News briefs

Santa Catalina Island ferry hits pier, two
injured

AVALON “”mdash; Transmission trouble caused a 127-foot Catalina
Classic Cruises ferryboat to slam into a pier at Two Harbors on
Santa Catalina Island.

Two of the 200 passengers complained of minor injuries.

Monday’s 11:30 a.m. accident occurred as the captain was
preparing to dock the ferry at the isthmus pier after a 22-mile
trip from Long Beach, officials said. Two Harbors is about 12 miles
northwest of Avalon.

The ferry spun and struck the pier, knocking several passengers
off their feet, Dailey said. There was little damage to the boat,
but it will likely take a week to repair the damaged pier.

Barn owl chick stalls hospital construction

SIMI VALLEY “”mdash; Construction has been temporarily halted on
the $30 million Simi Valley Hospital’s Patient Care Tower
because of a barn owl chick named Al.

It seems the federal government gives a hoot. While the species
isn’t considered endangered, common barn owls are protected
by federal officials and can be removed only after proper permits
are obtained.

Al was discovered in a second-floor stairwell nest last
week.

Turner Construction Co. officials said they hope to take the
bird, named after an electrician on the project, to the Ojai Raptor
Refuge.

Turner project manager Jason L. Maxwell said nesting boxes were
built after the chick was discovered to encourage its parents and
other barn owls to nest there, rather than in their project.

Compiled from Bruin wire services.