Navy launches next era of aviation
Rebecca Neipp
In the wake of a milestone officials say will change naval aviation forever, Indian Wells Valley residents will have an opportunity to hear from NAVAIR’s program executive officer of unmanned aviation and strike weapons — and former commander of Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division . . . Read Full Story >>
FBI investigating fatal beating by officers
Rebecca Neipp
Amidst accusations of use of brutal force and tampering with evidence, Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood has asked the FBI to investigate the officers from his department involved in the death of a Bakersfield man who apparently perished from wounds inflicted during an arrest attempt. . . . Read Full Story >>
Secretary of Defense announces start of furloughs
Rebecca Neipp
After months of uncertainty about how deeply sequestration would impact the DOD workforce, the Secretary of Defense an-nounced last week how furloughs will be implemented. While most employees will see a reduction in their incomes during the remainder of the current fiscal year, the number . . . Read Full Story >>
Citizens: What happened to Measure L?
Rebecca Neipp
As members of the Citizens Oversight Committee for Measure L reflect on the first eight months of collecting and spending a city sales tax recently passed to augment police and street funding, some of those members point out that the city actually funded zero road-paving . . . Read Full Story >>
Finance director says revenues on target
Rebecca Neipp
After a turbulent last few budget cycles — filled with midyear cuts from upper levels of government, underperforming revenues and even funding streams that have been cut off altogether — Ridgecrest Finance Director Rachelle McQuiston reported to the city council last week that once all . . . Read Full Story >>
Ground unbroken for proposed Super Walmart
Linda Saholt
After several years rumors around town about the proposed new “Super Walmart” project, ground still hasn’t been broken. According to Ridgecrest Economic Development Manager Gary Parsons, the current delay is on Walmart’s side. “Walmart has terminated their third or fourth engineering firm and is in . . . Read Full Story >>
County wants to preserve programs
Rebecca Neipp
As the city of Ridgecrest looks at creative solutions for cutting expenses while minimizing the negative impact to the community, officials from Kern County endorsed the concept of partnering with community organizations to preserve recreation programs — a tactic the county has leveraged to survive . . . Read Full Story >>
County nears completion of Phase I for Jackson park expansion
Rebecca Neipp
Phase I of the expansion project for LeRoy Jackson Park is expected to be completed by the end of June, according to Kern County officials. Kern County 1st District Super-visor Mick Gleason was joined by several high-level county staffers last week for a walkthrough of . . . Read Full Story >>
New deputy brings problem-solving attitude
Linda Saholt
When Kern County Sheriff Department Sgt. Mike Scott accepted a promotion that transferred him to the Mojave Sheriff’s Office, Senior Deputy Paul Leonard was promoted to sergeant in the Ridgecrest office, and Deputy Edward “Ed” O’Brien was promoted to senior deputy. The KCSO’s Ridgecrest substation . . . Read Full Story >>
Three arrested in joint effort
Linda Saholt
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies teamed up with Ridgecrest Police )fficers on Monday, April 29. for a a.m. action that resulted in three arrests. The two departments responded to a report of suspicious circumstances at County Line Organics, 100 County Line Rd., located in the . . . Read Full Story >>
Council to hear revenue projections
Rebecca Neipp
The Ridgecrest City Council will hear a budget projection update for the current fiscal year at tonight’s meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers. According to a staff report, Director of Finance Rachelle McQuiston has researched revenue and expenditure projections for the remaining . . . Read Full Story >>
Cerro Coso graduates class of 2013
Linda Saholt
Shown are some of the 312 students Cerro Coso Community College graduated at its May 10 commencement ceremonies in the Raymond A. McCue Athletic Complex. The college saw a 41-percent increase in numbers over last year’s graduating class. The ceremony included an address by alumnus . . . Read Full Story >>
Bikers gather for blessing
Hundreds of bikers from Southern California and surrounding states gather in Ridgecrest Saturday for the annual Biker Blessing. More than 330 riders on 285 bikes started at?Calvary Chapel for the blessing, then returned to the church after a short ride for a barbecue. . . . Read Full Story >>
Council outlines budget solution
Rebecca Neipp
After more than a week of staff presentations, impassioned pleas by a public concerned about loss of services and lengthy council discussions over how to prioritize diminishing city funds with the lowest possible impact to the public, the Ridgecrest City Council on Monday evening outlined . . . Read Full Story >>
Accident victim was American hero
Rebecca Neipp
In a tragic twist of irony, an American hero who survived traumatic wounds in the line of duty during his multiple deployments to the Middle East was killed last week in a vehicular accident. According to a report from the California Highway Patrol, Timo-thy Michael . . . Read Full Story >>
It wasn’t supposed to end this way for Tim Johns
Originally published on the New York Times blog. Republished with permission from the author. The first time I heard Timmy Johns’ name, it was in a casualty report. In 2007 he stepped on a concealed pressure plate while entering a home in Baqubah, Iraq, and . . . Read Full Story >>
UAV site proposal completed, sent
Rebecca Neipp
As the final volume of the intensive application process for considering UAV test-site candidates now sits in the hands of the FAA, members of the Cal UAS Portal team close the chapter on the frantic proposal period and reflect on how the endeavor became a . . . Read Full Story >>
Iron Man spotted at Ridgecrest Cinemas opening?
Rebecca Neipp
He’s a humble family man and former prison guard who now spends his free time creating armor for superheroes in his garage. It may sound like a compelling backstory for a vigilante sidekick, but that is actually the hobby of 30-something Darren Smith of Ridgecrest, . . . Read Full Story >>
Ridgecrest featured in tonight’s ‘Mythbusters’
It’s been a secret known only to the Ridgecrest Film Commission and the Bureau of Land Management for nearly six months. On Wednesday they finally came out to the public with it. “The ‘Mythbusters’ 10th-anni-versary episode airs tonight,” said Emma Fulenwider, assistant film commissioner. “They . . . Read Full Story >>
Stamp Out Hunger is Saturday
Letter carriers care about the people in the communities they serve, and on the second Saturday in May they have sponsored their “Stamp Out Hunger” campaign for the past 20 years. Each year, they have done a lot more than collect and deliver mail. They . . . Read Full Story >>