NEWS

Police Clear OccupyLA, Arrest Over 200

Associated Press: More than 1,400 police officers, some in riot gear, cleared the Occupy Los Angeles camp early Wednesday, driving protesters from a park around City Hall and arresting more than 200 who defied orders to leave. Similar raids ...

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NEWS

Black Friday Assault: Woman Attacks Fellow Shoppers With Pepper Spray

by Brian Bierman

Porter Ranch in Los Angeles:  A woman allegedly used pepper spray to ward off other shoppers and gain access to an X-Box 360.  Yup, we're civilized.

Be devoted to one another ...

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NEWS

Dead Birds Unintended Consequence of Wind Power Development

by Brian Bierman

With a quote from Lorelei Oviatt, well known to those that follow news of construction projects in this community, Fox News published a story on one of the unintended consequences of that incredibly inefficient source of electricity...wind:

As California ...

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NEWS

Local Homeschoolers Shine at Showcase of the Arts

by Brian Bierman

Last Thursday, March 24, Valley Oaks Charter School, which covers Bakersfield and Frazier Park, hosted "Showcase of the Arts - A Grand Night" at the Metro Gallery in downtown Bakersfield.  Pencil and pen drawings, paintings, pastels, photography, digital art and exquisite ...

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NEWS

Expelled from JPL

by Brian Bierman

Ben Stein's 2008 documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed made the claim that discrimination against those critical of Darwin's theory is widely practiced in schools and science research jobs.  The discrimination claim was roundly denounced by critics as false ...

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NEWS

Travelers Narrowly Escape Burning Van in Frazier

by Samuel Greer

On Sunday, January 15, 2011, at around 5:15 PM, something unusual caught my eye—a van, surrounded by rubberneckers like myself, was smoking like a chimney (or a mafia boss) in front of the Library! I was on my ...

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NEWS

Powerless

by Brian Bierman

Lights were out in much of the mountain communities this morning.  Southern California Edison says the power was officially out between 4:26 and 9:09, even though some areas may have been restored sooner.

The incident was caused by ...

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NEWS

Condor Recolonization

by Brian Bierman

California Condors are using Tejon Ranch lands increasingly.  In a study by the USGS, from 2004 - 2009, California Condors have begun recolonizing their former range.  A large part of the area studied included Tejon Ranch divided into three "management units ...

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NEWS

Grant Secured to Purchase 62,000 Acres of Tejon Land for Conservancy

by Brian Bierman

The fact that 62,000 acres of proposed Tejon conservancy was contingent on purchase by 12/31/2010 was a criticism by Tejon Mountain Village opponents, The Center for Biological Diversity and the Tri-County Watchdogs.  The groups were indignant that ...

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NEWS

L.A. County Bans Plastic Bags

Los Angeles Times

The L.A. Times reports:

The ordinance, which by 2012 will cover 1,000 stores in unincorporated areas, also will require supermarkets and pharmacies to levy a 10-cent surcharge per paper bag. Proponents see it as a model for California ...

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NEWS

Lebec Phone Line Stolen

by Brian Bierman

Los Padres Estates resident Dave Thomas tells The Mountain Daily News that a section of phone cable along Lebec Road was stolen sometime before yesterday morning; leaving a large portion of Lebec without telephone service.  The lines were cut just ...

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NEWS

Tejon Mountain Village Legal Challenge Thrown Out

by Brian Bierman

Kern County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Twisselman today (Nov. 5, 2010) ruled in favor of Kern County, Tejon Ranch Company, and its development partner DMB Associates, Inc. when he found that the County had properly analyzed and evaluated the environmental ...

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NEWS

Mountain Community Air Monitors

by Brian Bierman

The Tri-County Watchdogs (TCW) met at Cuddy Hall on Friday the 15th to share with the community their plans for two air monitors.  TCW received a $25,000 grant from the Rose Foundation and is partnering with Global Community Monitor ...

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NEWS

Streetscape Money Running Out

by Brian Bierman

According to Steve Newman, chairman of the Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (MCMAC), maintenance costs for the newly installed lighting, trash cans and planters in Frazier Park are paid for out of Ray Watson's budget.  This is because the ...

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NEWS

Sheriff Requesting Help

by Brian Bierman

The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the vehicle pictured below.  The suspects are wanted for a burglary that occurred in the 7400 block of Lovetta Drive in Bakersfield. Anyone with information ...

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NEWS

Game Changer of the Post Fire

by Brian Bierman
10 Tanker Air DC-10

Did you see that jet-liner drop on the Post Fire?  That DC-10 was one (if not THE) major component that made the effort of over 800 firefighters a success; keeping the over 1,300 acre blaze from becoming another Day ...

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NEWS

Video of a DC-10 Dropping Fire Retardant

by Brian Bierman

Peter Bogdanoff, owner of Chatterpillar, sent this video to The Mountain Daily News.  Thanks Peter.

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NEWS

Account of the Fire from Judy Rose

...where the blaze started

by Judy Rose
The Post Fire is thought to have started right here

UPDATE 8/26 9:00 AM:
The Mountain Daily News just got some pictures of the Rose home on Lebec Rd. and added them to this story.


Judy Rose wrote to non-local friends praying for them and asking for an ...

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NEWS

Lebec Wildfire

Post Fire

by Brian Bierman
updated fire perimeter map

UPDATE 8/27 8:30 AM:
The fire is 76% contained.  It remained quiet through the night, allowing firefighters to secure the fireline and extinguish hot spots up to 300 feet inside the the fire. Today, crews will continue this ...

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NEWS

Fire on Cuddy Valley Road

by Brian Bierman

Our local fire department received a dispatch call at about 5:20 this afternoon.  Crew members said they arrived on the scene close to 5 minutes later and put it out in a matter of minutes.

The fire started on ...

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NEWS

Some Improvements and Some History

by Brian Bierman

As you travel west on Cuddy Valley Road, about 1/4 mile past Pinon Pines at Darling Road, you might notice a sign for camp AREV.  The name is an acronym/abbreviation for Armenian Evangelical. 

AREV has one of the ...

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NEWS

Denny's on the Hill

by Brian Bierman

Signs for the new Denny's, in the Flying J Plaza, were recently installed.  According to techs installing point of sale equipment, Denny's will open on Sunday, 8/22.

 

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NEWS

Alternative Energy Projects Near Home - Part 2

Hydrogen

by Brian Bierman

The Hydrogen Energy California, HECA project,  is proposed for Kern County near the Occidental (Oxy) oil fields in Elk Hills near Taft.  It is to be on 400 acres of land about 5 miles due north of Oxy Elk Hills ...

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NEWS

Alternative Energy Projects Near Home - Part 1

Wind / Solar

by Brian Bierman

Element Power US, LLC, an American renewable energy company, just filed an application with the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning to build a state-of-the-art green energy farm in the area.  The proposal is to develop a green energy ...

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NEWS

Local Student Could Get Scholarship Money for a Safety Video

by Brian Bierman

Ryan Francis, a resident of Pinon Pines, entered the Bridgestone Safety Scholars Scholarship video contest and was chosen to be in the top 10 out of 1300 entries. The top three videos with the most votes will be eligible to ...

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NEWS

Lebec Community Church Raided

by Brian Bierman

The oldest church building on the hill was broken into on Saturday night.  The thief or thieves entered through a window that they broke and stole 2 15" JBL speakers, a Sony presentation projector and a flatscreen computer monitor.  The ...

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NEWS

Car accident on Lebec Road

by Brian Bierman

UPDATE - Some video of the incident is below.

Emergency dispatch was alerted to a serious car incident at 4:17 Tuesday afternoon.  Sandy Kelly, a resident of Los Padres Estates, had run her Chevy Tahoe off the road near Lebec ...

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NEWS

Linda Reece Passed This Morning

by Brian Bierman

Roger Reece is pastor of the Pine Mountain Christian Community Church and has been since August of 2007.  His wife Linda was chronically ill and passed away early Wednesday morning.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at ...

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NEWS

Freeway Fire

'Tis the season

On Monday June 21st 2010 at approximately 3:14 P.M., the Kern County Fire Department responded to a wildland fire on the west side of Interstate 5, North of Fort Tejon State Park. Approximately 135 firefighters fought the fire ...

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NEWS

Resignation from the MCMAC

by Brian Bierman

Linda MacKay was visibly upset when she read her letter of resignation at the MCMAC meeting on Tuesday 6/15.  Citing the approval of Frazier Park Estates and the structure of the MCMAC, she said the council looks like it ...

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NEWS

Oak Trees Removed at the New Library

by Brian Bierman

UPDATE:

Two oak trees said to be several centuries old were removed from the "parking lot-to-be" at the new library in Frazier Park today.  This comes as a shock to many because it was said that they should remain and ...

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NEWS

Shannon Grove Visits Frazier Park

by Brian Bierman
Shannon Grove with Albert Herrera

Shannon Grove is running for Jean Fuller's old job; competing with Ken Mettler for the 32nd state assembly district.  She is a long-time small business owner that appears to have it out for California's unwieldy worker's comp ...

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NEWS

MAC 5/18/2010

by Brian Bierman

Almost all the chairs set out on the floor of the community center were taken (25 - 30 chairs).  Emotions were charged over the county approval of Frazier Park Estates.  Most in attendance were fearful over the negative effect they believe ...

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NEWS

Too Many Cats

by Brian Bierman

Cause 4 Cats in Lebec got a visit from Kern Animal Control (KAC) and the Humane Society of the U.S. on Thursday, May 6.  The non-profit cat rescue effort was over the limit of their conditional use permit which ...

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NEWS

Frazier Park Estates Approved

by Brian Bierman

CORRECTION: I stated that Anita Anderson was removed from the meeting.  This appears to be incorrect.  Anderson told this reporter at the school board meeting that she had to leave anyway and said she should have sat down to avoid ...

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NEWS

Prayer at the High School and in Town

National Day of Prayer Events in the Mountain Communities

by Brian Bierman

A group of students met this morning at Frazier Mountain High School to pray for our country in general and specifically the president, congress, courts, our military, schools and FMHS in particular.  Students invited Pastor Rich Smith of the local ...

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NEWS

Dead & Gone

by Brian Bierman

There used to be a very nice evergreen tree right next to La Sierra Mexican Restaraunt.  Sadly, it wasn't cared for and died.  Antioch Nursery removed the tree yesterday.  Christmas lights were still on it; testifying to a story ...

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NEWS

Fire in Pinon Pines

by Brian Bierman

A home in Pinon Pines caught fire last night at about 7:00.  The fire was caused by an aging fireplace with an ash trap when a brick under the house fell out of place and allowed heat inside the ...

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NEWS

Escapees Caught

by Brian Bierman

At about 5:15 this afternoon, Santa Clarita Sheriff Deputies captured 2 prisoners that had escaped from Wayside prison in Castaic. 

The prisoners were due in court this morning but escaped from the prison facility between 1:00 AM and ...

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NEWS

Fire at Flying J

by Brian Bierman

A large, class A, diesel motorhome towing a light pickup truck caught fire while fueling at the Flying J.  No one was injured.  Flying J personnel immediately shut down the fuel pumps so the fire didn't extend beyond the ...

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NEWS

Frazier Park Estates Likely to be Approved

by Brian Bierman

The rumor is a larger Frazier Park Estates development has already been approved.  The actual vote is to take place May 11 but county supervisors have indicated they are in favor of a 557 home development (down from 668 homes ...

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NEWS

Shelter on the Hill gets a boost from high school students

by Candace Huskey

FMHS’s “Bridges to Academy” is a specially designed class to prepare selected 9th graders for upcoming academic and social demands.  It is intended to bridge the gap between the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program at Tejon Middle School ...

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NEWS

Frazier Park Man Killed in Multi-Car Accident at Newhall Pass

by Brian Bierman

Lockwood Valley resident John J. Blackburn, 53, was killed in a 4 car accident at Newhall Pass near the I-5 / 14 freeway junction.  It is reported that a sedan spun out in the rain in front of Blackburn who was ...

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NEWS

Tree planting in Pine Mountain Club

by Brian Bierman

Stephen Redner, execitive director of Kids 4 Trees, met with Tim Williams of the U.S. Forestry Service after a recent planting event in the mountains over Malibu.  Williams suggested Redner plan an event in the Los Padres National Forest ...

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NEWS

Name Your Price store aims to help poor

by Brian Bierman
Photo: Henry A Barrios / Bakersfield Californian

 

Bakersfield.com reports on the Name Your Price Store run to benefit our local Boys & Girls Club.  Now it's "stores" plural with two that just opened in Bakersfield:


Assaly runs what could loosely be called a chain of three ...

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NEWS

Behind the Scenes

by Norma Howard

Being a big fan of the TV show Criminal Minds, when I heard that they were shooting a segment in Frazier Park I jumped in my car and went to town. When I arrived there were at least a dozen ...

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NEWS

Body Found in Hungry Valley

by Brian Bierman

UPDATE 4/6/2010, 7:00 AM

The L.A. Sheriff Department just posted the following:

Date: Sunday - April 04, 2010
Time of Occurrence / Discovery: 2:45 p.m. 
Location: Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area -- Unincorporated Los Angeles County ...

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NEWS

Fire in Lockwood Valley - Home of Charlie Watkins

by Brian Bierman

Doni Farner, daughter of Charlie Watkins, of Lockwood Valley said they had a drop in water pressure yesterday afternoon.  One of the family went out to check the pump and in the process checked one of the out-buildings.  When the ...

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NEWS

MCMAC 3/16/2010

by Brian Bierman

Close to twenty showed for the Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council meeting at the community center last night.  Those of you reading that were not there were all missed.  You should come next time.  More than "the usuals" need to ...

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NEWS

MCMAC Agenda for Tuesday, 3/16

BE THERE

by Brian Bierman

The Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (MCMAC) will be meeting this coming Tuesday evening at 7:00 in the community center at Frazier Mountain Park.  Here is the agenda:

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS:  The public may address the Council on any matter ...

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NEWS

Cause 4 Cats Inspected and Found in Violation

by Brian Bierman
photo Cause4Cats.com

On March 3rd animal control officers appeared on the doorstep of Cause 4 Cats in Lebec.  Guy Shaw of Kern Animal Control (KAC) said he received some complaints.  According to local resident Patrice Stimpson, it was a "surprise inspection".

Kim ...

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NEWS

21st Annual Isabella Lake Fishing Derby

The third load of Alpers trout was delivered to Isabella Lake on Wednesday, February 17th. This load, consisting of 1,200 pounds of trophy trout, from the Inland Aquaculture Group, will complement the two loads already delivered earlier this year ...

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NEWS

Free Tax Preparation

by Brian Bierman

It's called Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA and it is sponsored by the IRS for Kern County residents; including Frazier Park.  VITA offers free federal and state tax preparation for those with an income of $50,000 or ...

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NEWS

Dream Castle: Some Balance

by Brian Bierman

The Mountain Daily News spoke yesterday with Marc Schwartz, one of Glenn Calloway's attorneys.  All he had to say was Carolyn Perry said too much in her letter.  He said Perry violated California Evidence Code sections 1119, 1121 and ...

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NEWS

The Dream Castle Foreclosed

UPDATE 2/27 3:45 PM

An email asking for Glenn Calloway's side of the story was sent to his attorney.  The Mountain Daily News will publish when a statement is received.


Carolyn Perry bought The Dream Castle from ...

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NEWS

Job Resource Expo

A letter from congressman Kevin McCarthy:

Dear Friend:

I am pleased to invite you to the Job Resource Expo I will be hosting on Monday, March 8, 2010.  The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2 ...

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NEWS

MCMAC Sworn In

by Brian Bierman

The Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (MCMAC) was sworn in by supervisor Ray Watson on Tuesday, February 16 with between 20 and 30 in attendance.  Officers of the new body were selected: Chairman - Steve Newman, Vice-Chairman - Rob Peterson, Secretary - Linda ...

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NEWS

Animal Rescue Gone Awry

by Brian Bierman

On Monday 2/8, at 12:16 the Sheriff department reported that Kimberly Maggio, 49, of Frazier Park was arrested for animal cruelty.  She had 7 dogs, 12 cats and 1 rat in her tiny home at 624 Elm Trail ...

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NEWS

Warm Homes, Warm Hearts

Free firewood for struggling families

by Brian Bierman

The new thrift store in town called "I Came to Believe" is right next to the Shelter on the Hill store on Mount Pinos Way.  Leslie Long, who runs the store, is heading up an effort to get firewood to ...

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NEWS

Snow a No Show?

by Brian Bierman

It was supposed to snow today.  Like climate, weather forecasts change naturally and humanity has little, if anything at all, to do with it. 

We now have a 70% chance of rain/snow this Friday and Saturday.  Check our weather ...

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NEWS

Bakersfield firefighter volunteers to help in Haiti

by Brian Bierman
Leland Davis

Leland Davis of the Kern County Fire Department just got back from a week in Haiti.  He went with a group called Firefighters for Christ International and this was his first mission with the group.  Travel costs and much of ...

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NEWS

In case you're flying out of Bakersfield...

On Thursday 2/4/10 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., the Kern County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, and Hostage Negotiators will be conducting a training exercise at Meadows Field in the International ...

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NEWS

Ellie Light is actually Winston Steward of Frazier Park

by Brian Bierman

Everywhere else this is national news but here it's local.  The mysterious Ellie Light that has been writing letters to papers all across the country, posing as a resident of each paper's locale, has been identified as Winston ...

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NEWS

Frazier Market Robbery Suspect Apprehended

According to The Mountain Enterprise, James William Brammer of Los Angeles, is the suspect alleged to have robbed Frazier Market at gunpoint on January 6, 2010.  He was arrested on January 23rd.  Deputies say Brammer was sighted a few days ...

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NEWS

Snow at 5500

by Brian Bierman

It is currently 37 degrees and snowing in Pinon Pines and Cuddy Valley.  Ace Hardware reports that there is a light rain in town.  Diane L. Young Insurance reports that there is snow mixed with rain in Pine Mountain Club.

 

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NEWS

Limited Supply of Sandbags

by Brian Bierman

The Kern County Fire Department told The Mountain Daily News that it has a limited supply of empty sandbags at the stations in Frazier Park and Pine Mountain Club.  Persons who are in need of sandbags should contact the local ...

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NEWS

Wind causes a death in PMC

by Brian Bierman

UPDATE 1/18 3:45 PM

Press release from the Kern Fire Department:

PINE MOUNTAIN CLUB, CA - On Monday January 18th 2010 at approximately 9:30 A.M., a call was received by the Kern County Fire Department for a ...

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NEWS

Candlelighting Memorial for Nick Bettis

by Samuel Greer
Nicholas James Bettis

On Thursday, January 14, at 6:30 p.m., in the biting cold under the dim yellow illumination of the lights on the basketball court, warmth radiated from a power stronger than the bitter elements....love. Friends, classmates, teachers, and ...

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NEWS

Storm's a brewin'

It is currently 36 degrees and raining at 5,500 feet in Pinon Pines.  Four straight days of snow are forecasted, although it is supposed to be limited to higher elevations of 6,500 feet and above until Tuesday:

Martin ...

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NEWS

Child Stalker in Bakersfield

A reminder to keep your kids safe

composite drawing of the suspect

On January 5, 2010, at about 2:30 P.M., a ten year old girl walking to Parkview Elementary School in Taft reported a white car stopped next to her in the 100 hundred block of 5th Avenue. The driver ...

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NEWS

Theft ring busted near Templin Highway

Nearly $1 million in stolen vehicles recovered

by Brian Bierman

A deputy at the Gorman outpost told The Mountain Daily News that nearly $1 million in stolen vehicles were recovered from a 60 acre property near Templin Highway on January 11.  A Bobcat Skid-Loader, equipped with LoJack, was stolen from ...

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NEWS

Sadness Over Camp Lakota Fire

Girl Scouts of all ages express their sorrow

The following were posted to this site and to our YouTube channel:

You can burn down our house, but you can't burn down our spirit. We'll just tent it in 2010 and have twice as much fun. The ...

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NEWS

Fire at the Girl Scout Camp

Main lodge at Camp Lakota burned

by Brian Bierman
Camp Lakota fire 1:20 PM

At close to 1:00 PM, Theresa LeGault of Cuddy Valley noticed smoke rising from Camp Lakota, which is owned by the Girl Scouts.  She called the fire department and drove to the camp to alert Don Scott who was ...

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NEWS

Frazier Market robbed at gunpoint

UPDATE 10:57 AM 1/7/2010

Sergeant Mark Brown of our local substation tells The Mountain Daily News that the robbery suspect is a white male in his late 30's to early 40's, slim and 5'5 ...

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NEWS

Identity Theft, Forgery and Burglary

UPDATE 11:50 AM 1/7/2010

Sergeant Mark Brown tells the Mountain Daily News that the suspect in the "Stolen Checkbook" case has been tried and found guilty.  Tony Lopez is now in jail for the crimes of property ...

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NEWS

Water and Fire in Lebec

by Brian Bierman

The Lebec Water District meeting which was scheduled for 7:00 on Monday night was called to order at 7:15 by board member Bruce Koch.  President Bob Karr was not in attendance.  Koch announced that Karr had resigned.

So ...

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NEWS

Bomb scare at Meadows Field Airport

It was only a scare

The Kern County Sheriff Department reports:

On Tuesday January 5, 2010 at about 7:30 A.M. the Kern County Sheriff's Office, along with Kern County Fire Department, responded to the W.H. Thomas Terminal at the Meadows Field ...

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NEWS

Local businesses meet at the new Holiday Inn

by Brian Bierman

The new Holiday Inn Express in Lebec invited a group of local businesses for a morning meal at the inns breakfast bar this morning.  The invitation was limited because of seating constraints.  Close to 45 came and received a tour ...

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NEWS

KCFD Helps To Feed the Homeless on Christmas Eve

From the Kern County Fire Department:

The Kern County Fire Department will be helping to feed the homeless on Thursday December 24th 2009 starting at 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., at the El Pueblo Restaurant 9705 ...

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NEWS

Dave Stewart Passes

by Brian Bierman

Local drummer Dave Stewart passed away Saturday morning at 9 AM.  He is survived by his wife and kids.  This has been expected for some time because his cancer was said to be at stage 4 a few months ago ...

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NEWS

What is that on Cuddy Valley Road?

by Brian Bierman

East-bound traffic on Cuddy Valley Road was stopped near Pinon Pines at close to 9:00 this morning.  Trucks, crews, cameras and a very large, almost flourescent green screen were on the north side of the road.  A commercial was ...

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NEWS

Local, Statewide & Nationwide DUI Crackdown to begin Friday Night with First of 300 DUI Checkpoints

A press release from the Kern Sheriff Department reads:

Local, Statewide & Nationwide DUI Crackdown to begin Friday Night with First of 300 DUI Checkpoints

WHAT: The Kern AVOID DUI Taskforce will have a Press Conference to re-enforce the message to ...

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NEWS

Armed Robbery on the Grapevine

From the Kern Sheriff.....

Details:On 12-12-09 at 9:40pm deputies from the Lamont and Frazier Park Substations responded to a report of an armed robbery that occurred at the Famous Footwear Distribution Center along I-5 north of the base ...

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NEWS

A Good Man Down

by Brian Bierman

Bob Hubert, a long-time resident of Frazier Park and long-time member of the Frazier Park Evangelical Free Church, passed away at almost 6:00 PM on Sunday, 12/13.  He was at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital with what was first thought ...

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NEWS

2 Good Friends On A Musical Journey

Irvine Grant Winners

Allie Jo Thomas, Jeanette Richardson Parks, Val Katkov

Valentina Katkov of Lake of the Woods and Allie Jo Thomas of Pine Mountain Club have begun to embark on a 14 month musical journey with the Arts Council of Kern.  This journey is an opportunity to learn a variety ...

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NEWS

Snow...I mean rain...forecast

Winter Storm Watch in effect from this evening through Sunday morning.

It got too warm.  There still is a chance of snow on Sunday.  The following is from the 5-day forecast on our weather page:

Today

Cloudy. Chance of showers ...

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NEWS

New TA opening tomorrow

From Bakersfield.com

Starting Friday, travelers looking for gas and a bite to eat won't be able to stop by the old TravelCenters of America, or "TA," which was the only building near the exit when it opened 25 ...

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NEWS

Kern Fire Department Hiring

The Kern County Fire Department is accepting applications for Seasonal Firefighters for the 2010 Fire Season.  The department is planning to staff up to six wildland firefighting handcrews in the mountainous areas of the county with the first crew starting ...

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NEWS

Another Suspicious Death in Frazier Park

A press release from the Sheriff's department reads:

DECEDENT'S NAME:  Carl Shropshire         
CASE #: C02200-09
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Frazier Park, CA         
AGE: 49 Years
TYPE OF CASE: Investigated as suspicious death
DATE OF INCIDENT: Found: 11/22/2009         
TIME ...

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NEWS

Was Jukka Hellsten Murdered?

by Brian Bierman

It is well-known that a spot in Cuddy Creek, near the bridge between Lake of the Woods and Frazier Park is a hangout for drug addicts and alcoholics and a place that one should avoid at night.  Jukka Hellsten was ...

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NEWS

Signs of the times: Musical instruments stolen in Kern County

Increased theft of musical instruments

This is a news release of the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Details:  The Kern County Sheriff’s Office is advising the public that there has been an increase in the thefts of musical instruments.  So far this year 42 ...

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NEWS

Lutheran Church packed out for benefit concert

by Brian Bierman
Mark Creamer and Steve Hill

The El Camino Pines hosted a benefit concert for local resident Dave Stewart and succeeded in raising $2,539.  Musicians included Stewart on drums, Grammy nominee Steve Hill, music veteran Mark Creamer (Billy Joel, Bob Seger), monster guitarist Mark Moulin ...

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NEWS

Clarification of TMV Lawsuit Press Release

by Brian Bierman

A commenter called jackt writes:

Can someone explain to me how this works? On Oct 5 TMV was approved and supposedly if someone was to raise a stink they had 30 days to file a lawsuit. The anti-tmv bunch filed ...

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NEWS

Groups Sue to Stop Tejon Mountain Village

This is a press release from The Center for Biological Diversity


BAKERSFIELD, Calif.— A coalition of endangered species advocates, Native Americans, environmental justice advocates, and local residents filed suit today to overturn Kern County's approval of the controversial Tejon ...

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NEWS

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the New Library

by Brian Bierman
FMHS Drumline

The ground has been broken for the new library and nearly 200 people showed for the event. 

There was a full lineup of area school board, county and state officers, local citizens that have contributed much time and effort to ...

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NEWS

MCMAC Meets on Tuesday

by Brian Bierman

The Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council will be meeting this Tuesday to discuss bylaws for the newly formed body.  The meeting is for council members only.

 

read more


NEWS

Body Found in Cuddy Creek

UPDATE 11/3/2009 5:08 PM

by Brian Bierman

UPDATE 11/3/2009 5:08 PM


NEWS RELEASE
KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
CORONER DIVISION

This news release is prepared under the direction of the Sheriff-Coroner-Public Administrator for the convenience of news reporters.  Facts concerning news events of major ...

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NEWS

Bakersfield Car Thefts Up 35%

The Sheriff’s Office noted a significant increase in the number of vehicle thefts in the past three weeks.  Overall the Metropolitan Bakersfield area averaged about 100 vehicle thefts a month.  In October 2009 this jumped to 135 for the ...

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NEWS

Chinese Trucking Executives to Visit Tejon Industrial Complex

Chinese delegation learns about full-service truck stops

This just came from Tejon Ranch:

A delegation of 19 executives from Shanghai, China will visit the Petro Travel Center and the soon-to-be-opened TA location at Tejon Industrial Complex on Wednesday, October 28.  The visit is part of an important ...

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NEWS

Davestock

by Brian Bierman

Los Padres Estates rocked from noon to 8:00 on Sunday.  Musicians from the hill, Fresno and L.A. came to honor, support and jam with their good friend Dave Stewart.  Dave is an incredible local drummer that has played ...

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NEWS

Explosion in Frazier Park

Update - 10/18 2:30 PM

by Brian Bierman

At 7:21 Sunday morning the Kern County Fire Department received report of a home fire in Frazier Park at 3401 Idaho Trail.  Thirty personnel were on site including one L.A. County truck.  An estimated 60% of the home ...

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NEWS

Tejon Ranch on TMV Approval

by Brian Bierman

Here is a press release from Tejon Ranch titled: Kern County Board of Supervisors Unanimously Approve Tejon Mountain Village .



Bakersfield, Calif. (October 5, 2009) - The Kern County Board of Supervisors has unanimously voted to approve development of Tejon Mountain Village ...

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NEWS

Tejon Mountain Village Approved Unanimously

by Brian Bierman

Tejon Mountain Village was approved by all of the Kern County Supervisors.  The board meeting began at 9:00 this morning and concluded at 4:43. 

The majority of time was given to opponents of the development.  Arguments against were ...

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NEWS

See 'Ya Lloyd

by Brian Bierman

The celebration of life service at El Camino Pines Lutheran Church for Lloyd Wiens was packed.  There was standing room only with many lining the foyer. 

Many laughed and cried as Lloyd's daughter, son and brother shared their memories ...

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NEWS

Form letter e-mails flood county supervisors' boxes

by Brian Bierman

From Bakersfield.com

Kern County Supervisors' electronic mail accounts exploded with more [than] 1,200 form e-mails Thursday as a nationwide digital campaign launched its opposition to the Tejon Mountain Village project.


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NEWS

Is David Laughing Horse Robinson making false claims against Tejon?

by Brian Bierman

David Laughing Horse Robinson, in the last days before the Kern Board of Supervisors meeting, raised what appears to be a claim that Tejon Mountain Village (TMV) is to be built on Kawaiisu land.  He is featured in the following ...

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NEWS

Tribe elder challenges Tejon project

by Brian Bierman

From Bakersfield.com

David Laughing Horse Robinson, an elder of the Kawaiisu tribe of Native Americans, has launched a unique challenge to the controversial Tejon Mountain Village project on the eve of a critical hearing before the Kern County Board ...

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NEWS

Health Fair This Saturday

Free Services

by Brian Bierman
There is a health fair at the Frazier Park Elementary School this Saturday from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM.  There will be free services provided which include:
  • Mammograms
  • Bone density tests
  • Stroke studies
  • Body mass index check
  • Blood lab ...

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NEWS

Lloyd Wiens' Passing

by Judy Rose

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me….” Psalm 23

We saw this Psalm fulfilled Sunday evening at Holy Cross Hospital as Zoe was surrounded in ...

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NEWS

Lutheran Church: Vote to Leave Synod Almost Unanimous

Corrected

by Brian Bierman

The El Camino Pines Lutheran Church met this morning to decide whether to leave their synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), over homosexual avocation and liberal theology.  Only one in the congregation voted to stay with the ELCA ...

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NEWS

Library Bids To Be Awarded

by Lloyd Wiens

Approvals are being recommended for bid awards on the agenda for next Tuesday's Kern Board of Supervisors meeting for construction of the Frazier Park Library, across the street from the park entrance.  Tilton Pacific Construction and DC Inspections were ...

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NEWS

Another Restaurant Closes

by Lloyd Wiens

There must be something in the air.  Yesterday, the writer and a distinguished local elderly gentleman meandered out to Lake of the Woods for lunch at one of our regular spots.

We walked up to the door, grabbed the doorknob ...

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NEWS

ADV Montessori Charter School License Revoked by GSD

by Lloyd Wiens

At their monthly board meeting yesterday, the Gorman JSD School Board revoked the operating license of the Antelope Desert Valley Montessori Charter School license for numerous violations, including the disappearance of substantial funds.  Accounting practices and failure to respond to ...

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NEWS

County Service Area 100 Voted Down

by Lloyd Wiens

The property owner vote on the CSA that was intended to finance lighting and landscape maintenance for the Frazier Park Streetscape Project via assessments on adjacent parcels has failed. 

From Ray Watson's office:  "There were two ballots- one for ...

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NEWS

The Dream Castle Closure

UPDATED 9/17/2009 11:06 AM

by Brian Bierman

"There is a ticking clock, according to [Perry's] attorney Drescher. Due to current zoning regulations, he said, if the business is closed longer than 30 days, 'they lose their permit to operate the cafe,' he told The Mountain Enterprise ...

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NEWS

Meeting for Pedestrian Path Project - This Saturday

by Brian Bierman

From Mark Evans: Design Division Manager, Kern County Roads Department


What: This is an informational Meeting and Job walk for the Concrete Pedestrian Path through Frazier Mountain Park; We simply want to give the community an idea of what's ...

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NEWS

Dreamcastle Closed Indefinitely

by Brian Bierman

Shortly after its sale, the Dreamcastle had to close its doors due to circumstances beyond the new owner's control.

Developing...

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NEWS

Tejon Mountain Village will go to the Kern Board of Supervisors

by Brian Bierman

The Kern County Planning Commission made 2 votes against sending Tejon Mountain Village to the Board of Supervisors and 3 votes in favor.  This  was in agreement with the commission staff recommendation that described TMV as a responsible and well-planned ...

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NEWS

FPPUD Loan/Grant Proposal Receives Positive Resident Response

by Lloyd Wiens

Almost 65 people crowded the Frazier Park Community Center Tuesday night for the regular monthly Board meeting of the Frazier Park Public Utility District, and to see a PowerPoint presentation on the pending $3.1 million USDA loan/grant program ...

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NEWS

Tejon Mountain Village to be Considered by the Kern County Planning Commission on September 10th

by Brian Bierman

A press release from Laer Pearce & Associates reads:


Lebec, Calif. (September 2009) – Plans and environmental studies for Tejon Mountain Village, a proposed mountain resort community on Tejon Ranch, will be considered by the Kern County Planning Commission on Thursday, September ...

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NEWS

Free Advertising Through October

by Brian Bierman

You may be the only one reading news here.  So how can we charge for anything? 

Actually, you can check the right-hand column for the number of readers we have (may they never stop growing) and advertise here free of ...

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NEWS

Kern County Fire Department is asking for help

by Brian Bierman

From a Kern Fire Department press release:

On Tuesday September 1, at approximately 12:40 A.M. a call was received by the Kern County Fire Department for a structure fire at 340 Lakewood Dr. in Lake of the Woods ...

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NEWS

Tejon Ranch: Wildlife

by Brian Bierman

When it comes to development of Tejon Ranch (TRC) land, the chief concern of the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) is the California Condor but they left the negotiation table.  Why are The Sierra Club, National Resources Defense Council and ...

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NEWS

Tejon Ranch: Land Conservation

by Brian Bierman

Tejon Mountain Village has been controversial to say the least.  The "Conservation and Land Use Agreement" (LUA) and actual development have raised environmental concerns locally as well as at state and even national levels.  The controversy is in three primary ...

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NEWS

Senator Ashburn returns to Frazier Park - 9/9/09

by Brian Bierman

 The Mountain Daily News just received the following from Senator Roy Ashburn's office:

 


Frazier Park - Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) is pleased to announce his September mobile office hours for Frazier Park and the surrounding communities. A representative of the ...

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NEWS

Kern County Planning Commission Split Over Frazier Park Estates

by Brian Bierman

Four commission members were present and heard presentations by commission staff and Cornerstone Engineering for Falling Star Homes.  Commission staff recommended the development be scaled back to 188 homes from the 662 proposed by the developer.  Commercial aspects of the ...

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NEWS

Hearing on Frazier Mountain Estates Today

by Brian Bierman

There is a Planning Commission Hearing on the Frazier Park Estates Project EIR today at 7 pm.   The meeting will held be at 1115 Truxtun, Bakersfield in the Board of Supervisors chamber.

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NEWS

Court postponed for Jim Schaffer

by Brian Bierman

Long-time resident of Frazier Park, Jim Schaffer, was in court on August 24 for three counts of "lewd or lacivious acts with a child under 14 years".  The result was a "motion to continue trial date".  The next hearing is ...

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NEWS

Fire on the Grapevine - 8/24/09

by Brian Bierman

From the Kern County Fire Department:


LEBEC, CA – Monday August 24, 2009 at approximately 11:45 A.M., a call was received by the Kern County Fire Department for a vegetation fire along the west side of Interstate-5 south of ...

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NEWS

Kern Population Forecast

by Lloyd Wiens

If you are anti-growth, Kern County is probably not the best place for you to live over the next 10 years.  The following forecast was received today from Kern Council of Governments (Kern COG), projecting a 25% population increase during ...

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NEWS

MAC Defined by the County

by Brian Bierman

The Mountain Daily News has obtained a copy of a document defining and instructing the new Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (MAC).  Click on each of the images below to read.


 

Page 1 - Click to view
 
Page 2 - Click to ...

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NEWS

Congressman McCarthy's Representative

by Barbara Edsall

Benjamin McFarland, field representative for Congressman Kevin McCarthy, was at the Family Resource Center the morning of Thursday, August 13th ready to meet with the public, which will be a monthly event. I found him polite, approachable and well ...

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NEWS

FPPUD 8/11 Board Meeting Summary

by Lloyd Wiens

- Coordination of an outreach and publicity program for the USDA grant/loan program and rate review will occur.  A community meeting will be announced for later this month; tentatively scheduled for 8/27 at 7 pm.

The board clarified that ...

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NEWS

Streetscape Project Maintenance/Landscaping

District Vote Postponement Requested

by Lloyd Wiens

Per our sources, the Streetscape Project Maintenance/Landscaping hearing (CSA 100) is being delayed for at least 30 days to garner more support and discuss the critical nature of this project's approval with the community.  CSA 100 is to ...

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NEWS

Frazier Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council to Be Formed

by Brian Bierman

From County Supervisor Ray Watson's office:


Fourth District Kern County Supervisor, Ray Watson, has agreed to form a Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (MCMAC) to serve the communities of Frazier Park, Lebec, Fort Tejon/Tejon Village, Pinon Pines, Lake ...

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NEWS

Town Hall Meeting in Bakersfield

by Brian Bierman

Representative Kevin McCarthy will be having a Town Hall Meeting on August 26 at Cal-State University, Bakersfield.  You must RSVP if you plan to attend.  Click here for details.

 

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NEWS

Forest Service Seeks Public's Help in La Brea Fire Investigation

by Brian Bierman

This was received from Joe Pasinato <jpasinato@fs.fed.us>:

SANTA MARIA, CA… The Forest Service Special Agents on the Fire Investigation Team is asking for the public's assistance to help establish the cause of the La Brea Fire ...

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NEWS

Gorman Joint School District Board Meeting

Insight Schools Presentation Summary

by Lloyd Wiens

Gorman, Calif. - Linda Rosson, Principal of InsightSchoolsLA’s online high school diploma program, today presented a summary of the services and programs offered by Insight to families and potential students in the mountain communities area.

This presentation was in furtherance ...

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NEWS

Tejon Ranch reports second-quarter loss

by Brian Bierman

From Bakersfield.com:

Lebec agribusiness and real estate development company Tejon Ranch Co. posted a $1.5 million loss, or 9 cents per diluted share, for the three months ending June 30, according to a filing Monday with the Securities ...

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NEWS

A reply to the Watchdogs

BREAKING NEWS

by Brian Bierman

Pamela C. Creedom, executive officer of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board sent a reply to Tri-County Watchdogs president Linda MacKay.  Click here to see the letter

Please note that one page is missing from the letter.  TMDN will ...

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NEWS

Gorman Online Charter High School & Community College Distance Learning

Campus/Facility Proposal Submitted

by Lloyd Wiens

On July 14, an exciting new mission and concept for individualized local education and distance learning was submitted by local citizens to the Gorman School District school board.  A fully detailed summary was presented for consideration, along with a few ...

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NEWS

Tejon Ranch asks court to lift gag on negotiations

by Brian Bierman
Tejon Ranch Co. is lobbying a federal court to lift a gag order on environmental lawsuit settlement negotiations......click here for the rest of the story at Bakersfield.com

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NEWS

Facey Castaic: urgent care office closing in September

by Brian Bierman

According to THIS article from The-Signal, Facey will be closing its office in Castaic in September.

 

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NEWS

MAC Update

by Lloyd Wiens

Supervisor Ray Watson and his staff are meeting on August 13 at his office with a few of the people that have applied for a position on the Mountain Communities Municipal Advisory Council (McMAC) board of directors, to discuss the ...

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NEWS

Flying J Merger

by Brian Bierman

On June 18, Flying J CEO Crystal Maggelet agreed to meet with the CEO of Pilot truck stops.  Pilot presented Flying J with a merge proposal that would allow Flying J to retain its brand and, according to Crystal Maggelet ...

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NEWS

Memorial Service for Troy Maxwell

by Brian Bierman

A memorial service for pastor Troy Maxwell will be held at the Vineyard Fellowship in Frazier Park on Sunday, July 26 at 5:30 PM.  Karen Maxwell asks those planning to buy flowers to instead give to The Vineyard benevolence ...

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NEWS

In memory of Pastor Troy

by Brian Bierman

Troy Maxwell was born in 1948 and passed away early Wednesday morning, 7/15/2009 sometime between 2:30 and 3:00.  He had been suffering from cancer for over a year. His wife Karen shared "His eyes were closed ...

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NEWS

Flying J merging with Pilot?

by Brian Bierman

TheTrucker.com writes "As expected, Flying J Inc. and Pilot Travel Centers LLC today announced that they have entered into a preliminary merger agreement that will provide a framework for Flying J’s core travel plaza business to emerge from ...

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NEWS

Pre-Launch Disclaimer

by Brian Bierman

This site was started on Saturday, July 11.  The official "grand-opening" for The Mountain Daily News is August 1, 2009.  We are now in debug mode after moving the site from the test server to the live server (a "server ...

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