BEAR FACTS: Thirteen-year-old Joshua Isaacs of Ojai...

BEAR FACTS: Thirteen-year-old Joshua Isaacs of Ojai was in the San Bernardino Mountains when he was mauled by a black bear (A1). But the odds of running into a bear are higher in the mountains behind Joshua’s home. “We have a higher population here, probably several hundred bears,” Los Padres National Forest biologist Maeton Freel said. . . . It’s common for hikers to encounter bears, especially near streams, but Freel can’t remember the last time one was attacked. “The bears usually high-tail it in the other direction.” Local bears eat everything from avocados to termites and get as heavy as 600 pounds, Freel said. And while they slow down in winter, they don’t hibernate.

HELP WANTED: The walls are up, the parking lot is paved and the landscaping is in place. Can the jobs be far behind? No. Wal-Mart expects to start hiring for its first Ventura County store within two weeks, spokeswoman Kim Ellis said--welcome news in a county where unemployment stands at 8.7%. . . . “Everybody can hardly wait,” said Penny Hoffman at the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, which has been fielding calls from job-seekers. . . . The Oxnard store, expected to open by October, will employ 250 people. All but the manager will be hired locally.

FASHION RAGE: Baggy clothes aren’t just for gang members any more. The homeboy look has spread to Ventura County youths in and out of the ‘hood (B1). . . . “Kids like to be nonconformists, while conforming to their peers,” Thousand Oaks child psychologist Michael Pelman said. He advises worried parents to watch their children’s behavior, “not what they’re putting on their bodies.” His prediction: As baggy goes mainstream, gang members will drop it.

BOUNCING BACK: Two months ago, Tony Jelso walked off the court at the national racquetball singles championships disgusted with his play. Last week, the 23-year-old Ventura resident staged a dramatic turnaround at the U. S. Olympic Festival. He earned a gold medal and a spot on the U. S. National Team (C6).