Forde Shorts

New face on the Council -- Tehachapi City Clerk Denise Jones swore in Dennis Wahlstrom, the City Council's newest member, together with two incumbents, the outgoing mayor Phil Smith and the incoming mayor Susan Wiggins, at the Dec. 15 council meeting at Wells Education Center.

The other council members are Kim Nixon and Ed Grimes, whose terms continue.

Mary Lou Corpus-Zamudio, who lost her council seat in November, stepped back into civic service a few minutes later at the meeting, to be sworn in as the council's appointment to the Tehachapi Valley Recreation and Park District board of directors. Craig Janssen, owner of Tehachapi Fitness, apologized for missing the application deadline as he was out of the country, and made an appeal to be considered for the TVRPD seat. The council thanked him for being involved in the TVRPD Foundation and encouraged him to apply when there is another opening. Corpus-Zamudio received unanimous approval.

In business Dec. 15, the City Council approved two ordinances – one that prohibits loitering, aggressive solicitation and any solicitation at specified locations; another that prohibits unauthorized entry into waste containers (dumpster diving). Public speaker David Butler said the laws "are like taking a hammer to hit a fly." He said he was shocked there were no [church] ministers at the meeting to address the issue. Police Chief Kent Kroeger said his officers would issue warnings and attempt to gain compliance before making any arrest. Councilman Smith said there are churches and the Salvation Army to help people in need. "We are not a heavy-handed community. We are a giving community," Smith said.