A quick look at the things that made news this week in Newport Beach:
• Newport Coast resident Peter Gregory Chadwick, 48, pleaded not guilty Monday to one felony count of special circumstances murder for financial gain in the disappearance of his wife. He is being held without bail. A pretrial hearing has been set for Oct. 26. Meanwhile, police continue to search for his wife, Quee “Q.C.” Chadwick, 46. Authorities ask anyone who saw the Chadwicks’ champagne-colored 2003 Lexus SUV between Oct. 11 and 5:30 a.m. Oct. 12 to call 800-550-NBPD.
• Ensign Intermediate School officials questioned an 11-year-old student Oct. 9 whose lunchbox contained fermented Kombucha tea, known to contain traces of alcohol, a violation of school policy. When his mother couldn’t be reached, the boy was questioned by a Newport Beach police officer stationed at the school. Later, the mother blogged that her son was “interrogated” and defended the tea as a healthy alternative to soda. The district said it plans to review its disciplinary procedures to avoid “overly aggressive practices.”
• Northbound and southbound lanes of the 73 Toll Road between Jamboree Rd. and the 405 will be closed intermittently Oct. 20 and 21 while Warner Bros. films “The Hangover Part 3.” For the closure schedule, visit newportbeachca.gov.
• Laguna Beach police anticipate misdemeanor charges will be filed against the man believed to have dumped dirty diapers in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, Corona del Mar Today reported. Earlier reports called the man, 67, a Newport Coast resident, although police declined to name him Wednesday, saying the Orange County District Attorney would issue a statement once charges are filed.
• South Coast Plaza’s 96-foot Christmas tree arrived at Town Center Park Monday, after making a 650-mile trek from near Mt. Shasta in northern California. In coming weeks, workers will trim the white fir with about 20,000 multicolored lights for the annual tree-lighting festivities Nov. 15.
• Donations topped $20,000 as of Monday for The Memorial Bike Ride, an event on Oct. 28 to remember Sarah Leaf and Catherine Campion-Ritz, cyclists killed last month. The city will provide a 3-1 match of donations up to $150,000. Funds will go to bicycle safety improvements.
• Fashion Island workers foiled three separate burglary attempts, preventing the theft of more than $8,500 in merchandise. The attempted burglaries occurred at Neiman Marcus and the 900 block of Newport Center Dr. on Monday, Saturday and Oct. 11, according to Newport Beach police. Police have arrested three suspects.
