Taft Correctional Institute

Independent The Taft

August 17 - 23, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

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August 17 - 23, 2012 • Volume 7 Issue 8

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

Home Sweet Home: Taft Reopens Community Correctional Facility To 512 LA County Prisoners

Kern County Code Enforcement On South Taft: This is as Good as it Gets

West side Recreation Report

Ten Percent Firearms 1277 Kern Street (661)765-6899

By Jane McCabe

MESSENGER AUTOMOTIVE SEE US FOR YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS

Over 36 Years Experience Combined

MONDAY - FRIDAY 8:00am - 5:00pm

SENIOR & 531 Center Street MILITARY DISCOUNTS (661)763-1123 Over 50 Different Craft & Imported Beers

WE SERVICE MOST MAKES AND MODELS

*Must ask for discount

2 TAFT INDEPENDENT

August 17 - 23 2012

Shop Taft

Black Gold Cafe and Deli

508 Center Street 765-6556

Passion For Nails Nail Services:

Gel Polish • Sea Shell • Glitter Acrylic Metalic Flakes • Rock Star

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

Residential • Commercial

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

J e w e l r y

Black Hills Gold • Jewelry Repair

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Geiger Construction & Plumbing

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

Men & Seniors & Diabetics Welcome

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

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(661)745-4913

Personal Style

Leanin Tree Watch Batteries Greeting Cards CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 2 426 for $1.00

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

426 Center Street

(661)763-5451

Women • Contemporary • Junior • Toddler • Infant • Men

Hot Summer Sales Check in each week for new savings!

New Arrivals Coming.

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

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Prepaid Phones, Accessories & Cards 610 Center Street • 661-745-4954 Now Available HTC EVO Design 4G

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Internet Corner.

Inside The Historic Fort • 623-1783 • 763-1700 915 N. 10th Street Suite 34 Name Brand Clothing Shoes • Jewelry Accessories & More

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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 415 Center Street Visit us on Facebook sales@bluejeansandbling.com

763-9100

Ten Percent Firearms

*Most Cars & Light Trucks Up to 5 Qts.

Tire & Automotive Service Center

Oil & Filter Special 95* $

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Electronics • Prepaid Phones Service • Accessories

WE SHIP!

August 17 - 23, 2012

Inside Community Events.........3 News Briefs......................3

Community Events News Briefs 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 it to us at Publisher@Taftindependent.com

Westside Watcher............4

August 19th - Pinewood Derby

Westside News.................5

August 20th - School starts

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

TAFT INDEPENDENT

August 23 - Farmer’s Market on Center Street August 30th - Taft College 90th Birthday Party 12pm-2pm

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

August 30 - Farmer’s Market on Center Street

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

August 31st - September 3rd, Taft Bike Fest September 27th - Last Farmers Market

Classified Ads.................10 Shop Taft........................11

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

September 29th - Taft College/ TIL Casino Night

West Side Senior Care

The Second Annual Community Pinewood Derby August 19 There is still time to sign up for the Second Annual Community Pinewood Derby. This year’s derby will be held on Sunday, August 19. A great time was had by all participants at last year’s derby and this year it’s moving inside to beat the heat, Imagination Laboratories, Inc. has partnered with WSRPD and True Value to bring you this year’s event. Boy Scout troop 600 and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints have once again generously donated the use of their track. This year’s derby will be held at the WSRPD Community Center Auditorium. There are still some car kits are available to purchase at the WSRPD main office and at True Value home center. Registration is only $6 for a car kit and event entry. Those with their own cars will be able to register the day of the event for $4. Registration and weigh-ins are from 12:00-1:30pm and racing begins at 2:00pm. For more information you can call WSRPD at 763-4246 or email ILinc at ggolling@gmail.com.

Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Full Time Live-In Care

Support Your Local VFW

Now Open

3 Openings Available • Women & Men Welcome 115 Adkisson Way - (661) 745-4220 State License No. 157202510

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.

ROGER MILLER INSURANCE a division of DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance Group

Rich Miller • Jordan Miller Kathy Devine • Shelly Hamilton

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.

License # 0707137 • (661) 765-7131 531 Kern Street - P.O. Box 985 (661) 765-4798 FAX Taft, CA 93268 • (661) 203-6694 Cell

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Tuesday August 21, 2012 – 7:00 p.m.

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER 209 EAST KERN STREET, TAFT, CA (661) 763-1222

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Michael J. Long taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Advertising Contributing Writers June Woods, Kent Miller, Wesley Morris, Nicole Frost

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4 TAFT INDEPENDENT Editorial The Taft

Independent

Westside Watcher

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. Thur. 6 am-8:30 pm Sun. Wed. 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, August 17, 2012 through Thursday, August 23, 2012 ParaNorman (PG) No Passes Allowed Fri: (3:00), (5:15), 7:30 Sat & Sun: (12:50), (3:00), (5:15), 7:30 Mon - Thu: 5:15, 7:30 The Bourne Legacy (PG-13) Fri: (2:50), (5:30), 8:15 Sat: (3:40), 6:30, 9:15 Sun: (3:40), 6:30 Mon - Thu: 6:30 PM The Watch (R) Fri: (3:10), (5:30), 8:00, 10:20 Sat: (1:10), (3:30), (5:45), 8:00, 10:20 Sun: (1:10), (3:30), (5:45), 8:00 Mon - Thu: 5:30, 8:00

Taft Petroleum Club 450 Petroleum Club Road - 763-3268 Open Monday- Friday 3:30pm to Close

Friday Night Ribeye Steak or Chicken Dinner from 6pm - 8pm

CLOSED JULY 4th Industry Night

July Industry Night will be Wednesday, July 11th due to July 4th being a holiday.

Industry Night for July is sponsored by LDL Services The club is available for Weddings, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Hall holds up to 200 people and the bar can hold 70.

Letters to the Editor Taft Diving Team 2012

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

August 17 - 23 2012

California Has 4 Times the Oil that’s in the North Dakota Bakken Formation Think that most of the oil in North America is in Texas or North Dakota?

Think again.

Take the Monterey Shale Formation in California which includes West Kern County. It is estimated to have 64 percent of the recoverable shale oil reserves in the lower 48 states, according to the US Energy Information Administration report: “Review of Emerging Resources: U.S. Shale Gas and Shale Oil Plays - July 20112”

Taft Diving Team an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Diving team is forming at the Taft Union High School beginning August20th at 3:15 pm. Coach Abbe Gore a was former Junior Olympic Champion, collegiate diver for the University of Arizona as well as a professional high diver with the U.S. High Diving Team. She will be signing up interested children through high school age students for the Taft Diving Team. Divers must be able to swim 2 laps in the deep water proficiently.

Gore is a certified AAU coach and has coached U.S. National finalists at CSUB and assisted coaching Bakersfield area high school divers in the past. Her love of the sport has inspired her to begin a program here in Taft. Last school year her daughter Melissa won the Div. 2 CIF Championship. The facility at Taft High is a wonderful pool and now it can be used for a club team. She hopes this will help feed the High School diving program and get kids interested in the sport of competitive diving. As an Olympic sport diving is one of the most popular sports on television. The U.S. earned a total of 4 medals in the diving events this summer.

Diving is a wonderful opportunity for kids to learn self-confidence and have fun challenging their acrobatic and athletic abilities. The basics will be taught first such as the proper approach and hurdle then the five basic diving groups on springboard will be introduced. Those being forward, backward, reverse, inward and twisting groups.

You may remember when, late last year, California Gov. Jerry Brown pushed for a top state regulator to ease regulations for energy companies seeking to drill for California’s oil. The official refused.

A week later, Brown fired the regulator — along with a deputy administrator.

The governor appointed replacements who agreed to stop subjecting every fracking project to a top-to-bottom review before issuing a permit.

California could have more than four times the recoverable shale oil than the Bakken in North Dakota.

It has more than 4.5 times the reserves of the Eagle Ford Formation in Texas. And it has nearly ten times the shale oil reserves in the Avalon and Bone Springs Formation in New Mexico and Texas.

According to the same EIA report: The largest shale oil formation is the Monterey/Santos play in southern California, which is estimated to hold 15.4 billion barrels or 64 percent of the total shale oil resources shown in Table 1. The Monterey shale play is the primary source rock for the conventional oil reservoirs found in the Santa Maria and San Joaquin Basins in southern California.

Paik’s

Ranch House Restaurant “Where Everybody Meets”

Anyone interested in joining the team should come to the pool August 20th at 3:15pm to find out more information and sign up for the team. There will be a $25 trial membership fee that will allow participants to begin diving from the 21st till the 31st. Forms will be available at the first meeting and as soon as the fee and membership are complete the children can begin the program. This will also allow participants to dive through the end of August. Then beginning September 1st there will be a one time annual membership fee of $25 and $40 per month coaching fee due on the first practice of every month. For further information you can email abbe@duh-fineart.com or find us on Facebook “Taft Diving Team”, or call 661-205-1534.

The next largest shale oil plays are the Bakken and Eagle Ford, which are assessed to hold approximately 3.6 billion barrels and 3.4 billion barrels of oil, respectively.

How long is California going to ignore the potential that oil development offers in terms of higher revenue and increased employment while the state looks to facebook stock options and higher taxes to fix the fiscally and ideologically bankrupt state budget?

Just think what California could be doing in this time of high gasoline and soaring electricity costs to homeowners and businesses in the state.

The problem in Sacramento is that the legislature is controlled by liberal and environmental interest who’s article of faith is to eliminate oil production and consumption and replace that with wind farms, solar and other alternative energy uses.

In the meantime, Sacramento’s ignores what the state has to do to provide consumers with cheap and reliable energy until these alternatives come about. Highly unlikely for another 50 years.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Open 7 Days

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

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

765-6915

200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

August 17 - 23, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

West Side Recreation Report Check us out online!

Need more information on programs, classes or facilities?

Visit us on the web: www.wsrpd.com www.facebook.com/wsrpd www.quickscores.com/wsrpd www.twitter.com/wreckerwsrpd steph@wsrpd.com

by Stephanie House

NIGHT SWIM August 20-30 (extended dates!)

Monday and Thursday Evenings 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Natatorium Swimming Pool, 821 4th Street, Taft Admission: $1 per person Come cool down with a swim after a long day at work or school! Ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Monthly/season swim passes are no longer valid; all swimmers pay $1 admission.

YOGA Who: Ages 14 and older Morning Flow Yoga – Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 5:15-5:45 a.m.

Hatha Yoga – Tuesday & Thursday, 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Hatha Yoga – Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00-8:45 p.m.

Where: Community Center Assembly Room Fee: $25 per month ** register prior to attending class Instructor: Valerie Taylor, R-HYI This is the perfect class for beginners looking to improve flexibility and enhance general fitness. Class goals are to strengthen muscles and joints, improve circulation and relieve stress through common yoga stretches. Students should bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing. Class space is limited – registration is REQUIRED prior to attending class.

PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION UNDERWAY The West Side Recreation & Park District’s Preschool program is now enrolling students for the upcoming 2012/2013 school year. Classes begin the week of August 27. The program is for children ages 3-5. Fees vary per class. As of now, there are still spots available in the Monday-Thursday and Monday/Wednesday classes. For more information, please phone 763-4246 or send an email to steph@wsrpd.com.

Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday Class: 8:30-11:00 a.m.

Monday/Wednesday Class: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday/Thursday Class: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

GYMNASTICS Who: Grades K and older When: Monday Evenings Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Sessions: September 10 – October 15 and October 22 – November 26 Where: Community Center Auditorium Fee: $40 per session ($30 for each additional sibling) Instructor: Suzanne Hale DANCE CLASSES Who: Ages 3 and up When: Mondays or Wednesdays Season: classes begin the week of September 10 Where: Community Center Assembly Room Fee: $25 per month Instructor: Vicky Waugh Participants will learn the basics of tap, jazz and hip-hop. Classes take place one day per week either on Monday or Wednesday. A full class listing is available in the District Office or on our website.

Class enrollment is limited.

CHEERLEADING When: Tuesday Evenings Ages 3-5, 4:30-5:00 p.m.

Grades K-1, 5:15-5:45 p.m.

Grades 2-3, 6:00-6:30 p.m.

Session: September 18 – November 6 Where: Community Center Assembly Room Fee: $30 per person *poms and shirts are available at an additional cost Instructor: Nicole Cleveland

WEST SIDE RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT 500 Cascade Place, Taft, CA 93268 (661) 763-4246 info@wsrpd.com www.wsrpd.com

COMPETITION CHEERLEADING Who: Grades K-8 (in the 2012/2013 school year) Monday, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Where: Community Center Auditorium Term 2: September 5 – October 29 Fee: $100 per person (20% discount for additional siblings) Coaches: Nicole Cleveland and Heather Foss Would you like to be a part of the Fire & Ice Elite Competition Cheerleading Squad? This competition program will operate year-round. There are no try-outs; all children registered will participate.

Squad(s) will compete according to skill level. Cheerleaders must be enrolled for Term 2 (final registration date – September 7) to be a part of the squad. For a packet with complete program, give us a call or email a request to steph@wsrpd.com.

TENNIS CLASSES Who: Ages 9-14 When: Monday and Wednesday, beginning September 5 Time: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: TUHS Tennis Courts Fee: $30 per month Instructor: Doug Taylor Students will be introduced to the rules and fundamentals of tennis. Classes will include drills, game play and athletic fitness activities. No previous experience or knowledge is needed; all skill levels are welcome. Racquets will be available for use at the first practice; parents can speak with the coach prior to purchasing a racquet. Class enrollment is limited. Classes will operate on a monthly basis.

GLEE CLUB Who: Ages 4-14 When: Monday Afternoons Time: 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Session: September 17 – November 5 Where: Community Center Activity Building Fee: $40 per session Registration deadline: Thursday, September 13 Instructor: Crystal Mitchell Azbill In this Show Choir class, we’ll focus on vocal performance and choreography. This session’s “theme” will be Hip-Hop! Classes are open to any skill level.

TINY TOT KARATE Who: Ages 3-5 (preschool) When: Tuesday Afternoons Time: 4:45-5:15 p.m.

Sessions: September 11 – October 9 and October 16 – November 13 Where: Community Center Auditorium Fee: $25 per session Instructor: John Dodson S.T.O.P. PROGRAM SCHOLARSHIPS (Strive To Optimize Participation) Did you know that the District has a youth scholarship program? Children in low income, single parent or multiple participant households are eligible! For more information, or to find out how your child can take advantage of reduced program fees, give us a call in the District Office at 763-4246.

RECREATION CENTER: SUMMER MEMBERSHIP SPECIAL Monthly Memberships (new or renewal) are just $20 through August 31 Regular price is $30 – you save $10!

Recreation Center Memberships cover use of the gymnasium and weight room for drop-in activities.

For more information, contact the Recreation Center at 765-6677.

BOWLING PARTY RENTALS Make your reservation now!

Reservations are now being accepted for party rentals at the bowling alley in the new Recreation Center. Parties may take place on Friday evenings, Saturday or Sunday. Rental fees start at $100 for 2-lane rentals. Rental prices include shoes, balls and use of the party room. Call 763-4246 for more information or to make a reservation.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

BINGO Thursday Afternoons Games start at 1:30 p.m.

Community Center Assembly Room Ages 21 and older Buy-in varies, $10-15 average Cash pots! Pull-tabs also sold.

EAGLE MTN CASINO BUS TRIP Monday, September 3, 2012 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bus leaves from the Community Center Ages 21 and older $3 per person Call 763-4246 to reserve your spot!

6

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

Taft Correctional Facility Toured

by Taft Chamber of Commerce

By Jane McCabe The Taft Correctional Facility on Commerce Way, which was closed last November when the city lost its contract with the state to operate the facility, is being readied in preparation for an influx of prisoners from Los Angeles County.

The Taft City Council has approved an agreement with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to house up to 512 prisoners at the currently vacant facility. This is good news for the city of Taft coffers—the agreement will help replenish much of the $770,000 the city lost when the state ended its contract, the more than $500,000 in unemployment insurance the city had to pay to unemployed correctional officers and staff.

Los Angeles county jails are currently overcrowded because the state released certain classes of prisoners back to county jails, forcing the Los Angeles County Sheriff to find alternative locations to house inmates. Those inmates to be sent to Taft are classified as N-3’s: non-violent, non-sexual, non-serious (criminals,) and nonpsychotropic prisoners, in other words, the least threatening of prisoners in the California prison system.

The Taft facility may be ready to house in-mates as early as September. With this in mind, Taft Chamber of Commerce members were given a tour of the facility conducted by prison employee Tammy Holt on Wednesday, August 15th, at their weekly sitand-sip meeting. Taft Chief of Police Ed Whiting was on hand to answer questions.

Taft has been negotiating with Los Angeles County for more than a year and approval of the contract will see the rehiring of former correctional officers and staff.

Taft stands to benefit financially when the contract goes into effect this Fall when prisoners arrive. The city will receive up to $61 per prisoner per day, and when the facility is full, receive $31,000 per day, or $11 millions dollars annually.

Los Angeles County stands to benefit financially as well, saving as much as half what they would normally pay to house inmates in Los Angeles -- paying Taft $61 per prisoner per day verses paying $121 per prisoner per day in Los Angeles.

The tour started at the visitation room, which holds eight tables to accommodate four people each. Prisoner visitors can bring up to $20 for their family members. They are not allowed to wear blue jeans or blue shirts, because that is the uniform of prisoners. Visitors cannot wear inappropriate dress, like spaghetti straps, or halter tops. Nothing risqué is permitted.

Next the group was shown the control booth, which is the “brains” of the facility, where all prison activities are monitored by

Tacos Y Maricos Casa Tabares

Mexican and Seafood Taqueria

! ! ! Grand Opening ! ! !

Saturday, August 18th - 9 a.m.

Open 7 Days a Week 4 am to Midnight 330 Kern Street Corner of 4th and Kern Street 745-4898

August 17 - 23 2012

cameras. A panel of red and green lights reveal which doors are open—the prison is secure when the panel shows only green lights.

Next we were shown the receiving area, where five cells provide temporary housing for incoming prisoners. Five cells can hold up to ten prisoners each.

In the receiving area, new inmates, wearing jumpsuits are photographed and given ID’s and their prison uniforms.

There are three medical holding cells in the medical area.

A doctor and dentist will be on hand in the mornings, Mondays through Fridays. Basic medical care will be available 24/7—registered nurses and licensed vocational nurses will be available when the doctor and dentist are absent.

The facility does not have an X-ray machine. If urgent care is required prisoners can be taken to the Taft Urgent Care facility or to Bakersfield. A Three hots and a cot. One of eight dorms that will house up to 512 inmates.

According to Police Chief Whiting, when prisoners are set to separate cell with a separate ventilation system is available for those be released, they will be bussed back to Los Angeles. He says the who might be infected with contagious diseases. people of Taft have been largely positive about this prison.

Four separate dormitories can sleep 64 inmates each, making The prison requires about sixty employees to function properly. the maximum capacity of the prison 512 inmates. Attempts will As stands, some fresh correctional officers, who have passed the be made house prisoner appropriately, to segregate gang members BOC (Board of Corrections) test, are needed and some teachers and prevent prisoners being housed alongside members of enemy qualified to teach GED, ESL and computer skills. If interested gangs. applications for available positions can be obtained at the Taft City The dormitories are furnished with cots and lockers for each Hall, 209 East Kern Street. People who reside in Taft are given inmate, with wash basins and showers, tables for conversation and board games, and with telephones and television sets. Prisoners are priority over those from beyond.

Los Angeles County will pay an initial $475,000 in start-up required to buy their own toiletries. A rather Spartan paved yard costs to Taft as soon as the agreement is signed. Taft will begin surrounds two sides of the prison, where basketball, volleyball, receiving the first of 260 prisoners this September. horseshoes and hand-ball can be played. Prisoners are not forced to go outside. The yard contains a booth where a correctional officer is stationed. A public address system allows for announcements as needs be.

No firearms are allowed inside the prison. Correctional officers will however carry pepper spray and Tasers.

The facility holds a small library; inmates will provide librarian duties.

Prisoners can work towards acquiring their GED, and taking ESL classes and developing skill in basic computer applications, skills that will aid them in acquiring employment when they are released. Computers available to prisoners will not be connected to the Internet Photography done by Aug. 20th and thus will lack Facebook, Twitter, and Save $25 - $75 on Pkg. other common computer aps.

Chapel services will be available on * s t o p b y fo r d e t a i l s a n d a p p o i n t m e n t s Wednesday nights and on Sunday mornings.

Now offering “inspired” portraits, as unique as you are.

The last stop on our tour was the dining room, where the tour group was treated to biscuits and gravy compliments of Kathy Orrin, Chamber Director, and 427 Center Street • Since June 1986 Jessica Miller, her assistant.

Seniors! It’s Portrait Time!

CALL NOW 763-5429

www.kcphotographyandframing.com

August 17 - 23, 2012

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Westside News & Business Briefs

Alpha House to Benefit from Taft Second Annual Bike Fest Taft’s Second Annual Bikefest scheduled for Aug. 31 through Sept. 3 will once again benefit Alpha House, a safe haven for women and children threatened by domestic violence.

This year’s four-day event, sponsored by 2 Wheel Productions, is in memory of Trinity Hannah, a 3-year-old Taft girl whose mother’s boyfriend was accused of killing in January.

Alpha House director Holi Allen said that last year’s event brought the charity a much needed $2,000. “We were facing severe financial problems,” she said. Alpha House benefactors had been reduced; some had moved away, some had fallen on difficult economic times and others had passed away.

“It was not only the $2,000 that helped,” Allen said, “2 Wheel Productions helped our name get out in the community.

A lot more people have heard of us now.”

“Last year went great,” said Gene Jones, president of the 2 Wheel Production board. “We had 5,000 people; this year we’re hoping to get double that.

Formed two years ago, the group’s other board members are Mike Clark, Mike Jewell, Larry Disney, Ron O’Boyle, Andrew Murch and Donnie Schwerdetfager.

Jones said that many of the events 2 Wheel Production featured at last year’s Bikefest will be repeated. “But there are going to be more vendors, more concerts and more contests,” he said.

The motorcycle bike shows and motorcycle stunt contests and tattoo contests are among the best attended events at the annual Bikefest. The beer garden is a big draw and there are lots of nearby retailers and restaurants that will offer specials to draw in participants.

To improve the experience over last year, there are a few added features, such as cooling stations with misters and a kids’ zone. “There is also going to be a full track where the concerts are going on,” Jones said.

Vendor booth space at Rails to Trails is still available through Taft Chamber of Commerce. Jessica Miller, Taft Chamber of Commerce administrative assistant, said that many of the same

popular vendor offerings featured at last year’s event will be offered again this year. “There will be tacos, barbecue sandwiches, sno-cones, just about everything you can think of ready to go,” Miller said.

She noted that food vendor space is already sold, but they do have a waiting list. Spaces are sold for $150 for the four days, and those who would like to camp out behind their vendor booth may do so for an added $40. Spaces accommodate tent, RV or trailer camping.

Allen said that their work costs about $10,000 per month.

The Alpha House Thrift Store, 411 Center St., also helps the organization sustain the work it does.

The need varies from day to day, she said, and so do the number of women and children who reside there. “There was one weekend that we had one woman and two children at the house, but when I came in the following morning, we had nine women and 16 children staying at the house.”

Alpha House also operates a 24-hotline that is nationwide.

Allen said that most of their clients are local, but they have had women in trouble come from outside the area. “We once had a woman and her three children come here from Texas. She needed to relocate for safety.”

The donations that come to Alpha House are used to maintain the house, pay for utilities, insurance, food and for emergency needs that arise. “Some emergencies, such as the need for clothes and shoes for clients, we are able to accommodate through donations to the thrift store,” Allen said.

Manna 4 U Moving From 6th Street Location, Seeking New Home Manna 4 U, one of Taft’s non-profit aid programs, will be moving locations from 201 Harrison Street to Wood Street by September 1st.

“We don’t know the exact location, but we will be moving to the old Wood Street Market area,” said Bob Jordan, the Manna 4 U operator. “We will still give out free clothing and hot meals. Our kitchen is currently closed, but we are still giving out clothing and we will start serving food again when we reopen.”

Manna 4 U is a 501(c) non-profit program that provides people in need with free food and clothing. They are open on Tuesday and Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Anybody is welcome and there are no requirements such as income, age or family size.

This program was established in Taft in May 2007 at the Harrison Street location. The program was originally associated with the New Life Community Foursquare Church.

“We serve about 400 people a month,” said Jordan. “We are always accepting donations of food, money and/or clothing.

Manna 4 U also provides counseling services for the participants. They give information about bill pay, where to get medical help and more. They also have volunteers who can communicate in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, Manna 4 U holds dinners that are open to the public.

“We are not closing and we are not changing our services,” said Jordan. “As of right now, we aren’t sure if our days and hours will be the same. The Board will decide if we are adding days or hours.”

For more information about Taft’s Manna 4 U, call (661) 765-5851.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

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!

Shop Our Huge Selection of Half Priced Books!

810 Center Street • (661)805-9813

HAYDENS HOPE THRIFT STORE

“We can keep our Teens off the streets!”

Back to School Sale! Buy one article of clothing and get one free.

New School Hours Mon. & Tues.

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

We Take Donations!

Drop Off Or Call For A Pick Up! 745-4963

God Bless!

428 Center Street • TAFT

745-4963

Fire Sale in South Taft Here’s a former 3 bed, 2 bath fixer upper with fenced yard that had a small fire a while ago in South Taft. To the chagrin of neighbors and others who have to drive by this shameful hazard. Why would anyone want to open a business or live in this neighborhhood, much less build a home here, when Kern County Code Enforcement is out of sight and out of mind.

With so much talk about consolidation of county departments as a money saving device, perhaps the board of supervisors should declare bankruptcy, close down code enforcement, take away their employee pensions and bring over the inmates from Taft’s newly restocked prison and have them clean it up for a few McDonald’s hamburgers.

This home is one of dozens in the South Taft gulag we plan to show you over the next few months that plague this and other neighborhoods. Perhaps if we had an aerospace industry, military base or Kern County employees who lived here, they might appreciate the blight. Unfortunately for the people who live in this neighborhood, they have no recourse and they have to tolerate trash pickers, vermin and the kind of crime and drug labs that are attracted to rural county areas like this where they will be Next Week’s Photo: It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood left alone - like This Old House.

8

Liberty Under Fire Is Army Takeover of the National Guard Constitutional?

By Dr. Harold Pease

A recent announcement, by General Ray Odierno, Army chief of staff, that National Guard unit training for overseas deployment will be increased rather than decreased following our “drawdown” in Afghanistan, invites a serious constitutional challenge. Sir, only Congress was given the authority “to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces (Article I, Section 8)” and none of your new rules came from them. Moreover, the Guard was never constitutionally designed to have an external protective function.

The General’s announcement, as reported in USA Today, that the traditional schedule of drilling one weekend a month and two weeks a year, established by Congress in 1903, is not enough combat training and will be abandoned beginning the new year. “Instead, they will keep preparing for war, with training periods away from home each year that would grow from a two-week block to up to seven weeks,” in addition to the one weekend a month.

But the U.S. Army’s “take-over” of the rule making power specifically left to Congress alone is not the most serious constitutional violation. Let us be reminded that Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution left all war making powers: raising armies, providing for a navy, and declaring, funding, and maintaining war with Congress alone. Defending the country is their prime responsibility.

The militia, since 1903 commonly referred to as the National Guard, however, is a separate body from the army and navy and has a distinct internal role instead. Notice the wording in the Constitution, “to provide for calling for the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.” Its three functions are to execute the laws in the United States, suppress insurrections within our country, and to repel invasions to it. How can the militia do any of these functions, for which it is specifically charged, if on the other side of the world?

They were never to be thought of as merely a pool of reserve troops for the army. Impeachment proceedings should have been threatened against President George W. Bush when he

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TAFT INDEPENDENT

treated them as such deploying 100,000 of them in 2005 to Iraq and Afghanistan rather than to ask Congress to restore the draft when enlistments were not enough. This alteration of the Constitution is that serious.

The National Guard was simply an easy target and no one from either party objected. It cannot perform its constitutional duty outside the United States. President Barack Obama’s mimicking the practice, and the General’s admission that at least oneyear deployments of Reserve troops will continue in Afghanistan until we leave in 2014, indicates that the Constitution will continue to be violated by Democrats as well.

The rational for a militia is very simple. The first line of defense from unwanted aggression is oneself, followed by local law enforcement agents, followed by the National Guard (guarding the nation from within), followed by the military. As in soccer it is the goalie.

Should invasion occur while the militia and the army are overseas we would be defenseless; by doing so both recent presidents have unconscionably left, or are leaving, us vulnerable and without a goalie.

General Odierno spoke of the need to keep the National Guard more prepared for war by extending their combat training. As “repelling invasions,” is the only one of their three constitutional functions dealing with knowing how to make war, I wonder how much training they will get in the other two, “executing the laws of the union and suppressing insurrections,” both mostly law enforcement support functions.

The General did not mention any but, then again, he wrongly views them as an extension of his army—mere fodder.

Congress needs to set him, and the Executive Branch he represents, straight. Will you help awaken Congress so that it will do so? After all, it’s about your liberty which is under fire.

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.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com HARRISON STREET AUTOMOTIVE

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

August 17 - 23 2012

HIV Testing Available at Taft Baptist Church

People who have never been tested for HIV are being encouraged by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be tested. “The CDC’s push is to have everyone from 16 to 65 to have had at least one test,” said Denise Smith, director of disease control with the Kern County Public Health.

To help make testing easier for Westside residents, the county Health Department partners with Dignity Health (formerly Catholic Healthcare West) to conduct free testing on the first Wednesday of each month at Taft Baptist Church, 220 North St., from 9 a.m. to noon.

No appointments are necessary and there are no costs for services. Clients are not required to bring anything with them, and the service is confidential. The next testing date is Sept. 5.

According to Kern Public Health, 2,617 people in Kern County are living with HIV/AIDS. “It’s estimated that 2 percent of those are living on the Westside,” Smith said.

Smith said that clients who come to be tested will first meet with a counselor and receive a risk assessment. Clients will learn what behaviors increase the risk of becoming infected—such as unprotected sex, blood transfusion and the consumption of other blood products, and intravenous drug use.

Clients may find out in about 20 minutes whether they have the human immunodeficiency virus. A client is free to decide after the risk assessment whether to take the test, which entails a swab sample from the mouth.

“People who learn about the disease early and get on medication do have an increased chance of survival,” Smith said.

Gas Prices Increase 23.0 Cents Per Gallon California, August 13- Average retail gasoline prices in California have risen 23.0 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.07/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has increased 5.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.67/g, according to gasoline price website CaliforniaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in California during the past week, prices yesterday were 34.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 38.8 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 24.8 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 5.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

“The national average has spiked 25-cents per gallon just in the last month, thanks to an onslaught of refinery problemsmainly in the Great Lakes and California,” said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. “While these situations are temporary in nature, it goes to show this nations dependence on domestic refineries. While oil prices have gained in recent days, there is some light at the end of the tunnel for motorists: driving season will be over in less than a month and soon thereafter the EPA also relaxes gasoline mandates, meaning cheaper winter fuel,” DeHaan said.

WANTED: BULKY WASTE PICKUP

Ford City Tuesday

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Service & Repairs • Smog Repairs Air Conditioning • Tune Up • Front End (661)765-5000 or (661)343-0507

$15.00 OFF with mention of this

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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.

August 17 - 23, 2012

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

Licensed Funeral Directors

501 Lucard St., Taft • 765-4111

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

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

FABRIC • NOTIONS • GIFTS

Open 7 Days - 765-6556 508 Center Street • Taft

Check Out Our Website Maricopaquiltcompany.com And Facebook Page

TAFT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WED.-FRI. 10:00-5:30 SAT. 10:00-2:00

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

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

Wash, Wax, Shampoo, Buffing and Window Tinting.

Call for Appointment Today!

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

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.

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

Morning Worship 10:30 a.m.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church

Sunday Service - 10 a.m.

Rev. Linda Huggard

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

NEW LIFE COMMUNITY CHURCH Sunday Services 10am 1000 6th St. Weekly Classes Mon - Thurs Please call 765-7472 for info For a ride to church call 765-7472 before 9am on Sunday

Pastors Shannon N. and Shannon L. Kelley

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

www.nlctaft.org or nlctaft@bak.rr.com

Peace Lutheran Church- LCMS Sunday School for all ages at 9:00 a.m.

Advertise With The Taft

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

Gateway Temple

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

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

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Call Today!

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

426 Shattuck

2 bed 1 bath Cottage $550 Paul Joyce 805-218-1686 Joyce Properties 661-765-6300

Preserving for the Future

August 17 - 23 2012

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

Get It Rented!

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

Community 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.

325 Pine Dr. Sat. Aug. 18. Lot’s of glassware, babyitems, furniture, antique sewing mach., and much more.

302 Jackson St. Sat. 8-18. 6am - 3pm. Lots of clothes, misc., curtains, back packs, hair acces.

1011 3rd St. Sat. 7am - ?. gently used boys small and med. clothing - named brand. Jewlery and misc. cheap.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 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.

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

Business Services

Cooler Service: Motors, pumps, pads, cleaning, installations. New & Old Scott 661-900-0917.

SERVICES OFFERED Computer Repair. Daniel Loza. 661-293-0961.

Hablo espanol. 6-24.

PC Repair. Fix your computer or make it run like new. $50 overnight no charge if I can not fix it. (661) 623-2150. 8-20

HELP WANTED CITY OF TAFT ACCOUNT CLERK I/II Level I $1,111.29 $1,350.79 Bi-weekly Level II $1,224.95 $1,488.94 Bi-weekly This position performs a variety of accounting, clerical, bookkeeping and administrative work in accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and general administration work depending on area of assignment.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Account Clerk I Graduation from a high school or GED; and Two (2) years support work experience, maintaining financial and statistical reports.

College or Business School course work in accounting or bookkeeping may substitute for the required experience on a year for year basis.

Account Clerk II-Two (2) years of experience performing duties equivalent to an Account Clerk I. Application and job description may be obtained: at City Hall, 209 East Kern Street, Taft, CA or at www. cityoftaft.org. Final Filing Date: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 29, 2012. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of application. E.O.E.

YARD SERVICES

Crane Operator/ Pumping Unit Mechanic.

COOLER SERVICES

Qualified candidates

must be NCCCO certified with 2-3 years oilfield experience, Class A commercial license is required.

Candidates will be required to successfully complete a preemployment physical and drug screen.

Southern Sierra offers a competitive salary and benefit package.

Applications may be picked up at our business office or resumes may be faxed or emailed to: Southern Sierra General Engineering, Inc. P O Box 1113 857 Oleander Road Taft, CA 93268 661-765-6182 Office 661-765-6155 Fax www.southernsierrainc. com hr@southernsierrainc. com Front desk help. Next Step Cardio on Center Street. Part-time. 2055579.

Free Lance Writer. Taft Independent seeks free lance writer. Writing Exp. Req. Feature, news, interviews. Need digital camera. 7656550.

CHILD CARE SERVICES

Wanted

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For Sale FOR SALE Mens Shoes sz13 EEEEE width some like new - boots, dress, sandals, New Balance.

7 pr top quality for $100. Plus 10 pair of new socks xxl. 661 763.3845 - 8-17.

AUTOMOBILES FOUND ITEMS FOUND PETS LOST PETS

Real Estate

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

BUSINESS FOR SALE 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.

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

Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT West Valley Real Estate (661) 763-1500 Lic # 01525550 FOR RENT 205 W Ash #C 2/1.5 $700 535 B Street 3/1 $850 404 Fillmore 3/1.75 $850 224 B St 3/1 $900 116 Franklin 3/1 $1,000 127 Franklin 3/1 $1,000 500 Welch 3/2.5 $1,200 108 Brandon 3/1.75 $1,500 _ Super clean. 1 bd. patially furn house.

Stove, refrig. wash and dryer. Pest control and gardener provided. No pets. $800 mo plus. sec. dep. 765-4786.

Between. 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. 8-24.

3bed, 1 1/2 bath. Newly remodeled, great neighborhhood. $985 plus

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

$1,000 dep. 763-1086.

3 bd. 2 ba. No pets.

Large garage, patio shade. Pierce St. $750 plus dep. 301-2527.

8.17 116 Pierce St. 1bd. 1 Ba. $550 mo plus dep.

661 343-0507.

116 1/2 Pierce. 1 bd. 1 ba. $430 mo. plus dep.

661 343-0507.

310 Kern St. 3 bd. 1 ba. $850 plus dep. 661 343-0507.

APART. FOR RENT Creekside Apartments.

1 BD and 2 BD. Pool, AC & Appl. 661.7657674. 420 Finley Dr.

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August 17 - 23, 2012

Brokering A Better Healthcare System

By Janet Trautwein

The Supreme Court just affirmed that President Obama’s health reform law is indeed constitutional. Supporters of the measure have rejoiced that America may finally be on its way toward achieving universal health coverage.

Unfortunately, the newly upheld law undermines one of the chief means of expanding access to affordable coverage, particularly among small businesses -- by threatening to put thousands of insurance agents out of work.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires insurance companies to devote no more than 20 percent of premium dollars to administration and profit. This “minimum medical loss ratio” may seem like a reasonable way to ensure patients get their money’s worth.

But it puts the jobs of insurance agents at risk -- to their detriment and that of their customers.

Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services ruled that insurers had to count commissions paid to agents as administrative costs.

Insurers responded by slashing commissions. The Government Accountability Office found that commissions for many agents were cut by 50 percent.

Consequently, some agents are leaving the business or downsizing, laying off employees just to keep their doors open. Already, one in five has done so. And that number will likely grow.

Ironically, just when many consumers would benefit from brokers’ expert counsel on the healthcare law and its benefits, that same law is winnowing their ranks.

Treating agents as mere overhead is a mistake. Just ask anyone who’s had to buy insurance on their own. Or ask the 75 percent of small businesses who rely on brokers -- including many who use them as de facto human resources departments.

Independent agents do more than just sell insurance policies.

They help consumers navigate a rapidly changing marketplace and secure the best coverage at the most affordable price. They don’t work for insurance companies but for their clients, often serving as consumer advocates when billing and claims issues arise.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners -- which represents state insurance regulators -- has called agents “essential” to a functioning, consumer-friendly marketplace.

Take the case of John Walley, an Alabama-based agent. Upon meeting with an 80-year-old client, Walley discovered that she was living alone in a disheveled trailer and spending nearly a quarter of her $400 monthly income on Medicare premiums. Walley applied for Medicaid for his client, which waived her $96.40 monthly deductible. He also enrolled her in a Special Needs Plan that exempted her from paying the deductibles and co-pays that kept her from seeing a doctor for 15 years.

Or consider New Jersey agent Thomas Kohler, who intervened on behalf of his client in a hospital billing dispute -- and succeeded in lowering the client’s medical bill from $7,000 to $3,000.

Defenders of the medical loss ratio claim that brokers won’t be needed once the health insurance exchanges mandated by the ACA are up and running in 2014. Consumers will then be able to pick from a menu of health plans on a government website, they say.

But shopping for health insurance is more complicated than buying a pair of shoes online. Consumers are often confused by pages of legalese describing benefits, deductibles, and provider networks. Some may be inclined to make choices based solely on price, which might not be the wisest course.

More importantly, unlike a pair of shoes, a consumer will only find out if the policy “doesn’t fit” when he’s sick or injured -- when it’s too late.

In its own programs, the federal government has experienced how difficult it can be to expand access to insurance without agents.

Consider the health law’s temporary Preexisting Condition Insurance Program, which was supposed to provide coverage to “high-risk” consumers.

The law initially gave agents no role to play in attracting people to the program. Not surprisingly, very few signed up. Just 18,000 had done so by March 2011 -- less than 5 percent of the 375,000 that federal officials expected by the end of 2010.

So the feds enlisted the help of agents. Immediately, enrollment climbed -- by 400 percent over the past year and 24 percent over the last few months.

Lawmakers have historically recognized the importance of agents and brokers. And they must continue to do so. Otherwise, brokers will vanish from the marketplace. That would be bad news not just for the patients who depend on them as advocates -- but for the broader job market, too.

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Found in Two California Residents

HARRISON STREET AUTOMOTIVE

SACRAMENTO – The recent diagnosis of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in two Californians, one of whom died, has prompted Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state public health officer, to remind Californians to take precautions to prevent exposure to the virus that causes HPS at their places of residence, work, and recreation.

“Hantavirus is a rare but serious disease spread by rodents,” Chapman said. “This disease can frequently become fatal, but there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure.”

Public health officials believe the two recent patients might have been exposed to mice droppings or urine that contained hantavirus while vacationing at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park.

CDPH and Yosemite National Park Public Health Service officers routinely conduct rodent surveillance to monitor deer mouse abundance and virus activity in mouse populations. Yosemite also conducts routine rodent proofing and inspections of buildings and facilities throughout the park. Not all deer mice carry hantavirus, but deer mice with hantavirus have been found throughout the United States.

With recommendations from CDPH, Yosemite National Park has increased routine measures to reduce the risk of hantavirus exposure to Park visitors. These efforts include regular thorough inspection and cleaning of rooms and cabins, exclusion of deer mice and other rodents from buildings, maintaining good housekeeping and sanitation levels to discourage rodent infestations, and public education.

Since HPS was first identified in 1993, there have been 60 cases in California and 587 cases nationally. About one third of HPS cases identified in California were fatal. The two recent cases bring the total California case count for 2012 to four. Case-patients have been exposed to hantavirus in many areas in California where deer mice live, particularly from the eastern Sierra Nevada region and at higher elevations.

HPS is caused by a virus that individuals get through contact with the urine, droppings or saliva of infected wild mice, primarily deer mice. Breathing small particles of mouse urine or droppings that have been stirred up into the air is the most common means of acquiring infection. The illness starts one to six weeks after exposure with fever, headache, and muscle ache, and progresses rapidly to severe difficulty in breathing and, in some cases, death.

When you are in wilderness areas or places that harbor mice, you can take the following steps to prevent HPS:

209 Harrison Street • Taft

(661)765-2505 or (661)763-1887 fax

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

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

Get It Rented!

· Avoid areas, especially indoors, where wild rodents are likely to have been present. · Keep food in tightly sealed containers and store away from rodents. · Keep rodents out of buildings by removing stacked wood, rubbish piles, and discarded junk from around homes and sealing any holes where rodents could enter.

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· If you can clean your sleeping or living area, open windows to air out the areas for at least two hours before entering. Take care not to stir up dust. Wear plastic gloves and spray areas contaminated with rodent droppings and urine with a 10% bleach solution or other household disinfectants and wait at least 15 minutes before cleaning the area. Place the waste in double plastic bags, each tightly sealed, and discard in the trash. Wash hands thoroughly afterward. · Do not touch or handle live rodents and wear gloves when handling dead rodents. Spray dead rodents with a disinfectant and dispose of in the same way as droppings. Wash hands thoroughly after handling dead rodents. · If there are large numbers of rodents in a home or other buildings, contact a pest control service to remove them.

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

August 17 - 23 2012

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

745-4919

608 Center St.

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 •

(661) 763-4773 1050 Wood Street

western shop & PET Wash

Full Grooming Salon

FLEA CONTROL SERVICE ADAMS FLEA DIP AND SHAMPOO or MEDICATED BATH AND CONDITIONER*

• Small Dog $11.00

• Medium Dog $15.00

• Large Dog $20.00 NEW LADIES PURSES & WALLETS WESTERN CHARM LAYERED JEWELRY SETS MONTANA SILVER

Client must provide medicated shampoo or conditioner or ad $4.00 for zymox shampoo and conditioner. *Service does not include nails, blow drying, brushing or clipping. Shaw’s recommends using a flea spot-on treatment after flea dip and shampoo.

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

Open 7 Days a Week

FULL BAR

Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner - Full Bar - Catering - RV Parking Available 24870 Highway 33 in Derby Acres • (661) 768-4655

Owner Orchel Krier Welcomes You and Your Family - Dinner Reservations