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BEYOND BAKERSFIELD: News from around Kern County [The Bakersfield Californian :: ](Bakersfield Californian, The (CA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 01--TEHACHAPI: A man hiding in a tree from police surrendered nearly nine hours after the odd siege began this past week in Tehachapi. Robert Todd, 34, of Tehachapi allegedly stole a laptop computer from a victim at West Park. When Kern County Sheriff's deputies arrived, they found the victim of the robbery with minor injuries, the Tehachapi News reported. Deputies found Todd in the mountain area near Broome Ranch, where he attempted to evade arrest by climbing into a tree. Todd positioned himself 40 feet high in the tree and refused to surrender, deputies said. After nine hours of negotiation with deputies, he relented and came down. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of robbery, a parole violation, resisting/ obstructing arrest and resisting an officer. Programs at California Correctional Institution are showing positive results. According to Joseph Gutierrez, chief deputy warden for the prison's Facilities A and B, the educational programs offered to help inmates receive their GED are working. The purpose of the programs is to equip the inmates with skills they need when they are released, the Tehachapi News reported. About 86 inmates received their GED diploma in July. The goal is to give them everything they need to not end up back at CCI, Gutierrez said. The old Tehachapi Police Station is getting a facelift. The Tehachapi City Council approved a $21,900 contract with Omni Design Group for the design phase of the building's rehabilitation, the Tehachapi News reported. City Engineer Jay Schlosser said the structure will be redesigned to accommodate some departments now in the newer city building next door on Robinson Street. The first phase of the remodel will include new paint and carpeting and electrical upgrades. Once the redesign is complete, the city's public works, engineering, development and assistant city manager's office will be relocated to the old police station. After nearly 29 years, Stallion Springs Drive in Tehachapi will be repaved. Mary Beth Garrison, general manager of Stallion Springs Community Services District, said Stallion Springs Drive is the most used roadway in the development. The work is slated to begin Aug. 4 and finish by Sept. 5, the Tehachapi News reported. The project will cost about $283,200. Funding will come from the district's road assessment fees, which were saved up over three years. TAFT: Construction of a major housing development in Taft is underway. Bob Colston has bult homes in Taft since the '60s but environmental roadblocks delayed the latest construction project, the Taft Midway Driller reported. The first phase of 32 single-family homes on the west side of Hillard Street has started. According to Colston, 39 homes have been reserved and 14 prospective buyers have already qualified for financing. When complete, the project will include as many as 400 new homes. RIDGECREST: Security cameras stolen from a mortuary in Ridgecrest were recovered by police. Holland and Lyons Mortuary has been the victim of a string of incidents involving vandalism and theft for the past few months. Items such as lights, electrical boxes, gasoline and hoses have been stolen. The latest theft involved security cameras that were taken at about 5 a.m. by two suspects, a male and female, who attempted to conceal their identities while removing the cameras, the Ridgecrest Police Department said. Funeral Director Justin Dunn said one camera was stolen from the southeast corner and three from the east side of the building. During a probation search in the 400 block of W. Wilson Avenue, Michael Thomas Wilson and Nicole Pate were found in possession of the stolen cameras along with more than $300 of stolen tools from a residential burglary the previous week, police said. Wilson and Pete were arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property. DELANO: Crime prevention is a community affair in Delano. Chief of Police Mark P. DeRosia said the community should get involved on several levels of crime prevention, from keeping their eyes on their neighborhood to volunteering at youth activities. According to the Delano Record, Superior Court Judge Robert Tafoya said the city and local school districts should help finance the revival of the Student Attendance Review Board. SARB is a program that brings the district attorney's office and the juvenile courts together to talk to parents about the importance of keeping their kids in school. Both DeRosia and Tafoya said most juvenile crime occurs during school hours. Overall crime is down in Delano, but thefts and burglaries are up, the newspaper reported. On the bright side, there are more cops in Delano on the streets and community "eyes" in neighborhoods than there have been for years, the chief said. There are about seven patrols on the streets during daylight hours, he said. The chief said the city has about 41 Neighborhood Watch programs, and that has had a positive effect. Philippine Wekeened drew a record crowd, despite triple-digit weather. The 40th annual event held at Cecil Park celebrated Filipino culture and included more than 50 booths selling a variety of Filipino food, clothing and more, the Delano Record reported. About 15,000 people walked through the venues for the weekend-long celebration. The event ended with fireworks. KERN RIVER VALLEY: Kern River Valley's public transit buses are rolling out with a new name, logo and schedule. On Aug. 4 Kern River Valley service will be divided into three numbered routes. According to the Kern Valley Sun, Ruby Horta, administrative coordinator for Kern Transit, said that while the district recognizes that the change will not be easy for some riders, it's necessary. Horta said the changes were implemented countywide to make the bus system more efficient and improve the system's overall on-time performance rating. A reduced fare program is being introduced for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Identification or proof of disability will be required for those applying for the reduced fare. Authorized disabled riders will have a card with a photo and name to eliminate fraud, the newspaper said. Another change is related to the number of young children who ride for free. Under the current system, an unlimited number children under the age of 4 may ride with a fare-paying adult. Beginning Aug. 4, the limit will be two children free with each adult ticket. Two components of the transit system that will not change include the fare structure and the Dial-a-Ride service, a program available to everyone, not just seniors and disabled riders. The new schedule is not yet permanent. It's on a five-month trial. Kern Transit is asking for feedback, comments and concerns people may have. ___ (c)2014 The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, Calif.) Visit The Bakersfield Californian (Bakersfield, Calif.) at www.bakersfield.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |