BPD to conduct seven DUI checkpoints Saturday night

April 10, 2015, 11:22 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA -The Kern DUI Task Force will be conducting DUI Checkpoints in seven separate locations in the greater Bakersfield area on Saturday night.

The checkpoints will be conducted in seven different locations, though not conducted simultaneously. BPD officials say they wanted to do something different to circumvent social media posts about the checkpoints.

According to BPD, the DUI checkpoints are in an effort to reduce the number of persons injured or killed each year in DUI related collisions. 

They say a major component of DUI checkpoints is to increase awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and to encourage sober designated drivers. 

The Kern DUI Task Force funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

The BPD would like to remind you that if you see an impaired driver that you are encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911. 

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Barbecue fundraiser to support homeless center

April 10, 2015, 11:40 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - For the seventh year, KGET is teaming up once again with Halliburton for a barbecue fundraiser with proceeds going to benefit the Bakersfield Homeless Center.

The barbecue is happening Wednesday, April 15, outside our KGET studios on the corner of 22nd and L Streets.

Volunteers will be serving up lunch from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.

     

For $10, you can get a tri-tip sandwich, chips and a drink.

     

You can also purchase $5 raffle tickets for a chance to win a 60 inch flat screen tv. 

BCHS names new head football coach

April 10, 2015, 11:54 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield Christian High School has hired Darren Carr as their new head football coach.

He will teach physical education and weight training as well as coach at BCHS.

Carr coached high school football since 2003. Darren Carr began his coaching profession in Houston, Texas for The Kincaid School as their varsity and junior varsity line coach. In 2008, he moved his family back to his hometown of Bakersfield where he became the varsity defensive line coach at Bakersfield High School. In his seven years at BHS, he was a part of the Drillers winning two Valley championships as well as the 2013 state championship.

“We are very excited to have Coach Carr as our new head football coach,” said BCHS Athletic Director Blake Van Der Schaaf. “First and foremost he is a great man of God and he displays the attributes we are looking for in any coach here at BCHS. He comes from a great football pedigree and has coached at one of the best high school programs in the state. We look forward to Coach Carr and his staff leading our student-athletes as we move ahead.”

Carr is the older brother to former BCHS star Raiders quarterback Derek Carr and younger brother of former NFL first overall pick David Carr.  

Carr replaces Jerald Pierucci, who was let go in March.

Traffic advisory for Calloway Drive next week

April 10, 2015, 12:22 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - A traffic advisory is in effect for the Rosedale area with a lane closure expected on Calloway Drive next week.

Motorists should anticipate a closure of the inside southbound lane on Calloway Drive, on Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14.

The lane closure will be between Marby Grange Way and Gleneagles Drive, and is needed to allow the contractor to make warranty repairs to concrete. This work is expected to be conducted between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., but the lane is expected to remain closed overnight.

BPD looking for two suspects wanted for Circle K robbery

April 10, 2015, 12:38 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for the public's help to identify and locate two suspects wanted for stong-arm robbery.

The incident occurred March 21, around 10:30 p.m. at the Circle K on 1030 Oak St.

According to BPD, the suspects entered the store, walked behind the sales counter and confronted the cashier. The male suspect then began removing cigarettes from the shelf behind the counter, at which time the female cashier attempted to stop him. The female suspect then assaulted the cashier. 

The cashier was able to successfully defend herself and the male and female suspect then fled from the store, according to BPD.

The male suspect is described as being in his early 20's, about 5 foot 7, with a slim build, wearing a black T-shirt with Monster energy-drink logo and a dark colored baseball cap.

The female suspect is described as being in her early 20's, with a slim build, wearing a pink T-shirt and black basketball shorts.

The suspects were seen occupying a Silver, early 2000’s model, Ford Taurus with black dealership plates reading Bakersfield Auto Exchange.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Mike Gerrity at 661-326-3273 or the Bakersfield Police Department at 661-327-7111.

Officials begin efforts to tear down tent city

April 10, 2015, 1:41 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - Bakersfield's so-called tent city will soon be a thing of the past, as the city building department started removing the wall and fence surrounding the campsite on Friday. 

     

Nearly 50 people live on the property, which is located on South Union Avenue. 

     

City officials said the lot is unsanitary and against city laws.

     

The city attorney's office said the property is in a trust and officials weren't able to contact the property owner until two weeks ago. 

     

According to officials, the owner signed a consent form admitting violations and allowing the city to cleanup and clear the property.

"What we're doing is we have a consent from the assigned property owner or the spokesperson for the property owner to remove the violations from the property. So what we are doing first is removing the chain link fence and the block wall," said code enforcement supervisor Wanda Neal.

City officials say the property owners have one year to make the changes to the property, including the removal of the homeless staying there.

Former Bakersfield man convicted of sexually exploiting a child

April 10, 2015, 2:30 pm

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A federal jury has found a former Bakersfield man accused of raping a baby and recording it in a local hotel guilty of kidnapping a toddler and producing child pornography.

After a four-day trial, Shawn McCormack, 31, was convicted by a jury making videos of himself molesting an 11-month-old boy in a central Bakersfield hotel room in 2008.

McCormack, now of Colorodo Springs, Colorodo, was found guilty of four counts of sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of kidnapping.     

Federal agents say they were investigating another case of child pornography when they stumbled on the video shared online and traced it back to Bakersfield.

According to the news release, evidence from the trial suggest that McCormack traveled to a couple’s residence in Bakersfield, posing as a friend, and stayed as an overnight guest on multiple occasions. 

The release states that: during several of the overnight stays, in the middle of the night, McCormack snuck the couple’s toddler out of the house and recorded his sexual abuse of the toddler in a nearby motel, outdoors and in his truck. 

The trial evidence further suggests McCormack returned the toddler to the house before the parents awoke. The evidence demonstrated that McCormack distributed the images and videos of his abuse to others online, including an undercover officer with the Toronto Police Services.

     

McCormack has been in federal custody since September 2011.

According to the release, McCormack is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on July 27. McCormack faces a possible sentence of 15 to 30 years in prison for each count of production of child pornography, and 20 years to life in prison for each count of kidnapping. 

Donate Life event to benefit locals in need

April 10, 2015, 3:38 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA - April is Donate Life Month and a time to recognize the thousands of people now waiting for an organ transplant. 

This is also a time that advocates want to remind everyone of the dire need many are facing as they wait for donations such as blood, plasma, platelets, and marrow.

On Saturday April 18, Houchin Blood Bank and JJ's Legacy will honor a 7-year-old local boy  Brayden Eidenshink, who has waited more than 220 days for a heart transplant.

Them and many other non-profit groups will gather to honor Brayden's Brave Heart during the Donate Life event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bolthouse Center, located at 11515 Bolthouse Drive.

Attendees can also meet with transplant patients and learn more about how they can help give life.

There will be a showing of the 45 minute film, "The Wish: A Story of Hope, Faith, and Generosity," about one woman's agonizing wait for a kidney transplant.

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Shannon Grove set to skydive for charity

April 10, 2015, 3:43 pm

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TAFT, CA - Assemblywoman Shannon Grove plans to do a tandem sky diving jump in Taft Saturday morning to benefit a Bakersfield-based charity that rescues and cares for abused, oppressed, and abandoned children in India and Nepal. 

According to Grove's press release, last month the Global Family Care Network held a fund raising dinner, and a skydiving jump with Grove was auctioned off for $450 to benefit the charity.

Delano man killed by train

April 11, 2015, 7:13 pm

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A Delano man is dead after being hit by a train Friday night.

It happened just before 7 p.m. on the tracks near 21st Avenue and High Street in Delano.

63 year old Rhonnie Knox was struck by a Union Pacific train and died at the scene.

Delano police officers were in the area when they were flagged down by witnesses.

The crossing was closed for several hours while officials tried to figure out what happened.

The investigation is still underway.

By our count, this is the 12th pedestrian death in Kern County this year.

Riverbed fire in northeast Bakersfield

April 11, 2015, 7:38 pm

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Mop-up work is currently underway in northeast Bakersfield after a suspicious brush fire.

The flames ripped through the riverbed just west of north Chester and Beardsley Avenues around two this afternoon.

Both county and city fire crews were on scene.

They say the fire is out at this point but there are still some hot spots.

County fire officials say the fire is suspicious in nature.

Arson crews are on scene investigating.

Assemblywoman Shannon Grove goes skydiving for charity

April 11, 2015, 7:41 pm

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The local republican lawmaker did a tandem skydive jump in Taft to benefit a Bakersfield charity.

The jump was put up for auction during a fundraiser for Global Family Care Network.

The organization rescues and cares for abused, oppressed and abandoned children in India and Nepal.

Tehachapi Police make child porn bust

April 14, 2015, 10:39 am

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TEHACHAPI, CA- A routine weapons check revealed child porn inside a Tehachapi home.

Special Agents with the state's Bureau of Firearms were conducting a compliance check at the home of Mario Manero when they found what they thought could be child porn.

The agents called Tehachapi Police who determined that the material was in fact child porn, Manero was arrested and booked into the county jail on possession of child porn.

A check of court records shows Manero pleaded no contest to discharging a laser at an aircraft in February.

A full search of his apartment resulted in several other items being seized by police.

Police say they are now going over all the evidence and attempts are being made to identify any potential victims.

If you have any information about the investigation, call Detective Dunham at the Tehachapi Police Department at 661-822-2222.

Woman, 2 kids suffer major injuries in Ming crash

April 14, 2015, 11:58 am

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A woman and two children were hospitalized for major injuries after their car slammed into a tree in south Bakersfield Monday evening. It happened around 8:30.

A red compact car was demolished after crashing into a tree on South Chester Avenue.

Police say excessive speed was a factor and that no other vehicles were involved.

Still no word yet regarding the victim's identities.

Police are asking anyone with information regarding this crash to call the department at 327-7111.

First Honor Flight of 2015 takes off Friday

April 14, 2015, 12:58 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- The first Honor Flight Kern County of 2015 takes off Friday.

Thirty-Seven World War II and Korean War Veterans will fly to Washington D.C. to see their memorials.

The public is invited out to help wish them well on their trip, and of course, give them a heroes welcome when they come back.

They are taking two flights Friday morning.

The first leaves Meadows Field Airport at 6:10 a.m. the second at 6:30 a.m.

After their whirlwind trip, they'll arrive home Sunday night at 9:30 and 11 p.m.

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School threat bill introduced by Sen. Fuller

April 14, 2015, 1:26 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- State Senator Jean Fuller announced on her Facebook page that she and BPD Sgt. Joe Grubbs presented a bill at the state Capitol that would stiffen penalties for people who make online threats against schools.

SB110 would make electronic threats of violence towards a school a misdemeanor. The law would cover threats on social media, emails and texts.

The bill is in response to a death threat on social media was made against Liberty High School in Bakersfield.

This threat resulted in nearly 1,000 students either leaving early or not reporting to school.

The bill passed the committee and will next be heard in Senate Appropriations Committee.

Vons to close 2 Bakersfield stores

April 14, 2015, 1:52 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Two Bakersfield Vons stores are closing according to the company.

The company confirmed Tuesday that the Vons on Olive Drive and the Vons on Stine Road will both close by May 16.

In a statement the company said: "To ensure the overall strength of the entire company, it is occasionally necessary to close stores that are not meeting company goals in order to reinvest in the remaining store base."

The statement continues: "While the decision to close a store is difficult—given the impact on employees and customers— we have a responsibility to do what is best for the long-term growth and success of the company as a whole. Our goal is to place as many employees as possible in other stores."

By our count, that leaves 4 Vons stores in the Bakersfield area.  Those stores will be on 9000 Ming Avenue, 4500 Coffee Road 5700 Stockdale Highway and 2401 N. Chester Avenue.  

Library privitazation meeting gets big turnout

April 14, 2015, 3:06 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Community activists are pushing back against a recent proposal by County Supervisors to privatize county libraries.

The turnout for last night's demonstration at Beale Memorial Library was so large, the meeting had to be moved to a bigger room.

Advocates for Library Enhancement talked about the importance of libraries to our communities.

They also discussed funding alternatives that would allow the library to remain public including a sales tax increase.

They would need 40,000 signatures to get that option on the ballot.

"Theres been a lot of outrage and we are trying to bring awareness to what is going on with the libraries and also what are other alternatives to privatization," said Miranda Lomeli-O'Reilly, from the Advocates for Library Enhancement

County Administrative Officer John Nilon says a deal for library privatization could put more books on the shelves and increase resources like internet access.

Nilon says the move is being considered because of impending budget cuts.

Florida bouncer lit on fire by customer

April 14, 2015, 3:23 pm

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(WPTV) A bar bouncer in Port St. Lucie is recovering in a Miami burn unit after a patron threw what appeared to be a cup of gasoline on him, then set him on fire during a scuffle Sunday night.

Read More: http://bit.ly/1I9vPLk

River bottom fire keeps crews busy

April 14, 2015, 3:57 pm

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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Kern County Fire and Bakersfield Fire joined forces to battle a river bottom fire Tuesday.

Just after 11:00 a.m., the Kern County Fire Department received multiple calls for a fire in the Kern River bottom of Oildale, west of the North Chester Ave bridge.

First arriving crews encountered a fire in brush and trees approximately 2 acres in size. Firefighters swept the area to ensure there were no persons in the area.

Due to a heavy fuel load of dense brush and trees, crews tied into the roads surrounding the area and engaged in a backfiring operation burning the fuel between the road and the fire to stop the fire and minimize water use.

The fire will require several more hours of mop-up and crews will remain on scene until all hot spots have been extinguished. Investigators are looking into the cause.

Local residents can expect smoke in the area through the evening. There were no reported injuries.