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County to transition out of fire season Friday

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - County fire officials say the end fire is coming soon.  Since there have been recent rains and cooler temperatures, the county will officially transition out of fire season effective at 8:00 a.m. Friday December 19.

Kern County Fire Chief Brian Marshall in a news release acknowledged that, “The extreme drought across California taxed firefighters throughout the summer. CAL Fire and firefighters from many local agencies battled over 5,500 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned nearly 91,000 acres.” Chief Marshall also added that number is over 1,000 more wildfires than normal.

As drought conditions continue to have a hold on California, the Kern County Fire Department is maintaining staffing that meets the current threat. KCFD will continue to monitor weather conditions closely and still has the ability to increase staffing should the weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires in other areas of the state.

During the 2014 Fire Season, the Kern County Fire Department responded to 471 local vegetation fires and wildfires. The largest of these fires was the Way Fire, which consumed just over 4,000 acres near the community of Wofford Heights. KCFD also supported 62 out of county incidents, the largest being the Happy Camp Fire, which consumed over 135,000 acres. In all, KCFD filled 860 resource orders, including orders for Engine Strike Teams, Dozers, Water Tenders, Aircraft, Crews, and Overhead Single Resource and Incident Management Team Positions.

Residents are urged to still take precautions outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire. A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped landscape debris burning. Before you burn, ensure that it is a permissive burn day by contacting the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District or the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District and make sure you have the required burn permits. When burning, make sure that piles of landscape debris are no larger than four feet in diameter. Provide a 10 foot clearance around the burn pile and have a responsible adult in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.

For more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.KernCountyFire.org


UPDATE: Missing east Bakersfield woman located

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Deputies need your help finding a missing Bakersfield woman.  Sheriff's investigators say Karen Ortiz, 26, was last seen around 7 Thursday morning in the 2100 block of Sunshine Avenue in east Bakersfield.  

Ortiz is five feet tall, 115 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.  She was last seen wearing a grey top and purple pants.  

If you have any information, call the Sheriff's office at 661-861-3110.  



Charges filed against man accused of attacking anchor

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Charges were filed today against the man accused of attacking Telemundo news anchor Andres Herrera. 
     
Telemundo is KGET's sister station and the assault, which took place outside our building, was captured on security camera.
     
According to police, 41-year-old Jason Aydelotte asked Herrera if he worked here, then punched him.
    
Herrera suffered a bruise and scratches underneath his eye.
     
This week, prosecutors filed a misdemeanor battery charge against Aydelotte.
  
He's due in court a week from today.

Community gathers to walk against violence

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Escalating violence on the streets, much of it gang violence, is pushing law abiding citizens into action.

Members of Stay Focused Ministries and The Bakersfield Violence Interrupters joined with several police officers and neighbors for a peace walk last night in the vicinity of L and 8th Street.
     
The location is the same street where two weeks ago 25-year old Abel Trujillo was shot and killed.

Two men in connection with that shooting, 22-year old Errol Scorza and 19-year old Jimmy Ramirez, are both in custody now.
     
Organizers of last night's peace walk said they need other citizens to join them and stand up against the violence.

"No longer is it about the gangs, which we deal with, but it's about violence. Violence which we see all over the city," said Manuel Carrizalez of Stay Focused Ministries.

"The Peace Walk is to send a message to put the guns down, stop the shooting, stop the killing," said David Williams of Violence Interrupters.

Carrizalez and Williams said anyone who's willing and able to join their campaign against the violence should call Stay Focused Ministries at 322-4673 or contact the Bakersfield Violence Interrupters on their Facebook page.

KHSD meets with community to discuss program funds

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - The community had the opportunity last night to weigh in on plans to improve academic achievement among struggling student groups in the Kern High School District.

School districts receive state funds earmarked specifically for programs directed at low-income students, foster youth, and those learning English as a second language.
     
Trustees said that amounts to more than 60-percent of the district's student population.
     
KHSD will receive $17.6 million in supplemental state funds to increase academic performance among those targeted student groups.
      
Input from public workshops like this one will help trustees fine-tune their formula.

"There was a lot of talk about career technical education, providing more counseling for students and their parents to help them assist students through the educational process in our schools," said Brenda Lewis of the Kern High School District.

There are many more public forums to come.
    
A schedule can be found on the KHSD website.

Church hosts living nativity walkthrough event

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - A local church is presenting "The Living Nativity," a live recreation of the first Christmas.

The event is happening tonight and tomorrow night from 6 - 8 p.m. at the First Assembly of God church, located at 4901 California Ave.

The self-guided walkthrough begins with the shepherd's field and the Bethlehem Inn before reaching the stable where you'll find the shepherds, wise men (complete
with camel), and of course, Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. 

Organizers say you can walk through the scenes at your own pace, let the children enjoy

the animals in the stable, take your own family picture in a photo booth, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies as you listen to carolers singing Christmas tunes.

For parking,  use the lot off of Marella Way. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.

Visit bakersfieldfirst.com or call 661-327-8446 for more information.

California schools selected for fresh produce program

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SACRAMENTO, CA. - A new initiative by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide more students with locally grown fruits and vegetables has chosen California as one of eight states selected to participate in the pilot program. 

“This program will give schools more flexibility in how they procure fresh produce directly from local farmers,” said State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson. “This is of great benefit to both local economies and local food producers.”

The program will allow participating districts to use their food distribution program entitlement funds to procure unprocessed fruits and vegetables directly from local farmers and vendors approved for the pilot.

Farmers and vendors participating in the program will then be reimbursed by the USDA.

According to a news release by Torlakson, California produces more than 400 specialty crops, as well as nearly half of all fruits, nuts, and vegetables consumed nationwide.

If the project is deemed a success, it could be expanded across the nation, according to Torlakson's news release.

Local film about human trafficking premieres in January

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - A locally produced documentary film made to raise awareness about human trafficking in Kern County is set to premiere in January.

The film by Michael Fagans, titled "A Trafficked Life," will premiere at the Maya Cinemas Theater on California Avenue on Jan. 8. 

The film is sponsored by the Kern Coalition Against Human Trafficking and Magdelene Hope, who are inviting the public to attend.

In addition to the film premiere, there will be an art exhibit and silent auction, as well as a resource fair and live music. 

There will also be a special presentation panel discussion with experts featured in the film and trafficking survivors.

Tickets are $20 and includes one showing of the film and access to the other events and food.

There will also be a second showing of the film at 7:45 p.m.

Tickets can be reserved by visiting their website at thetraffickedlife.org.

Kern Coalition Against Human Trafficking is a local organization dedicated to raising awareness and combating human trafficking in Kern County.

You can learn more about the organization at kcaht.org 

The film is not yet rated.

New report shows unemployment up in Kern County

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - New unemployment numbers and they show good news for California, but a different picture for Kern County.
     
Statewide, California added 90,100 jobs in November.
     
That's one of the state's largest monthly gains in more than a decade, according to federal data.
     
The rate dropped to 7.2 percent, which is down from 7.3 percent in October.
     
That is still far above the national rate of U.S. jobless rate of 5.8 percent, but is also far below last November's rate of 8.4 percent.
     
The unadjusted unemployment rate in Kern County rose to 9.6 percent, a jump from 9 percent in October.
     
That figure, however, is still below the rate of 10.4 percent of last November. 
     
Most of the job losses occurred in farming, where 3,700 jobs were lost in November.
     
If you factor in hires in other industries, Kern County lost a net total of 800 jobs in November.

A free Christmas dinner will be held this Saturday

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - A traditional Christmas dinner is being prepared for members of the community on Dec. 20 

The first-ever HALO Event, is an effort to give back to the community, according to organizers.

The dinner event is geared toward serving veterans, though organizers say everyone is welcome to join in for dinner, adding that no one will be turned away.

"We have been very blessed this year and would like an opportunity to share our good fortune with others," organizer Robert Tacket said in an email. "We want to encourage people to bring the family, come rain or shine."

The event will be located at the American Legion Post #26 at 2020 H St. in downtown Bakersfield. It is across from the Fox Theater. They expect to serve up to 400 people.

The Christmas dinner will be served  from 1 to 4 p.m., and will include turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, coffee, tea, and pies.  

Santa will also make an appearance to give out gift bags.

Houchin urging the community to donate blood

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Houchin Community Blood Bank is encouraging the community to come in and donate blood as reserves are running low. 
They say the holidays is a time when donations are needed most.

According to Houchin: Blood donors just need to be in good health, weigh 110 pounds and have a photo ID with date of birth to get started.  Donors must be 17 years of age, or 16 with parental consent. There is no upper age limit. It takes only an hour to donate blood. 

A list of mobile blood drives located throughout the County can be found at hcbb.com.

Valley Fever class for physicians coming to Bakersfield

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SACRAMENTO, CA -- Cases of Valley Fever are reported from most of the counties in California, with over 75% of reported cases in people who live in the San Joaquin Valley.

"The number of reported Valley Fever cases in California is rising, with more than 4,000 cases reported in 2012," says Kat DeBurgh, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California (HOAC).

"This likely represents only a small number of the total cases of Valley Fever. This is partly because many physicians do not think about Valley Fever or are unaware of how to effectively diagnose this potentially debilitating disease.

Therefore the illness often is misdiagnosed or the diagnosis is made late in the course of illness."

Valley Fever is an illness caused by a fungus called Coccidioides which lives in the soil and dirt in the southwestern United States.

The fungus usually infects the lungs when dust is inhaled, causing flu-like symptoms.

Most of the time symptoms get better on their own.

More severe forms of the illness are rare but can be very serious and sometimes fatal.

Persons who are at greater risk of severe disease include African Americans, Filipinos, and Hispanics, along with older adults, pregnant women and others with certain underlying medical conditions.

Working with a variety of stakeholders, HOAC, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to improve the practice of public health in California, is planning a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program for physicians about valley fever.

The physician health officers of Kern, Kings, Riverside, and Tuolumne Counties are working to plan the activity with a number of notable experts in the field.

"Physicians in California see patients with valley fever every day," says Ms. DeBurgh.

"However, not all physicians know how to effectively diagnose this potentially debilitating disease."

This educational activity will inform physicians on valley fever: history, epidemiology, mycology, laboratory testing, clinical features, pediatrics, recent research, treatment.

"The importance of increased awareness of Valley Fever cannot be overstated," says Representative Kevin McCarthy (CA-23), who is one of the driving forces behind this gathering.

"The more we can provide our medical professionals with critical information, the more it will help them identify and treat individuals with Valley Fever."

The activity will be held in Founders Hall at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital on January 24, 2015, from 8:00 a.m. to noon.

Physicians who attend will receive 3.75 units of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit.

More information can be found at www.calhealthofficers.org/ValleyFever.htm.

City, High Speed Rail Authority reach settlement agreement

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The city announced Friday the dismissal of its California Environmental Quality Act lawsuit, in exchange for a new proposed route through Bakersfield.

City officials say the proposed alignment is shorter and the environmental impact is much smaller. Officials say the current route, from Fresno to Bakersfield, triggered six lawsuits from plaintiffs here in Kern County, including the city of Shafter and Bakersfield.

Last week, the U.S. Surface Transportation Board declared that our state's environmental quality act against the high-speed rail, does not apply to the Fresno-Bakersfield route.

City officials say with dismissing the lawsuit, the rail authority agreed to a study on implementing a new proposed route in Bakersfield, beginning from 7th Standard road and ending in downtown Bakersfield with a station located in the area of F Street and Golden State Avenue.

In May, the state's high speed rail authority board approved a route from Fresno to Kern County that will end just north of Seventh Standard Road. That route would impact dozens of landmarks in the downtown area.

City officials say the new proposed route would hopefully change that. Officials say the rail authority plans to work with each resident impacted by the alignment.  "They have agreed and committed with working with the property owners to addressing their concerns to responding to those who have hardship or difficulty in a workman like way and they did not do that the previous time, I believe that they intend to do that this time and they're actually obligated themselves to do it this time," said city manager Alan Tandy.   

City officials say the new proposed route would impact 100 to 150 structures, compared to the previous route, impacting more than 530 structures.

There is no timeline for the environmental study on the new proposed route. City officials say if the rail authority doesn't approve it, the previous route would be the preferred alignment.

Police arrest 16-year-old boy accused of indecent exposure at elementary school

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy accused of exposing himself in front of a computer at Plantation School.  

Police responded to the school in south Bakersfield Friday afternoon after a teacher's aide saw the boy seated in front of a computer with his pants down.  

Police say when the boy observed the staff member he immediately fled the classroom. He was later located and arrested for indecent exposure and booked into the Kern County Juvenile Hall.

The juvenile was not a student at the school and the classroom he was found in was adjacent to the street. There were no students or staff in the classroom when the juvenile entered.

No students or other staff members had any contact with the juvenile.  If you have information on the incident, call Bakersfield Police at 661-327-7111.

Police investigating three pedestrian crashes in southwest Bakersfield

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield police are on scene of a crash involving a in southwest Bakersfield. This is the third major accident in less than 24 hours -- where a pedestrian was hit.

The most recent crash happened just before nine on Harris Road east of Stine Road.

Witnesses say a car hit a skateboarder. Details are limited. We have a news crew on scene and will have more information as it is available.

Police say Friday night 60-year-old Andres Elizondo hit and killed a pedestrian just before in the 900 block of Mohawk Street and fled the scene. Elizondo was later found and arrested for felony hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license.

Police are still looking for the driver who hit and killed a bicyclist early Saturday morning in the 1700 block of New Stine Road. 

Anyone with information about any of these crashes is encouraged to call BPD at 327-7111.


Police investigating two pedestrian crashes in southwest Bakersfield

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield police are investing weekend car crashes in southwest Bakersfield. In less than 24 hours, three people were injured, two of them pedestrians.   

The most recent crash happened just before nine Saturday night on Harris Road east of Stine Road.

Witnesses say a car hit a skateboarder. 

Police say Friday night 60-year-old Andres Elizondo hit and killed a pedestrian late Friday night in the 900 block of Mohawk Street and fled the scene. Elizondo was later found and arrested for felony hit-and-run and driving on a suspended license. The skateboarder has been identified as 18-year-old Bryson Meadors of Bakersfield.  He died early Saturday morning at Kern Medical Center.    

Police are still looking for the driver who hit and killed a bicyclist early Saturday morning in the 1700 block of New Stine Road.  The bicyclist has been identified as Victor Quiroz, 46, of Bakersfield.  

Anyone with information about any of these crashes is encouraged to call BPD at 327-7111.

Students help homeless dogs find a new home

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - Several students came together to put on an event near and dear to their hearts -- helping find homeless dogs forever homes.

The Santa Paws Adoption Day was the work of about 30 students with the Regional Occupational Center Skills Team USA.   
     
They joined together with the City of Bakersfield Animal Care Center, and Round Up Feed Store to help adopt out dogs from the Bakersfield Animal Shelter.

The adoption event took place at the Round Up Feed Store on Dec. 20.
     
The students got to know the dogs by volunteering at the animal shelter for a community service project, but decided they wanted to do more and organized the adoption event.

"Normally we groom the dogs from the animal shelter, which is right on Mount Vernon, and then we put them back and hope they get good homes, but that wasn't good enough for us so we put on this event so that we could help the dogs find forever homes," said Peyton Bishop, a senior with the R.O.C.  

Of the 10 dogs up for adoption, eight found a new home.
     
Through the month of December, dogs and cats over three years old can be adopted at the shelter on Mount Vernon for $10.

Musician records song to benefit wounded veterans

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BAKERSFIELD, CA. - It's been 13 years in the making, and a local singer and songwriter has released a christmas song just in time for the holidays. And since it's the season of giving, he's giving back all of his proceeds to non-profits who help our soldiers and their families. 

Garro Ellis recorded an original carol called "Christmas Time, Happy Time."
     
But how the song came about was far from happy. 

The lyrics, and message, rushed to Ellis following one of the darkest times in our country -- the 911 terror attacks. 
 
The holiday tune is about a boy writing a letter to Santa, while his dad is off to war.  
 
With every download, Ellis donates his songwriter royalies to Wounded Heroes and the Freedon Alliance, helping our veterans, soldiers, and their families. 

You can find the song by searching for Garro Ellis, or "Christmas Time, Happy Time" on iTunes to download the song. 
     
Ellis said he has about 40 songs he has written in the past that he wants to record. 

He's already working on his second one. 

Police protests near Valley Plaza Mall

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Dozens of people joined in with rallies around the nation today in protests against police. They gathered on the corner of Ming Avenue and Wible Road.

David Medina said, "The message is clear -- hands up, don't shoot. we're tired of it. We've got a lot of innocent lives being lost for nonsense. Something that should be handled through a judicial system and not taken into, you know, they're not God."

Organizers say the protest supports nation-wide rallies against police for the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Protesters say they're also rallying for the families of David Silva and James De La Rosa -- two local men who died in confrontations with law enforcement.

Dolores Barton celebrates her 80th birthday with a big adventure

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Tehachapi native, Dolores Barton, lives everyday to the fullest. This year for her 80th birthday she decided to be a daredevil and do three adventurous things.

Barton said, "I'm just going to enjoy life and live it up, doing good healthy fun stuff".

She started early in the morning with a hot air balloon ride, then rode a glider, and finished with skydiving in Taft. She called her birthday extravaganza a step of faith. "As a child I used to have terrible nightmares of falling and fear" said Barton.

This is her way of overcoming those fears.

Her friends and family stood by her side cheering her on along the day. Her nephew, Mike Gil, brought his wife and kids to support her when she rode the glider in Tehachapi. "She focuses on the positive, she always wants to live it up and makes the most of everything, she's just full of life" said Gil.

Even though it was her birthday, Barton was making everyone around her laugh and smile. "You don't focus on yourself you do for other people, you do other things, get out and be healthy" said Barton,"Be adventurous do fun things, be positive, and get the lord in your life that's important."

Barton already planned her next birthday, a trip to Israel.
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