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Editorials
Recommendations for the May 19 special election
Yes on 1A: Proposition 1A is a common-sense, rational and long-needed reform. It will not guarantee the end of deficits. If a future decline is steep enough or long enough, no rainy-day fund will be big enough to cover all of the shortfall. But it will cushion the blow. And it is far better than what we have now. The ups and downs of state taxes have allowed legislators to binge on spending one year and starve programs the next, creating unpredictability and false expectations of what the state will provide. Previous rainy-day funds have proven porous. Prop. 1A would patch the holes. This should be seen as a down payment on comprehensive reform. That has to include lowering the requirement for two-thirds of the Legislature to approve a state budget and new taxes, but voters won't agree to that change without spending controls. Under Prop. 1A, yearly overall spending would be based on a 10-year average of state revenues, adjusted for inflation and population growth. Three percent of revenues each year, plus additional windfalls, would go into a rainy-day fund that would be used when revenues fall or, once the fund is full, to pay off debt and unmet obligations such as retirees' health benefits.
More of this storyDoes our opinion page have any relevance and worth to the community? Absolutely!
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Letters
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You’re out ... of line!
It’s baseball season again, not just for the nation, but also for our youth here in Kern River Valley. The All-American past time. Many will find their favorite part of baseball to be the opportunity to heckle, the players, the coaches, and most of all the umpires. This is both acceptable and expected in the Professional Leagues, for this is their job. Jobs for which they are paid a great deal of money. This is not the case with our youth however. They are here to have fun and learn valuable lessons, such as teamwork, responsibility, to win or lose with dignity, and respect for others.
More of this storyOkay, so everyone knows that our little valley has one of the hugest methamphetamine problems, but it’s beginning to start to not make a whole lot of sense to me. Everywhere you look there are tweakers about. Whether they be working, the customer, or just passing through. They are everywhere! Me and my family have been battling several problems for years now. I’m talking turning in license plate numbers, taking pictures, and talking to Sheriff Youngblood, yet nothing is done. It takes so long for them to even try to do something that the next generation of high school kids come out being tweakers themselves. It’s staggering how many parents I see walk into these places with children under the age of ten.
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Focus of letters should be reconsidered
I’m an out-of-towner, but a frequent visitor to the Kern Valley, and a subscriber to the Sun. A thorough read includes Letters to the Editor.
More of this storyOnce again the powers that be California or Kern County, amaze me. I am refering to the improvements (LOL) on Lake Isabella Blvd. I assumed (big mistake) that there would be two lanes each way with a turn lane in the center. What we have is one lane each way with a bike lane big enough for a semi. When is the last time you have seen enough bikes up here to need a lane that big? And why just from the 3-way to Vons? How long before someone backs out of one of the boulevard’s many buisnesses in front of a bike they did not see. This whole project is a accident waiting to happen. Whoever thought this one up did not have both oars in the water.
More of this storyOne of the main reasons for expensive medical insurance is repeated trips to the doctor. This doesn’t mean you are getting good; you are getting care and each time another bill is presented to your insurance.
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Let Congress know what you think
Chrysler only went into bankruptcy instead of re-organization because of some speculative hedge fund bondholders who bought the bonds in the last six months knowing the company was in a terminal condition.
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A big 'thank you' to the community
I’m writing this letter to thank some very special people and business owners in Lake Isabella. Recently we lost a dear friend and family member. Her passing was sudden and unexpected. We wanted to acknowledge and celebrate her life, share our love and memories. So we decided to have a memorial service for her. But not knowing how or where we could have a memorial and with little or no money, we were at a loss.
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Local law enforcement seems indifferent
Everyone knows law enforcement here is non-existent, no story there, but this latest incident is new to me. We called them three times for a loud party next door. Once at 1 in the morning, once at 2 and once at 3. He arrived a little after 3 and, wait for it, he said, I can't force people to go to sleep and left. I have to admit it was a nice change from It's a civil matter.” I used to think that it was their intense dislike of the locals, but maybe its that they actually don't know the law. Scary isn’t it.
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Disabled have rights for use of roadways
I’m sure I’m not the only person in a power chair around here. There are a few who seem to think its okay to park and block the curb cuts for the disabled. There were two of us in chairs last Sunday along with a friend of ours walking along side of us. We were heading for a restaurant and we went to use the curb cut to get across the street, just to find a truck blocking our access. Our friend went into the store to ask who it was and ask them to please move so we could cross the boulevard. This person came out with an attitude. I told him this is a no parking area and meant for folks with a disability to use. He said no its not, and I began telling him about it when he rudely told me to shut my mouth. Wrong thing to say to me. I have since looked it up in the 2009 DMV hand book and sure enough on (page 51) it clearly says, “Never park or leave your vehicle: Within 3 feet of a sidewalk ramp for disabled persons or in front of or on a curb which provides wheelchair access to a sidewalk.” Yes we did stay there till you re-parked. I knew you would park there again. So we were looking out for the next person in a chair. It’s a shame you were so rude. I hope those who drive, and do not drive will open your hand book and see what I’m telling here is the truth. We the disabled also have rights to.
More of this storyRush Limbaugh, the leader of the Republican party, called Sarah Palin, “The most prominent and articulate voice for American conservatism.” Ms.Palin was then installed on the new Republican think tank, the National Council for a New America.
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Has the Terminator gone too far?
The Center for Health Care Rights in Los Angeles, a non-profit, says over 300,000 elders in L.A. County alone, may be disabled or on veteran’s pensions, have gotten a letter from the Governor’s office or their IHSS worker that their SSI/SSP will be raided, giving them a new share of cost as of April 1, 2009.
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Single payer healthcare – Medicare for ALL!
I urge all readers to support single-payer health care reform, Medicare for all. According to data I’ve seen, more than 40 million U.S. citizens do NOT have health insurance coverage yet the U.S pays twice as much for health care than any industrialized nation. It is time to take health care out of the private (for profit) domain and provide, as most industrialized nations do, health care for all citizens via Medicare - reducing healthcare costs for most businesses and most persons. Per 2000 data, 23 percent of Kern County residents had no health insurance, at that time this represented 181,748 Kern citizens.
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What happened to ‘Protect and Serve’?
A matter of life or meth, Letters, 5/6/09In regard to last week’s letter I would like to say that my friend and I have been fighting the same problem. We have talked to a half dozen officers, called the Target program, written down license plate numbers and submitted them, and got no results. Some officers said that they would look into it and others said that there was nothing they could do about it and one said, “What do you want me to do about it?”
More of this storySo let’s deny gays civil rights but celebrate the practice of human sacrifice! THINK about it! Time for Christians to celebrate that pagan ritual of human sacrifice. Isn’’t part of “Easter” thanking the Christian God for his sacrificing a human (presumably his “son” - nevertheless “human” –if not “human” then the sacrificial act becomes non-sacrificial)? Don’t most of us consider human sacrifice as “barbaric” – not done in “civilized” societies? But Christians keep celebrating human sacrifice - some think they eat the sacrificed body and drink the sacrificed blood - and very few, except persons like myself, question such a barbaric custom. Some Christian buildings have crosses, a punishment device, proudly displayed–most with nothing hanging on them (to symbolize “resurrection” but nevertheless devices of torture), but some do have a human figure hanging on them - glory be to that God who could not think of any other way to “save” humans from “sin” and everlasting punishment except by using a practice that is considered barbaric by most humankind–how insane are we humans?
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Taxation without representation
The highly insulting issue of strangers being arrogant enough to think they should vote on the marriage of law abiding citizens aside, there is a practical issue staring us in the face at this tax time. Married same sex couples can enjoy a state tax break but have to file as “single” on federal forms, missing out on a HUGE tax break. No wonder some heterosexuals want to keep this marriage thing all to themselves! What magical metamorphosis happens to make married people worthy of such a tax break? This tax law discriminates against singles of every category as well as committed Gay couples. But that’s a whole other letter.
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Government hinders, doesn’t help people
With our new president going on four months in the White House, I’m seeing many changes. People on Social Security will no longer receive cost of living raises. They are the ones who really need it with their little fixed incomes. Also Medicare is costing more on their paychecks but the Feds cut what it will pay for on Medicare needs. Other big changes I see is Socialized Medicare which means that there will be so many people at the forced medical clinics that will die waiting for Medicare to approve for their medical needs. Nice going Feds, lets get rid of those costly old people that have been forced into paying Social Security deductions all their lives. That way the Feds can use their money.
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Shotgun approach to economy - the bailouts
The President is using the last $100 billion from the $700 billion bailout for banks to continue to loan money to them, and he desires an option for another $250 billion. The optional $250 billion should not be approved and the $100 billion in loans should have significant restrictions.
More of this storyI am totally outraged with the Forest Service with regards to not charging day and overnight use at the lake during the fishing derby. This free overnight and day use camping lost thousands of dollars worth of lost revenue for the Forest Service. Instead the Forest Service wants you and me to pay the bill. They keep saying we need more money and raise our day use and overnight camping fees and they still say they can’t pay the bills. Then why did they let the derby camping go free. They turned around and let over 8,000 people camp and day use for free. I don’t think they should get away with this. How about a town hall meeting to stand up for our rights.
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Sign-snatcher is one lucky thief
To the thief that stole the “McCain – Palin” sign from the front of my property on Lake Isabella Blvd. You are not only a thief but a very lucky person that I didn’t see you.
More of this storyThe Kern Valley and American right wing is calling Obama a Socialist.” Obama is suggesting that we raise taxes on the rich to ten percent LESS than Ronald Reagan had them. Reagan and both Bushes increased our democracy’s entire historical debt 40 plus percent while Clinton only raised it three percent. Ninety-five percent of those raises are in the form of Treasury bills we now must pay off with interest. And these right wing darling presidents sold them to Communist China. (Who now hold the second largest amount of our T-Bills.) Of course, Communist China is not Socialist, it's Communist.
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Budget cuts at Kern Valley High School
When school programs have to be eliminated to meet a reduced budget it is always controversial which one comes under the ax. If I was the person who had to make that decision an incident that occurred to me this week at one of the valley stores would influence my choice. I required 20 foot of re-bar cut into five pieces each four foot long. I told the young lady, obviously a recent school leaver, my requirements. She informed me that there would be a 35-cent charge for each cut. When I looked at my receipt I noticed she had charged me for five cuts. I attempted to put her right but finally accepted the charge as I was not getting through to her.
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Volunteers Responsible for Derby’s Success
Another Derby has come and gone. It was a huge success thanks to the many volunteers that gave their time to be sure it would be the best ever. Before the fish arrived last November, folks were repairing and installing the four huge nets at French Gulch Marina. The fish feeders fed them every day, twice a day, and others made sure the fish food was hauled from the storage tanks to the docks twice a week. Every time a load of fish arrived a crew assembled to get them loaded from the truck into the nets. Folks volunteered their pontoon boats and time.
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Out-of-town media shun Fishing Derby
I am writing this letter to voice my displeasure will all of the Bakersfield News Media in their NON-COVERAGE of one of the largest events in Kern County this year. On April 4,5, and 6, the Kern River Valley Chamber of Commerce held it’s 20th annual fishing derby on Isabella Lake. We had a total of over $200,000 in prizes available for the over 8,800 participants. Two Kern County residents, one from Bodfish and the other from Bakersfield won $10,000 each, and a woman from Delano won $1,000 for catching the longest trout in the tournament. The event drew over 10,000 people to the Kern River Valley filling up all the Motels, Restaurants, and Businesses.
More of this storyI would like to comment on the new signs posted by a local plumber along the off-ramp into Lake Isabella off of 178 from the east. First why is there so many? I am reminded of signs of the past that advertised a roadside attraction. They were tacky then and they are tacky now! Please do us all a favor and advertise in the paper or on the radio and not along our beautiful landscape. What used to be a gorgeous meadow is now an ugly roadside advertisement.
More of this storyI want to share my recent experience with our local hospital. When I entered I could hardly lift my head and felt like I’d be leaving feet first. The care of the nurses and doctors was excellent, especially Dr. Matuh who allayed my fears. The respiratory therapy services were excellent and I was able to come home standing up. People in our valley need to know what an excellent hospital we have. The Pink Ladies make the rooms so nice I felt like I was in a hotel. The nurses put me at ease. My mental state was terrible when I went in and now I am smiling. We are fortunate to have our hospital and we need it in our valley. I am very grateful to my Nurse Practitioner, Carol Kendall, who listened to me and sent me to the Emergency Room.
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Columns
Organizing spring
Susan Barr
More of this storyJim Beilstein
More of this storyDaniel Pope
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Brandon Muncy
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
More of this storyDaniel Pope
More of this storyKathleen Brown
More of this storyBrandon Muncy
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
More of this storyBrandon Muncy
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Hydra: Longest, largest constellation
In one Greek myth, Hydra, Corvus, and Crater are all in the same story and are preserved together in our night sky. The story tells us that crows used to be beautiful white birds with beautiful voices and they were the messengers of the gods. Our word ‘cup’ comes from the word crater. Apollo gave Corvus the Crow, the Crater to use to fetch a drink of water from a special spring. While enroute, Corvus spotted a fig tree with not quite ripe fruit. Corvus waited until the fruit was ripe enough to eat and after eating his fill of figs he realized that he had been gone way too long. He needed a story to tell Apollo to account for his delay. Corvus snatched a water snake, Hydra, in his claws and when he returned to Apollo he claimed that the snake had prevented him from returning sooner. Apollo was not fooled and he changed all the crows to black and gave them the voices we hear today. Apollo threw all three into the sky and put the Cup just out of Corvus’ reach so he can never get a drink. I’ve read that crows are the only birds that do not carry water to their young.
More of this storyMarilyn Benoit
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Wedding bells ring for Leanne & Brandon
Amber Siratt
More of this storyDaniel Pope
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
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Try Marge’s Lemon Velvet Delight
Brandon Muncy
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