Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 50
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools, in partnership with the Kern Education Pledge and the Truancy Reduction and Attendance Coalition of Kern (TRACK), launched a distance learning engagement campaign titled, “Present, Engaged and Supported!” featuring a PSA and tips for distance learning success. For the past six years, TRACK has hosted an annual attendance awareness month every September to promote the value of good school attendance and its direct correlation with student achievement. Research shows that if students are not present and...
On the morning of Friday, Aug. 7, Paul Roger Beckett, loving husband and father, was called home to his Heavenly Father. Paul, at the age of 88, passed away peacefully in his sleep after his long struggle against Parkinson's disease. A resident of Tehachapi since 1992, Paul was born on May 21, 1932 in Franklin, Ohio to Clyde and Wilma Beckett. He grew up in a farming community and graduated from Carlisle High School in Carlisle, Ohio, class of 1950. In school Paul enjoyed playing on both the...
Our local photographers are made out of determined stuff! And that "stuff" sure brought in a fantastic selection of photography for this season's photo contest. We sure appreciate the effort they went through to get those spectacular shots and to work around global restrictions, limited submission hours and long wait times to get prints made! You can stop by to see their entries at Gallery 'N' Gifts on Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. now through Aug. 31. Best of Show – Jenne R...
"Bound By War: A Memoir of Love, Friendship and Survival" was released last month, authored by Todd Lander, a resident of Bear Valley Springs for more than 19 years. Just before his 20th birthday, Todd was drafted into the U.S. Army in December 1967. After his initial and airborne training he was sent to Vietnam to be a grunt with the 101st Airborne, to spend a year in the jungles and rice paddies of Vietnam during the most tumultuous time of the war. Friendships were made and lost that year,...
I have been around race tracks and motorsports most of my life, learning photography on a drag strip. That's the safe place to race your hot rod street car, not the streets, as I have seen all over Kern County for years. Sergeant Robert Pair of the Bakersfield Police Department has been on all of the local news stations and radio broadcasts commenting that, "It's not just law enforcement's problem, it's a community problem." On Aug. 9, the Bakersfield Police Department responded to reports of...
Over the past few months, Rio Tinto Boron has worked in partnership with six local community organizations on COVID-19 initiatives across California, supporting food resilience, distance learning and vulnerable people and families. Through its donation-matching program and corporate donations, the company and its employees have contributed more than $40,000 to the Community Action Partnership of Kern, the Antelope Valley Partners for Health, the Boys and Girls Club of LA Harbor, Bridge for Hope...
It's that time of year for harvesting in the Grimmway fields along Banducci and Pelliser Roads in Cummings Valley. As you leave or come in to Stallion Springs, watch for workers cutting between the cars, entering or exiting their cars that are parked along the road. Bear and California Condor sightings in Stallion Springs Residents have reported multiple sightings of a small black bear in the southwest area of (lower) Stallion Springs. As a reminder, please DO NOT approach or feed the bear and...
JR Dayton Collins, 90, of Tehachapi, passed away on July 23 at his home with loving family by his side. He was born on Nov. 4, 1929 in Seminole County, Okla. to James and Helen Collins. A longtime resident of Tehachapi, JR came to the community when he was five years old. Over the years, he worked in the gold mines and at Monolith Portland Cement Company. He was a career heavy equipment operator. In his free time, he loved riding motorcycles, especially his Honda Gold Wing bikes. JR was known...
Parents and teachers are stressing over the issue of how school will be starting again. It has been a tough row to hoe for parents unaccustomed to teaching their children at home, tough for the children not being around their playmates and now, scary for the teachers, concerned about the virus spreading if the students are back in school. There is no easy answer. The Tehachapi Unified School District has decided that, for now, classes in the classrooms will be on hold. This is the season that Yellow Star Thistle starts to appear. It is a...
For those with a sense of adventure, mystery and discovery, Cerro Coso Community College is offering archaeology classes via schedule Zoom this fall. Part detection, part research and part treasure hunting, the course covers the basic principles of archaeology, studies ancient civilizations around the world and practices hands-on archaeological techniques. ANTH C131 (7858) will meet with Professor Sarah King on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3:25 p.m. via Zoom. Fascinated by the study of human remains from the Stone Age to modern day...
I love sports. I played them all through childhood (and yes, I was the only girl who played baseball with the boys in grade school, after my parents had to raise a ruckus so the school administrators would let me) and the teen years and a good part of young adulthood. Organized sports were my thing but I also enjoyed recreational activities like hiking, biking, bowling and the occasional game of horseshoes. Some sports – like softball, basketball and volleyball – I enjoyed so much I off...
Classic Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative brain disorder that primarily affects a person's movement in its early phases. Although resting tremors are a well-known sign of PD, the disease can also produce problems such as muscle stiffness, decreased coordination, difficulty standing and walking, and difficulty speaking clearly. These symptoms can make it difficult or impossible for someone to work. PD's motor problems are related to a decrease of dopamine production in brain areas...
On Aug. 6, second district supervisor Zack Scrivner spoke to the Tehachapi Rotary Club giving county updates related to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. He reported that the financial impact to the county would result in a $25 million budget hole that would likely be felt by all departments, including the sheriff, fire, library and mental health. To help close the gap, the county will be using some of their reserves but there will be a seven-and-a-half percent cut to all departments except public safety. Even with these measures, an $11...
Franklin D. Blakely passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at his home in Tehachapi on Aug. 4 after a short illness (not COVID-19). Blakely was born on a farm in Grayson County, Texas on Aug. 14, 1932. He and his 12 siblings were the children of Franzel Mayfield Blakely and Zula Ayers Knight. His parents were from Kentucky and moved to Texas around 1920. He attended school in both Bolivar and Sanger, Texas and graduated from Sanger High School. Blakely was proud to serve his country as a...
Valley Strong Credit Union has named Nicholas Ambrosini as their next president/CEO, succeeding longtime chief Stephen P. Renock, IV, effective July 1, 2021. Ambrosini has a long history with the credit union, dating back to 2007. His past roles include Executive Vice President/CFO, Vice President of Finance, Director of Financial Planning and Manager of Internal Audit & Risk Management. “I deeply appreciate the Board’s confidence in me and look forward to working with them to build a brighter future for our organization,” Ambrosini said....
The COVID-19 pandemic has unsettled the country's employment picture for months and will likely continue to do so for a while. However, the nature and terminology of this disruption varies greatly among individuals – some have seen their jobs disappear, others have been "furloughed" and still others have been offered an early retirement. If you're in this final group – those either offered, or feeling forced to accept, an early retirement, how should you respond? Try to look at your situation ho...
William "Bill" Smith went to be with his Lord on Aug. 2. Giant in stature, he leaves a great hole in our hearts needing to be filled. His desire would be that we fill it with Jesus. Bill was born in Pasadena, California to parents Earl and June Smith on Aug. 24, 1947. He grew up in El Monte, California attending Gidley K-8 and Rosemead High School. From a young child he was an avid reader (reading classics and western sagas) and very active in sports. Playing in Little League, he honed skills...
Not long ago I wrote about my father's purchase of a piano for our family in the amount of $75. It was money given World War I veterans as a bonus for time served. It was called The World War then, "The War To End All Wars." Later, of course, it had the number one attached to it to differentiate between it and World War II. Getting back to the piano, I resurrected this little piece about a piano with a past. On Sunday mornings, when our church choir is practicing and warming up before Mass, we a...
An increased reliance on virtual home instruction has many students rethinking their organizational strategies and daily school schedules. Learning at home is different from being in a traditional classroom environment, but with some effective strategies, students can persevere without missing a beat. Stick to a schedule Many students are successful because they follow a schedule. The Center for Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning says that routines and schedules are important...
The concept of “social distancing” was no doubt a mystery to millions of people prior to 2020. But in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus that was first discovered in China in late 2019 but soon spread across the globe, social distancing became a household term. Social distancing refers to actions deliberately designed to increase the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. The American Psychological Association notes that social distancing typically requires that people stay at least six feet apart fro...
Dr. Dean Alan Brunner, 72, died on August 6, 2020, in Columbia, South Carolina. He was born July 29, 1948, in Akron, Ohio, the son of Eber C. and Martha Jean (Snyder) Brunner. Dr. Brunner graduated in 1968 from Roosevelt High School in Kent, Ohio. Following graduation, he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the California South Mission from 1968 to 1969. Upon completing his mission, he attended Rick's College (now Brigham Young University Idaho) and...
On the morning of Aug. 6, the board of the Tehachapi Arts Commission presented art teacher Debbie Haeberle with a check for $250 to assist with her program to supply art supplies to TUSD students. Commission President Dwight Dreyer and his wife, Laura, presented Haeberle with a matching check from Dreyer Fine Arts. From left are: Jim and Cheryl Wilson, Sally Lawrence, Donald Towns, Debbie Haeberle, student Luke Korhonen and Dwight Dreyer....
Old and young alike enjoyed the Summer Equestrian Playday put on by the Bear Valley Springs Buckaroo Club. A number of challenging events were set up for club riders to test their skills and their horse's abilities. Winners were divided into age groups. Some riders were as young as 4 years old. Adults 18 and over were also invited to compete. The next Buckaroo event will be on Sept. 12. Winners by age group were: On Leadline (youngest competitors): Carter Akerly 12 years and under: Elena Perez...
These 3,000 newly planted grape vines are located in the Brite Valley area of Tehachapi. Brite Valley Vineyard is owned by Keith Campeau, who will soon be moving into the area to operate the family owned business. A variety of wines will be forthcoming. Plans call for a tasting room to be built at a future date....
On the weekend of Aug. 1, about 15 members of the Lemon Drop Divas women's vintage RV club visited Brite Lake campground. The weekend was planned with a hillbilly theme including costumes, games, movies and a visit to the wineries (in costume). Face mask making was one of the first projects tackled by the group. Lemon Drop Divas is a nationwide group started by Southern California resident Anita Gunton five years ago in January. The group goes camping every month but also plans lunches, cruises...
