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Editorials
Our Opinion: Making a Difference - Four Paws at a Time
Deidre Morrison, of the Lake Isabella Animal Shelter in Southlake, needs the community’s help.
More of this storyRex Emerson, KRV Chamber of Commerce
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Community Voices: Dear Senator Florez,
Dear Senator Florez,
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Our Opinion: Should PFD's be required?
This evening Kern County Parks and Recreation is inviting you to share your opinion about whether life preservers and/or personal flotation devices (PFDs) should be required by anyone entering Kern County waters.
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Our Opinion: What is newsworthy?
From the blogs:
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Letters
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Let’s work together toward the benefit of all
It is troubling to me that we forest users cannot just get along and work toward beneficial goals instead of bickering and blowing out of proportion the issues that are not important anyway. I wish that non-OHV users would take the time to understand that most OHV riders are enviromentalists too.
More of this storyThe Kern County Planning Commission and Verizon want to quietly slip a cell phone tower into our neighborhood.
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Letter from the newly elected Mayor
My name is Tony Plante, Tenderfoot Tony, and I was just elected Mayor of Whiskey Flat. Now pretty much everyone knows that this is just an honorary title and with it just comes some little P.R. work for the community. But as the newly elected I feel I have a responsibility to expose to our community how some of this process works.
More of this storyOn Saturday, Feb. 20, just like third Saturday of every month, a group drove around the area collecting food and monetary donations distributed to The Food Pantry, God’s Storehouse, and The Salvation Army. Thanks to all the “gracious givers” with special thanks to the compassionate members of the Family Life Center in Wofford Heights; to the folks who almost filled the collection container at Mt. Mesa Market; for for all the donations from the Sienna Wellness Institute in Mt. Mesa; to the folks donating at Sierra Gateway Market in Southlake and Vons; and to all the other compassionate people in the Kern River Valley who are donating to all the care giving organizations. Thanks for your gracious giving – thanks for sharing your compassion! The need continues. Look for the Compassion Caravan containers at Living Green Festival, March 17-21 and the ad in the Kern Valley Sun on March 17.
More of this storyI want to thank everyone who made the 2010 SPA Melodrama the great success it was. First of course the hard working cast who gave up several months worth of Saturdays plus many other hours to memorize lines and bring their characters to completion. The entire show rested upon your performances and you all came through. Special thanks to Josh David Burns for stepping at literally the last minute and bringing the character of the Hero to our production.
More of this storyLet me say the only business that doesn’t need to have any business sense is a public utility. All they have to do is have someone to figure and the PUC will accommodate their presumed needs. How can you possibly know what they really need when you rely on their word that rate increases will require funds only you can provide. I know many of their employees and they sure don’t look or act like they are over worked or underfed.
More of this storyThe Klase family would like to thank this gracious valley citizenry for the outpouring of love that you have shown to all of us during our great loss of Jennifer.
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God’s cathedral
Re:Being out there is a prayer, Letters 2/24/09I agree with you. It’s much easier,more enjoyable and more meaningful to visit with God in His forest. I’m 67 and my days of long hikes are over so I use my ATV. I have visited with God on top of Mt. Sherman, in Monache Meadows, Browns Meadow, on top of Piute Pk., Jawbone Canyon in the Mojave Desert and many other areas in God’s great outdoor cathedral. I have sat on a hillside in the Piutes and watched a bear and her cubs across the ravine. I have seen does and their fawns in the spring, all Gods wonders and gifts to us.
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Community Voices: To the California Public Utilities Commission
To the California Public Utilities Commission:
More of this storyOn Monday, Feb. 22, at about 9:30 a.m., I was driving on Hwy178 from Southlake to Isabella. I made a left turn onto Lake Isabella Blvd. directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle. The driver expertly swerved to avoid a collision causing two other automobiles to swerve also. I didn’t see the car coming due to dark sunglasses I was wearing. I thank you for your quick action to avoid a horrible accident. I sincerely apologize for my carelessness.
More of this storySome say that there is no radiation danger from cell phone towers, and some say there is a great danger. Either way, our property values will go down if that tower is placed in our residential neighborhood simply because of the public perception that there is a danger. Nobody wants that thing in their yard and it’s presence would have to be disclosed in any real estate deal, and then the deal’s off.
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Success not always measured in dollars
As Captain of Kern Valley Search and Rescue I would like to extend my deepest and sincere appreciation to every business and individual in the Valley for your support during Whiskey Flat Days. It’s often wondered if one person can make a difference and KVSAR, a strictly volunteer group, now knows that it’s possible. Each and every one of you made a difference last weekend and should feel like you contributed in saving a life. We often look at money as the best indicator of our success. We received some incredibly generous donations, but most importantly we were able to connect with our community. We witnessed local business owners enjoying success, allowing them to reach in their pockets and donate to our group. We realize these donations may not come easily when we ask for help, but it has been proven over and over that you do reach deep in your pockets and deliver when we need you most. I know times are tough right now, I know we are all worried about the future, but I was proud to have been part of a community for a day when the kids could just play freely, when we could enjoy time with our friends and be part of something bigger than ourselves.
More of this storyI watched quite a bit of this so called bipartisan meeting to decide who will run one-sixth of our economy and I was scared by what I saw. I saw a President who got very testy when asked specific questions from those who wanted specific answers. A President who’s attitude rang out to me that no matter what is said here, I’m going to get my way no matter what others say. A President who is fighting for his political life. A President who does not want to address tort reform nor the selling of health insurance across state lines. I heard and saw a President who loves to hear himself speak. He spoke nine minutes more than the entire Republican contingency did during the entire meeting. Where is the hope and the change? This President has lost it and the American people are beginning to see this by the poll numbers coming out both for his health care bill and as well as his ability to lead this nation.
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Local actor saves the day for Melodrama
To all who saw and enjoyed the Whiskey Flat Melodrama at Kernville School earlier this month: Just a note of appreciation to the fellow who stepped in at almost the last moment and saved the production. On Feb. 9, we knew we had to get a replacement for our leading man, who had unavoidably dropped out. This was a big difficulty, since whoever was going to do it had to learn the part overnight, in order to do the rehearsals and the performance on Feb. 12. The others in the cast had had six weeks of rehearsals to get their parts down.
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Cell tower bad for property values
As a local business owner, I am writing to oppose the location of the proposed cell tower in a residential neighborhood in Kernville. This tower should be located away from my business and away from residences.
More of this storyThank you for your support these past years. Your help was well received. You were always there for us and our critters. As you know, times are rough right now for everyone; we here at Critter Sitters are in desperate need for your help. We need blankets, used carpet, old towels, dog food, cat food, and money donations. Maybe, you can find it in your hearts to help us and our critters once again. Also, Critter Sitters has healthy adoptable dogs, cats, and kittens (all appropriate aged pets are spayed or neutered and vaccinated. ) Please, pass the word.
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Land of the free, not the land of free handouts
We are told that illegal immigrants are coming here to work. If that is the case then why are there people on unemployment? Is it because they make more on unemployment than they can doing work beneath their inflated stature? If that is the case then let them become truly hungry.
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Travel Management Plan flawed
Re: “Negativity has no place” Letters, 2/3/10Why would it be inappropriate for any organization to solicit comments from the public about negative impacts from motorized vehicles off paved roads in the National Forests, especially given the various Executive Orders to the Forest Service about minimizing conflicts between trail users? These are legitimate public safety questions and solicitations which should be shared to inform the agency of user-conflict that multiple use trails have already caused.
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Cal Water rate hearing in Kernville
The Public Utilities Commission has scheduled a meeting at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce building on Thursday, Feb. 18, to receive public input regarding an application by the California Water Service Company (Cal Water) to increase rates by more than 25 percent over the next three years. Several months ago, when these rate increases were first proposed, Cal Water held an informational meeting at the Moose Lodge in Lake Isabella. Unfortunately, it was solely an opportunity for Cal Water to present their issues and that no minutes were being recorded and that no customer concerns were to be taken back to Cal Water’s Senior Management. While their intentions may have been honorable, it seemed as if the meeting was planned to defuse public concerns before the real review process occurred by letting the public vent their frustration “yelling down Cal Water’s well,” but with nobody listening but us!
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Accusations false, unfounded
Re: “Negativity has no place” Letters, 2/3/10Mr. Horgan claimed that “The ForestKeepers agreed to pull their negative campaign when the Forest Service told them it was inappropriate to solicit negative comments during a collaborative trail planning process.” This is false. No such comment was ever made to SFK by the Forest Service, and the comments collected were intended to keep hiking trails designated as such.
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An open letter to AltaOne CEO Bob Boland
Thank you, thank you, thank you! It’s been a week, five days that we have been able to access the Kernville branch of Alta One for one hour a day. To most folks it doesn’t seem like enough, but the members and owners in Kernville, River Kern & Upper River as well as Wofford Heights, are very appreciative.
More of this storyI am appalled at the letters written lately bashing Stewards. If we did not have his help and support we would not have the trails and roads we have open at this time for recreational use. I have been living in the area for 30 years. In those 30 years I have hiked, biked, xcountry skied, down hill skied, snowmobiled, and now I am a offroad motorcycle rider. The reason I have to ride a motorcycle now is that, I was disabled in 2000 and thought I would never get to see the trails I enjoyed daily. My husband bought me a little motorcycle and it is my life to be able to ride on the trails that Stewards has fought to keep open. When I am on the trails I rarely see another sole. I really do not see a problem with all of us trying to work together in stead of slamming a group fighting for all of us to be able to enjoy are Forest together. In those 30 years, I have never felt like there was any kind of danger from any offroad vehicle etc.. I think if you are out on trails or roads doing any kind of recreation, you should be aware of your surroundings and if you feel in danger I think you better find another sport.
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Majority of public land is off limits to OHV
Regarding OHV use in the Forest, let’s remember a few things. The vast majority of public lands (80 percent ?) is off limits to OHV use. These areas are presumably for those who want a wilderness experience. You won’t find trails there that are maintained, but you will find trash from hikers and other “nature lovers.”
More of this storyThe Sequoia Forest Service has announced their intention to implement Fixed Date Seasonal Closure of 181 miles of mid to high altitude roads and trails from Dec. 31 to April 15 due to snow accumulations that may or may not occur each year.
More of this storyI recently required an operation to correct an abdominal hernia. Having had this procedure in the past, I was not looking forward to this corrective surgery. A friend of mine had the procedure done here in the valley at our Kern Valley Hospital and suggested I have it done there. He told me it was almost painless and he was up and about the next day. I found this surprising as my prior surgery left me bedridden for three weeks. He went on to say the surgeon and staff were excellent and that with the specialized (laparoscopic) procedure I would not experience the discomfort I had in the past.
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Columns
Belated Valentine Advice
Jackie Papandrew
More of this storyMatt Freeman
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
More of this storyBob Powers
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Talkin' Trash: Why should I recycle?
Sheri Bowyer
More of this storyDaniel Pope
More of this storyGeorge Stahl
More of this storyBrandon Muncy
More of this storyKernville Jill
More of this storyDaniel Pope
More of this storyMarsha Smith
More of this storyGeorge Stahl
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Devoted pets deserve loving farewell
Marsha Smith
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The Cuss-Free Week That Almost Was
George Stahl
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Give the Nuui Cunni girls recipes a try
Brandon Muncy
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