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Council vote jeopardizes contract
3-2 decision to refuse payment could topple precarious agreement to revoke mandatory trash collection
By REBECCA NEIPP,
News Review Staff Writer
News Review Staff Writer
KV fire spurs evacuations
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By DAVE JOHNSON, News Review Staff Writer
The vote to deny payment to contracted trash hauler Benz Sanitation has sparked debate
about whether the move has upset the tenuous agreement between the four key players. Approval from each party is
required to end the city’s unpopular program mandating trash and recycling collection for city property owners.
“I am extremely disappointed with three of my fellow council members,” said Council-man Jerry Taylor, who along with
Mayor Steven Morgan voted against the decision. Taylor said he believes it is irresponsible in light of being so close to
finalizing a months-long effort to bring constituents an option out of the much-decried program. “This is essentially
throwing gasoline on the fire. To provoke our vendor into pressing a lawsuit this late in the game is outright stupid.”
required to end the city’s unpopular program mandating trash and recycling collection for city property owners.
“I am extremely disappointed with three of my fellow council members,” said Council-man Jerry Taylor, who along with
Mayor Steven Morgan voted against the decision. Taylor said he believes it is irresponsible in light of being so close to
finalizing a months-long effort to bring constituents an option out of the much-decried program. “This is essentially
throwing gasoline on the fire. To provoke our vendor into pressing a lawsuit this late in the game is outright stupid.”
Firefighters from various agencies responded
Monday at approximately 1:45 p.m. to a
vegetation fire in the area of Berlando Road,
west of the Kern River in Kernville.
Members of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of
Land Management and Kern County fire
departments worked together in an effort to
protect structures in the area. However,
because of the fast-moving nature of the
wildfire, some structures were destroyed.
By 3 p.m. the Bull fire began to move in a
northeasterly direction toward the Kern River
and had consumed between 100 and 125
acres.
Monday at approximately 1:45 p.m. to a
vegetation fire in the area of Berlando Road,
west of the Kern River in Kernville.
Members of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of
Land Management and Kern County fire
departments worked together in an effort to
protect structures in the area. However,
because of the fast-moving nature of the
wildfire, some structures were destroyed.
By 3 p.m. the Bull fire began to move in a
northeasterly direction toward the Kern River
and had consumed between 100 and 125
acres.
above right: U.S. Forest Service firefighters mop up one of many fires that have
ravaged the area. (Photo by Laura Austin) above: Helicopters attack the Bull Run
Fire near Kernville. (Photo by Cathy Perfect, courtesy of Kern Valley Sun) Click on the
pictures for larger versions.
ravaged the area. (Photo by Laura Austin) above: Helicopters attack the Bull Run
Fire near Kernville. (Photo by Cathy Perfect, courtesy of Kern Valley Sun) Click on the
pictures for larger versions.
Red-flag warning -
fire season is here
fire season is here
Sheriff outlines challenges facing dept.
A series of fires around the
region in recent weeks is a red-
flag warning that fire season is
here.
The Bodfish and Sand Canyon
fires, both sparked by lightning
during thunderstorms July 15,
were followed by the Indian
Wells Canyon fire (later named
three days later.
According to Don Washington,
fire management officer at the
Ridgecrest Bureau of Land
Management office, as of
Sunday the Indian fire was 100-
percent controlled and is
currently in the monitoring stage.
What that means, he said, is “to
go out and take a look at it, if
neccessary to fly it. With the
Indian fire you can drive to most
of it because we’ve got roads.
So we can go there and take a
look around to see if anything is
smoking or anything of that
nature, or any threat to the
[containment] line.” He added
that the fire is still under
investigation.
region in recent weeks is a red-
flag warning that fire season is
here.
The Bodfish and Sand Canyon
fires, both sparked by lightning
during thunderstorms July 15,
were followed by the Indian
Wells Canyon fire (later named
three days later.
According to Don Washington,
fire management officer at the
Ridgecrest Bureau of Land
Management office, as of
Sunday the Indian fire was 100-
percent controlled and is
currently in the monitoring stage.
What that means, he said, is “to
go out and take a look at it, if
neccessary to fly it. With the
Indian fire you can drive to most
of it because we’ve got roads.
So we can go there and take a
look around to see if anything is
smoking or anything of that
nature, or any threat to the
[containment] line.” He added
that the fire is still under
investigation.
By DAVE JOHNSON,
News Review Staff Writer
News Review Staff Writer
Youngblood cites Ridgecrest as model of community involvement
By REBECCA NEIPP, News Review Staff Writer
The challenges of dealing with an increasingly large criminal element and
diminishing resources was outlined by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood at
last week’s meeting of the Ridgecrest Republican Women, Federated.
However, he said that Ridgecrest has distinguished itself from other California
cities by the effect this community’s involvement has had on intervention and
crime suppression. “People need to come and look at Ridgecrest to see what
occurs here,” said Youngblood. “I give talks all over the state where I talk about a
city of 30,000 with no gangs and no graffiti. People don’t believe me.”
He attributed that relatively low rate of crime to local law enforcement staying on
top of new criminal elements moving into town, and local residents supporting
them in that cause. “In Ridgecrest, if you see graffiti today, it is gone tomorrow.
Eventually Johnny Knucklehead doesn’t want to waste his time anymore,” said
Youngblood.
diminishing resources was outlined by Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood at
last week’s meeting of the Ridgecrest Republican Women, Federated.
However, he said that Ridgecrest has distinguished itself from other California
cities by the effect this community’s involvement has had on intervention and
crime suppression. “People need to come and look at Ridgecrest to see what
occurs here,” said Youngblood. “I give talks all over the state where I talk about a
city of 30,000 with no gangs and no graffiti. People don’t believe me.”
He attributed that relatively low rate of crime to local law enforcement staying on
top of new criminal elements moving into town, and local residents supporting
them in that cause. “In Ridgecrest, if you see graffiti today, it is gone tomorrow.
Eventually Johnny Knucklehead doesn’t want to waste his time anymore,” said
Youngblood.
| Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood |