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Editorials
Health Care Reform: The Cure Shouldn’t be Worse Than the Problem
Congressman Kevin McCarthy
More of this storyAt least be honest
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Letters
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Nut cases behind no fish stocking ruling
I have been coming to the Valley for the past 45 years and have owned a home in Kernville. Recently having to sell that home but still coming to the Valley, I am so disappointed in the brain child/children who decided to end the stocking of trout in the river. After visiting this past week and talking to a number of business owners, it is scary to think that someone has the control over so many people and all because their thinking is that planted trout are harming the native fish population. My question is how was it decided that after so many, many, many years of stocking trout, planted trout are all of sudden “bad” for the river. Give me a break. How can I, as a former Valley resident get involved in getting rid of this irrational thinking. I did sign petitions while on my last visit. Valley residents, you had better take control of your situation and not let some outside nut cases dictate to you what they want and what will eventually hurt your businesses.
More of this storyOn Saturday, Aug. 15, just like third Saturday of every month, a group drove around the area collecting food to be distributed to The Food Pantry, God’s Storehouse, and The Salvation Army. This was the eleventh monthly Compassion Caravan – collecting about a dozen pickup trucks of food over the eleven months! Thanks to Brian Polston and all the compassionate members of the Family Life Center in Wofford Heights for all that food! Thanks, also, to the compassionate persons who used the collection barrels at the Southlake Sierra Gateway Market and Mt. Mesa Market and the collection container at Vons. A special thanks to Lucian Whitman of Kern River Novelty for all those clothes and shoes! To all the compassionate people in the KR Valley who are donating to all the care giving organizations – thanks! Let’s hear from you – tell us what you’re doing – share your compassion!

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Discrimination can’t end soon enough
Americans should applaud President Obama for signaling his intent to repeal the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act.
More of this storyYou saw my house when you rode by on your horse, the last time to get your cows. I have an idea, why don’t you ride on your horse and build a fence to keep your cows in and out of my yard. Or maybe if you don’t mind your cows missing, myself and all of Alta Sierra will have ground beef. This is getting old. I am the lady that had the pretty flowers. Also, the least you could do is take the patties with you! Clown.
More of this storyI would not like to see the sixth grade Camp KEEP trip be taken away. As a seventh grade class we all agree that it was a fun learning experience that is hands on and exciting.
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Fire crews go above and beyond
We want to thank Capt. Trammell and Jim Phillips and Crew 87 for the great clean up of the neighbors’ property. Although he (the neighbor) doesn’t live here full time, the rest of the neighborhood does.
More of this storyMy name is Patrick Grooms at Wallace Middle School. I wanted to talk to the school district, cause there’s a rumor going around, that next year the sixth grader’s won’t be able to go to Camp KEEP!
More of this storyAs a retired teacher, I was pleased to see the front page highlight the start of the new school year. The introduction of the new high school teachers was also a real plus. But I must respond to the comment of the new teacher in the special education department. I hope I misunderstood his comment as the reason for his career choice. Teaching is not a “kick-back” job in any stretch of the imagination, and especially the teacher in the special education classroom. Special needs students deserve the best, the brightest, the most motivating, and most energetic of teacher. It is the teacher’s role to motivate as well as educate these so deserving students. The learning challenges before the special needs students requires a teacher who is a model for education, ambition and motivation, not a teacher looking for an easy or “kick-back” job.
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Fringe groups sound like majority
Re: Debate remains civil, informative, 8/26/09Your statement on one persons very valid concern about care for the elderly, which over 50 percent of people have the same concern, was distorted with you slamming her with, She played the card of a fringe group!
More of this storyI’d like to share, and possibly help my neighbors whose residential water source is a private well. As I’m sure you know, repairs can be quite costly when something goes wrong. According to wellowners.org and many other water and well information Internet sites, part of your well’s yearly maintenance is a procedure called “shock chlorination.” This yearly maintenance is done to eliminate the bacteria in your well, pump residue build-up, and disinfect the storage tank, hot water heater and pipes. My feelings toward chlorine are, “It is a toxic dangerous liquid” and not environmentally friendly!
More of this storyAt the “public” town hall meeting sponsored by Congressman McCarthy, asking his pastor to offer a Christian prayer in that public meeting in a public facility illustrated McCarthy’s intolerance of persons holding views contrary to his – has he no understanding that we live in a multicultural society where there are persons who believe other than the Christian faith or who believe in no religion at all? Weren’t the “founding fathers” (no mothers) very concerned about avoiding a theocracy? Also, how ironic to ask for God’s guidance when McCarthy has decided against any public option – which option might actually help thousands of persons in Kern County who have NO health insurance or the 50 million plus U.S. citizens without health coverage or the thousands of families who have suffered bankruptcy because of health care costs. At least one of those citizens was in the town hall audience! Does a patriot turn his back on fellow citizens in need? It appears at least one self-proclaimed patriot does! If multitudes of your fellow citizens are in need are you going to say, “It costs too much” or are you going to say, “We’ll figure out a way to pay for it?”
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Service dogs are clean
Re: Who let the dogs out? Letters, 8/26/09Service dogs come in all sizes. They are used for people who can’t hear, high blood pressure, diabetes, seizers, panic attacks, big dogs for the blind, anxiety, and other medical problems. If you are in the market or other place where you are pushing a cart, you do NOT want to lead a lil dog on a leash where people can trip over them, push a cart on them or have kids run up to them when they are working and are not to be bothered by anyone. Putting them in a seat babies sit in with poopy diapers give me the creeps, not for the baby but for the dog. The store owners/managers almost 100 percent of the time check with the owner of the dog to find out if it is a service dog. It is not the business of “Joe the Shopper” to ask but go for it. Unless forgotten at home the owner has their vest and ID with them. The vest for lil dogs don’t fit well so some owners have their vests on the purse handle. Also, I’ve seen some service dogs sitting on a towel or a piece of material in the carts seat, to keep “them” germ free!
More of this storyWith all the craziness surrounding the health care debate, there is a simple answer to many of the problems that afflict many people. This formula is economically, environmentally and socially responsible. It responds equally to democrat and republican, liberal and conservative, male and female. It has no bias toward any race, religion, color, creed, sexual orientation, economic or social standing. If this formula could be bottled, it would be declared a “miracle drug” that helps prevent heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, depression, obesity related illness etc. And it would save whatever health care system we have billions of dollars.
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Lack of fairness at healthcare debate
I am not personally offended that you recently categorized me by name as “the fringe element.” However, I am deeply concerned that you believe this to be true and that you expect your readers to agree with you. This shows a lack of understanding of, and an alienation of, a large percentage of the public. But of more concern to me, is the lack of fairness that was represented at the town hall meeting.
More of this storyThe campgrounds may not be full but just drive up river and you will find where they all went, huge groups are spread out every where and it is all free. Why not lower the charge for camp sites and get them filled. Some don’t have a water supply good enough to have campers, get it fixed. Some good sites are never open—Why?
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Alternatives for changing California
Try this alternative for changing Californias helpless political system. Go to www.repaircalifornia.org. This is a group seeking to have a new Constitutional Convention to change a few things.
More of this storyThe Nuui Cunni Farmers' Market, their vendors and the Kern River Paiute Council wish to shout out a huge "Thank You!" to the Kern River Valley communities and its tourists for supporting the valley's first Certified Farmers' Market these past 22 weeks.
More of this storyFor all of you thinking about taking classes at Cerro Coso Community College, be advised that you should not just walk in the first day and register. Quite often, in the past, classes have been closed when there where not enough people who signed up in advance. So if you are thinking about it go ahead and get in there early.
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Government managing healthcare?
Question. If the government can’t run the cash for clunkers program how are they going to manage our healthcare? God Bless us all.
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Animal Control takes killing lightly
I wanted to share mine and my family’s experience with this valley’s animal control. On Aug.17 I came home from work and thought my 15-year-old cat was getting into a cat fight. I walked outside to find her being tossed around by a huge brown pit bull. I tried to scare the dog away and eventually it let go. My poor suffering cat crawled under my car and slowly died. I immediately called the animal control and the first operated asked me, “Well I don’t know what you want me to do?” They finally sent animal control out even though I didn’t once see them drive down my street. My daughter got home and called once again to see if they had found the dog. They simply said no and that they couldn’t really do anything else. The thing we have trouble understanding is why this matter was taken so lightly. My cat could have been a toddler being walked down the street or even a small dog. We don’t appreciate being treated how we were. Our cat had been in our family for 15 years and now we don’t have her anymore because of a loose dog. Me, my family and our neighbors think that animal control should put a little more effort into helping us out. Don’t we pay their salary?
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Higher fees for sinking docks?
It’s great fishing on the lake, at least that’s what all the papers say. But if you want to fish from a boat I hope you like putting it in at the Main Dam boat ramp. At three dollars a gallon this puts you a long ride from the north end and even longer from the east end. Why?
More of this storyIt is no wonder that California is in financial trouble, there are more people on welfare in this state than many states have people. Also, our elected officials don’t know how to say NO to these squeaking wheels. Those on welfare should be required to do something for their keep. Oh yes they have rights and our politicians will continue giving into them as long as they receive their vote.
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Forest Service personnel appreciated
I recently took a trip with my son to Troy Meadow campground when I encountered automobile trouble. I would like to thank the Forestry personal especially Jim Yearwood, Kyle Villia, Glenn Villnueva, and Scott Russel for all of their help. Thanks to them I was able to camp three nights before AAA towed me home. Can’t say enough about the folks that work for the United States Forest Service. Being a local I sure do appreciate them and everything they do. Keep up the good work and have a safe year.
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Take down yard sale signs, already
My husband and I look forward to our usual Saturday morning drive to No-Got’s Swap Meet and garage/estate/yard sales. We head down the hill from one side of the lake to the other, hit No -Got’s first, we meet the usual vendors give a hi, check out what’s going on and then prepare for our trek around the valley to hit all the “sales.” Many, MANY times we have made the effort to follow signs that have been left from weeks before. Why can’t these signs be removed after your garage/estate/yard sales? How often have you had a yard sale and had a stranger pull up in front of your house a week or weeks later to ask “Where is the yard sale?” If the signs were taken down this wouldn’t happen, Duh! How is a person to know the difference between an old sign and a new sign? I am sure we are not the only ones frustrated by this.
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Using our soldiers for political gain
We are leaving Iraq. A war started largely by Richard Cheney, Vice President of the United States. His unprecedented eight trips to the CIA to get them to change their view that Iraq had weapons of Mass Destruction guaranteed that 4,000 Americans were killed, and 30,000 seriously and permanently injured for life. It had nothing to do with 9/11 at all.
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Columns
Are we doing anything important today?
Sandra Hughes
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
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I attend many meetings around our valley and in doing so many times I hear the same speakers. Often the speaker’s program is the same but usually I still pick up something I missed the first time around. Over the years I have been present for many presentations by our local Kern River Valley Fire Safe Council. Although the basic principals are the same, I always come away with new information and amazement at the accomplishments of the Fire Safe Council members; each presentation is for me a new experience.
More of this storyClear moonless nights in August are the best nights to see for yourself how our Solar System is oriented within our Milky Way Galaxy. On many summer evenings every year I look above our southern horizon and stand in awe. The quote that always comes to mind is one credited to Einstein, “The most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.”
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
More of this storySandra Hughes
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Barrie Mann
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Ducks victorious 12 years running
Marsha Smith
More of this storySandra Hughes
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Special to the SunBrandon Muncy
More of this storyDaniel Pope
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The task of calf branding a much anticipated event even for old-timers
Bob Powers
More of this storyBrandon Muncy
More of this storySandra Hughes
More of this storyAmong the oldest legends, the Sumerians saw their god of war, Nergal, with a bow an arrow in the stars of Sagittarius (saj-ih-TAIR-ee-us), the Archer. Later the Greeks saw a Centaur (torso of a man – body of a horse) with a bow and an arrow aimed at the heart of the Scorpion. Sagittarius is a member of the zodiac and so is very near the Ecliptic, the plane of our solar system. Over time, the Sun, Moon, and planets all appear to pass through the Sagittarius part of the sky.
More of this storyMarsha Smith
More of this storyMarilyn Benoit
More of this storySusan Barr
More of this storyDaniel Pope
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On Women's Equality Dayâ€- Are We There Yet?
Linda Meric
More of this storyJackie Papandrew
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Cattle Drives, Cowboys and Dinosaurs
Barrie Mann
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Rubber Ducks in training for race day
If you think the valley’s been invaded by ducks because of that continuous quacking, relax. It is only 1,000 rubber ducks undergoing strenuous training for the 22nd annual Rubber Duck Races on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Kern Valley Exchange Club sponsors the event, with the proceeds benefiting the organization’s local scholarship program and other youth-based activities. The event is a fun-filled day in Riverside Park in Kernville with lots of activities for kids. Folks come from all over to spend the day in the park and watch the races. To many, duck racing is seriously fun as attested by the cheering crowd lining the shore at the finish line.
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