Goodbye 2007 - goodbye2007's Blog - Bakersfield.com

Kern's environment and health in 2007

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:32:47 PST

ENVIRONMENT

Good news/bad news for Kern air

Kern County choked on news that it will take 17 years, possibly more, to reduce smog. Regional air regulators released a smog cleanup plan requiring an 11-year extension on the federal government's 2013 deadline to clean the air. Environmental and health advocates fought for stricter rules on business, given the enormous public health burden. A few tweaks were made, but nothing substantial enough to clean the air before 2024.

On the bright side, Kern County had significantly fewer smoggy days. During the summer smog season, Bakersfield violated the federal limit for smog on 15 days, the lowest number in two decades.

In October, a state bill was signed that will expand the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District Governing Board to include an air pollution scientist, a doctor and two more city council representatives. Currently, the board is made up of eight county supervisors and three city council members from throughout the valley.

Refinery rumble

Big West of California's refinery on Rosedale Highway made the news several times. Plans to increase fuel output alarmed the public when they learned Big West planned to use hydrofluoric acid, a dangerous and toxic chemical. When spilled, the chemical forms a traveling cloud that could injure or kill those in its path. Big West later revised its proposal to use a modified form of the acid with less danger if spilled. The county put the expansion project on hold for more study.

In April Kern officials cited the refinery for venting gas. Big West officials said the releases were due to power outages and the company is upgrading electrical equipment to prevent further ventings.

Part of the refinery was shut down for a few days in June to locate the source of oil flowing into a groundwater monitoring well. A Californian investigation later found that numerous leaks and spills at the facility in the past 20 years had created an extensive plume of soil and groundwater contamination, some if it close to drinking water sources. Despite the situation, regional water quality regulators never issued any formal cleanup orders even after former owner Shell shut down the only cleanup system on site in March 2005.

After the story was published, the water board issued an order that required Shell to restart the cleanup system by Nov. 1 and ordered investigations into the full extent of pollution. Shell restarted the cleanup system in early October.

Waste handlers fined

Kern County took two waste companies to task.

In November, Kern officials levied a $30,000 fined against Hondo Chemical, a company on Stockdale Highway near Enos Lane that mixes oil-field wastewater with fly ash to make a cement-like product used for dust control. That was on top of $23,000 it owed the county Environmental Health Department in fines and late fees for a May order. County officials charged that the company stored exotic, industrial wastes in an improper manner, posing a threat to groundwater. As of Dec. 21, the company had not paid.

In June, a cease-and-desist order was issued to Community Recycling after food wrappers, plastic bags, bottle caps and other solid waste were found in the compost on nearby farmland owned by a company official. The facility, near Arvin, makes compost from rejected supermarket produce and Los Angeles' yard waste. In October, county supervisors slapped a $5,000 fine against Community Recycling for stockpiling 300,000 tons of smashed wallboard and concrete on farmland without a permit. The company has paid the fine.

Water woes

Dwindling numbers of an endangered fish, the tiny Delta smelt, resulted in an unprecedented federal ruling in August that will significantly reduce State Water Project deliveries. Local water officials said the impact on farmers could be devastating. Mother Nature was no help. Just 2.97 inches of rain had fallen in Bakersfield by late December. With normal annual rainfall of 6.5 inches, 2007 was on track to become the fifth driest year since 1889, National Weather Service officials said.

A win for wildlife

A beaver's life was spared after public outrcy in December over plans to kill the rodent that had chewed down city trees along the Kern River bike path. City parks officials asked the state wildlife agency for help with the problem. California Department of Fish and Game officials said the agency doesn't relocate beavers and issued a permit to exterminate the animal. Parks officials revoked the permit after learning of the plans and receiving more than 50 e-mails and phone calls overnight from city residents and beaver lovers as far away as upstate New York and Indiana. They now plan to relocate the beaver, or find a way to allow it to remain where it is.

HEALTH

Children sickened with E. coli

Eleven people, mostly children, were sickened by E. coli bacteria in April and May.

The Kern County Department of Public Health believes two children were sickened between April 16 and 24, and then spread it to other children at parties. Then those children made other children and family members ill from close contact.

The health department still doesn't know what originally sickened the first two children, said interim County Public Health Officer Dr. Claudia Jonah on Dec. 18.

Two of the children were hospitalized with hemolytic-uremic syndrome, a condition seen in serious foodborne illnesses and marked by kidney failure.

Elijah Walker and Jane Maberry, who were both 6 years old when hospitalized, are doing well and show no lasting effects of the illness, their parents said on Dec. 18.

Kern No. 1 for West Nile

Kern County was ground zero for West Nile virus.

As of Dec. 20, 379 people had been infected with the mosquito-borne virus statewide, with 138 in Kern County. Four Kern residents died from complications of the virus.

Health officials scrambled. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared an emergency in Kern in August. A plane sprayed pesticide twice over much of Bakersfield.

Some officials pointed to green, unkempt swimming pools -- potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes -- as a reason for Kern's high number of cases and asked Realtors, brokers and agents to help report the pools to vector control.

An aerial survey of Bakersfield in August by the Kern Mosquito and Vector Control District found 1,200 suspect swimming pools.

Hospital expansion

To meet the demands of Bakersfield's growing population, one hospital finished a major construction project while another inched closer to completion.

San Joaquin Community Hospital dedicated its $72 million, five-story North Tower in April. This added about 70 beds to the 178 beds the hospital is licensed for.

Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is also in the midst of a five-story tower addition, slated to be done in 2008.

OB/GYN controversy

Kern Medical Center's OB/GYN conflict started a couple years ago when the contracts of several OB/GYN physicians were criticized for paying too much and too many perks, including malpractice insurance that covered the doctors in their private practices.

In March, county supervisors voted to stop providing the insurance for six OB/GYN physicians when they are working outside the county hospital.

In June, potential infighting came to light.

Dr. Nicole Sharkey, who was then a fourth-year resident, filed a claim against the county, the hospital and two KMC physicians for damages she said she suffered through being sexually harassed. The physicians, Drs. George Alkhouri and Joseph Mansour, denied any wrongdoing. Mansour said Sharkey was being used by several other OB/GYN physicians to discredit him because Mansour went to county supervisors with the contracts, he said. The turmoil could also cost KMC the OB/GYN residency program.

In October, a "mock accreditation" report, preparation for a re-accreditation survey, found "the faculty is divided into two camps" and that faculty misbehavior "could lead to summary withdrawal of the (residency program), without recourse to appeal."

Dr. Leonard Perez, former department chairman, also was suspended by current interim chairman Dr. Robert Wallace. County officials wouldn't comment on the reason for Perez's suspension; some claimed Wallace was given the top OB/GYN job because he once worked as an adviser for Supervisor Michael Rubio.

Lastly, Sharkey filed a claim against the county, the hospital and several other medical residents in early December for damages she says she suffered after the physicians inappropriately accessed her medical records.

Furor over tattoos

What started as a disagreement between a doctor and patients escalated into threats, name-calling on the blogosphere and a media circus garnering the attention of local radio programs -- even a mention on "The Colbert Report," a national comedy news show.

On Feb. 7, Tasha Childress took her toddler to Dr. Gary Alexander Merrill's F Street office with an ear infection.

Childress, 24, said they were refused care because of three visible star tattoos she and her husband have behind their ears.

"We just like to be upfront with everything," said Merrill, of Christian Medical Services. "Our policies all reflect consideration for conservative clientele in a traditional atmosphere ... a sort of refuge from the crudeness and vulgarity of the public sector."

The Year in Entertainment

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:16:17 PST

This year, Bakersfield, you braved a concert in a Wal-Mart parking lot, rocked hard at Rabobank Arena and paid homage to our musical ambassador Buck Owens, gone more than a year now. While there’s not enough space to list every act that dropped by — well, maybe that’s just another sign our city is growing up.

STAR POWER

Patti LaBelle: “Lady Marmalade” gitchy-gitchy-ya-ya’d the Fox in March.

Gwen Stefani and Akon: The ultra-cool red-mouthed siren brought her Harajuku girls and the “Smack That” hip-hop artist to Rabobank in April, much to the delight of tween girls and every male over 16.

Harry Connick Jr.: Swoon. The fetching singer/actor brought his Big Easy soul to the theater at Rabobank Convention Center in May.

Morrissey: The former lead singer and songwriter of the Smiths, one of the most influential English bands of the 1980s, played the theater at Rabobank Convention Center in June.

Korn: The Homegrown metal band returned to town on its “Family Values Tour” in August.
The band's former guitar player, Brian “Head” Welch, exorcised a few demons through his tell-all book “Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story,” released in July.

Trisha Yearwood: The country artist, who performed at the Fox Theater in September, should have fond memories of Bakersfield. Hubby Garth Brooks popped the question at the Crystal Palace in 2005.

Kris Kristofferson: The country artist and actor performed at the Fox Theater in October.

Wynonna: The country artist and one-half of the Judds also played the Fox in October.

B.B. King: The thrill will never be gone with this blues legend, who played with opening act Monty Byrom at the Fox Theater in October.

James Taylor: Cozy and autumn-ready, the legendary folk-rock star soothed the savage Rabobank in November.

Ozzy Osbourne/Rob Zombie: So there’s James Taylor, and then waaay on the other side of the emotional spectrum are these guys. The scary duo rocked Rabobank Arena in November. It’s unknown whether children or small animals were harmed.

Disney High School Musical Ice Tour: OMG!! The campy tween favorite strapped on blades and skated through Rabobank Arena in November.

André Rieu: The Dutch classical violinist and conductor, a PBS darling, brought his Johann Strauss Orchestra to Rabobank Arena earlier this month.

BUCK & HOMETOWN BOYS

Birthday bash

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace is dedicated not merely to keeping the star’s memory alive, but thriving.

A stellar lineup of Dwight Yoakam, Raul Malo, Buddy Alan Owens, Monty Byrom, The Buckaroos and more lit up Buck's Birthday Bash Aug. 14, just two days after what would have been Owens’ 78th birthday.

Buck’s son Buddy and Storme Warren, host of “Country Music Across America” on the Great American Country television network, hosted the event.

Tributes
Dwight Yoakam released a tribute album to his pal in October titled “Dwight Sings Buck.”
Country act The Derailers dropped a tribute album “Under the Influence of Buck” in July.

The Hag
Merle Haggard had one for the records this year in his old stomping grounds. Loud and rowdy fans marred his February Fox Theater show, but all was forgiven by July, when signs went up transforming a portion of old 7th Standard Road to Merle Haggard Drive.

Homer Joy
The man who gave Bakersfield its own theme song performed here for the first time. In April, Homer Joy presented to the keepers of Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace the original sheet of paper on which he wrote “Streets of Bakersfield,” the song that became Owens’ last No. 1 country hit. In return, the Palace gave a signature red-white-and-blue Buck guitar to an emotional Joy.

Recovering nicely from a heart transplant, Joy played a show in October at Trout’s new Blackboard Stage and has a New Year’s Eve show slated for the Oildale honky-tonk.

ARTS MILESTONES

The Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra began its 76th season, while the Masterworks Chorale celebrated 75 years of Handel’s “The Messiah.”

Civic Dance Center and the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra marked their 30th anniversary production of “The Nutcracker” earlier this month, a rare collaboration as other cities switch to canned music.

SLIM THE DRIFTER
Also known as Scott Sturtevant, the drifter who pioneered the local alternative scene died in May at his home near Reno. He was 46.
Fellow musicians, friends and family honored the local punk-cowpunk icon with a tribute concert at Fishlips in June.

LATIN

• Marco Antonio Solis, 2004 Latin Grammy winner, came to the Rabobank Arena in early July.

• The irreverent singer Paquita la del Barrio brought her campy, clever tunes to the theater at Rabobank Convention Center in May.

• Mariachi, Spanish soft-pop and ballad singer Pepe Aguilar came to the Fox Theater in April.

• The Fox Theater’s Mariachi Festival in March featured luminaries Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan and Mariachi Imperial De Mexico.

SUMMER IN THE CITY

It was a time to chill in the Bright House Networks Amphitheatre at the Park at River Walk.

Funk band Earth Wind & Fire performed there in July.

The Doobie Brothers and Peter Frampton played in September.

“Northern Exposure” and “Sex and the City” actor and country artist John Corbett brought his band in October.

Even Wal-Mart put on a summer show. Wild fans surged toward the stage as the Plain White T’s (“Hey There Delilah”) performed in the Rosedale Highway megastore’s parking lot in September.

Kern County Fair highlights:

• Mary Wilson, original member of the Supremes

• Los Lobos, enduring Los Angeles band

• Rock artist Eddie Money (“Take Me Home Tonight”)

• “American Idol” contender Amy Adams

• Country music legend Tanya Tucker

• Rock band The Guess Who (“American Woman”)

• Swing act Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

LAUGHS

Comedian George Lopez, who said he could mark the trajectory of his career by his Bakersfield shows starting with the Red Lion Hotel, came to a packed-to-the-rafters Rabobank Arena for his November “America’s Mexican” show.

Carlos Mencia of Comedy Central’s “Mind of Mencia” brought his controversial brand of humor to Rabobank Arena in October.

Many Kern athletes left it all on the field in 2007

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:41:37 PST

From racing to wrestling, Kern County athletes enjoyed an immensely successful year. Some of the 2007 success happened close to home, and some was achieved by Kern County natives in other parts of the state or country.

Here is a list of feats in 2007 that may or may not include your favorite accomplishments. Got an addition? Let us know! Send your thoughts to sports@bakersfield.com.

BC makes run at state title

Bakersfield College was the only unbeaten JC football team in the state during the regular season, going 10-0 to earn the No. 1 seed for the Southern California playoffs. The Renegades finished 12-1, losing 47-42 to Mount San Antonio College in the Southern California title game at Memorial Stadium on Dec. 1 before 12,315, the largest home crowd at a BC home game since the 1994 Potato Bowl.

Ex-Drillers stand tall

Bakersfield High graduate Jake Varner, a wrestler at Iowa State, goes 29-7 and finishes as the NCAA runner-up at 184 pounds as a freshman, earning All-American recognition. Another Bakersfield High graduate, Nathan Morgan at Oklahoma State, earned All-America honors for the second consecutive year after finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships.

In football, former Bakersfield High and Stanford star Jeff Siemon was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

CSUB beats Fresno State

In a Highway 99 showdown, CSUB shocked Fresno State 65-64 before 4,115 in Rabobank Arena on Nov. 17 for CSUB's first home win against a Division I program since 1977. Santwon Latunde's short jumper with 1:39 left made it 65-64. Ryan Brown's steal with two seconds left clinched it.

Foothill's Schwartz wins state

Foothill junior Chris Schwartz gave Kern its first Division I individual winner in the 21-year history of the CIF State Cross Country Championships with a time of 15 minutes, 13 seconds at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 24. He out-kicked race favorite Riley Sullivan of Mission Viejo-Trabuco Hills for the title.

Local football teams dominate

Bakersfield High defeated Clovis West 19-16 with a dramatic second-half rally at Griffith Field for the Central Section Division I football championship, and three other local schools in the Central Section's smaller divisions fared equally well; Bakersfield Christian erased a 28-0 deficit to upset top-seeded Fowler 35-34 in overtime in Division V; Tehachapi defeated Foothill 33-28 in Division III and Taft turned back Corcoran 28-14 to win the Division IV crown, giving local schools titles in four of the five Central Section divisions.

Money troubles sideline the Blitz

Following a 6-10 season marked by money woes, dwindling attendance and off-the-field legal problems, the Bakersfield Blitz of the arenafootball2 league folded. The organization was also rocked by the arrests of wide receiver Rennard Reynolds and defensive lineman Maurice Troutman following incidents in a woman's hotel room after the Blitz's July 7 game in Boise, Idaho. Troutman was convicted of rape charges and Reynolds pleaded guilty to two felony burglary charges. Both await sentencing.

CSUB starts baseball program

CSUB's baseball program became a reality May 17 when former Cal State Northridge coach Bill Kernen was named coach. The first official CSUB baseball game will be played early in 2009. In December, Kernen announced that he had signed 14 players to letters of intent.

Big wins for local Cup drivers

Bakersfield native Kevin Harvick opened the Nextel Cup season in dramatic fashion, edging past Mark Martin on the final lap to win the Daytona 500. Harvick also won the all-star race at Lowe's Motor Speedway and finished the season 10th in points. Bakersfield native Casey Mears raced to his first Nextel Cup win, winning the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Raceway under construction

Ground was broken Feb. 7 for a new half-mile racetrack near Enos Lane and Interstate 5. The track, scheduled to open before the summer of 2008, will host a variety of racing for fendered, as well as open-wheel, cars.

Locals make big leagues

Ridgeview graduate Phil Dumatrait, a left-handed pitcher, made his major league debut in August with the Cincinnati Reds. Stockdale graduate Sean Barker, an outfielder, made his big league debut with the Colorado Rockies in June. Dumatrait and Barker also played for Bakersfield College.

Record year for Pitts

Golfer Justin Pitts, formerly of North High and Bakersfield College, set three course records: at Foss-Kern River (9-under-par 61) in February; at Goose Creek in Mira Loma (9-under 63) in June; and Mifflin-Buena Vista (10-under 62) in July.

Pitts also won the 2007 Arvin City and Men's Kern County amateur championships.

Dazzling series for bowler

Local bowler Carlie Medina III set a Bakersfield record April 24 for the highest-scoring three-game series with scores of 300-279-300 for an 879 total while playing in the Tuesday Men's league at Regency Bowling Center.

Honorable mention list:

The Bakersfield Condors hockey team reached the second round of the ECHL playoffs for the second straight season before falling to the Alaska Aces.

Mike Johnson of Lompoc dominated the Western All Star Late Model competition on the dirt at Bakersfield Speedway en route to winning the series championship.

Taft College defeated Santa Rosa 2-1 in overtime for the state junior college men’s soccer title.

Chris Davis hit successfully in 35 straight games for the Blaze, tying a California League record.

More big dates for CSUB

Feb. 25: Lionel Halsey upset No. 1 seed (and former Roadrunner) Matt Monteiro of Cal Poly to win the 197-pound title as the Roadrunners hosted the Pac-10 Championship. Halsey was named the tournament’s most outstanding wrestler and CSUB placed second.

March 3: The CSUB women’s basketball team defeated Cal Poly Pomona 87-51 to end the season with its 15th consecutive win. The ’Runners were 20-2 in conference and won the CCAA for the third time in five seasons.

Aug. 31: Steve Trojanowski made a school-record 18 saves to lead CSUB to a shocking 2-1 overtime upset at the University of Portland in CSUB’s first NCAA Division I men’s soccer match. About a month later, Ohio State scored in the 87th minute to beat CSUB 1-0.

Sept. 9: Alexa Vickroy scored twice to lead the Roadrunners to a 2-1 win at Saint Mary's College. It is the first NCAA Division I win for CSUB’s women’s soccer program.

People to watch in 2008

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 07:52:02 PST

Kern County has more than its share of trendsetters, torchbearers, innovators and leaders. Some lead by example. Others lead by persuasion. Some inspire admiration. Others derision.

Following is a sampling of Kern County residents who, for better or worse, are poised to make a splash in 2008.

In God we trusted

Longtime Bakersfield City Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan has become known for championing a single issue: getting In God We Trust on school posters and government walls whenever and wherever possible.

Will the 68-year-old decide to run for another four-year term in 2008? If she does, it could either be hugely entertaining or a total snoozer, depending on who, if anyone, challenges Sullivan.

Too early to talk legacy?

The Weekly Standard in September named Bakersfield congressman Kevin McCarthy one of three "Young Guns of the House GOP."

The prominent conservative magazine further dubbed McCarthy "the strategist" with one goal -- "to retake the House."

Some may argue that McCarthy's legislative duties are more important to his constituents than any aspirations he may have to become his party's top campaign planner.

But McCarthy has been active in a slew of local issues in 2007, with direct involvement in the VA's plans for a national veterans cemetery; concerns about the availability of medical care for local military veterans; plans to build a federal courthouse in Bakersfield; and a base realignment in Ridgecrest that could bring hundreds of new jobs to the naval weapons station at China Lake.

Voters should have a clearer picture in 2008 of how McCarthy is performing on these and other issues.

Cleaning up the town

Veteran county administrator John Nilon will be another one to watch in 2008. Some may argue that no one appeared to be watching his predecessor.

As the new administrative head of Kern County's troubled Department of Public Health Services, Nilon's priority will be to restore the agency's damaged credibility.

The health department has been plagued for years by lax financial controls and questionable billing practices, according to a county auditor's report. Many of the problems were linked to the leadership of former Director B.A. Jinadu, who left this summer for points unknown -- while owing the state more than $400,000 for overbilling Medi-Cal.

Romancing the Tombstone

Another local icon to watch -- even if it's not really a person -- is the historic Padre Hotel. The circa-1928 building has been a part of Bakersfield's folklore and cityscape for so long that some believe it's alive and breathing.

But after five years of work and waiting -- and an asbestos lawsuit, too -- owner Pacifica Enterprises halted renovation on the 72,800-square-foot landmark and placed it on the market in June for $5.6 million.

We've had our hopes dashed so many times, it's hard to believe recent reports that an unnamed San Diego company with multiple hotel and restaurant holdings is in negotiations to turn the Padre into a high-end boutique hotel.

But hey, it's the new year. Anything's possible.

What's old is new again

He's only 18, but the jazz piano stylings of Ezekiel Victor combine the dynamic subtlety of a seasoned performer with the youthful exuberance of someone experiencing it all for the first time.

This 2007 Highland High School graduate received his early training in classical music, but fell in love with jazz piano in his mid-teens.

"He has such an old soul," school psychologist and jazz afficionado Larry Totten said of Victor.

Although he regularly plays jazz in Bakersfield and is working to get on the music scene in Los Angeles, Victor is a realist, too. He's studying computer science at UCLA.

Samples from Victor's self-produced CD can be heard at www.ezekielvictor.com.

Painting the town

It's nearly impossible to highlight one painter, sculptor or artist in Kern County when the list of talented individuals who work and create here is so long and varied.

Instead, we're highlighting a local artist and poet who found a way to bring together more than 150 pieces of artwork by 34 female artists last October -- and make it work. The name of this bundle of creative energy is Jen Raven and the name of the show was "Burn the Witch II."

Held at The Empty Space for the second year in a row, the show had the artsy and the curious, the mainstream and the alternative, streaming through -- and opening their checkbooks, too.

The event was a fundraiser as well, so a portion of the proceeds helped support the venue's ongoing effort to make quality live theater affordable and accessible in Bakersfield.

The Year in Dining

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 07:45:54 PST

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

In a year in which booming Bakersfield finally took a breath (somewhat) and stopped growing like Las Vegas without the slot machines, the city’s restaurant scene evolved in old and new ways. The trend toward diversity in our dining continued, and some national chains discovered us. According to a news report last month, we apparently reached the specific population profile needed to support a Hooters.

Hey, there’s a civic accomplishment to be proud of.

Last year I did one of those long lists of recommended restaurants in all sorts of categories at the year’s end. This year we’ve got a scaled back version of what’s worth mentioning, but be assured we’ll be back in 2008 with one of those comprehensive recommended dining lists for you to agree or disagree with.

The invasion of the chains

I’ll have more to say about this subject in a future story, but it’s such a hot topic among Bakersfield restaurateurs that I have to discuss it here. In recent years, chains like P.F. Chang’s, California Pizza Kitchen, Elephant Bar, Chili’s, Chipotle, Tacone Flavor Grill, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse opened restaurants here. This year we saw a real slowing of the chain/franchise expansion, but we did get our first Great Wraps sandwiches, Great Harvest Bread Co., Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, Wings to Go and Taco Del Mar. Opening soon are Red Brick Pizza, Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que and, possibly, Hooters.

Why does this matter to you? Local people who own and operate restaurants get frustrated when they see long lines outside of chain competitors that they feel are offering inferior products at higher prices. Chains have extensively studied everything from how the entrance should be designed to how you should be greeted at the door, how long you’ll wait, how they can “upsell” you to boost check averages, even (according to one local restaurant owner) how many feet away from the restaurant building the trash bin should be located.

A vital local restaurant industry is one indicator of quality of life in a city. One restaurant owner told me Nordstrom bases its store location decisions on how many fast food, pizza and Mexican restaurants it finds per capita in a city, as opposed to fine dining establishments. To some retailers, we apparently are what we eat. Restaurant chains also have large, multimedia advertising budgets that are typically out of the reach of the local guy just starting out. What these entrepreneurs want is a fair shake to capture business without losing their shirt.

In that spirit, I take a minute to honor the brave souls who opened new restaurants or purchased existing ones in Bakersfield this year, such as the owners of Replay Lounge & Grill, Benjamin’s Restaurant & Cocktails, Love Sushi, Capistrano’s Restaurant, Jo’s Big Bad BBQ, The Crest Bar and Grill, MGM Asian, Thai Kitchen, Tony’s Pizza, Azores Cafe, The Happy Rooster, The Prime Cut, Cazuelas Mary, Maui Pho, and Toro Sushi, Bar & Grill. Thanks for being brave enough to get in the arena against the big dogs.

Sometimes readers e-mail me and ask me to ignore the restaurant chains to help the local “little guys” out. I don’t think that’s a reasonable suggestion, and will continue to give the franchised operations the attention they deserve.

Restaurants that show Bakersfield is changing

Azores Cafe, 1723 18th St ., 864-1081. This small family-run restaurant offers some inexpensive, homemade Cuban and Azorean options for lunch or dinner. Very charming, and another example of welcome diversity in our dining scene.

Mama Roomba, 1814 Eye St., 322-6262. While walking around downtown looking for a restaurant, we seldom find any empty table at this tiny place. It’s got a lot of character and a diverse menu that defies easy categorization. Supposedly Caribbean, but the menu is very eclectic. I think they just love good food.

Thai Kitchen, 9901 Hageman Road, 589-8678. In Los Angeles, Thai restaurants are everywhere. Considering Bakersfield’s tendency to embrace anything spicy, you’d think Thai would fly here. It’s happening now, and this Rosedale restaurant is an example of why: locally owned, lots of options for vegetarians, authentic cuisine. More Thai restaurants are on the way (one will open soon near the new Action Sports store), and I think there’s room enough for all, if they’re run as well as the Thai Kitchen.

The Happy Rooster Peruvian Cuisine, 3220 Stine Road, 833-3724. Our first Peruvian restaurant is more like a family-run coffee shop than a gourmet restaurant, but most foodies would tell you that Peruvian cuisine (with influences ranging from Chinese to Japanese, Indian and Italian) is one of the most interesting cuisines in the world. We’re lucky to have it.

Most improved restaurants of 2007

Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar, 3310 Truxtun Ave., 864-0397. New owners Jennifer Sanderson and Jeramy Brown have revitalized this small restaurant in exciting ways, including special wine dinners and e-mails keeping regulars notified about special events at the restaurant. The menu is ever changing, but the quality does not. Why just a couple of weeks ago I received an unsolicited e-mail from reader Harvey Campbell, who described himself as a 35-year resident who dines out frequently. He proclaimed Valentien the best restaurant in town for the following reasons:

“1. good and varied continental menu,

2. proper-sized portions,

3. excellent sauces,

4. a $15 prix fix luncheon menu that can not be beat

5. a wide and affordable wine list and excellent wines by the glass.”

McGee’s at the Icehouse, 3401 Chester Ave., 323-8730. Last spring after an ownership change, this restaurant (located in one of the most interesting restaurant spaces in town) really ramped up its game and became instantly one of the top five restaurants in town. Everything from appetizers to desserts are first-rate, and the staff has a helpful, positive energy that makes the dining experience truly exquisite.

Most improved: Valentien Restaurant & Wine Bar

Honorary mentions: old standbys that have kicked it up a notch this year:

Mama Tosca’s Ristorante Italiano, 9000 Ming Ave., 831-1242. As time goes by, a restaurant may not necessarily change but your appreciation of what they do can, and I’ve had so many different entrees over the years at Mama’s. I think the ravioli cognac, the osso bucco, the gnocchi can pass muster in cities with great reputations for Italian food such as San Francisco, Boston and Washington, D.C. The staff is polished and professional, and the location at The Marketplace is an oasis of taste and civility.

The Bistro, 5101 California Ave., 323-3905. This restaurant at the Sheraton Four Points has always tried to stay nimble in the face of changing culinary trends, but the menu unveiled this year had so many good choices even as it looked less diverse than in the past. The kitchen’s emphasis on first-rate ingredients and the charming staff make it an excellent choice for an anniversary dinner.

Restaurants I’d miss the most if I moved away

This is my personal list, and I have no intention of flying away, but these are the gems I don’t feel you can find just anywhere:

24th Street Cafe: For its always innovative breakfast menu. The perfect place to spend a weekend morning in Bakersfield.

Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace: For the history on the wall and the chicken fried steaks.

Cafe Med: For the passion the owner has for great food and wine, and its consistency.

Valentien: It’s small, personal, intimate and like being invited to an exclusive party that you’ll remember forever. All that, in a restaurant.

Frugatti’s: For Italian food and whole milk mozzarella wood-fire oven pizza with a modern, casual spin.

Pizza Bob’s: For its Sicilian pizza and meatball sandwiches.

Brinks Deli: For the sandwiches, especially the Sicilian beef. Quality ingredients.

T.L. Maxwell’s: Like Cafe Med, the owner is passionate about first-rate food. Plus the desserts are incredible.

Jake’s Original Tex-Mex Cafe: For the garlic chicken no matter how you eat it and the belcher spuds.

Luigi’s Restaurant & Delicatessen: For the history on the wall (notice a trend) and the fond memories of many great lunches and laughs there.

Wool Growers Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge: For classic Basque food in an atmosphere that’s not too modern, not too tattered.

Welcome: Best new restaurants of 2007

The Crest Bar and Grill, 5025 Wible Road, 833-9998. The quality of the ingredients is amazing, and since it’s tucked into an RV park near the auto mall I wonder how many others will know about its excellence? If you love beef tri-tip, try the East Coast Provost ($7.95), made with grilled mushrooms, onions and Swiss cheese. Light dinners and entrees are all done well here, and the Crest will begin offering breakfast on the weekends starting Jan. 12.

Cazuelas Mary Grill and Bar, 250 Oak St., 637-2000. Those who complain all Bakersfield Mexican restaurants offer the same selections need to visit this charming Oak Street restaurant where you can get great entrees such as the shrimp with tequila sauce or mole verde pork chops. A fun, casual dining option.

Toro Sushi, Bar & Grill, 9000 Ming Ave., 663-7878. The freshness of the sushi is superb, the noodle dishes are great, as is the teriyaki. Almost everything we tried was superb from this small restaurant that faces the south entrance of the CSUB campus.

Benjamin’s Restaurant & Cocktails, 1419 19th St., 324-2528. I didn’t go into rave overdrive after my visit to this new place in the old Xanders Grill location just east of Chester Avenue , but I think with time and support it will evolve into a key contributor to the restaurant scene. I’m rooting for owner John Benjamin.

The Prime Cut, 9500 Brimhall Road, 831-1413. OK. It’s not exactly new, but what began as a tiny meat market has evolved into a full-scale restaurant that features great steaks, pit-style beef and Cajun specialties. Fun.

Love Sushi, 3940 Coffee Road, 587-4245. A great, hip new restaurant that offers both Japanese entrees and sushi of all types.

Ruben’s Mexican & Seafood, 1804 Chester Ave., 328-1166. Not completely new, as there was a Ruben’s on Union, but we were vastly impressed by the variety and quality of the Mexican food last summer when this restaurant opened in the old Gumbeaux’s location. Where else can you get pork spareribs chili verde?

Best of the new: Crest Bar and Grill

What’s next for Bakersfield

While the restaurant industry is pretty fluid, it wouldn’t surprise me to see a slowdown in the number of new places open in 2008, especially since there are so many in the process right now in all the new shopping centers around the city.

I’ve heard the east side is going to get some new eateries in the East Hills Mall remodel, and I’m waiting to hear what else will be going in near BJ’s and P.F. Chang’s. There are a number of new places opening soon in the Rosedale area, including a place called Hourglass Kitchen & Bar (intersection of Calloway and Brimhall) that I’ve been told will be something like RJ’s: casual food in a bar-social atmosphere.

Can we hope for an actual New York deli in the NY Deli that’s opening in that same shopping center? I had seen legal notices on the space near Cold Stone at The Marketplace for a wok restaurant called Pineapple Joe’s, but no activity there in recent weeks.

Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que will be opening soon after the complete remodel of the old Pizza Market on Rosedale Highway, and based on my visits to the chain’s restaurants in other cities I think it will be a place that is perfect for this market. And I’m still eagerly awaiting Eboys Hot Dogs on the east side, someone promising to give us our own Pink’s. People with dreams like that keep me optimistic that we won’t lack for interesting dining options.

Chief photographer Felix Adamo's favorite photos from 2007 are ...

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:43:40 PST

Chief photographer Felix Adamo shares his favorite photos of the year in this audio slide show.

Photographer picks favorite 2007 images

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 09:03:07 PST

Check out longtime staff photographer John Harte's picks for the best photos of 2007.

Remembering Kern residents we lost in 2007

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:53:12 PST

Kern County lost several local history makers in 2007.

Some left their mark on the county’s face and culture.

Some forged the way for underrepresented populations.

And some were just plain interesting.

Larry Kleier

Larry Kleier, the former Kern County Sheriff responsible for building Lerdo Jail, died
Jan. 5. He was 72.

Kleier, sheriff from 1983 to 1987, joined the sheriff’s department as a deputy in 1958.

He was sheriff during the probe into a satanic molestation ring during the 1980s.

The original allegations spoke of perhaps 22 dead infants, 85 adult suspects and many children forced to drink and eat human blood and flesh, stab babies and perform sex acts.

Most convictions in the cases fell apart after a flood of victims recanted. The reasons included flawed interview techniques, legal technicalities and prosecutorial misconduct.

Kleier strongly defended children who made the allegations. In a 2005 interview with The Californian, Kleier said he still believed the ritual murders occurred in Kern County.

Former Sheriff Carl Sparks, a lieutenant during the Kleier years, said in law enforcement circles, strong-willed Kleier is considered the best sheriff Kern has ever seen.

“It was his way or no way,” Sparks said. “As long as you understood that, he was an awesome sheriff.”

While sheriff, Kleier was most proud of building a new 600-bed jail at Lerdo for $22 million, a savings from the $90 million a downtown jail would have cost.

Tzu Chun Wang

Tzu Chun Wang, or “Papa Sun” as he was known to his customers, built up the Great Castle restaurant from a fledgling Chinese restaurant on Union Avenue.

Wang, the restaurant’s founder, died Jan. 14 of heart failure. He was 84.

He was born in 1922 in Tsingtao, China, home to the famous beer of the same name, and served in the Chinese army during the nation’s civil war in the late 1940s.

He owned a restaurant in Taiwan before coming to California in 1972, seeking a better life.

Wang opened Great Castle in 1979 and expanded the restaurant in 1984.

He visited the restaurant daily even after retiring in July 2005.

The restaurant’s potstickers and seafood dishes, such as walnut shrimp, were his favorites.

Jeanne Foth

Sun. Fun. Stay. Play.

Jeanne Foth, famous for creating the old Bakersfield slogan that once appeared on the
now-defunct billboard on Highway 99, died Jan. 22 of natural causes at the age of 81.

Once known as “Mrs. Bakersfield” for her community involvement, Foth was the central committee chairwoman for the California Republican party in the 1960s. She worked on
Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign and was invited to his 1969 inaugural ball, said
her daughter, Trish Greaser.

Foth also served as president of the Downtown Business Association.

Anita Bogan

Anita Bogan, a dedicated community member who started a business in her 70s and challenged county supervisors to golf in her 90s, died March 10 at the age of 106.

She pushed for the creation of a senior housing complex called Desert Jade Villas in California City, which lacked such housing in the early 1990s, and moved in after it was built.

Penelope Walters Swenson, an associate professor at Cal State Bakersfield’s School of Education, called Bogan “an original” in an e-mail to The Californian.

“Anita Bogan was the heart and soul of so much that was good in California City,” said
Walters Swenson.

Supervisor Don Maben met Bogan through the California City Economic Development Corporation, of which they were both members.

“People say you’re too old to do this or too old to do that, and I think of Anita and I say, you’re not too old,’” he said.

Before moving to California City, Bogan was a florist in Los Angeles, counting Nat King Cole, Josephine Baker, Lena Horne and Johnny Mathis as customers.

Bob Ernst

For more than three decades Bob Ernst was Bakersfield’s Shark Tooth Hill guy — a self-taught paleontologist who owned 410 acres of California’s best prehistoric real estate.

Ernst died April 11 at the age of 70.

Much of his collection, including the full skeleton of a sea lion ancestor, is housed in the
Buena Vista Museum of Natural History in downtown Bakersfield.

“What can I say, Bob was bigger than life,” said museum executive director Koral Hancharick. “To the paleontological world he has an unmatched legacy he’s leaving behind.”

Lora Sue Miller

Lora Sue Miller, wife of the late city agitator Milton “Spartacus” Miller, died May 18 at the age of 66.

Surrounded by family at the home of her sister, Kaye Coletti, “Sue” as she was known to her family, said before her death, “All right, I’m tired now. I’m going to close my eyes and take a nap with Milt.”

Her husband lost his battle to cancer about eight years before her death, but his more famous battle was with City Hall and its insistence that he bring the 200-room Padre
Hotel to safety codes.

That contentious war of words in the 1960s led to him placing the sign, “Alamo
Tombstone” atop the eight-story downtown structure alongside a black and white missile he said was aimed at the entrenched bureaucrats.

After his death, his wife settled a probate dispute over the hotel’s ownership. She won the right to sell it for $1 million in 2002, about $400,000 more than her husband paid for
it in 1954.

To some degree, the building was tied to her courtship with “Spartacus” Miller.

“Their first date was to Costco to buy things for the hotel,” said sister Paula Bartlett.
“Their second date was to Smart and Final for the same reason.”

Mary Sue Ming

Mary Sue Ming was proud of her Chinese heritage, her American heritage and, most of all, her Bakersfield heritage.

Her father came from China in the mid-1800s and worked for the city’s namesake, Col. Thomas Baker. And Ming Avenue was named after her husband’s family, also early Chinese pioneers in Bakersfield.

She was a wife, mother and amateur historian, and for most of her life, she worked to build bridges between the local Chinese and white communities.
Ming died May 31 at the age of 93.

“She was probably the most active person in preserving the Chinese history here in Bakersfield,” said Dan Kimm, a longtime family friend. “She was just a good Chinese ambassador.”

Johnny Barnett Sr.

A man who gave many of the Bakersfield Sound’s greatest musicians their starts, Johnny Barnett Sr. died June 4 at the age of 89.

Barnett fronted the house band at the legendary Lucky Spot Nightclub on Edison Highway from 1950 to 1963.

The Lucky Spot, with other clubs, was where the Bakersfield Sound was born and took its first steps.

Barnett hired a then unknown singer named Merle Haggard in 1963.

Son Jerry Barnett said his father recognized Haggard’s talent early on. His father snuck Haggard onstage to sing before the teenager was legally allowed to set foot in nightclubs.

Among Jerry Barnett’s earliest memories were those of when he was about 9 years old. Every Sunday, nearly every country musician in town, including a young Buck Owens, would come to the Barnett house and play jam sessions on the porch.

John Zaninovich

Family and former competitors remember John Zaninovich as a robust, forward-thinking man whose strong work ethic and ideas about growing grapes made him an influential figure in Central Valley vineyards.

After working more than a half century in the agricultural industry in which he gained respect for the techniques he pioneered to improve quality and size of table grapes, “Big John” Zaninovich died Aug. 4 at the age of 84.

Big John was a member of the Delano Elks Lodge for 55 years. He also served on two Kern County grand juries.

“He did things that two men could not do,” said his son, Nick Zaninovich, 55, a grape-growing consultant.

Livio Palla

Livio Palla started with 40 cows in 1946 and grew his business into the large-scale dairy operation south of Bakersfield called Palla Rosa Farms.

For that, he became one of the most respected members of the local agriculture community, those who knew him said.

The longtime Bakersfield dairyman died Aug. 5 at the age of 86.

In 1966, he was named the Kiwanis Farmer of the Year, and in 2000, he earned the honor of Kern County Agriculturist of the Year. He also helped start the Kern County Fair’s springer heifer show and auction in 1960.

“Livio was kind of considered the godfather here in Bakersfield in the ag industry,” said Maynard Troost, who now owns the dairy next door to Palla’s.

Ruby Johnson Jenkins

Her church was formed of forest glens and mountaintops, and she spent the past quarter century writing about its beauty, mapping its mysteries, and sharing its saving grace with the communion of her followers.

Ruby Johnson Jenkins, the author of nationally acclaimed hiking books and a dedicated evangelist to nature’s cathedral, died Oct. 28 at her home in Kernville at the age of 82.

After her son, J.C. “Jim” Jenkins, an avid hiker and author, died in 1979 after being struck by a car, the mother was devastated.

But then the publisher and owner of Wilderness Press came calling, asking her to continue her son’s legacy by finishing and updating his books.

She hiked all the trails in the southern Sierra, the same her son once traversed.

In researching the books, “Exploring the Southern Sierra: West Side,” and its companion volume, which covers the “East Side,” the heroine of hikers walked nearly 6,000 miles in her effort to map the footpaths of this vast landscape.

She founded the Kern River Valley Hiking Club, an organization that has provided upwards of 1,000 people the opportunity to hike an extraordinary variety of mountain paths in Kern County’s backyard.

Compiled from Californian stories by staff writer Emily Hagedorn.

The weirdest news of 2007

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:03:46 PST

Bakersfield is a wild news town and 2007 didn’t disappoint in delivering wacky headlines.

Prosecutor prosecuted

Some party.

Her husband bit a casino security guard, prosecutors allege, and she battered three men, including a Kern sheriff’s deputy.

Misdemeanor charges, sure.

But they’re filed against a Kern County deputy district attorney.

Andrea and Gregory Kohler face criminal charges in Santa Barbara County following
their October arrest at a Santa Ynez casino, where a wedding party for a D.A. colleague apparently ended in a melee.

Their next court appearance is slated for Jan. 23 in Santa Maria.

Paper clip plot

On May 29, the morning a jury said he should be executed for murdering his family, Vincent Brothers made what authorities called an escape attempt — with paper clips.

Yes, paper clips. Ones he’d hidden in his hair.

Sheriff’s officials said Brothers manipulated his leg restraints so they were attached to the same leg — making them useless — and put paper clips fashioned into handcuff keys in his hair.

But authorities foiled Brothers’ apparent plan and he’s on death row at San Quentin State Prison.

Beaver makes waves

Nine cottonwood trees downed along the Kern River Bike Path by a prolific beaver spurred city parks staff to seek help from state wildlife officials in December.

For a short time, the beaver had a death sentence.

But a flood of calls from around the country prompted officials to spare the critter once
they find it.

Missing doctor sends money

Even as a county-hired investigator searched for him in early December, Kern’s former
public health director slipped a bank check to county auditors to pay off a cell phone bill.

An unidentified woman hand-delivered the $6,125.36 payment on behalf of Dr. B.A. Jinadu, who was possibly at his new house in San Diego County.

State officials are trying to put a lien on that house (he owes them money) while county officials want to keep tabs on him, too (he might owe them money).

Developer sues environmentalists

A would-be mine operator filed a lawsuit against two Bakersfield residents who, they allege, asked “meritless and frivolous” questions during public hearings.

Delaware-based Carlton Global Resources wants $10 million from Leroy Cass and Renee Nelson. The pair questioned environmental impacts from a mine in Jawbone Canyon.

County supervisors approved the mine permit in November, the same month Carlton filed its suit — and Nelson and Cass sued the county demanding additional environmental assessment of the mine.

Pastor hit by stray bullet

A bullet fired in April became permanently lodged in a local pastor’s back when a sheriff’s deputy missed his fleeing target.

The Rev. John Pace of Riverview Southern Baptist Church took the stray shot while
riding his motorcycle shortly before 9 a.m. on a Sunday morning in Oildale. Deputy Eric

Jackson had fired at a gun-brandishing man who ran off after a traffic stop.

Pace said he wanted only an apology — which never came. The shooting was ruled
justified.

Hillary snubs Sikhs

A canceled political fundraiser sponsored by the local Sikh community became a minor international incident in November when Hillary Clinton failed to show, leaving an expected $1 million on the table.

A New York Sun reporter was in Bakersfield covering the reaction of disappointed Sikhs. Online Indian news sites, meanwhile, carried word of the incident across international borders.

Clinton’s campaign staff claimed security issues scuttled her appearance. Event organizers returned contributions to would-be donors.

Mini-flood wets Thomas’ house

Former Bakersfield Rep. Bill Thomas’ future home was inundated in December when builders ruptured a water line, sending mud and rocks down a hillside near the Rio Bravo Country Club.

Fire officials estimated $40,000 to $50,000 worth of damage to the hilltop house, which was under construction.

Grades flummox fancy eateries

Taco Bell earned an A, Cafe Med a B when the county’s letter-grading system for restaurants launched in November.

Two other higher-end establishments — Tahoe Joe’s and Mimi’s Cafe — initially earned Bs, but paid for re-inspections that landed them in the A camp.

All Taco Bells and 7-Elevens inspected since July, on the other hand, earned As the first time through.

Staff photographer Casey Christie's best photos of 2007 are ...

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 08:12:04 PST

Check out Casey Christie's best photos of the year. He explains his choices in the audio slide show.

And the best photos of 2007 by photo editor Alex Horvath are ...

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 08:09:56 PST

Check out assistant photo editor Alex Horvath's best shots of the year. He explains why he thinks these are his best shots in the audio slide show.

Brothers’ trial held focus of the community

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:03:48 PST

One of the grisliest murder cases in Bakersfield history came to an end in 2007.

Vincent Brothers was convicted in May of brutally murdering his wife, Joanie Harper; their three children, Marques, Lyndsey and Marshall; and Joanie Harper’s mother, Earnestine in July 2003. He was sentenced to death.

The verdict divided much of the community. Some thought Brothers was getting what he deserved, while others argued that the jury was racially biased and Brothers didn’t receive a fair trial.

Appeals could drag on for years. Meanwhile, Brothers will be spending the majority of his time in a 6-foot-by-10-foot cell in San Quentin State Prison.

The case relied on circumstantial evidence and was a huge win for prosecutor Lisa Green. Brothers, a former vice principal, had said he was in Ohio at the time of the killings but had no receipts or other paperwork to prove it.

Those close to the case said Brothers’ testimony sealed his conviction. Green had argued to jurors that Brothers lied 41 times during his testimony.

Brothers’ admission of multiple extra marital affairs also didn’t help his cause.

Brothers was represented by Bakersfield lawyers Michael Gardina and Anthony Bryan.
At the end of the trial in September, Kern County Superior Court Judge Michael Bush ordered Gardina and Bryan to show why he shouldn’t hold them in contempt of court for some of their actions. Allegations against them include withholding or mishandling evidence.

Gardina and Bryan, in return, have argued in writing through their lawyers that Bush is biased and should be disqualified from hearing the contempt trial.

Strange, silly, unusual crime throughout 2007

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 13:02:35 PST

Several criminal cases this past year proved that things aren’t always what they seem.
The following were some of the notable incidents requiring police response in 2007:

Murder-for-hire plot goes bad

Steven Troy Stewart had a feeling from the moment someone first shot at him that an ex-girlfriend might be the cause.

Turns out he was right.

Investigators say Francis Giangrossi hired his stepbrother, Jim Skiba, and others to kill Stewart because Giangrossi believed Stewart was harassing his wife of several months.

Stewart and the woman, Madica Giangrossi, had dated off and on for several years before Madica married Francis Giangrossi.

Francis Giangrossi, owner of Coast Roofing, has told detectives he and Skiba hired someone to beat up Stewart, not kill him.

Regardless of what Giangrossi intended, a man died. Ulises Espino was shot and killed by Stewart after breaking into Stewart’s home on Nov. 5. Three other men — Jesus Estrada, Cesar Montoya and Alberto Torres — were arrested in connection with the break-in.

On Oct. 7, someone fired a shotgun round into Stewart’s home in the 15000 block of Westdale Drive, investigators said. Stewart installed alarms around his house and began sleeping with a shotgun next to him after that incident.

With three men in jail and one dead in connection with the plot, Francis Giangrossi shot himself in the head at his business on Nov. 10. He survived and was arrested, along with Skiba, a couple weeks later and charged with attempted murder.

Murder suspect acquitted despite DNA

It appeared that Darnell Lucifer Pierce would be serving a lengthy prison term, if not a life sentence.

Arrested in March in connection with killing and raping a woman in 1999, Pierce’s DNA
matched that of DNA found in the woman’s mouth when she died.

But Pierce was acquitted on Sept. 19. His attorney, Peter Kang, had argued that the only thing the DNA proved was that Pierce had sex with the woman, 32-year-old Leslie Ahart.

Pierce would have been 17 at the time of the slaying.

Ahart’s body was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the parking lot of Suburu School. Police had no suspects until they discovered the DNA link with Pierce.

Pierce currently faces felony drug charges and has a readiness hearing scheduled for Jan. 25, according to the Kern County Superior Court Web site.

One dead in home invasion robbery

One person died and two others were wounded in a home invasion that turned into a shootout between suspects and police.

Two gunmen forced their way into the residence at 6303 Tobago Court on Dec. 13. When police arrived, the gunmen tried escaping through the backyard.

One suspect broke through a fence and shot at officers, who then returned fire. The man was fatally shot by police in a field south of the neighborhood. His name had not been released.

The other suspect, Jayme Armendariz, 22, was arrested and faces five counts of assault with a firearm as well as robbery of an occupied residence and burglary charges.
Officers are still looking for a possible third suspect, who may have acted as the lookout.

Two residents of the home, Arnulfo Lopez, 71, and Andy Lopez, 12, were also shot and taken to Kern Medical Center.

Arnulfo Lopez was in good condition as of Dec. 20, hospital staff said. They would not comment on the condition of Andy Lopez.

This was the second home invasion at the Lopez house. It was first targeted in July when robbers made off with a large amount of cash.

Man wields sword at ice cream plant

It was a surreal scene May 30 when Arnold Devries showed up to work at the Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream plant.

Devries was wearing a black mask and brandishing a short samurai-style sword, according to police. Employees at first thought Devries was just fooling around.

But then he cut a woman and threatened others. Devries was eventually subdued by
four employees of the plant, the largest ice cream plant in the U.S., and taken into custody by Bakersfield police.

Devries worked in the distribution center and had not been scheduled the morning of the attack. A readiness hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 25, according to the Superior Court Web site.

Man rampages through community

A bloody, shirtless man ran through apartment doors in a gated senior community on Oct. 3 and suffered cardiac arrest when restrained by firefighters and police.

Ledron Darnell Crompton, 37, broke into two homes in northeast Bakersfield that morning. He rammed his head through a kitchen window and broke the screen of an apartment at 6701 Auburn St., according to police.

Residents talked to Crompton but couldn’t make any sense of what he was saying.
Shirley Stanfield, 72 at the time of the incident, shook her walking stick at Crompton whenever he tried to run away and told him to sit on the curb.

As a firetruck pulled in front of the senior home, Crompton punched Stanfield and broke into an apartment. He held a resident there and firefighters grabbed the man through a broken window.

He was detained and appeared to have a medical condition when he was handcuffed, police said. Crompton was taken to Kern Medical Center and died.

And the best photos of 2007 by assistant photo editor Michael Fagans are ...

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 10:42:06 PST

Check out assistant photo editor Michael Fagans' best shots of the year. He explains why he thinks these are his best shots in the audio slide show.

A rough year for Bakersfield’s flashiest real estate men

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:29:42 PST

David Crisp and Carl Cole, the image-makers of Bakersfield’s bygone real estate boom, ended the year deep in a quagmire of home loan defaults, allegations of deceptive borrowing practices, civil lawsuits and an ongoing FBI investigation.

Although Cole, 60, left the now-defunct Crisp & Cole Real Estate agency in 2006, the pair were still talking up ambitious deals at the year’s start.

In January, Cal State Bakersfield granted conceptual approval for Cole and Crisp to develop the Crisp & Cole University Towers, a set of proposed 31-story luxury condo structures meant to rise above CSUB’s campus.

By April, state investigators had accused Cole of employing an unlicensed salesman and letting him work on more than 50 loans at Tower Lending, Crisp & Cole’s former mortgage brokerage.

Soon after, Crisp, 28, began to amass a small pile of default notices, which signal late mortgage payments, on home loans taken out by himself and family members.

Eventually, more than 100 troubled properties would be linked to Crisp, Cole, their family members and associates through an ongoing Californian tally.

Next the IRS smacked Crisp and his wife, Jennifer, with a $111,170 lien in back taxes and penalties.

By July, CSUB had nixed its condo tower negotiations with Cole and Crisp.

Later that month, tenants in homes in the North Country Meadows subdivision said they were in a lease-to-buy program run by Crisp & Cole Real Estate. Some had no idea the homes they hoped to own were in default until contacted by reporters.

Lawsuits by debtors started to stack up.

In September, the state Department of Real Estate filed a complaint against Cole, Crisp and three employees. They allegedly misled lenders on more than $12 million worth of loans, according to the complaint.

Two days later, more than 75 federal agents swarmed over 13 properties related to the former Crisp & Cole agency. Both men’s offices and homes were searched, as was the office of San Joaquin Appraisals Inc., a home appraisal business owned by Kirk “Mark” Newton.

The Crisp & Cole office is gone today, replaced by a real estate office specializing in bank-owned properties. Crisp’s 6,666-square-foot Seven Oaks mansion was repossessed by the bank.

As of the first week in December, at least 105 defaulted and foreclosed properties are linked to associates of the former Crisp & Cole companies, according to an ongoing Californian tally.

More than $64.6 million was borrowed against the homes, according to The Californian's analysis of county filings.

So far, 61 have foreclosed.

The FBI has not filed charges, but the investigation remains open.

— BY VANESSA GREGORY, Californian staff writer, vgregory@bakersfield.com

Top local business news of 2007

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:27:24 PST

There was no avoiding news about the housing slump this year. But just as the residential real estate industry flagged, other local industries surged, such as retail and wind energy.

Mortgage meltdown

The record-setting home value appreciation that swept the city two years ago was replaced by reports listing Bakersfield as one of the nation’s hardest hit cities, both in terms of foreclosures and the prevalence of subprime lending.

Home values are down, inventory is up and city council members are debating possible ordinances to fight the blight brought on by empty, foreclosed homes.

Foreclosure statistics aren’t yet available for December.

But in the first 11 months of 2007, foreclosures were already up 677 percent when compared with the same months in 2006, according to the Kern County Recorder’s office.

New stores

With the arrival of several high-end retailers, Bakersfield shoppers saw less need to drive to Los Angeles for shopping.

Valley Plaza Mall seemed to score the most hits. It welcomed fancy clothing chains Banana Republic, Lucky Brand Jeans and bebe — as well as Sephora, a high-end makeup store.

Another retail chain with local appeal — Bass Pro Shops — announced it will open a 150,000-square-foot store at Highway 99 and Hosking Avenue in 2009.

Why Bakersfield? As our population grows, it attracts the attention of national chains looking for expanding markets.

Wind energy

The nation’s largest wind energy project may be built in an area around Tehachapi already known for its wind turbines.

In a project valued at roughly $3 billion, Mojave-based Oak Creek Energy Systems Inc. and Australian financial services giant Allco Finance Group Ltd. are working together to build up to 800 turbines over some 50 square miles between Tehachapi and Mojave.

Already, Southern California Edison has signed a 20-year contract to buy power from the partnership. Construction is expected to begin in 2009 and finish in 2014.

Citrus freeze

In January, a freeze settled over Kern and neighboring counties, destroying millions of dollars worth of citrus.

The county Department of Agriculture and Measurement Standards estimated that half of Kern’s citrus crop — some $179 million — was unsalvageable. By some estimates, the freeze claimed 12,000 farm and packing jobs statewide.

— The Bakersfield Californian

'In God We Trust' topped school news of 2007

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:25:12 PST

Kern High School District Trustee Chad Vegas offered up another controversy this fall in the form of a proposal mandating all 2,000-plus district classrooms display a poster of the national motto created by a Christian organization.

The debate over “In God We Trust” roiled for months as board members eeked out changes to the initial proposal and eventually birthed a plan that may cost the district thousands in production costs and possibly more in legal fees.

On Dec. 10, the board ultimately approved posters about six times the size of the original one in a font about 10 times as small. It will display parts of the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and two mottos. Trustee Bob Hampton was the sole dissenting vote.

A local couple, Michael and Jessica Korcok, believing KHSD violated California open meeting law, may sue KHSD.

The great poster debate attracted dozens of citizens giving hours of testimony both in support of and against Vegas’ proposal at several meetings. There was also a town hall debate, countless blog comments and letters to the editor.

Here’s how it went down:

Oct. 1, Vegas proposal No. 1 — poster created by American Family Association, paid for by Jacquie Sullivan’s nonprofit, In God We Trust — America, to hang in every classroom.

Oct. 22, Vegas Proposal No. 2 — poster to hang with founding documents.

Nov. 5, Trustee Bryan Batey motions to approve Vegas’ proposal No. 2.

Nov. 5, Batey proposes amendment No. 1 showing a newly designed poster and making it optional for teachers but a cost to the district.

Nov. 5, Batey proposes an amendment to amendment No. 1 making the poster mandatory when discussion indicated it would not pass as an optional policy.

Nov. 5, KHSD board votes 4-to-1 to approve Batey’s amendment, to the amendment to the motion.

Nov. 13, KHSD receives “cure and correct demand letter” from the Korcoks alleging the board violated the Brown Act by not allowing for public comment on the new design and for forming a consensus on the poster redesign behind the scenes. The Korcoks asked them to retract the Nov. 5 vote and agree not to bring it up again until certain board members are no longer on the board.

Dec. 10, KHSD retracts the Nov. 5 vote.

Dec. 10, KHSD revotes and passes 4-to-1 a motion by Vegas to hang the newly designed poster in every classroom.

Dec. 12, The Korcoks receive a letter from KHSD saying the vote on Dec. 10 corrected the issue raised by the couple. The Korcoks are in talks with attorneys and have 15 in which to file a suit.

— Tara McLaughlin, Californian staff writer, tmclaughlin@bakersfield.com

Top news for Kern County and Bakersfield in 2007

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:13:43 PST

Kern County’s 2007

Freeway wrangling

Bakersfield’s transportation future was a hot topic in 2007 — sparking heated debate between city of Bakersfield leaders and Kern County officials for months on end.

City officials argued they could find money to fund a massive web of new roads and freeways, using the $630 million in federal roads cash secured by former Congressman Bill Thomas, before he left office, as seed money.

County officials said there weren’t enough real dollars out there to fund the full plan.
“Pretend money builds pretend roads,” county Roads Commissioner Craig Pope was fond of saying.

Thomas himself stepped in after months of bickering and, in a closed door meeting, made it clear he wanted the two agencies to quit fueding and get to work.

Grudgingly they did.

All the partners in the Thomas Road Improvement Program, which the city leads, have agreed to look at freeway alignment options.

And the county has stopped complaining there isn’t enough money and started raising it — promising in December to bond for $106 million in new road construction cash.

Sludge slam

U.S. District Court Judge Gary Feess dealt Kern County a legal defeat in August when he ruled that Measure E, the county’s ban on land-application of treated human and industrial waste, was not legal.

The city of Los Angeles and Orange County, and the businesses that haul sludge to Kern County and spread it on local farm land, sued to overturn the ban passed by Kern voters in 2006.

An attempt by the sludge haulers and spreaders to recover nearly $1.8 million in attorney fees from Kern County has, so far, been rejected by Feess.

Kern County is appealing Feess’ decision on Measure E.

Union settlement

Kern County’s largest union, the Service Employees International Union, came to the brink of a strike before reaching a contact deal with Kern County in late October.

The deal eliminated the expensive “3-at-60” retirement deal for new employees — offering new hires a smaller pension in addition to a new private-sector-style investment program with the county matching up to six percent of the employee’s annual pay.

It also delivered substantial raises to thousands of county employees — ranging from a minimum of four percent to 38.5 percent for a small group of county workers.

A year of change

The top levels of Kern County government underwent a succession of major changes in 2007.

Paul Hensler was hired in April to take over management of Kern Medical Center. Financial problems have plagued the hospital for years and controversy tied to doctors’ contracts have drained the department’s credibility.

Pat Cheadle was picked to take over the county Department of Human Services in June.
Previous Director Beverly Beasley Johnson left for a new job in 2006 in the wake of audits that declared Human Services was disorganized, did not track its performance and was not doing enough to protect children from abuse and neglect.

John Nilon was hired as Director of the Public Health Services Department in December after former director Dr. B.A. Jinadu left just ahead of revelations that he had failed to pay more than $350,000 in debt he owed the state in a moonlighting scam where he operated several clinics in southern California while maintaining his job in Kern. Nilon has promised to solve numerous problems outlined in an audit of the department which revealed lax financial controls.

Supervisors will also hire a doctor to take over health officer duties which Jinadu also held.

— By JAMES BURGER, jburger@bakersfield.com

Bakersfield City’s 2007

Immigration debate

The Bakersfield City Council threw itself into the national debate on illegal immigration, and the community followed. Councilman David Couch started the debate in July by announcing three proposals — to declare English the official language of Bakersfield, to affirm that Bakersfield is not a sanctuary city and to look for services that Bakersfield could withhold from illiegal immigrants.

The issue fired up immigrant-rights groups, who dominated public comment at meetings and accused Couch of scapegoating illegal immigrants. But most council members said the majority of the feedback they heard was in favor of the proposals.

Couch’s resolutions were voted down in late September and a substitute calling on the federal government to act was passed. After the meeting, both sides claimed victory.

Wal-Marts return

Two Wal-Mart supercenters, delayed for years by legal challenges, finally returned to the limelight. After new environmental reports were prepared, the shopping centers sailed through approvals by the planning commission and the Bakersfield City Council. The reports still need judicial approval before construction can restart.

Recycling sent to the heap

The Bakersfield City Council made voluntary recycling cheaper, bringing the cost down to $48 a year. But when the City Council was asked about mandatory recycling, it said no. The city could have applied for a $1.5 million grant for processing equipment, which would have required the city go to mandatory residential curbside at a cost of $36 a year per house citywide. Public comment was overwhelmingly against the additional fee, so the council voted not to apply for the grant.

Squiggle debate

When it comes to symbolic debates, nothing beat the debate over the city symbol.
The City Council elected to replace the signs on Highway 99 featuring a squiggle with a new design featuring a leaf. The debate occupied a city council committee, and then the council, until Councilwoman Sue Benham’s leaf proposal won out over Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan’s defense of the squiggle.

Weir’s clients

Bakersfield City Councilman Ken Weir ran afoul of state regulators who wanted him to reveal the names of clients that paid his accounting firm more than $10,000 the previous year.

Weir maintained that accounting regulations allowed him to keep the names of his clients private. But the state Fair Political Practices Commission didn’t agree, and in March ordered him to either reveal the names or provide a separate legal justification for each name he withheld.

The action came just three months after Weir took his seat on the council, but an examination of the documents he filed while on the Bakersfield City School District board showed he wasn’t disclosing them then either.

Weir released the names of his top clients after he got permission from each of them.

Military pay

Supporting the troops became controversial when it came to literally paying the troops.
The City Council in September voted to provide differential pay for city employees called up to serve in the National Guard or reserves, making up the difference between their military and city pay, and covering their health benefits while they’re gone. Councilmen Ken Weir and Zack Scrivner voted against it, saying it should be up to individuals, not city taxpayers, to keep the pocketbooks of soldiers, sailors and airmen whole.

— By JAMES GELUSO, jgeluso@bakersfield.com