Bakersfield.com Local News

3 treated for stab wounds after fight

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:17:00 PST

Three Bakersfield men were treated for stab wounds suffered during a fight outside Que Pasa Mexican Restaurant at Valley Plaza Friday night.

Alexander Vera, 24, and Adrian Robles, 27, were transported to Kern Medical Center for treatment of serious wounds; they were listed in stable condition Saturday. Ramiro Hernandez, 33, was treated for a head laceration at San Joaquin Community Hospital and released.

Suspected homicide victim found in east Bakersfield

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:04:00 PST

A 43-year-old man was found dead in his east Bakersfield home early Saturday, the apparent victim of homicide.

The man's 25-year-old fiance discovered his body in a bedroom of their house in the 1300 block of Eureka Street when she arrived home at about 5 a.m., Bakersfield Police Sgt. Glen Grundeis said. The woman had been with friends since Friday night, Grundeis added.

Seatbelt crackdown nets 71 citations

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:44:17 PST

Bakersfield Police issued 71 citations Friday night as part of a crackdown on motorists not wearing their seatbelts.

The department's Traffic Enforcement Detail fielded extra officers between 2 and 8 p.m., focusing the "Click it or Ticket" event on downtown, southwest Bakersfield and the Rosedale area.

LOIS HENRY: Caltrans needs a keeper

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:00:00 PST

In case you weren't in court last month to catch this, we taxpayers are on the hook for close to $1 million because some bureaucrats at Caltrans thought they were above the law.

I know some of you are already pulling on your righteous boots ready to stomp all over lawyers and their "frivolous" lawsuits, but if it weren't for this lawsuit, we the people who pay these Caltrans clowns would not know how self-serving some public servants can get.

LOIS HENRY: Lies tarnish air boards credibility

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:31:00 PST

It's not the lie, it's the cover up that'll get you.

How many times does this wisdom have to be pounded into the heads of bureaucrats?

LOIS HENRY: Strange encounter ends in arrest

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:17:00 PST

I received a lot of reaction to my piece about the fellow who came to my door the other night, acted strangely and then ran off (see Wednesday's paper or my blog at www.bakersfield.com).

Well, he was arrested Thursday evening, still in northwest Bakersfield and still acting strangely.

Children seal family bonds through adoptions

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:48:38 PST

Little Sonia Garcia wasn’t the least bit impressed by the decorum of the courtroom as her future mother sat listening to judges and political dignitaries give speeches.

Garcia, 2, was just focused on the bouquet of white, green and purple balloons tied to the judge’s bench.

Tough job market drives more to substitute teach

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:56:30 PST

Paul Sabovich was having no luck finding a job after graduating from Cal State Bakersfield in June. His business administration degree in management was getting him nowhere, he said.
So he did what hundreds of others throughout Bakersfield have done. He signed up to take the test to become a substitute teacher.

Local industry skeptical that bill would reform health care

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:09:00 PST

Disappointment came over Kern health care executives last week as they mulled a new reform plan from Washington that they said lacks tools for containing costs and does little to address a local shortage of government-paid medical practitioners.

A big concern among local industry leaders and professionals was that the Senate bill introduced Wednesday would expand insurance coverage without providing adequate support for doctors, hospitals and other providers of medical care.

Retailers worry about soft sales over the holidays

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:27:37 PST

This time of year, Into the Forest is typically bustling with customers rifling through Christmas ornaments, holiday decorations, candles and dolls.

But lately, the gift shop on H Street is dead.

More people expected to travel this Thanksgiving than last year

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:22:00 PST

This year, more Thanksgiving travelers will hit the road and ride the rails compared to last year, when their numbers dropped significantly.

Despite the fact gas prices are 30 percent higher this year, the Automobile Club of Southern California expects 2.19 million people to travel by car this Thanksgiving. That's up 8 percent from last year's holiday, but still well below the 3.9 million Southern California residents who traveled in 2007.

Democrat makes her case for Assembly

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:02:26 PST

Gina McClellan Rodriguez is the only name in the 2010 Democratic race to represent the heavily Republican 32nd Assembly District.

But, as she prepared for a fundraising dinner at her southwest Bakersfield home Friday, Rodriguez said she believes she can win the seat because the state and the country need to get beyond the battle between red and blue.

RALPH BAILEY: The problem is death row is a life term

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:00 PST

A recent Los Angeles Times article detailed how a gang member openly opted for the death penalty instead of a life sentence, implying death row is cushier than general stir. Since one of Kern County's most famous killers hangs his hat on San Quentin's death row, I wanted to see what life was like for 47-year-old mass murderer and former educator Vincent Brothers.

Brothers, who concocted an elaborate plot to brutally shoot and kill his mother-in-law, estranged wife and three children -- including his 6-week-old infant -- enjoys color television, a CD player and digs larger than those serving life terms, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

SmartMeters to get expedited independent testing

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:08:18 PST

The state Public Utilities Commission voted Friday to expedite the hiring of a contractor to provide independent testing of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s SmartMeters, the electrical meters that have prompted complaints recently in Bakersfield and elsewhere about unusually high power bills.

The unanimous vote allows the commission to move forward quickly with its plan to back up PG&E's internal testing with independent tests.

People in Business: A who's who for Nov. 20

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:47:07 PST

JACK A. DOREMUS has joined Keller Williams Realty on Olive Drive as its Responsible Broker. In his new position, Doremus is to oversee the agency’s three locations in Bakersfield and the one opening this week in Tehachapi. He also becomes Keller Williams’ Productivity Coach, teaching a course intended to provide “financial peace.”