A quiet night in front of the TV was not in the cards for Ryan Cunningham. The 32-year-old Bakersfield man was relaxing at home when he noticed smoke seeping into his second-floor apartment.

He raced downstairs and pounded on the door of the unit below his. Peering through the window he saw nothing but a thick blackness and an ominous orange glow.

"I opened the door and smoke started pouring out," he remembered of the Dec. 29 fire. "It was so thick it was almost liquid."

Then Cunningham heard a sound coming from inside the small apartment -- the moaning of a woman trapped inside.

There was little time to think.

Cunningham plunged into the maelstrom, crawling along the floor through the blinding smoke -- until he felt the woman's hand.

"Then I stood up, took a breath and it almost overwhelmed me," he said.

He ran outside, coughing and gasping for air. He called 911 on his cell phone, told emergency responders what was happening and informed them that he was going back into the apartment.

No one was there to tell him it was a crazy idea.

Once again he worked his way through the smoke. The woman, identified in news reports as Kelleye Chase, was still alive.

"I knew I was going to get her out no matter what," Cunningham remembered thinking. And that's what he did, risking his life to drag Chase out of the toxic cloud that paramedics and hospital staff said would have killed her otherwise.

When Cunningham's sister Corrine Raub saw him later that night, covered in black soot and being treated for smoke inhalation at Kern Medical Center, she realized she wasn't all that surprised by his actions. "That's just who my brother is," Raub said.

Red Cross honors

Cunningham and several other Kern County residents were recognized Friday evening by the Kern chapter of the American Red Cross as Real Heroes for 2009. The names, chosen from more than 70 nominations, were announced at a reception held at the law offices of Young Wooldridge. They include firefighters and police officers, but also average individuals helping to make our community a better place, said Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, honorary chairman of the annual event. They act for no other reason, he said, than it's the right thing to do.

Cunningham was honored in the "Heroic Act" category. Following are the other honorees in several categories:

Emergency Services:

As director of flight operations for the Bakersfield squadron of the all-volunteer Civil Air Patrol, Capt. Ron Custer trains private pilots to conduct search-and-rescue operations. In his nomination of Custer, Civil Air Patrol Maj. Scott Garrison said, "Many families have received information about loved ones because of the work of Rob Custer. I am honored to call Capt. Rob Custer my hero and friend."

Military:

Serving his third tour of duty in Iraq, U.S. Army Cpl. Wesley Leon Barrientos was on patrol when a roadside bomb exploded Dec. 20, 2007. The Ridgeview High graduate became "a double amputee at 23," McCarthy said. "A short two months later, he married his sweetheart, Marcela." The couple are now the proud parents of a baby girl. Barrientos was not able to attend Friday's event, but his mother accepted the honor in his place.

Firefighter:

Besides working as a Kern County fire captain, Don Napier has volunteered as a department chaplain since 1989. In addition to his normal duties, Napier responds to the needs of families following home fires and other emergencies. "Don has a great heart and has been an inspiration to many people in our department and in our community," said co-worker Joe Appleton, who nominated Napier. "I'm not the hero here," Napier said at Friday's reception. God gets all the credit, he said.

Educator:

When Kern political activist, businessman and academic Jess Nieto founded the Chicano Latino Scholastic and Leadership Academy, he brought high school students together with college students and successful professionals to create mentor relationships. The most rewarding part, Nieto said, is seeing people succeed in higher education, people who "may not have the means, but have the desire."

Medical:

Some people say Bakersfield oncologist Ravi Patel is a quiet hero who has been known to write off the cost of treatment for uninsured patients. When employee Susie Bell's family was affected by cancer, Patel was there as a friend and as a physician. "I know many patients feel the same as I and he would blush at the recognition," Bell said in her nomination, "but I can hardly think of a more deserving man." Patel said any credit due goes to the entire team at Comprehensive Blood & Cancer Center.

Youth Role Model:

Drew Heredia is proof that heroes come in all sizes. In December, when the 9-year-old Bakersfield boy saw a girl being viciously attacked by a pit bull dog, he placed the dog in a chokehold for several minutes until help arrived. The girl was treated for severe puncture wounds, but she could have been killed had Drew not interceded.

Adult Role Model:

Maybe angels really do have to earn their wings. As a volunteer pilot with Angel Flights, George Morse provides free air travel for desperately ill patients flying to hospitals and treatment centers, making it financially possible for many to receive life-saving care. Making an average of four flights a month, Morse bears the entire cost of the flights.

Law Enforcement:

Sheriff's Deputy Thomas Moore was the first officer to arrive at the McFarland crime scene Dec. 6. Moments before, a child in the house had called 911 to report that her father had shot her mom. Moore could have waited for backup, but because of the potential danger to the child, he chose to go in alone, said Sheriff Donny Youngblood, who nominated Moore. Deputy Moore suffered shotgun blast injuries to his face, hands, arms, neck and left eye after the man inside opened fire, officials said.

Law Enforcement:

Bakersfield police Officer Dennis Eddy was nominated by Chief of Police Bill Rector for the actions he took and the personal sacrifice he endured in attempting to arrest a parolee suspected of associating with known gang members. During his pursuit of the suspect last year, Eddy was struck by gunfire in the chest and the leg. Eddy remained upright as long as possible, returning fire until he fell to ground. Despite losing part of his leg as a result, Officer Eddy has returned to duty after several months of painful surgeries and physical therapy. Rector called Eddy a role model.

Outstanding Group Role Model:

The 30 medical professionals and support staff at Preferred Family Care Physicians are busy all year trying to give something back. This year and last, they have volunteered time and resources at Buttonwillow Elementary School. In just one example, second-graders at the school were given new backpacks stuffed with supplies, allowing the students to start the school year with confidence. They also gave jackets to the students and helped finance a field trip to Pioneer Village. To show the community how proud they are of the students, the children's artwork is displayed in their office.

Would this lede make you want to read further?

The 1,500-pound bull was already enraged -- slamming into the side of the steel livestock chute like a Kia with a bad clutch.

On the other side of the gate, Bryan Woolley waited, dressed in clown makeup, cutoff pants and a cowboy hat. The 37-year-old Bakersfield native braced himself as the gate swung wide and the bull exploded into the open arena, kicking high and bucking even higher.

The crowd screamed with joy. Three seconds later, the young man riding the furious bovine landed facedown in the dirt.

These are the moments when Woolley earns his pay.

In his letter to the editor published March 24 in The Californian, Ed De Boer declares:

"America is doomed to fail because, while declaring that God is our leader (i.e the Pledge of Allegiance), we are involved in a system that is anti-God ..."

He continues:

"They talk about restoring the credit system when its the credit system that caused our economic destruction ..."

Then he suggests that Americans help cause a "total economic crash" because without complete destruction we cannot be reborn into the pure economic system De Boer prophesizes will surely follow.

He concludes:

"In order to restore our nation and our economic system, we should tell President Obama that we are going to sit on our hands and wait him out. Before long, these plans of his, and his minions, will result in a total economic crash and we can rebuild again."

I read it this morning over my bowl of oatmeal and just HAD to share it with my fellow bloggers (Don't you feel lucky?).

So what do you think? Is DeBoer's letter an example of (A) Amazing clarity; (B) Patented horse hockey; (C) Fearmongering; (D) Theological economics; (E) Patriotism; (F) The belief that the destruction of the nation is ultimately preferable to a flawed system.

Bakersfield Condors hockey fans can get into tonight's Bakersfield Condors game for just $1 -- plus a donation of a new or gently used children's book.

That's right. Fans who donate one children's book plus one greenback dollar will gain entry to Wednesday's grudge match against the Utah Grizzlies.

As it turns out, hockey fans and literate types have more in common than one might think, including a desire to help kids become avid readers.

All donated books will go to My First Library, an annual effort organized by The Californian that distributes books to thousands of children who might not otherwise have books of their own.

Brian Marsh, community relations manager for the Condors, said the organization collected close to 650 children's books when the Condors joined the previous book drive in late 2007.

"I think we can do even better this year," Marsh said.

Of course, you don't have to be a Condors fan to bring a smile to a child's face. Just drop off new and gently used children's books Monday through Friday at The Californian's lobby at 1707 Eye St. in downtown Bakersfield.

And this year, there's yet another way to donate -- and get your child's photo in The Californian at the same time. Just take a photo of your child holding his or her favorite book, write a short review of the book, and follow these directions:

Cost:
$10 (all proceeds will be used to purchase books for children)
We need:
• a picture of your child holding his or her favorite book
• your child’s name, age, the book's title and author
• a review telling us what your child loved about the book, in 100 words or less
• the sender’s name, phone number or e-mail address (this will not be published)
How to submit reviews/photos
• Bring them to The Bakersfield Californian, 1707 Eye St.
• E-mail them to Myfirstlibrary@bakersfield.com. If you send your check by post, write your e-mail address on the check.
• Mail them to The Bakersfield Californian/My First Library, PO Bin 440, Bakersfield, Calif., 93302
Payment
• Credit card: submit card information, including type of card, name on card, card number and expiration date
• Check: Payable to The Bakersfield Californian.
• Cash will be accepted for reviews brought to The Californian’s office.

If I read yet another story about yet another dysfunctional drug-addicted millionaire rock star who finds God — and incidentally, wants me to buy his book about being a dysfunctional drug-addicted millionaire rock star who finds God — I'm going to ... BLOG!

Less than two years ago, former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch released his memoir, “Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs ..." et-effen-cetera.

Now former band mate and Bako-buddy Reggie “Fieldy” Arvizu is about to release his autobiography (Is it POSSIBLE to have an autobiography at age 39?) titled "How I Conned $24.95 Out Of Fans Who Are Dying To Read About a Dysfunctional Drug-Addicted Millionaire Rock Star Who Finds God."

OK, that's not really the title, but does anybody really care? If Head and Fieldy donate 100 percent of their book profits to fight cancer or something, I might reconsider and buy their books.

I might even find God.

California's 40 state senators are introducing fewer bills and passing fewer laws than they have for years.

That bit of news, uncovered by Californian reporters, may be cause for celebration among those who believe state government is already top-heavy with unnecessary or wasteful legislation.

The total number of bills introduced in the state Senate, for example, declined from 1,918 during the 2003-2004 legislative session to 1,781 in the two-year session that ended in December, according to statistics kept by Gregory Schmidt, secretary of the state Senate.

Not only are fewer bills being introduced in the Senate, a shrinking percentage of those bills are becoming the law of the land.

And the numbers are likely to decline even further this year and next.

Last month, the Senate Rules Committee agreed to reduce the maximum number of bills a senator can introduce during a two-year session — from 50 to 40.

What do you think? Is this a step in the right direction? Too little, too late? Meaningless in the face of billions in bond measures voters regularly pass?