Forde Shorts

Keeps getting better – The city of Tehachapi will be debt-free in two years, Tehachapi City Manager Greg Garrett told the Greater Tehachapi Economic Development Council on Feb. 6. "The budget is solid as a rock," he said. The city is financing the new Police Department parking lot in-house. He said the city has partnered with Waste Management and churches in a community engagement program to help people clean up their yards. Some people are older and can't manage the task on their own, and others may not have access to trucks to haul rubbish away.

Smart 911 – Garrett said a person who needs help can text to 911 instead of calling, which would come in handy if you are being burgled and don't want the perpetrator to hear. Also, you can load the 911 system with anything the police department needs to know so they can help you, including medical conditions. The Police Department handled more than 8,000 calls last year. Kern Transit will be installing bus shelters at the new Tehachapi park 'n ride transit center. The transportation companies that use the transit center are posting their own schedules at the site.

Yay, skaters – Tehachapi Recreation and Park District Manager Michelle Vance said the district has applied for a $60,000 grant from Dignity Health to rehab the Ollie Mountain Skate Park, which is in sad shape. "We have a forgotten class – our skaters," she said.

Busy ER – Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley President Jeff Lingerfelt said that emergency room visits have increased from 850-900 a month at the old hospital to 1,400 in January at the new hospital. "We are treating people who were going elsewhere," he said. "There is a greater level of confidence." He said the ICU and Med-Surg beds have been full, and Adventist is going to get a license for five more beds.

It will be so cool – The Dorner wine tasting boutique off of Banducci Road in Cummings Valley will be open "in a few months," said Michele Dorner. It will be the third wine tasting boutique in CV.