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District ponders changes for board, elections
By REBECCA NEIPP, News Review Staff Writer
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Locals voice mixed
response to Brown’s
tax proposals
response to Brown’s
tax proposals
Construction affects traffic at front gate
Alliance sets
membership luncheon
membership luncheon
County collects IWV input for
Kern cycling plan
Kern cycling plan
By REBECCA NEIPP, News Review Staff Writer
A realignment of board representation in the Sierra Sands Unified School
District could pave the way for a reduction of the seven-member board.
In a special meeting Monday night, the board, along with district officials, heard
a presentation from legal counsel about the need to revise current
trustee-residence areas.
Voters currently vote for six IWV residents and one Rand resident for four-year
terms on staggered cycles (three of the seven seats are up this year, the other
four are up in 2014). The makeup of the board dates back to a unification in 1974
of several districts, which included those that represented Ridgecrest, China Lake
and Rand. Today, the seat reserved for Rand is elected from a population of 377,
some 120 of whom are registered voters. According to Grant Herndon, the law
requires that districts reflect a proportionate percentage of the population.
District could pave the way for a reduction of the seven-member board.
In a special meeting Monday night, the board, along with district officials, heard
a presentation from legal counsel about the need to revise current
trustee-residence areas.
Voters currently vote for six IWV residents and one Rand resident for four-year
terms on staggered cycles (three of the seven seats are up this year, the other
four are up in 2014). The makeup of the board dates back to a unification in 1974
of several districts, which included those that represented Ridgecrest, China Lake
and Rand. Today, the seat reserved for Rand is elected from a population of 377,
some 120 of whom are registered voters. According to Grant Herndon, the law
requires that districts reflect a proportionate percentage of the population.
| A youngster looks out into the rain falling over the Indian Wells Valley on Monday morning. According to an official in the China Lake Weather Office, the sprinkling left less than a tenth of an inch of rain. Photo by Laura Austin |
At the Pinnacles National Natural Monument outside Trona, long
shadows creep up the sides of the world-famous rock formations as
sundown approaches. The slanting sunbeams give a golden glow to
the rock spires. Photo by Linda Saholt
shadows creep up the sides of the world-famous rock formations as
sundown approaches. The slanting sunbeams give a golden glow to
the rock spires. Photo by Linda Saholt
By REBECCA NEIPP,
News Review Staff Writer
News Review Staff Writer
The Indian Wells Valley community continues to demonstrate its interest in
cycling as the local workshop attracted the largest turnout to the most recent in a
series of forums hosted by Kern Council of Governments to develop a countywide
plan for bikeways.
Kern COG recently hired Alta Planning to develop the cycling plan, which would
make Kern eligible for current funding streams to improve the safety and usability
of cycling routes.
Sam Corbett of Alta Planning opened with a presentation that summarized his
firm’s approach to developing the plan. He noted that the state identifies three
classes of cycling facilities: Class I, or bike paths, which are separate trails
reserved for nonmotorized vehicles; Class II, or bike lanes, which are dedicated
spaces for cyclists on existing roads; and Class III, which is only outlined by
signage on an established roadway. Another metric the firm is incorporating into
plan development is how local cyclists identify their comfort level on different kinds
of bikeways. The firm is targeting those who are interested in cycling, but who are
relatively inactive because of safety concerns about existing facilities. Those
cyclists are the most likely to increase participation in bikeways with improvement
to local facilities.
cycling as the local workshop attracted the largest turnout to the most recent in a
series of forums hosted by Kern Council of Governments to develop a countywide
plan for bikeways.
Kern COG recently hired Alta Planning to develop the cycling plan, which would
make Kern eligible for current funding streams to improve the safety and usability
of cycling routes.
Sam Corbett of Alta Planning opened with a presentation that summarized his
firm’s approach to developing the plan. He noted that the state identifies three
classes of cycling facilities: Class I, or bike paths, which are separate trails
reserved for nonmotorized vehicles; Class II, or bike lanes, which are dedicated
spaces for cyclists on existing roads; and Class III, which is only outlined by
signage on an established roadway. Another metric the firm is incorporating into
plan development is how local cyclists identify their comfort level on different kinds
of bikeways. The firm is targeting those who are interested in cycling, but who are
relatively inactive because of safety concerns about existing facilities. Those
cyclists are the most likely to increase participation in bikeways with improvement
to local facilities.
The China Lake Alliance will host a
membership luncheon Thursday, Jan. 26,
at noon at the SpringHill Suites Conference
Room to review its 2012 Strategic
Business Plan.
The luncheon is free for members, or
$25 per guest. Make reservations by calling
Director Mick Gleason at 760-705-7563 or
Jan Bennett at 760-382-4488.
membership luncheon Thursday, Jan. 26,
at noon at the SpringHill Suites Conference
Room to review its 2012 Strategic
Business Plan.
The luncheon is free for members, or
$25 per guest. Make reservations by calling
Director Mick Gleason at 760-705-7563 or
Jan Bennett at 760-382-4488.
NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE — At 6:30 p.m. tonight,
the in-bound lane through China Lake’s main gate will switch to the south
lane (right side). This switch will cause intermittent traffic delays at the
gate from 6:30-8:30 p.m. All traffic is urged to use Blandy Gate during this
time.
Until the road is reopened, all vehicles larger than three-quarter ton
pickups will be required to use the Blandy Gate.
Questions can be directed to the NAWS Public Affairs Office at 760-939-
1683.
the in-bound lane through China Lake’s main gate will switch to the south
lane (right side). This switch will cause intermittent traffic delays at the
gate from 6:30-8:30 p.m. All traffic is urged to use Blandy Gate during this
time.
Until the road is reopened, all vehicles larger than three-quarter ton
pickups will be required to use the Blandy Gate.
Questions can be directed to the NAWS Public Affairs Office at 760-939-
1683.
Despite the sunny tone of Gov. Jerry Brown’
s State of the State address last week, local
representatives and officials expressed
skepticism regarding the effectiveness of tax
increases as a solution for economic
recovery.
s State of the State address last week, local
representatives and officials expressed
skepticism regarding the effectiveness of tax
increases as a solution for economic
recovery.
DEADLINE EXTENDED
for Baby Parade
for Baby Parade