TEFLON COUNSEL: Grand jury civil misconduct accusations--which...

TEFLON COUNSEL: Grand jury civil misconduct accusations--which could mean removal from office--are extremely rare. But Supervisors William G. Steiner and Roger R. Stanton and Auditor-Controller Steve E. Lewis, charged last week with misconduct in the bankruptcy, might find some solace: The last county official facing those charges was acquitted. He was former Orange County Counsel Joel Ogle, accused in 1959 of accepting a $10,000 bribe from a wealthy Texas oilman. . . . After winning his court battle, though, Ogle decided to resign the next year anyway.

REALLY BIG SHOW: Now that James Edwards Sr., founder of the Edwards Cinemas chain, has christened his 21-plex The Big One in Irvine, he’s going to go one bigger. . . . He plans to open a 30-screen multiplex before the turn of the century. He won’t say exactly where yet, but said: “I think that there’s going to be several 30-plexes built throughout the nation and we will do at least two in areas we operate in.” That includes Orange, Los Angeles and San Diego counties.

GRAY CHRISTMAS: Josh Nelson didn’t play quarterback until his senior year at Servite High in Anaheim. He learned quickly. . . . The former Fullerton College star has been selected to play for the South in the Blue-Gray all-star game--played each year by seniors--on Christmas Day at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala. . . . Nelson passed for 1,675 yards and nine touchdowns for Mississippi this season. He’s hoping for a shot at the pros.

THE REAL THING: Ron Pughe of Orange, who grew up in a family of 13 children, dreamed of playing Santa Claus (E1). Last year he got his chance when asked by the Friends Outside prison ministry to help entertain children whose parents are incarcerated. . . . This year he grew a white beard. He’s entertained 150 kids so far this month. “I want to give something to the children,” he says. “It’s not their fault their parents are in prison.”