Taft Clean Up Day April 27

Independent

FREEWeekly The Taft We’re Cleaning up Taft

April 19 - 25, 2013

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Publisher@Taftindependent.com

www.Taftindependent.com

Saturday, April 27, 2013 8 a.m. to 12 noon

April 19 - 25, 2013 • Volume 7 Issue

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

acme jewelry co.

F i n e

J e w e l r y

Small town, family overhead.

Fine owned, Jewelry •low Candles • Gifts We can save you money on quality jewelry!

14K Gold • Sterling Silver

Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair

New Shipment of Black Hills Gold Watch Batteries Tungston Carbide Rings $70 With Diamond $150 426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 Hand Made Greeting Cards by Donna Sterling Silver Knuckle Rings $5.00 Body Jewelry Nose Rings and Belly Button Rings

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

426 Center Street

We’re Cleaning up Taft WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

Saturday, April 27, 2013 8 a.m. to 12 noon WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

(661)763-5451

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!

Closed April 16 to April 24

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for Vacation

810 Center Street • (661)805-9813

Mexican and Seafood Taqueria

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Open 7 Days a Week 4 am to Midnight

330 Kern Street Corner of 4th and Kern Street 745-4898

Now Serving Breakfast Open 4:30 a.m. - Fast Service To-Go Happy Hour 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

$2 Bud Light Budweiser and Tecate

Catering Available for Meetings. Free Delivery.

QIK Smog and Tune Contact us about California State Consumer Assistance Program

“Your Hometown Auto Care Center”

2 TAFT INDEPENDENT

April 19 - 25, 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

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

(661)745-4913

Personal Style

Boutique

Women’s Wear Jewelery Purses Shoes Gift Items

Infant and Toddler Wear and more Shop Taft!

421 & 423 Center (661)763-3527

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

iphone 4 as low as $295 NO CONTRACTS

Spring Arrivals!

Garden, Clothing & Home Decor.

Hats, Jewelry, Purses & More

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

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop

Taft’s Best and Only Bike Shop.

Come on in and see our Inventory.

608 Center St.

745-4919

Ten Percent Firearms 1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899 REJUV 10 23 Healthy Face and Body Spa

Blue Jeans & Bling Miss Me • LA Idol Nicole Lee • Grace In LA

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

A Hint of Class

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

J e w e l r y

*Most Cars & Light Trucks Up to 5 Qts.

Tire & Automotive Service Center

Oil & Filter Special 95* $

39

Plus Tax

$3.50 Oil Disposal Fee 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

April 19 - 25, 2013

Inside Community Events.........3 News Briefs......................3 Westside News.................5

Events

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

Phi Theta Kappa Relay For Life Car Wash Saturday April 20th

Westside News.................7

Phi Theta Kappa will be holding their annual Relay for Life car wash this saturday April 20, 2013 at the 7- Eleven located on sixth street in Taft.

A minimum $5.00 donation is being requsted. If you are in need of a ticket for this special event please contact 293-0099.

Liberty Under Fire.........8

Taft\Westside Cleanup Day April 27th

Westside News.................6

Classified Ads.................10 Opinion and Feature....11 Shop Taft........................12

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.

On Saturday, April 27, Wood Street, from Highway 33 to Tenth Street will be slated for a Community Cleanup.

The effort is co-sponsored by the City and the County, with a contribution by Westside Waste Management, who will be providing four large dumpsters along Wood Street for people to use, free of charge.

All are invited to volunteer to help with cleanup, beginning 7:30 a.m., and ending at 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided to all volunteer workers.

Wood Street was selected because it is an entrance to the city.

If there are sufficient numbers of volunteers, we also will tackle the Harrison Street entrance to Taft.

Taft High Scholarships To Presented April 22nd Taft Union High School seniors will receive more than $175,000 in college scholarships at Honors Night from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 22.

Private individuals and representatives from businesses and foundations will hand deliver the scholarships to more than 75 students.

The event will be held in the high school auditorium. It is free and open to the public.

Moron Golf Tournament August 10th The Taft Union High School support golf tournament, The Moron Invitational, has been scheduled for August 10, 2013.

We’ve had a great 10 year run with $25,000.00 in direct donation to their golf program. Thanks go out to all our supporters and participants that have made this a fun day in the sun and you can count on plenty of sun!

Thank you for your continued support of our very successful raffle and try to set something aside, it is always greatly appreciated. I nvitations will be sent at a later date. Go Wildcats!

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.

• Sterling New Shipment14K ofGold Black Hills Silver Gold Hills Gold • Jewelry TungstonBlack Carbide Rings $70Repair Watch$150 Batteries With Diamond Hand Made CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 Greeting 426 Cards

by Donna Sterling Silver Knuckle Rings $5.00 Body Jewelry Nose Rings and Belly Button Rings

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

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association Printed in California

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

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

Taft Calendar

By John Swearengin The Alpha House BBQ and Auction is Saturday April 20th, at 5pm at the Westside Rec Auditorium. The Alpha House is a 24 hour women’s shelter that runs solely on grants, donations, and fundraisers. Most of the women there are victims of domestic violence and many of them come with nothing but the clothes on their back. The Alpha House keeps them safe, helps with counseling, and finds programs to assist with their current and future finances, and so much more. Please attend this great fundraiser. Adult tickets $10, Children $5. Call the Alpha House at 763-4357 for tickets, donations, and info.

Every Wednesday is Bike Night at Chilled n Grilled.

Every Thursday is “Last Chance Showing” at the Taft Fox Theatre.

Saturday April 20th: Rotary Health Fair and BVHS Book Fair at Buena Vista High School from 8am - noon.

Taft High Track Meet at the Taft High Track Taft Lions Club BBQ and Bake Sale at Waldrops Auto Parts at 6th and Kern Street.

Cuyama Car Show at Cuyama High School.

Wednesday April 24th: Ardor Day Tree Planting by the City of Taft at the Taft Community Garden across from True Value.

Thursday April 25th: State of the City Luncheon in the OT banquet room, starts at noon. Contact the Taft Chamber for more info.

Friday April 26th: Taft Petroleum Club last Friday of the Month Chicken or Steak Dinner. Drink Specials and Music.

Saturday April 27th: Taft Community Clean up. 8am-noon. Meet at Veterans Park (Police Park) at 8am. Gloves, water, and LUNCH provided afterwards.

Taft High Hall of Fame Dinner at Taft High. Tickets $40. Contact Taft High for more info.

Relay for Life Bunco Fundraiser at the Taft Veterans Hall at 218 Taylor Street. $20. Contact Chrissy Rodart @ 577-6833.

The Cuyama Booster Club is teaming up with Pizza Factory and Pizza Factory Alumni from 4-9pm. A percentage of their profit will go to Relay for Life.

Spring into Gardening at the Taft Community Garden, 9am-noon. Pumpkin Planting Kits available for the first 100 kids.

Monday April 29th: The Rad Naz Crew Relay for Life Team will be working at Black Gold Deli from 5-8pm. All their tips will go to Relay for Life. Reservations can be made by calling Black Gold.

The Westside Recreation and Park District has a great new Building at 500 Cascade Place. The building has Bowling, Weight Room, Volleyball, Basketball, meeting and party rooms, and a beautiful grass area outside. Stop by and check it out! Shop Taft!

Baldock Golf Tourney April 19 The Taft College Foundation’s annual Al Baldock Memorial Athletic Golf Classic has been scheduled for April 19 at the Mifflin-Buena Vista Golf Course.

Tourney chairman Brock McMurray said the event, held in memory of the legendary Cougar football coach, raises money for the college’s athletic program.

It is sponsored by AP Architects.

Cash prizes based on net score will be awarded to the top four teams -- $1,200 for first, $800 for second, $600 for third and $400 for fourth.

Other prizes include $10,000 cash for a hole-in-one on No. 2 and No. 13 sponsored by Roger Miller Insurance Agency, $5,000 for hole-in-one on No. 6 and No. 17 sponsored by Dr. Loretta Garcia Lipscomb, $100 for closest to the hole on each par-3 sponsored by Dr. Charles Walker, and $100 longest drive (men and women) on the seventh hole.

Registration for the four-person scramble tournament begins at 11 a.m. with the shotgun start scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

The fee is $100 per player ($400 per team) and includes green fees, cart, oncourse beverages, dinner and tee prizes.

The Taft College Alumni Association is sponsoring a dinner following the tournament. Cooper’s True Value Home and Garden Center is sponsoring the drawings for prizes.

For more information call Sheri Black at 763-7746.

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TAFT INDEPENDENT Editorial

The Taft

Independent

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, April 19, 2013 through Thursday, April 25, 2013 Oblivion (PG-13) No Passes Allowed Fri & Sat: (5:45), 8:15 Sun: (1:00), (3:30), 6:00 Mon - Thu: 7:00 PM Scary Movie V (PG-13) No Passes Allowed Fri & Sat: (5:30), 7:30 Sun: (1:15), (3:15), (5:15) Mon - Thu: 7:15 PM Evil Dead (R) Fri & Sat: 8:30 PM The Croods (PG) Fri & Sat: (5:30 PM) Sun: (1:30), (3:45), 6:00 Mon - Thu: 7:00 PM

Westside Watcher

Annual State of the City Luncheon Plans Complete Sharon Hill, President of the Kiwanis Club of Taft, and Kathy Orrin, Chamber Executive Director, have announced the annual State of the City Luncheon traditionally held during an April meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Taft. The luncheon is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m., on Thursday, April 25, at the OT Cookhouse banquet room. Tickets are $15, and reservations are appreciated.

“The Kiwanis Club is proud to sponsor this luncheon because it is important for our citizens to have access to the community leaders who are making decisions for our future,” stated Kiwanis President Hill. Hill also reminded us that this is the third such luncheon in as many years.

The line-up of speakers this year is especially important, according to Dr. Kathy Orrin of the Taft Chamber. “We have invited Taft Mayor Paul Linder, City Manager Craig Jones, Don Koenig (Director of the West Side Recreation and Parks District), Chuck Hagstrom (President of the Board of the West Side Healthcare District), Dr. Dena Maloney (President of the West Kern Community College District—Taft College), and Terry McNally, CEO of the Kern County Courts to speak about the issues facing our community from their perspective.”

It is traditional to hear from City leadership, but the Chamber reserves the right to invite representatives from other organizations they deem also timely and newsworthy. “The ‘Rec’ is at the forefront of providing programs for our community, and they seem to be responding instantaneously to the demands of their clientele,” stated Orrin. “So, too, with Taft College and the Healthcare District.”

Terry McNally has been invited to provide information about the recent decision to shut down the Taft Municipal Court for four out of five days per week, making the Taft Court operational only on Thursdays. This decision is slated to go into effect in September of this year.

Reservations may be made by calling the Chamber at 765-2165

by Tuesday, April 23. The cost is $15 per person.

Experienced Writers and Photographers Wanted Taft Independent Experience Required.

Please call 765-6550.

Paik’s

“Where Everybody Meets”

450 Petroleum Club Road – 763-3268

Come out for the Club’s Monthly Friday Night Steak/Chicken Dinner on Friday, April 26, 2013 Just $13.00 The club is available for Weddings, Birthdays, and Anniversaries.

We do bar and food catering to fit your event!

Monday – Thursday the Club has hourly rates in bar area for Business Meetings, Baby Showers, Scentsy Parties etc.

Hall holds up to 200 people and the bar can hold 70.

Call Deanne to book your special event 661-577-6950 or 661-763-3151 ext. 130

Letters to the Editor Dear Taft Friends:

Ranch House Restaurant TAFT PETROLEUM CLUB

April 19 - 25, 2013

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Open 7 Days

I wanted to give you an update/results on our Taft inspections during the period of March 27-29th regarding Code Compliance Cases in the greater Taft Area. The eradication of blight is a big concern of your Supervisor David Couch. Residential and commercial eyesores lower property values, are not fair to citizens who keep their properties clean, and often pose public health and safety problems for the community.

42 - 30 Day Notice and Orders issued (or in the process w/clerical) 4 - Issued citations at $250 each 17 - closed cases 3 - Extensions of time issued (1 of the three has complied prior to extension date given) 1 - Case in the process of being prepared to go before the BOS for demolition 5 - Follow up inspections on cases sent to the BOS regarding demolitions which will be forthcoming.

We have about 35 plus additional cases for Taft and the surrounding areas, i.e., Valley Acres, Dustin Acres and Derby Acres that we will processing soon. Our Code Compliance Officer will get back out to Taft next week to finish up and then we will start on Bakersfield complaints. I will try to give you a weekly or bi-weekly account of work being done in the 4th District.

Mark Salvaggio Office of Supervisor David Couch

Caltrans Installing New Signs Statewide to Remind Motorists to “Move Over” for Law Enforcement and Highway Workers SACRAMENTO – Caltrans workers and the California Highway Patrol will be out in force today on highways throughout the state, installing “Move Over” signs intended to help save lives and increase safety for motorists, highway workers, CHP officers, and other law enforcement.

“Every day, highway workers put their lives in danger just by going to work,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We’re asking motorists to slow down, watch out for highway workers and CHP, and safely move over a lane when they see flashing amber lights on Caltrans or other emergency vehicles.”

The new signs will display the messages, “Move Over or Slow for Stopped Emergency and Maintenance Vehicles” and “Move Over or Slow When Amber Lights Flashing.” In addition, more than 700 existing electronic highway message signs statewide will display, “Move Over or Slow for Workers, It’s the Law.” “Every year, a growing number of law enforcement, emergency personnel, and highway workers are killed or injured along California’s roadways,” said California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow. “One way to help minimize the risk for these workers is for the motoring public to do their part by paying attention and exercising caution on the road. If you see emergency lights on the shoulder ahead, the law requires you to move over or slow down.”

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

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

The Move Over law, which took effect in 2007, was amended in 2009 to add Caltrans vehicles displaying flashing amber warning lights to the list of vehicles for which motorists must move over if safe to do so, or slow down.

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

Highway construction and maintenance work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Since the 1920s, 178 Caltrans employees have died while on the job.

765-6915

April 19 - 25, 2013

Senator Pavley Promoting New Fracking Regulations, New Permits Could Be Delayed SACRAMENTO–Senator Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, today announced several key amendments to her bill to regulate the practice of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” for oil and gas within California.

The changes come in the wake of extensive input from stakeholder groups and the public, as well as analysis of other states’ policies. On Feb. 12, Senator Pavley led a nearly six-hour informational hearing on fracking which included detailed testimony from state agencies, industry and environmental groups.

The legislation, Senate Bill 4, is motivated by the public’s right to know about fracking. It requires companies to obtain a state-issued permit to frack, and to notify neighboring property owners 30 days ahead of time. It also says they must disclose to the state all of the chemicals they use to frack in a particular location. The bill allows industry to claim trade secret protection for chemicals under specific circumstances.

“There is an emerging national consensus on the basic assurances the public needs around fracking operations,” said Senator Pavley. “From chemical disclosure, to notification, to water quality monitoring and an independent health study, this legislation brings the transparency and accountability needed in order to protect our air and water supply.”

The draft fracking regulations delivered by the administration’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) on December 18 represent a step in the right direction. They provide for advance public notice, and significant rules to enhance monitoring of wells both before and after fracking. These are the first systematic fracking-specific regulations developed by an administration in California history. The initial version of SB 4 was introduced before these draft regulations came out.

However, some other states have gone even further. For instance, on December 20, the state of Alaska issued their own proposed regulations, requiring pre-approval of fracking operations, notification of nearby landowners and well operators, and substantial groundwater monitoring.

“The public demands the right to know where fracking is occurring and what chemicals are being used,” said Ventura Supervisor Steve Bennett, who also testified at the hearing. “I applaud Senator Pavley’s leadership on restoring the public’s confidence in government by mandating fracking disclosure and assuring that new state regulations on fracking are adopted.”

HOOKER’S AUTOMOTIVE Complete Automotive Service

TAFT INDEPENDENT Key changes to SB 4 include: • Authorization. Drillers must obtain a permit for fracking a well. The permit application will include information about the planned fracking job including the chemicals and amount of water to be used.

• Notice. Along with the right to be notified 30 days in advance, property owners can have regional water boards test well and surface water before and after fracking.

• Public safety. The state must complete an independent scientific study on fracking by January 1, 2015. This report must include assessments of public and environmental health and safety. No fracking permits could be approved after this date if the scientific study is not completed.

• Transparency. Requires the state to develop its own web-site for fracking fluid reporting by January 1, 2016. Until then, the Fracfocus.org web-site could be used, as specified in DOGGR’s draft regulations.

• Monitoring. The existing industry production fee on drilling operations would be modified to specifically include costs associated with fracking, including air and water quality monitoring, as well as the scientific study. Regulators would be required to perform spot checks to ensure that the fracking information provided by companies is accurate. By January 1, 2015, the administration would also be required to issue its final regulations, and to enter into formal agreements with water boards and other regulators in order to specify responsibilities around air and water monitoring.

• The revised bill retains reporting requirements to ensure the state gathers sufficient information in order to understand the scope and extent of fracking in California, including the amount of water used and waste disposal methods. It also keeps provisions allowing for health professionals and others to obtain trade secret information if necessary.

“The rules within SB 4 are merely the kind of common-sense protections needed for any potentially hazardous industrial activity, let alone one that is rapidly expanding in our state,” said Senator Pavley. “While the industry correctly notes that fracking has been going on in California for 60 years, many of the techniques and chemicals are new, as is the immense scale of many of these operations.”

We’re Cleaning up Taft Saturday, April 27, 2013 8 a.m. to 12 noon

218 HARRISON STREET (661) 765-2437

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!

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!

Closed April 16 to April 24 for Vacation

810 Center Street • (661)805-9813

0DNH D 'LIIHUHQFH LQ <RXU +RPHWRZQ

6

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News Briefs Taft Volunteer Clean Up Day Saturday April 27th

Nina Burt Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi

On Saturday, April 27th from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Kern County Supervisor David Couch is joining efforts with the City of Taft, the Taft Chamber of Commerce and Taft College to help clean up the Taft community through the Keep Kern Clean Program. This clean-up day is being organized to improve the image of the Taft community.

Nina Burt of Taft, majoring in Occupational Safety, is one of 85 Eastern Kentucky University juniors, seniors and graduate students who were inducted into the EKU chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi during a special ceremony on April 5.

Burt is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization’s more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, Baylor University head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, writer John Grisham and Netscape founder James Barksdale. The Society has awarded approximately $11.5 million in fellowships and scholarships since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $800,000 is awarded annually to qualifying members and nonmembers through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad scholarships, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives.

The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.”

A call for volunteers is being made to help clean up trash & litter on various vacant lots and along Wood Street from Hwy 119 to S. 10th Street. Volunteers will meet at 8:00 a.m. at Veterans Park on Kern Street and be dispatched to their cleanup area. Trash bags, gloves and bottled water will be provided for the volunteers. Volunteers should wear work clothes, closed toed shoes and a desire to “Clean up OUR Community”. To volunteer call Christy Lowe at 763-1222 ext. 34.

A thank you lunch will be provided to volunteers at Veterans Park after the clean-up at 12 noon. Lunch is being sponsored

by Occidental, Vintage Production of California, Albertsons, Fastenal & Dreyer’s.

Westside Waste Management, Inc. will provide several 40 cubic-yard containers for collection and transportation of the trash. The Kern County Waste Management Department will provide a fee waiver for disposal at the Taft Landfill.

Keep Kern Clean is a part of a county-wide program of the Kern County Waste Management Department designed to eradicate illegal dumping in Kern County. In addition to organizing community clean ups, the program informs residents about materials accepted at landfills, locations and hours of landfills, proper disposal of household hazardous waste and bulky waste materials, recycling centers, code enforcement policies and school education programs. The Keep Kern Clean program is on-going.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

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

Mexican and Seafood Taqueria

OT Cookhouse can accomodate smaller or larger Private Dining Events Reserve your Banquet today!!!

661.763.1819

330 Kern Street Corner of 4th and Kern Street 745-4898

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

Open 7 Days a Week 4 am to Midnight

Now Serving Breakfast Open 4:30 a.m. - Fast Service To-Go Happy Hour 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

$2 Bud Light Budweiser and Tecate

Catering Available for Meetings. Free Delivery.

April 19 - 25, 2013

Taft High STAR Testing Taft Union High School students will show what they’ve learned when they take the state-mandated STAR (Standardized Testing And Reporting) test over the next two weeks.

Testing began Wednesday April 10 and Thursday April 11 with sophomores taking the science tests and juniors taking the social science tests, but testing did not affect the school schedule.

Next week, April 15-19, school will begin at the regular time, 7:45, but get out earlier as students take the English and mathematics portions of the test. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors will take the English tests Monday and Tuesday and the math portion on Wednesday and Thursday, all in their Period 1 classes. School will get out at 12:55 those days, with busses running 10 minutes later and sports practices running immediately after school lets out.

Friday, April 19, will be a makeup day with school getting out at 2:10.

Seniors are scheduled to go to Magic Mountain on Wednesday, April 17.

The third week, April 22-26, will be a regular bell schedule, 7:45-2:55, and students will take science and social science tests.

The high school is providing free breakfast during STAR testing.

Superintendent Blanca Cavazos said students should be well rested for the tests. Test results are an important measure of student progress.

Results are used to place students in the correct class and to measure the progress of Taft High against others in the state.

Students should do well on these tests as a matter of personal, school and community pride, she said.

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

April 19 - 25, 2013

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Downtown Group Meets with SoCal Gas To Begin Installing Advanced Meters in Kern County City Staff New System Safely Offers Benefits to Customers, Community & Environment

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) customers will soon be able to view their daily gas usage information online as SoCalGas begins installing advanced meters in western Kern County. The SoCalGas upgrade to its natural gas metering system involves adding a small battery-powered communication device on existing residential and business customers’ meters starting mid-April in Bakersfield, Delano, Wasco, Taft, Frazier Park, Arvin, Tehachapi and other nearby communities. The installations will continue through December 2013.

The new device only turns on for a fraction of a second a day - a total of less than two minutes a year - to securely and safely send natural gas usage data from a customer’s home or business to SoCalGas customer centers. SoCalGas will make the usage information available for the customer to view online the next business day.

“SoCalGas is continually innovating and looking for ways to better serve our customers. We believe our advanced meter system will offer benefits for our customers, community and environment,” said Patrick Petersilia, director of the advanced meter project at SoCalGas. “Advanced meters will help customers monitor and adjust gas usage, helping families and local businesses save energy and money. They will also help reduce some 140,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year as we take service vehicles off the road every day.”

The detailed information advanced meters provide will help customers better understand and manage gas use and costs, enabling them to quickly identify and respond to sudden usage spikes and take steps to conserve. Later this year, customers will be able to sign-up for weekly alerts and get up-to-date information on usage and billing status via text or email messages. Customers will also enjoy greater privacy and security, no longer having to provide physical access to their property for monthly meter reading. Installations will take about 15 minutes and be completed by SoCalGas energy technicians during business hours. In most cases, customers will not need to be present and natural gas service won’t be interrupted. Natural gas bills will continue to be based on a monthly read of usage.

The advanced meter device cannot communicate with appliances inside the home, turn on or turn off gas service and will only be active for a fraction of a second each day to read and send gas usage data. No personal information will be sent and usage data will be encrypted for added security. The battery life of the device is expected to be 20 years, with SoCalGas providing any needed maintenance. SoCalGas expects the advanced meter system will enable operational and environmental savings over its life-savings that will be passed along to customers in reduced overall rates.

In all, SoCalGas is planning to upgrade approximately six million natural gas meters with the new communication device, installing them throughout the SoCalGas service territory through 2017. SoCalGas is conducting a comprehensive information campaign, starting with notifying customers several weeks before installations begin.

SoCalGas works closely with local community-based organizations to help customers learn about the project. In Kern County these include Arts Council of Kern, Community Action Partnership of Kern (CAPK), Kern Green, Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, Housing and Opportunity Foundation of Kern, Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce, Kern County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Kern Economic Development Corporation, Mexican American Opportunity Foundation, North of the River Chamber of Commerce, Proteus, Inc., and Radio Bilingue.

Customers can also visit SoCalGas’ website, socalgas.com/ advanced or call toll-free at (800) 427-2200 or (800) 3424545 in Spanish for more information. A SoCalGas advanced meter installation video is at http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BI04jL12qC4.

The downtown committee of the Taft Chamber of Commerce met this week with City Manager Craig Jones, Police Chief Ed Whiting, Enterprise Zone Manager Debra Elliott, City Planner Mike Waisciz, Code Enforcement official Jill Gibson, Christy Lowe and Tom Ebersole for presenting the Downtown Business Committee with some answers and comments to items of interest to the downtown businesses.

Here is a recap of the meeting: The City has already been working to resolve some smaller achievable goals including: Added the alley ways to the street sweeping schedule.

Made up and will be installing “No Skateboard” signs on Center Street.

Working on changing municipal codes and to add infraction fees, annual inspections and fees for vacant buildings.

Applied for money from Cal Trans for repaving Center Street In addition, the group discussed: A Vision/Mission for downtown business areas.

Creating a Business Improvement District similar to an

association for downtown businesses to contribute and control the money to be spent on revitalization.

Getting on the same page with the City representatives, planning commission, and businesses.

If Center Street is to be one way, there must be a public hearing before the city council to make the decision. Is this still an item of interest? If so, it needs to be addressed now, before the Cal Trans repaving occurs.

The Downtown businesses need to work together to come up with color scheme, landscaping, etc and take it to the City leaders before anything can be done.

The next meeting of the Downtown Business Committee on Wednesday, May 1 at 5 pm with the meeting location to be announced.

8 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Liberty Under Fire The Supreme Court may yet rule Obamacare unconstitutional!

By Dr. Harold Pease

Many may not be familiar with Article I, Section 7 of the U. S. Constitution that requires that “all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.” This means that any law, which extracts money from the American people, can only come from the House. The problem is The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, originated in the U.S. Senate not in the House as constitutionally required.

The Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento, California based foundation, is pursuing the matter before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

So why does this matter, a tax is a tax? For thousands of years governments taxed their citizens with no limits. Rulers lived lavishly off the wealth extracted from their poor subjects with little or no mercy toward them—lavish physical structures and frivolous wars of conquest were too often the norm. The Founders wisely took this power from the rich and gave it to the poor themselves by requiring that the poor, then the majority, had to consent to any taxation over them. The power to tax is the only constitutional power exclusively given to the masses.

The House of Representatives was the only branch of government designed to actually represent them as it is based upon population. The Senate was to represent the states, the people only indirectly.

As far as I know the United States is the first, possibly the only, country in world history that puts its tax base with the masses who pay the taxes. It is a priceless freedom. If we are overtaxed in the United States we have chosen to be and one body alone is responsible—The House of Representatives. No tax can constitutionally originate with the President or the Supreme Court, (even if Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. says that it is okay), not even the Senate, although it can modify as on other bills once originated by the House. The House is also in charge of spending. We must not let this freedom dwindle or allow the line between the two legislative branches to be blurred into oblivion.

In the Supreme Court’s decision of June 2012, it took great pains to establish that Obamacare is not a law passed under the Commerce Clause; this is a tax they ruled. Whether a fine, as the Administration argued throughout the case, or a

tax as Roberts insisted, it is an extraction of money from the masses and therefore a tax and therefore must originate from the House, not the Senate. The philosophical switch created

by Roberts made the constitutional error far more glaring. By letting origin slide the House looses its clear distinction on the origin of taxes and the people their right of first approval of taxation or generations yet unborn and probably forever.

What is worse it smacks of a sloppy cover-up by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Now that the Supreme Court made healthcare constitutional by deeming it a tax, it mandated a House of Representative origin rather than the Senate. A House version HR 3200 was available but Reid did not like it favoring his own HR 3962, The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Choices Act. Prior to the Supreme Courts tax ruling the tax was called a fine, not a tax, so he reasoned that it did not make any difference which legislative body originated the fine. The ruling necessitated resurrecting a bill that had passed the House first but had not been acted upon in the Senate, the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act of 2009 HR 3590, deleting its contents and pasting in the contents of the Senates bill HR 3962.

The Home Ownership Tax Act was a tax providing a first time home buyer’s credit to members of the Armed Services, never mind that it had nothing to do with healthcare and now, after being deleted leaving only the empty shell, had nothing to do with the Armed Services or home buying either. The only thing that Reid kept was the original date, September 17, 2009, which now deceptively confirmed that it preceded Senate action. Accomplices to Reid were the original authors of the deleted bill: Congressman Charlie Rangel of NY, and Senator Clare McCaskill of MO. This is the kind of morphing that reeks of illegitimacy and fraudulency (“Lawsuit to test Origination clause,” The Washington Times, April 8, 2013, p. 12. See Also www.Patriot Guardian.org).

What is even worse. If Reid had indeed simply pasted in his own bill into the dead Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act, as believed, this tax bill HR 3962, the one that became Obamacare, has never actually been before the House of Representatives, the only body actually authorized to originate a tax.

Obamacare may be the only revenue-raising bill in American history originated, processed, and implemented by the Senate alone. Nothing could be more unconstitutional!!

If left unchallenged Obamacare severely damages Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution. As an accomplice, the Senate is unlikely to sympathize but you should find a friend in your Congressperson and governor. Each should have a vested interest in this power shift. Contact them with your own summation of the problem or send them a copy of this article.

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.

April 19 - 25, 2013

Shannon Grove Measure To Expand Military Voting Rights Clears First Committee

AB 269 would ease restrictions on individuals casting ballots abroad SACRAMENTO – A measure that expands voting rights to overseas military personnel, authored by Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), was approved by the Assembly Elections Committee today with unanimous bipartisan support. Assembly Bill 269 would allow the ballots of military service members and other Californians living abroad to be counted up to three days after Election Day, so long as the ballots are postmarked by that day.

“Californians in our nation’s military serve and sacrifice to ensure that their family, friends, and neighbors maintain the right to free and open elections. These selfless men and women deserve to have their voices heard at the ballot box,” said Shannon Grove of the measure.

Current California law requires that mailed ballots be received by county election officials no later than close of Election Day. But those in the military face inconsistent conditions from day-to-day, which often causes slow mail service. These circumstances make it more difficult for their ballots to be counted. The measure would also ease restrictions on other Californians living abroad, including those engaged in business ventures, serving on religious missions, or performing humanitarian efforts.

“It is absolutely necessary that the votes of patriots serving in our armed forces be counted,” stated Grove. “This is a simple measure that will enable them to do so, and I am pleased that my colleagues recognize the importance of making sure these individuals are not disenfranchised.” Assemblywoman Shannon Grove is a veteran of the U.S. Army and was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany.

Grove authored the measure with Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) and Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton), who also served in the U.S. Army. It now moves on to be heard in the Assembly Veterans Committee, of which Grove is a member. AB 269 is supported by AMVETS-Department of California and the Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

April 19 - 25, 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

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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

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Licensed Funeral Directors

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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

Business Services

520 Shattuck

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

Rite Away Carpet Cleaning Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning\General Cleaning Owner Operated Visa\Master Card 765-4191

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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.

3 Family Yard Sale.

Furniture, house decor., 301 Jamison Lane. Sat. 20th 8 a.m.

Moving Sale. 210 F Street. Sat. and Sun. 8 a.m - ? Toys, clothes, household and more.

Everything must go.

Porch sale 602 Fillmore street , Saturday april 20th, 7am -12pm, girls clothes size 4 5 6, plus toys games and more!

ANNOUNCEMENTS Alzheimer’s Disease Association Of Kern County is offering Respite Care here in Taft. Call-Cathy Perkins at 760-379-0848 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.

HELP WANTED Part-time Waitress. Black Gold Brewing Co. Exp. Req. 508 Center Street.

Looking to fill part-time and full-time positions.

Must have clean DMV. Must have a clean background. Must be flexible to work weekends. Must have reliable transportation.

Visit abm.com to apply.

Call 661.322.3289 if you have any questions.

SERVICES Cooler Services. Swap Cooler services and repair. Pumps, motors, etc. (661) 900-0917..

Need Extra Cash?

I need: Dust wiped from drywall. 3 walls to be drywalled and taped.

Approx. 10 outlets to be installed. Someone strong to move items from yard and inside house. Call (626) 4857852.

CHILD CARE SERVICES

WANTED FOR SALE

AUTOMOBILES PETS LOST PETS

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 I have 2 Rooms for rent in a nice 4 bedroom house in Taft Heights. $350 per month includes utilities, cable, internet and full use of house.

Must have job and be clean, drug free and respectful. Call if interested (661) 809-3855.

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

AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT MECHANIC New Cuyama/Nipomo, CA farm is seeking a highly motivated individual that is willing to work in a fast paced agricultural environment to maintain, repair and overhaul farm machinery, equipment and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, pumps, tiling equipment, trucks and other mechanized, electrically powered or motor-driven equipment. This individual must possess knowledge of farming equipment, and exp. in fleet service. Bilingual (Spanish/English) & a valid CA drivers license required.

Email resume & salary history to resumesduncanfamilyfarms.net.

Classified Ad Deadline.

Wednesday 2 p.m.

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MOBILE HOMES HOMES FOR RENT West Valley Real Estate (661) 763-1500.

Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT (661) 763-1500 224 B St #C Studio $475 119 ½ Madison 1/1 $500 203 W Ash 2/1.5 $600 400 Woodrow 2/1 $625 522 Center 3/1 $700 400 Woodrow 2/1 $725 302 Calvin St 1/1 condo $850 315 7th St 1/1 furnished! $850 709 Kern St 3/1 $900 512 D St 3/1.75 $900 507 Tyler 3/1.75 $1,000 316 E Lucard 3/1.75 $1,300 110 Village Way 3/1.75 pool $1,800 522 F Street. 3 bd.

1 ba. $750 mo. plus $700. Dep. Avail. 4-5.

661-765-4016.

2bd, 1b, furnished Very quiet, private, new appliances, large yard. $600.00, first and last with $300.00 deposit. Call 742-8679 between 7 am and 9 pm. Available by April 20. 4-5.

Nice. Private 2 bedroom 1 bath Apt. in newer duplex. Central heat and air. Incl. washer and dryer in apt.. Very nice with private yard. carport. $675. mo. plus dep.

Renter pays all utilities. Credit check req. 623-4296. Michael.

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

Westside Real Estate 765-5000 2bd. w/garage $650. mo 429 Rose.

319 1/2 San Emidio 1bd + office incl. utilities $650 + dep.

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

Preserving for the Future

E-mail: Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Email: Taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com

April 19 - 25, 2013

402 Pierce 3 bd 1 bth w/ garage $825 + dep.

1 bed. 1 ba. 155 1/2 North St. B. $450.

3bd 1 ba in Dustin Acres $800 mo + dep. Also, for 155 1/2 North can we add “+ dep” 765-5000 License 01914953

in the Taft Independent

APART. FOR RENT Avail. Now! Nice. Prof.

2 bedroom 1 bath Apt. in newer duplex.

Central heat and air.

Very nice with private yard. carport. $675. mo. plus dep. Renter pays all utilities. Credit check req. 623-4296. Michael.

Studio 350 inc utilty 866 367 8171 alintaft@ yahoo.com. 4-20 Creekside Apartments.

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420 Finley Dr.

30 Plus Years in Construction License No. 927634

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

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Project CONNECT: Where Opportunity Meets Reality Chevron and Taft College have partnered to bring an exciting project to the Taft community. Project CONNECT has three components: • Oil & Gas/Energy Pre-employment Training. Designed for individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, this series of workshops will provide instruction on properly completing employment applications, creating effective resumes, and preparing for job interviews. Participants will also have the opportunity to network with industry representatives in order to build connections leading to employment at the final workshop (which includes lunch). Participants will also be eligible to receive scholarships to assist them in seeking employment. Workshops are from 8:30 am – 11:30 am on May 31, June 7, June 14, and June 21 at Taft College.

• Oil & Gas/Energy Professional Development Training. Designed for small business owners and front-line supervisors, these lunch seminars will provide participants with information on human resources issues such as legal and illegal interviewing practices.

Lunch seminars are 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm on May 31, June 7, June 14, and June 21 (location TBD). The June 21 lunch is preceded by a networking event with individuals seeking employment.

• High School Summer Career Exploration. Designed for high school juniors and seniors, this two-week summer program is a combination of workshops and hands-on experience that allows participants to earn 1 unit of college credit while learning about the various career paths within the oil & gas and energy industries.

The program is from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, Monday – Thursday, June 10 – June 20.

Contact Robin Paggi at 661.695.5168 or rpaggi@worklogiclegal.com for more information.

BLM Advisory Council Plans Meeting in Visalia Land management issues for Central California will be on the agenda when the Bureau of Land Management’s Central California Resource Advisory Council meets in Visalia on May 9-11.

It’s Time For Politics To Legalize Economics

By Robert Bradley Jr. President Obama recently nominated Sally Jewell to head the Department of Interior. Her bona fides include growing Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) to nearly $2 billion in revenue last year. But in her new job, the question is whether she’ll grow America’s untapped energy resources.

Jewell is now at the gulf between what is and what could be. The Interior Department is responsible for oil and natural gas drilling off our coast - or rather, the absence of new drilling.

Consider ExxonMobil’s $14 billion plan to develop one of the largest oil fields in the North Atlantic. That drilling will be off Canada’s Newfoundland. But the Hebron oil field is believed to extend southward into U.S. waters with its billion-barrel potential.

Unfortunately, the United States won’t see a drop of it -- unless Secretary Jewell and others in the Obama hierarchy open it up.

Simple permission is all that is required.

The United States could become the world’s largest producer of oil by 2017, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). By 2035, the United States will be nearly energy self-sufficient.

The prospect of U.S. self-sufficiency overturns a half-century of conventional wisdom. Oil and gas critics have long warned of “peak” supply - the point at which extraction is at its highest possible rate. At this “peak,” wells will start running dry for good. But this theory is nothing more than a myth-and scare tactic by those favoring subsidized energies such as ethanol, wind, and solar.

Today, according to both the IEA and the U.S. Department of Energy, America has an astounding 1.4 trillion barrels of recoverable oil, the majority of which is oil shale in the Rocky Mountain

West. Large crude oil deposits are also offshore in portions of Alaska. When combined with the recoverable oil reserves of Canada and Mexico, North America has more than 1.7 trillion barrels of oil - more oil than the world has used since the first oil well was drilled in Pennsylvania 150 years ago.

There’s no guarantee all these reserves can be developed. But if American energy producers can tap into even a fraction of this supply, our domestic energy production could well outstrip that of Saudi Arabia.

Already, U.S. oil production has surged to its highest level in a decade. And that’s with minimal access to federal resources, currently closed to exploration. Between 2007 and 2012, 96 percent of increased domestic oil production was driven by development on state and private lands. And with these prospects, estimates of U.S. oil reserves will certainly increase. Domestic supplies of technically recoverable oil could fuel 200 years of usage at current consumption rates.

America’s natural gas bounty also defies naysayers. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates the United States has approximately 318 trillion cubic feet of extraction-ready natural gas reserves. Estimated total reserves have increased annually for the past 12 years. Approximately 2.7 quadrillion cubic feet of gas reserves are recoverable -- enough to supply the United States for 110 years at current rates of consumption.

Opening federal lands has another reward: $36 billion in annual new revenue (not to mention a $127 billion boost to GDP) over the next seven years, according to a new study. This would close more than three percent of the current annual federal deficit.

The United States is at the center of the oil, gas, and coal world.

The sooner federal officials relent, the sooner jobs and needed revenue can flow. It is a win-win-win for producers, consumers, and taxpayers at a most opportune time.

It’s past time for politics to legalize economics.

Robert L. Bradley is CEO of the Institute for Energy Research and author of seven books on energy.

Available now at Black Gold Brewing Co.

A business meeting will be held Friday, May 10, at the Anthony Community Center, N. Jacob and W. Center streets, beginning at 8 a.m., followed by a field trip that afternoon to BLM lands in the Case Mountain area.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the field trip and meeting. Field trip participants must provide their own transportation and lunch. On May 11, the meeting will resume at 8 a.m. at the Anthony Community Center. Time for public comment is reserved from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

On May 9, there will be a meeting of the RAC Off-Highway Vehicle Subgroup at the community center from noon to 1:30 p.m. and an orientation for RAC members from 2 to 4 p.m. Both are open to the public.

“The advisory council provides a valuable forum for BLM and the public to exchange views on management of public lands,” said Este Stifel, Central California District manager.

For more information, contact David Christy, BLM Central California District public affairs officer, at (916) 941-3146.

The 12-member council, one of 24 such advisory councils in the western states, is comprised of members who represent broad natural resource interests including livestock grazing, environmental groups, recreation, wild horse and burro management, history and archaeology, the academic sector, local government and the public at large.

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508 Center Street

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

April 19 - 25, 2013

Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop

BMX

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

Black Gold

Qik Smog & Tune

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 Pet Tabs are Back!

Full Grooming Salon

We Love Cats!

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Dog Nail Trim 12.00 2nd Pet $9.00

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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