THORNTON TALKS: In a jailhouse interview, convicted...

THORNTON TALKS: In a jailhouse interview, convicted killer Mark Scott Thornton apologized for shooting Westlake nurse Kellie O’Sullivan, saying he is glad that he got the death penalty for the crime (B1). . . . The 20-year-old, who is headed for San Quentin’s Death Row, reflected on his life, the trial and the circumstances surrounding the slaying, which led to one of the county’s highest-profile murder cases.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Sure, Simi Valley is one of the safest cities in the West. And, evidently, some of its residents are helping to make other cities less dangerous. . . . Take William Doucette. The Simi Valley man was honored by the Los Angeles district attorney’s office for helping nab two men who had robbed a doughnut store and kidnaped a woman. The sharp-eyed Doucette took down their car’s license plate number, and the crooks were caught and sent to prison. . . . “When people like William make that split-second decision to get involved, they can really make a difference,” Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Gil Garcetti said.

BET THE FARM: Ventura’s new Derby Club melds off-track betting with the splendor of swank surroundings (Ventura County Life, Page 8). . . . The $5.7-million complex, near Surfer’s Point at the county fairgrounds, is fast becoming a Mecca for local horse players who want to avoid schlepping to Santa Anita or Hollywood Park. Even the uninitiated can learn to maneuver the obscurities of satellite wagering at the state-owned club. . . . What’s more, the ocean views are fabulous. “It really reminds me of Jamaica,” said screen legend Mickey Rooney.

RUNNING PROUD: This time of year, runner Keith O’Doherty looks at the lush hills around Thousand Oaks and thinks of Ireland. . . . And for good reason. The 18-year-old Thousand Oaks High senior spent the first 13 years of his life on the Emerald Isle. Now he’s one of the school’s top distance runners (C8). . . . Says O’Doherty: “I see myself in the tradition of Irish running.”