Taft West Side Health Care District

Independent The Taft

March 8 - 14, 2013

TAFT INDEPENDENT

FREEWeekly

Publisher@Taftindependent.com

www.Taftindependent.com

March 8 - 14, 2013 • Volume 7 Issue 34

“Serving the West Kern County Communities of Taft, South Taft, Ford City, Maricopa, Fellows, McKittrick, Derby Acres, Dustin Acres, and the Cuyama Valley”

Urgently Needing 24 Hour Health Care The West Side Health Care District’s Plans to Deliver

A Stones Thrown CD Release Party at OT’s Cookhouse Saturday Night

By Randy Miller Ryan Heber Nominated Kern Teacher of the Year

The Closed Former Westside Hospital

OUR ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY SEE US FOR YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS

City Council Approves ProSecond Amendment Resolution, Best Western Plus Hotel Plan Submitted

15% OFF SERVICES IN CELEBRATION OF OUR FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN BUSINESS

SENIOR & MILITARY DISCOUNTS

531 Center Street (661)763-1123 MONDAY - FRIDAY Over 50 Different Craft & -Imported Beers 5:00pm WE SERVICE MOST MAKES AND MODELS 8:00am *Must ask for discount

2 TAFT INDEPENDENT

March 8 - 14, 2013

Shop Taft

Ten Percent Firearms

Passion For Nails

acme jewelry co.

F i n e

Small town, family owned, low overhead.

We can save youFine money on •quality Jewelry Candles jewelry!

• Gifts

Fine Jewelry • Gifts 14K Gold • Sterling Silver 14K • Sterling Silver Black Hills GoldGold • Jewelry Repair • Watch Batteries Candles • And More!

Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair WatchWatch Batteries Batteries Replaced Most $4.00 426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 Some $8.00

Try Our New Pedicure Chairs Men & Seniors &

Diabetics Welcome CHECK-IN TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND GET $1 OFF

1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

Geiger Construction & Plumbing Residential • Commercial

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

Lic # B-721903

661-765-4377 Fast • Friendly • Affordable Se Habla Espanol 661-301-4660 24 Hours/ 7 Days a Week

Store Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday

1014 6th Street • Taft In the Save A Lot Shopping Center Monday to Friday

10am-7pm and Saturday 9am-6pm

(661)745-4913

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

Personal Style Used to be Paul’s Boutique Bike Shop

Taft’s Best and Only Bike Shop.

Come on in and see our Inventory.

New Corky’s and Montana West Flip Flops 423 Center Street • 763-3527

421 & 423 Center (661)763-3527

A Hint of Class

610 Center Street • 661-745-4954 Prepaid Phones, Accessories & Cards

J e w e l r y

Inside The Historic Fort • 623-1783 • 763-1700 915 N. 10th Street Suite 34

608 Center St.

745-4919

Ten Percent Firearms

NO CONTRACTS UNLIMITED* DATA,TEXT,TALK Unlimited plan $50/month1st line $40 / month each additional line

Spring Arrivals!

Garden, Clothing & Home Decor.

REJUV 10 23 Healthy Face and Body Spa

Blue Jeans & Bling Hats, Jewelry, Purses & More

Miss Me • LA Idol Nicole Lee • Grace In LA

FREE

Tire Rotation & Brake Check Plus We will check all fluids & tire pressure

Women’s Sizes 0-21 Women’s Plus Sizes Children’s Jeans & Shirts Monday - Friday 11am to 6pm Saturday 10am to 5pm Host a party 401 Center Street Visit us on Facebook sales@bluejeansandbling.com

763-9100

1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

*Most Cars & Light Trucks Up to 5 Qts.

Tire & Automotive Service Center

Oil & Filter Special 95* $

39

Plus Tax

$3.50 Oil Disposal Fee Exp. January 30, 2013

Must Present Coupon at Time of Purchase

523 Finley Drive • 765-7147 • Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-1pm

Elaine Arnold, Owner Pedicures, Manicures @ Detoxing Dee Morgan, Esthetician Facials Waxing and Microdermabrasion Samantha Hagstrom Massage Therapist European and Hot Stone Prenatal Massage 510 6th Street, Ste. A - Taft (661) 765-2335

March 8 - 14, 2013

Inside Community Events.........3 News Briefs......................3 Recreation Report..........4

Calendar

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Taft California “Home of the Taft Oilworkers Monument” “Gateway to the Carrizo Plain National Monument” Have a community event that you would like to include?

Email us at Publisher@Taftindependent.com

Grandma’s Attic Resumes at Taft Library

Classified Ads.................10

Grandma’s Attic Storytime resumes at the Taft Branch Library on Saturday, January 19, 2013 and will continue every Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. through April 20.

Aimed at 5 to 8 year-olds, Grandma’s Attic offers an old trunk full of surprises and stories presented by a different volunteer reader each week.

Children who participate will receive a form to return to their teacher for credit in their school reading program. Parents are always welcome to attend, or may enjoy some library or computer time while their child is occupied.

Also starting on Thursday, January 17 at 11:45 a.m. is Preschool Storytime, for 3 to 5 year-olds. Join us for stories and fun for the younger set.

For more information, call 763-3294 or visit the library at 27 Emmons Park Drive.

Opinion and Feature....11

Westside Little League Sign-ups On-line

Shop Taft........................12

Taft’s Westside Little League is currently offering sign-up for the new season. To register, go to www.taftwestsidelittleleague.org

Westside News.................5 Westside News.................6 Westside News.................7 Movie Review...................8

The Taft Independent 508 Center Street P.O. Box 268 Taft, California 93268 (661) 765-6550 Fax (661) 765-6556

Email: Publisher@taftindependent.com Website: www.TaftIndependent.com Locally and Independently owned since 2006 The Taft Independent is a locally owned community newspaper published weekly on Fridays for your enjoyment and reading pleasure. We publish 3,500 issues and distribute to over 225 locations in the city of Taft and the neighboring communities of Cuyama Valley, McKittrick, Maricopa, Fellows and Western Kern County, California.

The Independent is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies are $1 each. The contents of the Taft Independent are copyrighted by the Taft Independent, and may not reproduced without specific written permission from the publisher.

We welcome contributions and suggestions.

Our purpose is to present news and issues of importance to our readers.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com Maricopa Tea Room Specials Weekly Specials for March 4th Tuesday-LowCal Plate Wednesday-Tuna Salad stuffed Tomato ThursdayLoaded Baked Potato Friday-Tacos, Rice, Beans Thanks for your support. WSROP

SUBSCRIPTIONS. Subscription home or businessdelivery of the Taft Independent is available for $6.50 per month or $78.00 per year. To subscribe to please call 765-6550.

acme jewelry co.

LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR. Send us your letter to Taft Independent at the above address. Limit it to 300 words and include your name, address, and phone number. Fax: (661) 765-6556. Email your letter to: Publisher@taftindependent.com.

Small town, family owned, low overhead.

We can save you Fine money on quality Jewelry • Candlesjewelry!

• Gifts

ADVERTISING. Display Ads: Rates and special discounts are available. Contact our advertising representative at (661) 765-6550, or email to Publisher@taftindependent.com.

Classifieds: Call 765-6550 or fax us at (661) 765-6556. Phone orders are taken. Visa and Master Card accepted.

Gold • Sterling Silver New14K Inventory Black Hills Gold • Knives Jewelry Repair Spyderco & Kershaw Batteries Tactical LEDWatch Flashlights

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Michael J. Long taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Advertising Contributing Writers Kent Miller, Wesley Morris, Nicole Frost Columnists Randy Miller Jane McCabe, Dr. Harold Pease Subscriptions\Delivery Tim Webb, Patrick Harget

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association Printed in California

F i n e

J e w e l r y

426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 Hand Made Greeting Cards by Donna Sterling Silver Knuckle Rings $5.00 New Arrival of different Clocks.

Store Hours: Tuesday to Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm Saturday 10:00am - 2:00pm Closed Sunday and Monday

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

News Briefs Kindergarden and Transitional Kindergarden Reistration Begins Next Week Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten registration begins next week in Taft.

Registration begins March 11th through the 15th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all area elementary schools including Conley School, Taft Primary, Jefferson and Parkview.

To register, parents should go to the school office and pick up packets for registration.

Parents are urged to bring their childrens birth certificates if they have them.

For more information, please call the differemnt school sites: Conley 7654117, Jefferson 763-4236, Parkview 763-4164, Taft Pri 765-4151.

A Spanish speaking translator will be available from 9am to 11 am.

Ethics Training Class March 14th The City of Taft will be hosting an Ethics Training Class on Thursday, March 14, 2013, 6:00 p.m., in the Taft City Hall Council Chamber. Ethics Training is required for elected and appointed officials every 2 years. Mr. David Prentice of Cota Cole Law Firm will be the presenter. Any city or district wishing to join us for the training are welcome.

Please RSVP prior to Wednesday, March 6, 2013, so that Mr. Prentice will have sufficient training materials and Certificates of Completion for everyone attending the class.

Assemblywoman Grove Announces Mobile Office Hours for March On Wednesday, March 13, a Field Representative for Assemblywoman Shannon Grove will hold office hours in Taft.

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 Location: Taft Chamber of Commerce- Conference Room 400 Kern Street, Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Assemblywoman Grove’s Website: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/AD34/

Check Smoke Detector Batteries Before March 10th Daylight Savings Time With Daylight Savings Time quickly approaching this Sunday, March 10th, the Kern County Fire Department would like to remind all residents to change the batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms around your home.

In addition to changing the batteries, be sure to test your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms for proper operation. Using a vacuum hose to clean out the dust will also help keep your detectors in top working condition.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com or find us on facebook or

4 TAFT INDEPENDENT Editorial The Taft

Independent

Westside Watcher

Restaurant and Entertainment Guide

Your Guide To The Best Restaurants and Entertainment on the Westside Tumbleweed Café Asian Experience and Steakhouse Asian Food and Pizza

Steak, Seafood, Wild Game, Full Bar Monday – Friday 6 am to 2 pm Saturday – Sunday 7 am – 2 pm Dinner Hours Friday and Saturday 6 pm to 9 pm 24870 Highway 33, Derby Acres 768-4655

Paik’s Ranch House Where Everybody Meets Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Open 7 Days Mon. Tues. Wed., Thur. 6 am-8:30 pm Sun. Fri. & Sat. 6 am - 9 pm 765-6915 200 Kern St. Taft Sagebrush Annie’s Restaurant and Wine Tasting Wine Tasting and Lunch Sat. & Sun. 11:30-5 pm 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa (661) 766-2319

Lunch and Dinner Tuesday - Friday 11 am - 2 pm 4 pm - 9 pm Saturday 4 pm - 9 pm 215 Center Street, Taft 763- 1815

Black Gold Cafe & Deli Pastas - Sandwiches Espresso - Beer - Wine Craft Beers Open Monday to Friday 6:30am to 8pm Saturday 7:30am to 8pm Sunday 10am to 2pm 508 Center Street 765-6556

514 Center Street • (661)765-7469 LIKE us on Facebook: Fox Theatre Taft TAFTFOX.COM Week of Friday, March 08, 2013 through Thursday, March 14, 2013 Oz The Great and Powerful (PG) No Passes Allowed Fri: (2:30), (5:00), 7:30 Sat: (5:00), 7:30 Sun: (1:00), (3:30), 6:00 Mon - Thu: 7:00 PM Jack the Giant Slayer (PG-13) No Passes Allowed Fri & Sat: (5:15), 7:45 Sun: (1:15), (3:45), 6:15 Mon - Thu: 7:15 PM Identity Thief (R) Fri & Sat: 7:45 PM Sun: 6:15 PM Mon - Thu: 7:30 PM Warm Bodies (PG-13) Fri & Sat: (5:30 PM) Sun: (1:00), (4:00) Mon - Thu: (5:30 PM) Warm Bodies (PG-13) Fri & Sat: (5:30 PM) Sun: (1:00), (4:00) Mon - Thu: (5:30 PM)

March 8 - 14, 2013

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor:

Taft Band CD Release Party at OT’s Cookhouse Saturday Night, Local Singer Songwriter JT Simpson to Debut New CD Former X-Static lead singer JT Simpson and band instrumentalist Eric Collum will play at OT’s Cookhouse on Saturday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m.

Simpson’s new band, A JT Simpson Stones Throw will debut his new CD Twenty Four Days.

Simpson, who has been singing for more than 20 years has played such famous venues as the Whiskey, The Roxy and the Troubadour recently won a singer\songwriter contest in Los Angeles at the Federal Bar where he was judged best musical group.

Judging was based on lyrical content, stage presence, and overall performance.

JT lived in Las Vegas where he played in the Eagles Tribute band, “Lyin’ Eyes at several casino’s and opened for groups such as Rick Trevino, The Coasters and many others before moving back to California.

JT is well known locally for penning the song, “Hear Them Cry”, a tribute to little Trinity, a young girl who died as the result of child abuse.

Eric Collon join with JT to write “Hear Them Cry” and the two formed A Stones Throw.

Eric Collon Collon, who grew up in Bakersfield, has been playing guitar since he was 14 and bass since he was 17, and has played many styles of music - blues, country, rockabilly, hard rock and metal - with a number of bands during his career. Eric has played in bands that have opened for The English Beat and Missing Persons. Today, Eric is playing acoustic as well as electric guitar while writing, recording and performing original music.

Saturday night’s show at OT’s promises to be an exciting night of creative locally produced musical entertainment that Taft can be proud of.

Paik’s

Ranch House Restaurant “Where Everybody Meets” Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Open 7 Days

Mon, Tues, Wed., Thurs - 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Fri. Sat. and Sun. 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

765-6915

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

Recently a reader inquired about the availability of safety classes for employees in the oil industry, scheduled around the working hours of those already working in the industry. The Taft College Industrial Health & Safety program underwent some major revisions this past year to meet the needs of the oil industry and our community. These revisions were recently approved by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and will be implemented in the upcoming Fall 2013 semester. With any new change, it will take time; however, Taft College is committed to supporting the needs of the West Kern residents.

Over the past few years, Taft College has offered a variety of safety classes on our campus. For example, four safety classes are being offered this semester during the evening hours. Taft College plans to continue to offer safety classes and to expand our program offerings in the coming year.

As a community college, we value the input of our community members and partners. Please visit or call Taft College at (661) 763-7748 to speak with one of our advisors and/or counselors about this program or any other program that is of interest to you.

Our programs are also outlined on the College’s web page, www. taftcollege.edu. In addition, if you need further information about this Career & Technical Education program, contact Sam Aunai, at (661) 763-7814.

Sincerely, Dena P. Maloney, Ed.D. Superintendent/President

Fox Theater Sensory Showing Saturday, March 16th Taft Fox Theatre is having a sensory-friendly showing of the movie Oz the Great and Powerful. Please help us get the word out!

This showing on Saturday, March 16 at 3:00pm is to help individuals with Autism, ADHD, and other sensory disorders, and their families enjoy a movie in an accepting environment. During this showing, the lights will be up and the sound turned down, making a less-stimulated and more comfortable environment.

During the showing: The lights will be turned up The sound will be turned down Audience members are invited to get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! (As long as it doesn’t interfere with the safety of other guests).

Families with children on special diets are allowed to bring in their own snacks The concession stand will be open If you would like more information, please contact 765-7460 and press 0.

Taft Calendar of Events The Fort St. Patrick’s Dinner March 14th Taft Chamber Cinco De Mayo Celebration May 5th.

Chamber Rails to Trails Car Show is June 8th.

The Taft Fireworks Show on the Rails to Trails July 3rd.

Family Day July 4th.

To post your free calendar dates, please email them with details to Publisher@taftindepedent.com

March 8 - 14, 2013

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Health Care on The West Side: A Brief History and the Health Care District’s Future Plans

By Randy Millerr

Health Care. Two simple but complicated words.

What do they mean to you living in Taft?

Do you think about what is involved or only when an issue comes up with you or a loved one. Then you want only the best health care available but do you think beforehand how it is delivered and what are the costs are involved, or do you wait like most of us when you get the bill .

Health care is not free, no surprise there but who Taft’s only emergency care facility, Westside Urgent Care, is open from pays for it when you can’t noon until 9 p.m. The facility is operated by the West Side Health Care ?? Is health care a right or District, a taxpayer funded special district that was created in the 1930’s. is it a privilege ?? Which entity supplies your health care, private, non-profit, the government, Santa Claus ?? Well I don’t pretend to have all the answers here but I’ll share with what I know and how it affects us here on the Westside.

In 1988, I was elected to the Healthcare District Board after I had made a stink about the hospital losing money and was on a clear path to close. We eliminated some money losing programs, shut down the obstetrics unit because not that many babies were being born and most were charity care. We struggled mightily for the next few years but it was becoming quite clear that we could not sustain the losses and the depletion of our finances. We tried everything including a 4 million dollar bond issue to upgrade the hospital and skilled nursing facilities but the bottom line was and has always been the leakage of health care dollars going to Bakersfield, LA, and Santa Barbara. While everyone wanted a hospital in Taft in case they needed it in case of an emergency, you were seeing doctors over there and not using the services we were providing here.

I think most of it was the thought you’d get better care elsewhere. In some cases that was true,

Participants in a recent health care forum sponsored by the West Side Health Care District and the newly formed West Side Health Care Foundation.

but we provided x-ray, medical lab, respiratory therapy and other services here but you wouldn’t get your out of town doctor to utilize them here because they conveniently had their services down around the corner. Add that all up along with staffing and nurse staffing issues, loss of doctors to admit to the hospital, and the discounts we had to give to obtain contracts with insurers; it came to a breaking point.

Along came CHW (Catholic Healthcare West) to the rescue. We put out a request for proposal and choose CHW because at the time they offered the best deal. After much negotiation and many hours with lawyers, we hammered out the best deal we could for our community. You had five board members meeting time after time, unpaid, with no public input, giving everything they had to make it all work. Finally, the deal was done and we sold the hospital to save it. Even though the district was receiving about 750 thousand dollars a year in property tax money, which amounted to about 10% of the hospitals income, we had to pay CHW about 375 thousand dollars a year to pay off our reconstruction bond debt and about 250 thousand a year to go into a earthquake retrofit account. Also we were in a lawsuit with our contractor and the subs for the remodel being nearly 8 months late, we wound up settling for 210 thousand dollars after spending 300 thousand on lawyers. It was a waste of lots of time and energy and resources and was a bitter experience for the board.

What we didn’t know at the time of the purchase was the local CHW division was in financial trouble and they blamed the group President, whom we had very pleasant dealings with throughout the negotiations, and they went into a tailspin. This was CHW’s first rural hospital and they really didn’t know how to handle it and to market it. As we all know, it all came to a screeching halt in 2003 or there abouts. No more hospital. I suppose that CHW came off as the villain in the whole scenario but the bottom line was use it or lose it and the community lost it.

This left the Healthcare District in a dilemma, how do they provide some sort of health

The West Side Health Care District worked with a local non-profit group to reopen the former home for hospital nurses to provide senior assisted living in Taft.

services to the Westside. Our original intent was to help fund nurses and doctors to come to Taft to live and practice while CHW operated the hospital. The board looked at all kinds of options, buy some property, open a clinic, set up a practice, etc, etc. Finally, after gaining some resources they made a compact with a group to run and operate the urgent care that we have today. This would take care of some of the emergency issues but of course not all of them. Hall Ambulance stepped up their ground and air operations to provide for the extreme emergencies. Kind of a patch work operation but it has worked pretty well so far. The urgent care does not take charity care as an emergency room would and the hours are based on best usage and times of need and availability of staffing. So, here you are living in Taft and the outlying communities, how do you feel about your health care ??

A week ago, the Health Care District and the newly formed Healthcare Foundation held an open house and forum to the community to discuss the issues facing us today. Bottom line, the hospital is 70 years old, in disrepair and vandalized up the wahzoo, and it is totally out of ADA and other health regulations compliance because all the grandfather clauses are all gone. It is a derelict and an albatross around the healthcare districts neck and is slated to be torn down. No operator would come to run this outdated facility anyway.

What is planned, is a health care campus with several buildings designed to accommodate various specialties. Hopefully in the near future the urgent care will expand hours maybe not 24 hrs but more hours a day than what is offered now. New out of the box thinking was discussed using the electronic age that we live in today. Several health care officials from facilities in Bakersfield attended and offered some fresh ideas and support to the district. The district has a nice reserve after being so frugal and efficient with your tax dollars that they are ready to improve the health and well-being for all of us.

Your ideas and thoughts are encouraged and wanted and needed. Especially what is wanted is your particular healthcare needs. For me, I’d like an opthomalogist group, and one that handles digestive disorders. I wouldn’t give up Dr. Tang for anything, he is my gateway doctor, and when he can’t handle a situation, he has sent me and my family to the best specialists he knows. I hope your doctor is as good.

This has been a little history lesson from my memory and recollection and I hope it gives you a little understanding what has been going on. How Obomacare well play out for us, we’ll have to see. My hat is off to long serving Healthcare District board members Chuck Hagstrom, Eric Cooper, Sheri Black, Terry Jordon, and the newest board member, my wife, Ginny Miller. They have served unheralded for a long time. They need your support. Contact the District office at 218 6th Street or call 765-7234 to offer your suggestions, thanks, and appreciation.

The West Side Health Care District is currently working with the FAA to recertify the helicopter landing pad at the former Westside Hospital for emergency flights.

6 TAFT INDEPENDENT

March 8 - 14, 2013

Westside News & Business Briefs

Principal Marilyn Brown Praises Teacher of the Year Ryan Heber

Taft High science teacher Ryan Heber has been nominated by his peers to represent the school in the Kern County Teacher of the Year competition sponsored by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office.

The popular teacher said he was totally surprised and honored that fellow teachers nominated him. “It (the nomination) was really nice.”

Claude Bradford, president of the TUHS teachers’ association, praised: “Ryan Heber exemplifies a student-involved teacher. He is well liked by students for his positive attitude and by encouraging all students to do their best academically and athletically. Ryan’s selection by the district’s faculty is well deserved.”

Principal Marilyn Brown added, “Ryan’s most outstanding classroom characteristic … is that he understands how important it is to connect with and show an interest in his students in order to engage them in the learning process. He creates a caring learning environment where all students are valued no matter their backgrounds or interests.”

OT

Cookhouse & Saloon

NEW Lunch Menu NEW Dinner Menu Come in and check out our new items!!!

We are also proud to offer our “Chef ’s Personal Creations & Selections” Five Specials Available Daily OT Cookhouse can accomodate smaller or larger Private Dining Events Reserve your Banquet today!!!

661.763.1819 Lunch Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-2pm Dinner Hours: Tues-Sat 4-9pm Closed: Sunday and Monday www.otcookhouse.com find us on facebook 205 N. 10th Street 661.763.1819

TUHS Senior Mitchell Emberson Wins 2nd Place in Essay Contest

Taft High senior Mitchell Emberson placed second in an essay contest sponsored by the 9th District of the Veterans of Foreign Wars titled: “Is the Constitution still relevant?”

He received $25 and a plaque, and yes, the Constitution is still relevant, Emberson wrote.

He wrote that the document guiding our country has been around since 1787 and that there have been minimal problems with it. “Our veterans and active military have fought day after day, year after year, to protect our rights. … Our military is the reason that our Constitution has been able to remain relevant for 225 years. … The United States could not keep the Constitution without the service of our military,” he wrote.

Emberson, the Taft High Associated Student Body president, wrote the essay and recorded it for submission in the contest. It had be a minimum of three minutes. It was the first time he had entered an essay contest.

Born in Bakersfield, he has been raised in Taft. At Taft High, he has played basketball and baseball and is currently on the tennis team. He plans to attend Southeastern Oklahoma and major in occupational safety and health. His father, Russell Emberson, is a TUHS health teacher and coach of the perennially successful softball team.

The standout science teacher is respected as a teacher adept at establishing good rapport with his students. “I try to create relationships (with students) along the way because it’s all we’ve got. I’ve always enjoyed my job because I feel like I’m coming to hang out with friends,” he said.

The good will he creates with students was especially imporPhoto by Gary Morris tant on the morning of Jan. 10 when he helped talk an alleged Russell Emberson receives his certificate from Wayne Wright. student shooter into setting down his shotgun.

Heber said what he learned from the tragedy is: “I just think people need to be a little nicer to each other and recognize that everybody is looking for some kindness in their life. It’s imporComplete Automotive Service tant to create relationships with people and get to know them, make their lives a little easier.”

The son of retired Taft High English teacher Carol Sue Heber, he is a 1991 TUHS graduate. In high school, Heber was the ASB president, the football center and a member of the Key Club. This is his ninth year as a teacher, all at Taft High.

He graduated from Taft College, earned his BS in physical science and his teaching credential at Brigham Young University, and his master’s in education in curriculum and develop218 HARRISON STREET (661) 765-2437 ment at California State University, Bakersfield.

He worked in health clubs in Utah previously. He was an area director for Gold’s Gym for eight years and is working on his administrative credential because he is considering moving into school administration. Besides weight lifting, he enjoys skiing, biking and riding motorcycles. He and his wife of nine Cortney Madsen Esthetician years, Emmy Lou, who is an accounting analyst in the business Facials - Waxing - Spray Tanning office at Taft High, have two sons, Brock, 5, and Ty, 3.

The county winner, announced in Bakersfield this spring, is www.facebook.com/SkinCareByCortney eligible to compete in the state finals. The state winner will go on to nationals. Traditionally, the national winner spends a year Call or text for an appointment traveling the United States as an inspirational speaker.

HOOKER’S AUTOMOTIVE

Skin Care by Cortney

Ben’s Books The Largest, Cheapest and Only Used Book Store in Taft

Fiction • Non Fiction • Paperback Hard Covers • SciFi • Biography • Religion Childrens • Cookbooks and More!

Taft’s Only Used Books Store.

Stop in and Visit Today!

810 Center Street • (661)805-9813

Bangs & Tangles 404 Center Street (661)623-4855

HAYDENS HOPE THRIFT STORE

“We can keep our Teens off the streets!”

New School Hours Mon. & Tues.

9am - 2pm Closed Wednesday Thur. & Fri. 9am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 2pm Closed Every 2nd Sat. of the Month

All Dishes 1/2 Off!

God Bless!

428 Center Street • TAFT

745-4963

Closed Feb. 9th thru the 11th.

March 8 - 14, 2013

TAFT INDEPENDENT

City Council Receives Best Best Western Plus Hotel Site Plan Submitted to City Planning Dept.

Western Plus Hotel Development Site Plan Taft City Planner Mike Waiczis informed the Taft City Council at it’s meeting Tuesday evening that the city had received a site plan map for a 60 room, 3 story Best Western Plus hotel that would be located at the corner of 6th Street and Main Street on the city owned Rails to Trails Property.

Waiczis said that submission of the map is one of the final steps before a building permit is issued and construction started.

The hotel, a part of the 46 acre redevelopment agency project of the city, would be located in the downtown area of Taft to serve visitors to the city.

The map indicates that the hotel would feature a pool and large parking lot. Waiczis said that a family restaurant would also follow construction of the hotel, but would not be operated by the hotel.

Councilman Orchel Krier said that the hotel is good news for the city’s economy and that Taft needs a newer hotel that would serve visitors who come to Taft and stay for more than one night.

“It’s a nice project that serves people who are coming to work in Taft for short periods of time, for high school reunions, and other visits other than just traveling through Taft,” Krier said.

The council also: -Unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Second Amendment and gun owner rights.

-Received a report from Taft Chamber Director Dr. Kathy Orrin on blight in Taft and the county areas surrounding the city of Taft. (The plan can be read at the Greater Taft Economic Development Authority facebook page).

-Heard a presentation from Bakersfield City Councilman Russell Johnson on Charter City status for the City of Taft.

Taft is currently a General Law city which has less local control authority than a Charter City, which has greater independence from State mandates. Johnson cited the City of Shafter as an example of a Charter Law city.

- Advised by city planner Mike Waiczis that the city is working with Caltrans to develop improved traffic signage on Highways 33 and 119 that would indicate to travelers that gas and lodging was available in the city.

- Discussed a $10,000 Chamber of Commerce membership fee which had not been included in the 2012-13 budget. The city already provides the Chamber with 25% of the annual transit occupancy tax collected by the city from hotels. The $10,000 Chamber sponsorship supports Chamber operations and programs. This year, however, the council did not include the funding in the budget due to difficult financial times for the city. The council will consider funding at its next meeting.

Hotel site plan map that was submitted to the city for a 60 room, 3 story Best Western Plus hotel that would be located at the corner of 6th and Main Streets on the city owned Rails to Trails property. A city official said that when approved, the project could be completed by the end of this summer.

Taft Chamber Director Dr. Kathy Orrin (left) discusses a report on blight conducted by the Greater Taft Economic Development Authority. Councilman Dave Noerr discusses a resolution supporting the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms. The council unanimously supported the resolution.

Taft Soroptimists Present Awards to Deserving Women

The Taft Soroptimist Club presented achievement awards at a luncheon Wednesday at Joe’s Restaurant to three deserving local women.

The Womens Opportunity Award (top) was presented by Dr. Dena Maloney and Patti Bench to Nancy Gipson (left to right).

The Womens Opportunity Award was also presented (top right) to Allisa Tweedy by (left to right) Dr. Dena Maloney, Patti Bench, and Becky Roth.

The Violent Richardson Award was presented to TUHS student Emily Davis (bottom left) by Edith Laurin (left). A check for $250 was also presented to Marilyn Kroh (right), Administrator of the Taft Senior Living Center.

8 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Liberty Under Fire Founding Father Alexander Hamilton also Supported States Nullifying Unconstitutional Federal Laws

By Dr. Harold Pease

Finally the 10th Amendment is beginning to be used by states to prevent the Federal Government’s overreach of Constitutional powers. It reads, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Twenty-six states are showing their resistance to Obamacare by opting out of exchanges. Nine State Sheriffs’ Associations have put the Executive and Legislative Branches on notice that they will support the traditional interpretation of the 2nd Amendment of the Bill of Rights and 336 elected county sheriffs have inferred that they will protect their people on this issue—even against federal agents coming into their counties. Federal medical marijuana laws are openly defied by many states.

States’ refusal to implement the Real ID Act, passed in 2005, is a form of resistance. When enough states say no, the feds will back away. Even Governor Jerry Brown, earlier this year, on federal mandated prison requirements suggested that the Federal Government back off, “We can handle our own prisons.”

Unconstitutional overreach is epidemic and there is now measurable push back. The “check and balance” part of the Constitution is the 10th Amendment of the Constitution and the Doctrine of Nullification. States do have the authority to “Just Say No!” but to be effective they need to do so collectively, the larger the group the more effective. We have previously covered its use in 1798 and 1832. We have also treated Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Fathers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, on the subject. This column restricts itself to arguments made in support of

this doctrine by Alexander Hamilton. All emphasis in his quotes is his own.

He wrote, “If a number of political societies enter into a larger political society, the laws which the latter may enact, pursuant to the powers entrusted to it by its constitution, must necessarily be supreme over those societies, and the individuals of whom they are composed.... But it will not follow from this doctrine that acts of the large society which are NOT PURSUANT to its constitutional powers, but which are invasions of the residuary authorities of the smaller societies, will become the supreme law of the land. These will be merely acts of usurpation, and will deserve to be treated as such. Hence we perceive that the clause which declares the supremacy of the laws of the Union… EXPRESSLY confines this supremacy to laws made PURSUANT TO THE CONSTITUTION” (The Federalist Papers, Hamilton, Madison, Jay, The New American Library, 1961, No 33, pages 204-205).

Thus the door which the less informed propose, that they can enforce any law that is passed by the federal government because of what is called the supremacy clause (“The Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; …shall be the supreme law of the land”), is closed. Those laws “not pursuant” to actual constitutional power are invasions of authority, even usurpations, and should “be treated as such.” So, the Constitution remains the supreme law of the land only so long as it remains restricted to original grants of power.

In fact, so strongly was it believed that the Federal Government not depart from original grants of power in the Constitution that they were required to swear by oath that they would not. Hamilton wrote, “It merits particular attention in this place, that the laws of the Confederacy, as to the ENUMERATED and LEGITIMATE objects of its jurisdiction, will become the SUPREME LAW of the land; to the observance of which all officers, legislative, executive, and judicial, in each State, will be bound by the sanctity of an oath. Thus the legislatures, courts, and magistrates, of the respective members, will be incorporated into the operations of the national government AS FAR AS ITS JUST AND CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY EXTENDS” (The Federalist Papers, No. 27, p. 177). Once again, original intent is the only constitutional interpretation

March 8 - 14, 2013 permitted. Notice that the Supreme Court is not excluded from “the enumerated and legitimate objects of its jurisdiction” anything else are invasions of authority.

Every act outside of enumerated authority is contrary to the Constitution and thus is void. Hamilton continues, “There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid. To deny this, would be to affirm … that men acting by virtue of powers, may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid” (The Federalist, No. 78, p. 467).

So what should happen when the Federal Government overreaches its enumerated powers? Hamilton answers this question also. “The Constitution ought to be preferred to the statute, the intention of the people to the intention of their agents” (The Federalist, No. 78).

Simply, states should use the Doctrine of Nullification— “It ain’t happening here.”

The states are the guardians of this principle, Hamilton explains, because they “will constantly have their attention awake to the conduct of the national rulers, and will be ready enough, if any thing improper appears, to sound the alarm to the people, and not only to be the VOICE, but, if necessary, the ARM of their discontent” (The Federalist, No. 26, p. 172).

There exists no argument for any other interpretation other than original intent in The Federalist Papers.

We have focused upon Alexander Hamilton because he is traditionally seen as an advocate of a strong federal government and thus the “father” of American liberalism.

It is healthy for freedom to see the states exercising their united right to nullify; may they do so more frequently.

On following the Constitution all should be united also.

Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.

Jackson’s Automotive Now Doing Smog Tests!

Front End Repairs Transmission Service Brake Service Tune Ups and Fuel Injection Service and Repairs Call Today for an Appointment 763-1055 Corner of 3rd and Center Street 110 3rd Street - Taft, CA. (661) 763-1055

March 8 - 14, 2013

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Black Gold

Cafe & Deli The Only Mortuary On The West Side Where All Arrangements And Funerals Are Personally Directed By

Double Gold Medal Winner and Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show at the San Francisco International Wine Competition

Wine Tasting and Lunch Sat. & Sun. 11:30 to 5:00 pm. www.sagebrushannies.com

Now Celebrating Our 23rd Year

8 miles south of HWY 166 on HWY 33 in Ventucopa, Cuyama Valley, 4211 HWY 33. (661) 766-2319

MARICOPA QUILT COMPANY FABRIC • NOTIONS • GIFTS WED.-FRI. 10:00-5:30 SAT. 10:00-2:00

Check Out Our Website Maricopaquiltcompany.com And Facebook Page 370 CALIFORNIA • 769-8580

ROGER MILLER INSURANCE a division of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group

Rich Miller • Jordan Miller Kathy Devine • Shelly Hamilton

License # 0707137 • (661) 765-7131 531 Kern Street - P.O. Box 985 (661) 765-4798 FAX Taft, CA 93268 • (661) 203-6694 Cell E-Mail: Richrmia@bak.rr.com Your Hometown Insurance Store

Yates’ Detailing 600 Center Street Taft, California

(661) 623-0827 (661) 765-1171

All your detailing needs!

Wash, Wax, Shampoo, Buffing and Window Tinting.

Call for Appointment Today!

Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ice Blended Mocha Fat Free and Sugar Free Available in Most Flavors

Open 7 Days - 765-6556 508 Center Street • Taft TAFT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 630 North St. 765-5557

“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” Pastor Cindy Brettschneider Sunday Morning Worship 10:00 AM Adult Bible Study and Sunday School 11 AM Adult Bible Study Monday 6:00 PM Wednesday Night Service 6:00 PM Praise Team meets on Thursday at 6:00 PM

St. Mary’s Church 110 E Woodrow Street • Taft 661 765-4292 Mass Schedule Tuesday-Friday 8:00 A.M. Sunday 8:30A.M. English 11:00A.M. Spanish

First Baptist Church

501 Lucard St., Taft • 765-4111 FD756 FDR50 FDR595 FDR618

Gateway Temple

Community Christian Fellowship

604 Main Street • P.O. Box 578 Maricopa, CA 93252 • (661)769-9599

Sunday Morning Worship 9:45 Sunday Evening Worship 5:00 Monday Evening Mens Prayer 7:00 Wednesday Evening Worship 6:30 For a ride: Call Dorine Horn 427-9722 Pastors Charle (Tommy) and Mary A. McWhorter

New Hope Temple “Connecting Lives” 308 Harrison Street 765-4572 Sunday Morning Worship Service 10 a.m.

Sunday Evening Worship Service 6 p.m Bible Classes All Ages Wednesday 7 p.m.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Sunday Service - 10 a.m.

Rev. Linda Huggard

703 5th Street - Taft (661) 765-2378

Your Church Ad Here!

765-6550

631 North Street Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

Trinity Southern Baptist Church 400 Finley Drive We invite you to join us each week as we worship

Sunday Bible Study 9:45 am Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 am Sunday Evening Worship 6:00 pm Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 6:00 pm

Pastor Scott Pearson

Sunday School 9 a.m.

Worship Celebration 10:30 a.m.

Evening Service 6 p.m.

Awana Childrens Program Wednesday 6 p.m.

220 North Street - Taft 661 763-3138

Advertise In The Taft Independent

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

Licensed Funeral Directors

Call Today!

765-6550

Peace Lutheran Church- LCMS Taft- A caring community under Christ We welcome you to worship with us at peace lutheran church, 26 Emmons Park Drive (across from the College). Worship service begins at 10:00 a.m.

Communion will be offered 1st and 3rd Sundays Sunday School for all ages at 9:00 a.m.

The Pregnancy crisis center is now open and available for support and assistance.

For information, call 763-4791 If you have a prayer request please call (661)765-2488.

Leave a message if the pastor or secretary is not available

WANTED: BULKY WASTE PICKUP

Ford City Tuesday

South Taft & Taft Heights Friday

City of Taft Wednesday

• REFRIGERATORS • MATTRESSES • WATER HEATERS • STOVES • WASHERS & DRYERS • SOFAS If Missed… Call Office at 7635135

All green waste must be bagged.

Tree Limbs cut in 6’ length, and bundled.

ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED Construction/Demolition Waste/Used Oil/ Hazardous Waste/Tires Westside Waste Management Co., Inc.

10 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Classifieds

Classified Adsare are$3.00 $2.00per perissue line. for Phone, fax, maillines, or drop off Classified Ads up to three $5 per issue ad for to upthe to Taft 5 lines, and $7 per issue for up to 10 lines. Yard your Independent.

Sale ads are free. Phone, fax, mail or drop off your ad to the Taft your Independent.

Ad photograph for $5. Ad your company logo for $5.

Boxed ads are $5 additional. E-mail us (or bring to our Boxed\outlined\bolded classified ads start at $12.00 for 8 office) a for photo of your home, car, truck motorcycle and lines, $16 12 lines, $20 for 15 lines, $25 for 20orlines. we’ll do the rest.

Photo Ads. Car, truck or house for sale ads are $5 per week, Yard Sale ads are $2 for 3 lines, lines $2 each. or $10 with a photo.

Email us (oradditional bring to our office) a photo of your home, car, truck or motorcycle and we’ll do the rest.

Classified ad deadline is Wednesday at 12 p.m. (noon) Classified ads deadline is now Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Phone: 765-6550 Phone: 765-6550

For Rent

520 Shattuck

$750 month Paul Joyce 805-218-1686 Joyce Properties 661-765-6300

For Rent

220 Montview

$795 month Paul Joyce 805-218-1686 Joyce Properties 661-765-6300

Preserving for the Future

Fax:765-6556 765-6556 Fax: E-mail: Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Email: Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com

MOBILE HOMES

Payment can made by cash, check, or card. credit card.

Payment can bebe made by cash, check, or credit Taft Independent 6thCenter St., Taft,St., CA Taft, 93268.

Taft Independent210 508 CA 93268 YARD SALES Advertise your yard sale ad. 3 lines for $2, additional lines after that $2 each. Fax your ad to 765-6556 or call and leave message at 765-6550 by 12 p.m.

Wednesday.

Perkins at 760-3790848 for RESPITE CARE info. Respite Care is available every Thursday At the First Baptist Church located at 220 North St. from 9:00am—3:00pm.

415 Olive. Sat. 7am 2pm. Clothing.

25010 First St. Derby Acres. Sat and Sun. 9 am - 5pm. Consider all resonable offers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS New AA meeting just started in Taft at the Chevron Valley Credit Union Community Room. 7:30 am every Saturday morning. We read a topic from As Bill Sees It. 9-19.

Grief Support Group, offered as a community service by Optimal Hospice Care. Meetings held Thursdays 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. At Chevron Valley Credit Union, Community Room, 1092 W. Kern St., Taft. Enter by outside entrance – Albertson’s Shopping Center. Free and open to the public.

Info call 716-4000. 3-27.

Alzheimer’s Disease Association Of Kern County is offering Respite Care here in Taft. Call-Cathy

B License 442018

LOST PETS

HOMES FOR RENT

BUSINESS FOR SALE Establshed electronics and shipping store.

Includes equipment, inventory. Former Radio Shack. $19,500. (661) 805-8722. 3-10.

414 Buchannon St. Sat. Only.

PETS

HELP WANTED IMMEDIATE OPENING FOR ATTENDANCE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SECRETARY AT BUTTONWILLOW SCHOOL. PLEASE GO TO WWW.BUTTONWILLOWSCHOOL.COM FOR DETAILS.

CHILD CARE SERVICES WANTED Junk Cars Wanted.

Cash Paid. 805-0552.

FOR SALE Convection range andmicrowave. Stainless steel. Both $550 or best offer. Will sell sep.

Tall table and 4 chairs. $350 obo. excl. cond.

619-1057.

Upright like new GE freezer. 1 year old. $250. Also have a lot more household items for sale. Call 7633586.2-30.

AUTOMOBILES

FSBO. Large 3 bedroom 2 bath mobile beautifully remodeled. Owner will carry. Own your own home for $800 month.

Swimming pool. rec. room and more. Call 661-5448238. 3-15.

$500 Reward. Lost Mini Aussie. Black\grey\white w/tan spot on face. Blue eyes, female. Rexxie.

REWARD. 661-7655862 or 623-0758.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Taft Property Management 1,2,3 and 4 Bedrooms now available in good areas.

CRIME FREE HOUSING Brokers Licence 01417057 661-577-7136

ROOMS FOR RENT Rooms for rent.

Maricopa. Private home, furn. or unfurn. Call for info. 745-4211. 2-26

HOMES FOR SALE

Real Estate eBroker Inc.

By Appointment Karri Christensen LIC# 01522411 & #01333971 661-332-6597 www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase Can’t make payments call me!! I can help direct you to a loan modification or assist you in your short sale!

Wondering how buying a house works? Set an appointment with Karri to watch a FREE video on the process.

Call 661-332-6597 for a current list

West Valley Real Estate (661) 763-1500.

Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT West Valley Real Estate (661) 763-1500 Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT (661) 763-1500 Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT 522 Center 1/1 $500 2/1 $825 3/1 $875 205 W Ash 2/1.5 $700 203 W Ash 2/1.5 $700 400 Woodrow 2/1 $725 104 North 2/1 $725 561 Front 2/1 $800 709 Kern St 3/1 $900 512 D St 3/1.75 $900 507 Tyler 3/1.75 $1,000 27558 Hwy 119 3/1.75 $1,100 340 F St 3/1.75 + 1/1 $1,200 Looking to buy a house in Taft. Have $20,000 cash. Call 805 651-9720.

Homes for Rent 2bed. 1 ba.

411 Shattuck. $600.

3bd. 1ba $750.

520 Shattuck.

3bd. 1 1/2 ba. $800.

118 Crystal.

3bd. 1 ba. $800.

220 Mont View Call Paul Joyce (805) 218-1686 Joyce Properties (661) 765-6300

Se renta uma casa de 2 cuartos y un bano 650 por mes y 400 seguro de deposito. En 520 olive, taft ca por favor llame 8057465410.

3 bd. 2 ba. Lg. fenced yard, RV Parking, shed, $975 mo. $975 deposit.

441 Hazelton, Maricopa.

Call 763-3943 or 6232404.

2 Bd Home for Rent, Available Now, located at 520 Olive Ave., Taft, CA Good Family Home, Big Back Yard, Washer Dryer Hookups, $650 per month, plus $400 deposit.

Hablo Espanol, 805 746 5410 Unfurnished house. 2 bd. 1 ba. garage. $750 mo. Available April. Call 805-423-0470. 3-16.

Large newer Taft Home.

Near TUHS, 4br, office, 2 bath, patios, 3 car garage & RV space, big yard, fenced. 626 San Emidio. Call 623-3923 or 412-8558. 2-16.

405 San Emidio. 1/1 Duplex. New flooring.

Private fenced yard. wash dryer, hook ups.

Water trash Incl.$485.

Avail now.

616 Lucard Str. 3/1 large liv. rm. private yrd. Lrg liv. rm., large kit. larg laundry rm. $875. avail 4-1-13. (805) 689-4122.

3-29. Mark King. $700 Mo. Renter pays utilities 3 bd 1 ba. Pet’s ok. Call 745-3211.

Westside Real Estate 765-5000

Business Services Rite Away Carpet Cleaning Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning\General Cleaning Owner Operated Visa\Master Card 765-4191 2bd. w/garage $675. mo 429 Rose.

2 units at 319 1/2 San Emidio utilities included 1 bd $550 and 1 bd + office $650 + dep.

522 San Emidio 3 bd 1bth has basement & new floors $800 + dep.

402 Pierce 3 bd 1 bth w/ garage $875 + dep.

155 1/2 North St. B. w/ garage $450.

765-5000 License 01914953

March 8 - 14, 2013

Ken Shugarts

Air Conditioning & Heating

Plumbing • Septic • Rooter Framing • Electrical • Concrete We Do All Phases of Construction Kitchen and Bathroom Specialists Ken Shugarts (661) 343-0507 30 Plus Years in Construction License No. 927634

APART. FOR RENT 1bd. 1ba. Upstairs. $450 Mo. plus $450 dep. 155 1/2 North Street. (661) 4779636. 2-8.

Creekside Apartments.

1 BD and 2 BD. Pool, AC & Appl. 661.765-7674. 420 Finley Dr. Center Street Apartments.

1 bed room 1 bath. $99 move in special based on approved credit. No Pets Allowed. Call (805) 3751458 or (661) 765-7678.

Imperial Gardens. 2 bedrooms with balcony. 1 bedoom. 424 Woodrow.

900-7681.

Large 1 bd. 1 ba. Upstairs Apt. Stove, Refir. no pets. $495. mo. plus $500 sec. dep. 661-428-3252. 3.8.

Real Estate Services and Property Management Listings – Sales - Property Management Local Service You Can Depend On

322 Kern Street Taft, CA 93268 (661) 765-5000

Real Estate eBroker Inc.

By Appointment

Karri Christensen

LIC# 01522411 & #01333971

661-332-6597

www.BuyTaft.com Real Estate Sales & Purchase

WANTED TO RENT Wanted to Rent. We are a couple in our 50’s. Long term renters looking for a house with an in ground pool and garage. 2 or 3 bedroom 1ba. Will pay 3 months in advance plus sec. dep. 661-293-0116 or 293-0413. 2-16.

765-4191 or 549-1068

Advertise With The Taft Independent Call Today!

765-6550

BID REQUEST Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be accepted by the Board of Trustees of The West Side Mosquito and Vector Control District for the following equipment.

SOLD “AS IS” 2004 Ford Ranger XL 2003 Chevy S-10 ID#FTYR10U94PA87069 ID#1GCCS14X938195428 V-6 Engine, Auto V-6 Engine, Auto P/S, P/B, Air & Cruise P/S, P/B, Air and Cruise 101,177 miles 75,500 Maintenance records available Maintenace records available Minimum Bid: $3,800 Minimum Bid: $5,500 Available for inspection at West Side Mosquito and Vector Control District yard, 7004 Gas Company Road, from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Minimum acceptable Biod for each vehicle will be stated. All bids must be in the District office by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013. All bids will be opened at 7:00 p.m., March 21, 2013 at the regular scheduled Board of Trustees meeting at the District office. The District reserves the right to reject all bids.

Signed: Board of Trustees, West Side Mosquito and Vector Control District

7004 Gas Company Road

Taft, CA 93268

Writers Wanted At the Taft Independent Experience Required.

Please call 765-6550.

Visit Us Online at www.taftindependent.com

California In Crisis: A Five Part Series

Golden State’s Green Jobs Bust

By Conn Carroll

It was supposed to be the next big thing.

California built decades of broad-based prosperity from the Gold Rush, then Hollywood, then aerospace, and later Silicon Valley. At the turn of the century, “green jobs” were supposed to be the wave of the future.

“This is not just a challenge, it’s an opportunity,” thencandidate Barack Obama said during a 2008 presidential debate. “Because if we create a new energy economy, we can create 5 million new jobs, easily, here in the United States.”

President Obama, of course, has completely failed to deliver on this promise of 5 million new green-collar jobs.

The entire U.S. economy has created only 1.2 million jobs since Obama was sworn into office, many of them in the fossil fuel extraction, production and distribution sector.

But in Obama’s defense, most of his green jobs agenda was killed. Cap-and-trade and renewable electricity mandates never made it through Congress. High-speed rail was killed off by governors in Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin.

How is that going for them? For starters, California now has the highest gas prices in the country. As of the third week in February, the price of regular unleaded was 40 cents more ($4.15 per gallon) than the national average ($3.74).

There are two main reasons for this. First, California has special clean-air rules that essentially make the state a boutique gasoline market year-round. Second, thanks to other environmental regulations such as the California Environmental Quality Act, only 14 refineries are still operating in the state, down from 27 in 1980. As California’s cap-and-trade program kicks in this year, the number of refineries will continue to go down, and the price of gasoline will continue to rise.

California already has some of the nation’s highest electricity prices -- 39 percent higher than the national average -- and those will continue to rise as the state begins to enforce both its renewable energy mandate and cap-and-trade programs.

The cap-and-trade law will at least spare residential consumers and utility companies part of the added pain with rebates and special allowances. But it does so at the expense of businesses and manufacturers, who are simply are out of luck. Cap-and-trade will cost them about $1 billion a year, according to the California Chamber of Commerce.

And that comes on top of the renewable energy mandate, which requires all utilities to produce 30 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It contains no rebates or loopholes. The mandate alone will drive up electricity rates for everyone by more than 13 percent, according to the Pacific Research Institute, as utilities are forced to buy more expensive electricity from renewable sources.

The California Public Utilities Commission’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates has already estimated that 59 percent of all renewable energy contracts signed by utilities paid above-market prices for their renewable energy.

Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that California will once again face rolling blackouts starting in 2015, thanks to the loss of conventional plants and unreliability of wind and solar energy due to weather fluctuations.

But all these new green energy programs must at least

Classified Ad Deadline.

Wednesday 2 p.m.

765-6550.

Green State Chokes Off Its Middle Class

By Conn Carroll

The five-centimeter-long Delta smelt was listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act in 1993. Since then, environmentalists have used the fish to drain millions of gallons of water from farms in California’s Central Valley. (Photo: B. Moose Peterson/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) Fifth in a five-part series. To see the previous day’s installment, click here, and to see the entire series, including stories, video and graphics, click here.

For all the bed-wetting environmentalists do over how climate change might affect the present ecosystems of California, they always seem to conveniently forget what the state looked like before it joined the Union.

Left to nature, the Los Angeles River could support maybe 250,000 people. But thanks to human terraforming, the Los Angeles Basin now supports a population of almost 4 million and an economy worth $831 billion.

Just north of Los Angeles, the San Joaquin Valley used be a barren desert. But now, thanks to human engineering, dams, canals and aqueducts have transformed the Central Valley into the richest agricultural region in the world.

None of this could be accomplished today. Los Angeles’ water-fueled growth permanently altered entire habitats, including, most famously, the Owens Valley, which once supported a lake and farming community. It is now a desert.

Unfortunately, California environmentalists are trying to turn much of the Central Valley’s farmland back into desert too. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, federal courts have ordered farmers to divert hundreds of billions of gallons of water away from crops and into the Sacramento River, where it is supposed to help revive the delta smelt.

The diverted water has not helped the smelt much, but it has turned hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland fallow and sent unemployment in some farming communities as high as 40 percent.

California could solve this problem by building more dams, thus adding water capacity. But the state hasn’t built a major new dam since 1979 and none is on the drawing board.

One reason is the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970. Modeled after the federal National Environmental Policy Act, CEQA was intended to make infrastructure planning easier. As the accompanying chart shows, it is anything but an easy law to follow.

Unlike most state environmental planning laws, CEQA allows plaintiffs to recover attorney’s fees from defendant infrastructure developers (whether they be state, city or private actors).

This has created an entire environmental lawsuit be creating thousands of new green jobs, right? Wrong.

According to the best numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than 2,500 green jobs have been created in California since 2010. Compare that with the more than 556,000 jobs that California has added in total since the recession ended in June 2009.

Meanwhile, Texas, which is actively removing obstacles to private-sector development of its fossil fuel resources, has actually lost 928 green jobs since 2010. But the state has also added 612,000 total jobs since the recession ended, including more than 26,000 new jobs in oil and gas extraction alone. That total does not include a slew of other fossil-fuel-related jobs such as oil refining and natural gas distribution, nor does it include jobs that the fossil fuel industries support indirectly.

With an unemployment rate 1.8 points below the national average, and 3.7 points below California’s, Texans are probably happy they decided to skip the costly “green jobs” craze.

This article first appeared in the Washington Examiner.

Fourth of a five-part series

industry -- a very profitable one that chills development.

According to the California Chamber of Commerce, CEQA has become “a morass of uncertainty for project proponents and agencies alike.”

Local government smart-growth plans have made it next to impossible for developers to build single-family homes near job centers such as the Bay Area or Los Angeles. As a result, real estate prices along California’s coast are among the highest in the nation, forcing many middle-class families to downsize or move elsewhere.

California’s once-famous highway system is also failing to serve the state’s population. According to the Federal Highway Administration, only 28 percent of the state’s highways were rated in good condition in 2010. Another 48 percent of the state’s highways were rated acceptable, while 24 percent were rated poor.

The highways are only expected to get worse. California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that $6 billion a year is needed to replace the degraded portions of the state’s highways. But Gov. Jerry Brown has only budgeted $1.5 billion annually for this purpose.

Instead of spending on highways, the Democratic governor has committed $5 billion to a high-speed rail plan that was originally sold to voters as a $40 billion project. The train, which supposedly would allow riders to travel from San Francisco to Los Angeles in two hours, saw its costs balloon to more than $100 billion before its scope had to be significantly limited, reducing costs to $68 billion.

But Brown has no plan for coming up with remaining $63 billion. The project has not even broken ground yet, and if no new funding is located, state taxpayers will have wasted billions on 130 miles of track connecting Fresno and Bakersfield -- derisively described as the train to nowhere.

California’s past leaders built dams, highways and cities, making their state not only a habitable place but a powerful engine for economic growth. Today they are driving out their own middle class by choking off the growth of their cities, taking away their water to save bait fish and wasting their money on vanity projects like highspeed rail. This is the real train to nowhere, and California is all aboard.

This article first appeared in the Washington Examiner.

Fifth of a five-part series

Jackson’s Automotive Now Doing Smog Tests!

Front End Repairs Transmission Service Brake Service Tune Ups and Fuel Injection Service and Repairs Call Today for an Appointment 763-1055 Corner of 3rd and Center Street 110 3rd Street - Taft, CA. (661) 763-1055

12 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Andy’s Septic Tank & Sewer

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

HARRISON STREET AUTOMOTIVE

209 Harrison Street • Taft (661)765-2505 or (661)763-1887 fax

March 8 - 14, 2013

Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop

BMX

Bikes Are Here!

Diagnostic Specialists Service & Repairs • Smog Repairs Air Conditioning • Tune Up • Front End Brakes • Fuel Injection

(661)765-5000 or (661)343-0507

$15.00 OFF with mention of this ad* *1996 Vehicle or newer

Qik Smog & Tune

Black Gold Cafe and Deli

608 Center St.

745-4919

Devon’s Body Shop

(661)763-4445

508 Center Street 765-6556

No Appointment Needed for Smog Check!

General Automotive Repairs

• 661-763-4445 • 500 S. 10th Street

408 Main Street • (661)765-4337

Randy’s Trucking Cart-Away Concrete Mix Trailer • Hydraulic Rotation and Tilt for Mixing and Dumping • Mixes Concrete While Traveling • • Large Internal Blades • • Rear Operator Control Panel •

western shop & PET Wash Chicks are here!

Full Grooming Salon

Barred Rock Rhode Island Red $3.99 each - pullets

We Love Cats!

Grooming and Washing

(Include Wash, Cut and Nails)

Dog Nail Trim 12.00 2nd Pet $9.00

(661) 763-4773 1050 Wood Street

3/13 Sikies and Sebrights Silver Laced Wyanodottes

Birds - nails and Wings $9.00 with beak $14.00 www.shawswesternshop.com

Monday-Friday 9-5:30, Saturday 9-3

419 Harrison St. Taft, CA 93268 (661) 765-2987

The Tumbleweed Bar and Restaurant

Located in the Heart of Oil Country On the Petroleum Highway We Cater Your Place or Ours Full Bar Available For Your Special Event

Come and Join Us at The Tumbleweed The Tumbleweed Cafe 24870 Highway 33 in Derby Acres • (661) 768-4655

Owner Orchel Krier Welcomes You and Your Family - Dinner Reservations

FULL BAR