NEW BUSINESS: When veteran Anaheim Police Officer...

NEW BUSINESS: When veteran Anaheim Police Officer Lou Lopez was elected to the City Council in November, he asked his department for more “low profile” assignments to have time for his new civic duties. . . . But Thursday, Lopez happened to witness an accident from his own car and chased down the hit-and-run driver while calling for backup. Then he held the suspect at gunpoint until help arrived. . . . “Luckily, I had my cellular phone,” Lopez says. The phone came with his job on the council.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE: If you think of the Peace Corps as a Sixties thing, current numbers may surprise you: In Orange County, 44 people were accepted into the Peace Corps in 1994, well above the 27-per-year average during the 1980s. . . . Says Peace Corps spokeswoman Robin Clark: “With more than 6,500 volunteers worldwide, we have the highest involvement since the 1970s. The trend we’re seeing is people joining who are burned out in their careers joining the corps.”

ZIP, ZIP, HOORAY: Villa Park’s City Council heaped praise this week on resident Paula Burton, above, whose patriotic group, Celebration USA, has just been named to represent California this year in Washington’s July 4 Parade. . . . But council members couldn’t resist asking her to do a little lobbying there. . . . Deadpanned Councilman John Frackelton: “We might solicit you to get our ZIP code for us.” The city is fighting an uphill battle for its own ZIP code.

WHODUNIT: It was a month ago today Arlene Hoffman was murdered with a hunting arrow, and county sheriff’s investigators have not yet identified a suspect or motive (E1). . . . The unusual slaying of the 57-year-old personal secretary to Supervisor Jim Silva has left his office stunned. Silva has yet to replace Hoffman. . . . Says her friend and Silva aide Nina Hull: “I probably want this solved more than anyone else. It bothers me--the weapon, the way she died.”