recently she hit the dance floor with football star Emmitt Smith. The pair was named victorious after the audience voted to break the judge’s deadlock.

The new season begins Monday, March 19 on ABC.

For more of Burke, check out the May issue of “Stuff” magazine featuring sexy photos of the local starlet.

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San Mateo resident Ruth Sampson’s love of American Eskimo dogs paid off this year. Her dog Juneau won best of breed at the 2007 Westminister Kennel Club Dog Show last month.

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Science fiction fans can still get up close and personal with two well-known authors in Redwood City as part of its The Big Read! campaign. Tad Williams spoke at City Hall Wednesday night but readers still have the chance to catch Kim Stanley Robinson March 21 at the library and Ray Bradbury via satellite March 23 at Sequoia High School. Bradbury wrote the classic novel Fahrenheight 451 which is currently being read by the city as a whole as part of The Big Read! effort.

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The 2007 Millbrae Street Scramble brought of teams of all ages. Contestants of all ages tested their map skills and knowledge of Millbrae last Saturday as they raced through the town donning bright orange vests and answering trivia questions during the second annual event.

This year’s winners were Marge Winkler in the 90-minute bike category, Pink Fuzzy Pocket Lint featuring Melissa Crist and Mitchell in the 90-minute foot category, The Goonies featuring Ellen and Ian Riley in the three-hour foot category and The Lost Boys featuring Cody Horn and Nicholas Norwood in the three-hour bike category.

The reporters’ notebook is a weekly collection of facts culled from the notebooks of the Daily Journal staff. It appears in the Thursday edition.