Taft College Tenure

Independent The Taft

September 7 - 13, 2012

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September 7 - 13, 2012 • Volume 7 Issue 11

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

Taft Fox Theater Movie Listings and Showtimes Inside

Four Awarded Tenure at Taft College

This Weekend: - ParaNorman - The Campaign - The Expendables 2

Shelly Getty Jessica Grimes Ruby Payne and David Layne Make the Grade

- Dairy of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Passion For Nails Nail Services:

Gel Polish • Sea Shell • Glitter Acrylic Metalic Flakes • Rock Star Men & Seniors & Diabetics Welcome

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Monday to Friday In the Save A Lot Shopping Center 10am-7pm and Saturday 9am-6pm

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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 •

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MESSENGER AUTOMOTIVE SEE US FOR YOUR AUTOMOTIVE NEEDS

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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

September 7 - 13, 2012

Shop Taft

Black Gold Cafe and Deli

508 Center Street 765-6556

Passion For Nails Nail Services:

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acme jewelry co.

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

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Men & Seniors & Diabetics Welcome

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Clocks,Watch Knives, Batteries Flash Lights 426 CENTER STREET • 661.763.5451 “O - My”

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

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

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

Geiger Construction & Plumbing Residential • Commercial

Cement & Asphalt Cutting

J e w e l r y

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

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Personal Style Used to be Paul’s

Women • Contemporary • Junior • Toddler • Infant • Men

New Arrivals!

Bike Shop

The New 2013 bikes are here! Start your Christmas shopping now with our lawaway plan.

New shipment of flip-flops Jewelry, Purses Lic # B-721903

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

Kyocera Hydro Prepaid Android Phone (Boost Mobile) $129.99 3G and Waterproof

Internet Cafe Now Open.

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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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New Store Hours: Mon. Tues. Thur. Sat. 10am-8pm Wed. 3pm-8pm Sunday 10am-7pm

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WE SHIP!

September 7 - 13, 2012

Inside Community Events.........3 News Briefs......................3 Westside Watcher............4 Westside News.................5 Westside News.................6 Westside News.................7 Liberty Under Fire.........7

TAFT INDEPENDENT

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

Taft Chamber Farmers Market Closes The Taft Chamber of Commerce regrets to inform the community that our Farmers Market is finished for the 2012 season. It has been a great summer moving onto Center Street and changing our hours, but unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts we won’t be back until May 2013.

We would like to thank all of our gracious vendors and loyal shoppers for supporting Taft’s Farmers Market. Without your dedication, we would not have been able to provide our community with an array of fresh produce, jams and jellies, raw almonds, snow cones, on site supper, and so much more.

Be sure to come out for our events in the upcoming months, such as Cruising Center Again on the first Friday of each month, our Rocktoberfest Celebration the first weekend of October, and our Annual Golf Classic on October 13.

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

Grove Representative to Visit Taft

Shop Taft........................11

In August a Field Representative for Assemblywoman Shannon Grove will hold office hours in Taft.

The Taft Independent

Date: Wednesday, September 12, 2012

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

Location: Taft Chamber of Commerce - 400 Kern Street Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Local Contact: Javier Reyes Jr. Field Representative for Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (661) 395-2995 Assemblywoman Grove’s Website: http://arc.asm.ca.gov/member/32/

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.

4th District Supervisor Ray Watson has appointed Taft College Professor Dr. David Layne and Taft Chevrolet owner Devinder Bains to the Greater Taft Economic Development Authority, a city-county economic development body dormant since shortly after its inception in 1998.

The 5 member authority is composed of 2 members appointed by the Kern County Board of Supervisors, 2 members by the mayor of Taft, and a 5th public member appointed by the 4 authority members.

The EDA is a joint powers authority that acts on behalf of the city and the county to promote economic development of the west side of Kern county, including the city of Taft, South Taft, Ford City, Taft Heights and adjoining county areas.

Governor Jerry Brown shut down local redeveloment agencies last year taking away a valuable tool used by local governemnts to clean up blight and attract economic development.

The EDA was formed in 1998 by agreement between the city of Taft and the Kern County Board of Supervisors. The authority held a few meetings after its formation, but never took any action.

According to the Joint Powers Agreement between the city of Taft and Kern county, the EDA has the power to appoint an executive director; make contracts; buy, sell and own property; acquire, construct, maintain and operate any capital improvement; and acquire public property by imminent domain.

The EDA can also incur debt, accept contributions, grants and loans from any public or government agency to conduct and finance its activities.

Taft Mayor Randy Miller appointed Councilman Orchel Krier and Taft Union High School board member Ken Anderson earlier this year.

Now that the EDA members have been appointed, the authority will hold its first meeting in mid-September.

Kern County Farm Bureau to Host 2nd Annual ‘Bounty of Kern County’

It is estimated that 170,000 jobs in the county are supported by agriculture. Kern County is ranked 3rd in California in terms of the value of agricultural crops produced and 1st in the United States when including nurseries and greenhouses. With approximately 144 different commodities grown and coming off our best year ever, there is plenty to celebrate here at home.

We welcome contributions and suggestions.

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

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.

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.

When: Saturday October 20th, 2012 6pm – Cocktails 6:30pm – Dinner 7pm – Horse Races

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.

Where: Kern Ag Pavilion 3300 East Belle Terrace Bakersfield, CA 93307

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Michael J. Long taftindypublisher@bak.rr.com Advertising Contributing Writers June Woods, Kent Miller, Wesley Morris, Nicole Frost Columnists Randy Miller Jane McCabe, Dr. Harold Pease

Member California Newspaper Publishers Association Printed in California

14 Year Old Joint Powers Authority Resurrected After State Eliminates Redevelopment Agency

The Kern County Farm Bureau is pleased to once again host an evening in celebration and showcase of Kern County’s agricultural bounty. Please join us for a fun night of cocktails, locally grown food from local businesses, agribusiness networking and exciting horse races!

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.

Subscriptions\Delivery Tim Webb, Patrick Harget

Watson Appoints Layne, Bains to CityCounty Economic Development Task Force, Miller Appoints Krier, Anderson

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

4 TAFT INDEPENDENT Editorial The Taft

Independent

Westside Watcher

Romney is Best Choice for Economic Recovery

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. 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, September 07, 2012 through Thursday, September 13, 2012 The Expendables 2 (R) Fri & Sat: 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 Sun: (1:20), (3:40), (5:50), 8:00 Mon - Thu: (5:00), 7:00 ParaNorman (PG) Fri & Sat: (5:00), 7:00 Sun: (1:15), (3:15), (5:15) Mon - Thu: (5:15 PM) The Campaign (R) Fri & Sat: 9:00 PM Sun - Thu: 7:15 PM Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (PG) Fri: (5:30), 7:30 Sat: (4:30), 6:40, 8:50 Sun: (1:15), (3:15), (5:15) Mon - Thu: (5:30 PM)

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

Open Friday Nights for Dinner Starting this Friday!

The club is available for Weddings, Birthdays, and Anniversaries Hall holds up to 200 people and the bar can hold 70.

Opinion

September 7 - 13, 2012

The Democrats’ Empty-chair Convention What Democrats Are Not Talking About Speaks Volumes Gas prices are up under Mr. Obama, from $1.85 a gallon to $3.78.

Blocking the Keystone XL pipeline and preventing the creation of 20,000 associated jobs.

Fast and Furious, which armed Mexican An empty chair in Taft at 209 East drug cartels with Warren Street represents actor Clint Eastwood’s American guns.

Budget. It’s been more discussion with President Obama during the than three years since Republican Convention last week. Eastwood the Democrats have pointed out that millions were still without jobs, and that Obama’s shovel ready program did not offered one.

Solyndra. The green bring about the millions of jobs Obama said the boondoggle wasted program would produce. hundreds of millions of tax dollars to enrich Democratic corporate cronies and their bankrupt companies as they funneled campaign contributions back to the party.

Tax-funded abortions. Barack Obama voted three times to deny medical care to a baby — or as he calls him, “a fetus outside of the womb” — that had survived a botched abortion.

So pay close attention to the Democrats’ empty-chair convention.

Print out or cut out this column and use it as a checklist. Do the Democrats care enough about America — do they care enough about you and your children — to address our nation’s looming threats? Or are they simply trying to distract you from them?

Dr. Milton R. Wolf is a radiologist and President Obama’s cousin. He blogs at miltonwolf.com.

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Paik’s

Ranch House Restaurant “Where Everybody Meets” 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.

Like the country we have been privileged to serve, we remain fundamentally optimistic about the future. We have endured a financial collapse, a protracted recession, a fiscal crisis that threatens the creditworthiness of the U.S. government, and polarized politics that makes it ever more difficult to govern. Pundits regularly remind us how other great powers, from Rome to Great Britain, all fell into eclipse.

We reject such pessimism. The United States remains the world’s most powerful and, above all, the most indispensable country — diplomatically, militarily, even economically.

American leadership remains critical to global peace and prosperity. No other country has used its resources to accomplish so many positive changes around the world.

From the Cold War to the collapse of the Soviet challenge, from Bretton Woods to NAFTA, from NATO to the freetrade agreements with Korea and Colombia, America has promoted democratic values and vindicated our interests in global security.

The stakes are high. International terrorism remains a threat to the safety of each and every one of us. The same is true for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The dynamics of global power are shifting. The system ushered in by the end of the Cold War ended with the implosion of the Soviet empire. Countries like China, India and Brazil have emerged as shapers of international politics.

Together with allies and partners, we need to construct a world of peace, justice and security.

But we cannot be strong militarily, politically or diplomatically unless we are strong economically. These past few years, we have experienced an anemic economic recovery, one that has weakened our influence in the world and shaken the confidence of our friends and allies. We need pro-growth strategies that will renew our ailing economy, just as they did when Ronald Reagan took over in 1980. If the U.S. economy continues to stagnate, then predictions of an American retreat from greatness could come true.

That is why we have endorsed Mitt Romney for president.

He has the experience, strategy and temperament to lead a robust economic recovery and rein in the mounting federal debt that threatens our future. And he fully understands that our prosperity at home is inextricably linked to our influence abroad.

Mr. Romney has laid out a strong and mature vision of American leadership during his campaign. It is based on a consistent theme that peace abroad depends on American vitality.

Mr. Romney understands that the world remains a dangerous place. He is a staunch supporter of our alliances around the world. He believes in maintaining our military strength. He is committed to expanding free trade and investment. He will oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. And he knows that no American president should ever be ashamed of espousing the democratic principles upon which our nation was founded.

Most of all, he recognizes that America is at its best when it assumes a leadership role on the world stage. Mr. Romney will devote himself to building an America that remains the hope of the world — a world of peace, justice and democracy.

Condoleezza Rice was secretary of state under President George W. Bush. James A. Baker was secretary of state under President George H.W. Bush. George P. Shultz was secretary of state under President Reagan. Henry A. Kissinger was secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

September 7 - 13, 2012

Letters to the Editor

Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Hospital My name is Jessica Martin and I used to work with the Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Hospital.

I am from Taft and currently a fourth year student at UCSC, majoring in Pre-Med (Pediatrics). Last summer, I came home to work with the RM House and what witnessed there really touched my heart. I decided that when I came home for this summer, I really wanted to do something that would make a difference for the house.

If you don’t know what the RM House is, it is a home at Memorial Hospital where families can stay close when their babies or children are sick. It really is an extraordinary place because the people there do so much for the families in a dire time of need.

I came home for two weeks and I decided that I wanted to do a town wide “fundraiser” by collecting pop-tabs and by collecting these tabs and turning them in, the RM House recycles them and uses the money to keep the house going and to help the families in need.

I just went into the high school ASB and got them going on raising tabs around the campus but like I said, I want this to be town wide.

If you could inform the town of Taft about this, I know that we can have an amazing outcome. Just have them turn in their tabs to the Taft High ASB. I want to prove that small towns can do big things for a great cause.

I know that Taft can do something great. Thank you for your time.

Jessica Martin

The Nose Knows There has been much press, literally, as well as time spent on radio and TV news programs talking about the dangers of our country’s growing problem with obesity, especially as related to our children.

The coverage goes to great lengths about the dangers that obesity poses, especially as a root cause of Diabetes. What the coverage does NOT do, is educate people that there is more than one type of Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes, which we used to call “Adult Onset,” is caused largely by lifestyle factors. Type 1 Diabetes, which we used to call “Juvenile Diabetes,” is NOT CAUSED by lifestyle factors. It is an autoimmune disease and can strike at any age, without rhyme or reason. So in actuality, young or old can be diagnosed with either type of Diabetes.

Most people are aware that chronically high sugars lead to some horrendous complications, such as blindness, amputation and kidney failure. These complications can affect Type 1 or Type 2 diabetics.

Low blood sugars tend to occur in Type 1 diabetics far more often than Type 2s. The scary news is that the longer you have diabetes, the less you are able to feel the symptoms of low blood sugar, such as dizziness, weakness, tingling or confusion.

150,000 Type 1 diabetics lose their lives in the United States EACH YEAR. That’s equal to 1 in 20 Type 1s dying every year. Or put another way, 411 every day.

I have had Type 1 for 47 years, and I have hypoglycemia unawareness. I cannot tell when my sugar “crashes.” This is especially scary given how much time I spend in my car: 100-400 miles per day for my job as a social worker. In fact, one of my former clients is now in prison for killing someone when he could not feel his low sugar symptoms while he was driving. That’s not my idea of retirement!

I am turning to Service Dogs by Warren Retrievers for help. They have been scent-training a female black lab to alert me whenever my blood sugar begins to go out of range, so that I can make an immediate correction and avoid a dangerous situation. Their non-profit arm of the company, Guardian Angel Service Dogs, INC, is helping me raise the funds for Tzaylie, which is $19,000. So far, I’ve raised ½ of Tzaylie’s costs.

Please support me by coming out to a Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser, hosted and sponsored by the Taft Seventh Day Adventist Church (Harrison & Date) on Sunday, September 9 at 5:00 PM. A $10 donation to Guardian Angels gets you in the door for a delicious meal.

There will also be a baked goods auction for an additional donation.

Come and learn more about how these amazing animals do their jobs and hear stories of these furry life savers.

To learn more, please visit: www.GuardianAngelServiceDogs.org or www.DiabetesAlertDogs.com. You can also call GASD at 540-5432307. If you’d like to support me in paying for Tzaylie, you can call that number and mention my name or visit the GASD website and when you receive your tax-deductible receipt, please reply back that your gift was for me, Patti Kasper. I hope to see you Sunday!

Patti Kasper

TAFT INDEPENDENT

Taft City Council Still Waiting on Los Angeles To Sign Prison Contract

By Kent Miller The most important item at Tuesday evening’s Taft City Council meeting wasn’t something on the agenda; it wasn’t something that happened.

It was something that didn’t happen. The council didn’t finalize an agreement with Los Angeles Sheriff ’s Department to house prisoners in the Taft’s Community Correctional Facility.

The reason why the council didn’t – couldn’t – take action on the agreement was that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has delayed agreeing on the proposal for a couple of weeks, Taft Mayor Randy Miller announced.

Taft is ready to go and has spent money to have the facility ready to have LASD prisoners moved into the jail, Miller said. But the Los Angeles supervisors aren’t ready yet, he said.

The item was taken off the supervisors’ agenda but could be back for their Sept. 25 meeting, he said.

Contract awarded P&J Electric Inc. was awarded a contract for $75,622 by the council to upgrade the electrical feed at the city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The funds will come from the WWTP Capital Reserves, City Manager Craig Jones told the councilmembers.

Several months ago the plant suffered a loss of electrical power due to damage to one of its Pacific Gas and Electric Co. meters, Jones told the council. The power loss affected the portion of the plant that operates the aeration blowers, he said.

The council voted 4-to-0 to award the contract, with Councilmember Dave Noerr absent.

Over-hires approved The council approved two temporary over-hires and a change in classification for a full-time position.

The over-hires were for the classifications of: account clerk I/ II, not to exceed three months, recommended by the Personnel Committee; and community services officer (animal control), not to exceed six months, recommended by the director of human resources.

The account clerk III/computer systems administrator has announced her intent to retire in December, prompting the need for the temporary account clerk over-hire, HR Director Lonn Boyer informed the council.

And the community services officer has been off work for several months and will not return until March, Boyer said.

The council also okayed the change of administrative assistant (assistant to the city manager) to administrative technician.

The change was needed due to the restructuring of city operations and the combining of the city manager and public works director positions with Jones, he told the council.

Lien placed The council approved expending $907.35 for nuisance abatement to the property at 105 North St. The property owner was notified that the action would take place but didn’t appear at the council session to comment.

At the same time, the council gave the property owner five days to refund the city for the expense or have a lien placed on the property.

Contract change The contract between the city and the Board of Administration, California Public Employees’ Retirement System was amended.

In a cost-savings effort, the retirement rate for miscellaneous employees was changed from the 2@55 formula to 2@60 for future employees.

Hayden’s Hope celebrates 1 year on Center Street Local thift store Haydens Hope is celebrating it 1st year of business on Center Street.

“Business is awesome,” said owners Mike and Angela Hayden. Downtown is a great location. We want to thank everyone for the support of the community.”

The shop is located at 428 Center Street and open 5 days a week, Monday thru Saturday.

The store is closed Sundays and Wednesdays.

“It been great serving the community at the peddlers fair, the back to school connection, and the antibulling program,” said Angela.

“We look forward to another great year. God bless.”

Tacos Y Maricos Casa Tabares

Mexican and Seafood Taqueria

! ! ! Grand Opening ! ! !

Saturday, August 18th - 9 a.m.

HAYDENS HOPE THRIFT STORE

“We can keep our Teens off the streets!”

4 Books for $1.00.

All Toys 1/2 Off 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

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

6 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Four Taft College Instructors Earn Tenure

By June Woods Taft College awarded tenure to four of its instructors this year: Shelley Getty, Jessica Grimes, David Layne and Ruby Payne. According to Patricia Bench, interim vice president of instruction, tenure at Taft College is not just given but earned through extraordinary work with colleagues, students and administration.

Dr. David Layne Bench described the process of receiving tenure as complex. “It takes four years for a tenure-track faculty member to earn that status and have their title changed from associate professor to that of professor,” she said.

To earn tenure, respective division chairs put together a peer group that observes the associate professor’s teaching and evaluates his or her performance each semester over the four years, and they are evaluated by students and administration. The associate professors also complete self-evaluation packages outlining goals, growth and progress toward tenure.

“It’s quite an extensive report they have to pull together.” Bench said.

The newly tenured instructors starting their first year as professors at Taft College have a connection not only to staff and students at the college but they also have a positive connection to the community.

September 7 - 13, 2012

learning and cooperation he finds at Taft College. “I really enjoy the way people at the college work together to achieve goals,” he said.

Professor of Mathematics Ruby Payne, a graduate of Maricopa High and a former teacher at Taft High, has been on the Westside for much longer than the other newly tenured professors. She also attended and graduated from Taft College. “I knew then that I wanted to work here,” she said. She taught nights at Taft College while teaching fulltime at the high school.

Payne also has a connection to the community. She has served as director on the board of the National Health Services, which oversees rural medical and dental clinics, since ’98. She has been a volunteer with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for about 10 years. “I only serve children on the Westside,” she said.

“These instructors are so dedicated,” Bench said. “I think we’re fortunate to have drawn so many good instructors, and these four individuals love it here.”

Dr. Jessica Grimes Professor of English Jessica Grimes loves the diversity of students found at Taft College. “The whole idea of a community college is more democratic; you get students with varying backgrounds and experiences, and that really enhances classes,” she said.

Grimes has enjoyed being involved in the community outside the college. The first year she was in Taft, she started a book club that meets at Ben’s Books. But it’s not all books and work, Grimes said she enjoys attending the multitude of celebrations held in the community and supporting the local businesses.

“I love the food here,” Grimes said. “I like to eat at Mi Casitas and Asian Experience.”

Professor of Business Administration David Layne is involved in the growth of the downtown business corridor with his ownership of “Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop” on Center Street. He said he likes the downtown atmosphere. “The landlord thinks we rock and we think the landlord rocks.” He admitted, however, to missing some of the business owners at the shop’s old location.

Layne moved to Taft from Colorado and appreciates the spirit of

Dr. Shelley Getty

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September 7 - 13, 2012

BLM Seeking Nominations for Carrizo Advisory Committee

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is soliciting nominations from the public to fill three positions on the Carrizo Plain National Monument Advisory Council (MAC). MAC members provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on the management of public lands in the Carrizo Plain National Monument.

Show citation box The deadline for submitting nominations is November 5, 2012.

Nominations should be sent to Johna Hurl, Monument Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308.

The MAC provides representative citizen counsel and advice to the Secretary of the Interior through the BLM with respect to the revision and implementation of the comprehensive plan for the Carrizo Plain National Monument. This notice constitutes an open call to the public to submit nomination applications for the following positions on the MAC (1) A member of, or nominated by, the Carrizo Native American Advisory Council; (2) A member representing individuals or companies authorized to graze livestock within the Monument; and (3) One member with recognized backgrounds reflecting: i. The purposes for which the Monument was established; or ii. The interests of other stakeholders, including the general public, who are affected by or interested in the planning and management of the Monument.

Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nominees must be residents of the counties or neighboring county in which the MAC has jurisdiction. The BLM will evaluate nominees based on their education, training, experience, and their knowledge of the geographical resource. The Obama Administration prohibits individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists from being appointed or re-appointed to Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils.

The following must accompany nominations received in this call for nominations: - Letters of reference from represented interests or organizations: - A completed background information nomination form; and - Any other information that speaks to the nominee’s qualifications.

Nominations will be accepted for a 60-day period beginning the date this notice is published.

TAFT INDEPENDENT

California Defunded Higher Education as Prison Costs Soared Los Altos, CA (September 6, 2012). Today, California Common Sense (CACS) released an extensive comparative analysis and accompanying interactive data visualizations of California’s higher education and corrections systems over the last thirty years.

CACS compared higher education and corrections because over the past three decades, they are the only major program areas of the California budget that relied mainly on discretionary funding.

Focusing on State funding, salaries, expenditure, and population trends, the analysis examines how two of the State’s largest systems have changed over time. In particular, the analysis compares how the two program areas have fared during economic downturns.

Last night, NBC Bay Area News featured the research in their 11pm newscast.

CACS found that Higher Education and Corrections have experienced more change in their State funding than any other major public service.

As Corrections’ share of the State General Fund budget increased steadily, Higher Education’s share declined almost as quickly. Furthermore, during every major economic downturn, Higher Education experienced major State funding cuts, and until the current recession, Corrections’ budget was left virtually untouched.

“Over the past 30 years, the State has dropped the ball when it comes to funding Higher Education,” said Mike Polyakov, Research Director of CACS. “In light of its diminished support for Higher Education, we cannot ignore the state prison system’s rapid expansion during the same period because the two systems compete for State money from the General Fund.”

The following were among the findings of the analysis: · Bigger Corrections Slice, Smaller Higher Ed Slice. As the Corrections portion of the General Fund grew steadily from 2.9% to 9.7% over the last three decades, the Higher Education portion shrank from 15.7% to 10.3%. Once receiving five times more funding than Corrections, Higher Education now receives about the same amount of funding as Corrections. · Security Personnel Earning More than Faculty. In 1980, an average California prison security employee made $25,858 a year while a CSU faculty member earned $29,015 annually. In 2006, the average security personnel salary peaked at $94,518 while the average CSU faculty salary was $70,615.

Ben’s Books The Largest, Cheapest and Only

· Prison Population Driving up Corrections Costs. While student population growth has tracked California’s population, the number of incarcerated felons in State prisons has increased more than eight times as quickly as California’s population.

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

· Stricter Sentencing Laws Driving up Corrections Costs.

Our impact assessment revealed that approximately 55% of the increase in prison costs from 1980 to 2012 can be attributed to prison population growth outpacing California’s overall population growth. Stricter sentencing policies such as the Three Strikes

Used Book Store in Taft

Shop Our Huge Selection of Half Priced Books!

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HAYDENS HOPE THRIFT STORE

“We can keep our Teens off the streets!”

4 Books for $1.00.

All Toys 1/2 Off 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

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428 Center Street • TAFT

745-4963

Gas Prices Continue to Rise California, September 4- Average retail gasoline prices in California have risen 2.0 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $4.15/g yesterday. This compares with the national average that has increased 1.4 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.80/g, according to gasoline price website CaliforniaGasPrices.com.

Including the change in gas prices in California during the pastweek, prices yesterday were 21.7 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 32.1 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 20.3 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 12.9 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"With the conclusion of the summer driving season, we can expect gasoline prices to go on a diet," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan. "Like all diet programs, you may not see immediate loss in the short term, but we'll likely see some loss in the longer term, say the next several weeks, as factors align in motorists favor- specifically as Isaac has exited without much ado, demand to see seasonal decline, and with cheaper to produce winter-spec higher RVP gasoline coming, there's light at the end of the tunnel," DeHaan said.

Law and Determinant Sentencing contributed to the rapid inmate population growth during the 1980s and 1990s. · Higher Tuition, Fewer Professors. In 1980, there was one faculty member for every 16 students at the University of California.

In 2010, there was one faculty member for every 21 students. At California State University, that ratio has gone from 21:1 to 32:1 during the same period, a 33% decline. Since 2007, student tuition fees have more than doubled for UC and CSU students.

The full analysis and associated interactive data visualizations can be found on California Common Sense’s website at http://cacs. org/ca/article/44 and http://cacs.org/ca/visualization/index, respectively. The NBC Bay Area News piece can be found at http:// www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Prison-Spending-AffectingHigher-Education-in-California-Report-168756096.html.

ABOUT CACS: California Common Sense is a non-partisan non-profit founded by Stanford students and alumni to open government to the public, develop data-driven policy analysis, and educate citizens about how their governments work.

Visit Us Online taftindependent.com

House Hunters in South Taft You really have to look closely to find this home.

We’re not sure if someone lives here or not, but a tree trimmer to trim these trees might be a wise choice given all of the sudden fires and the high temperatures that we have been experiencing lately, not to mention the few suspected house arsons.

Code Enforcement and the fire department should take note of this one.

Next Week’s Photo: Weekend Retreat

8 TAFT INDEPENDENT

Liberty Under Fire Because we are not a Democracy the Electoral College Selects Our President.

By Dr. Harold Pease A recent ABC News-Washington Post poll disclosed that President Barack Obama leads challenger Mitt Romney by three percentage points in the race for president of the United States—well within the margin of error. If this race remains this close in November chances are the Electoral College, will once again, make the choice as it has in the past.

For those who do not know, the Founding Fathers opposed a democracy and hoped that descendants would never turn what they created into such. The word democracy is not in any of our original governing documents. Benjamin Franklin referred to democracy as two wolves and a lamb voting on what they would have for lunch; the well armed lamb contesting the vote. Realizing that the majority is not always right and, as such, could trample the rights of the minority becoming very tyrannical, they created a republic instead, thus we pledge allegiance to “the republic for which it stands.” A lynch mob is a democracy; everyone voting to hang the accused except the one proposed to be hung.

The vote system they created, referred to as the Electoral College, spread the vote geographically, and favored the informed over the less informed. Spreading the vote geographically was not easy, as everyone knew that the popular vote could be won by a few populated states, (today a few as ten, some say four), and that rural states or sections would never see the candidate nor would he make an appeal to their interests. To equalize the population advantage and encourage candidates to make a larger geographical appeal, the College gave population-deprived states disproportion-

ately at least three votes. Although candidates could probably still ignore the rural states, the College made it decidedly less tempting to do so.

The College system intentionally favors the informed. Those less informed tend to vote for leaders who can give them the most from their vote but the Constitution is designed to give nothing to anyone except the opportunity to maximize their talent in an environment of freedom from excessive government. The moment government takes from one and gives to another, recipient voters henceforth expect something from their vote and politicians have shown that they can be purchased. It becomes a “blood sport” as to which candidate can give the most “goodies” to get elected.

I ask my students how many months they spent studying the propositions on the last California ballot prior to voting? Months?

Days? Hours? Seldom was it more than the least amount possible to give them a “gut” feeling. I than ask why they should have the same vote power as one who did spend months studying an issue?

When put this way they better understand the principles of a republic, which rejects a popular vote for the president, having the states make that decision instead. States select a number of voters for the president equal to the number of members of Congress (both House and Senate) they have. These non-governmental individuals, selected by the state legislatures presumably for their integrity, experience, success, and wisdom, are presumably less emotionally driven (they have seen it all) and less susceptible to the emergence of a tyrant. Remember, Adolph Hitler was elected.

Presumably this would have been thwarted had Germany a functioning electoral college to mitigate the emotion or ignorance of the masses. The citizens chosen to be Electoral College voters do so in their separate state capitols usually sometime in late November and that vote is sent to, and read by, the vice president of the United States before a combined session of both Houses of Congress usually the first week in December. Normally there is little coverage of the real election of the president and this, usually negative.

This process is certainly not without its problems, but when the ill informed have the same vote strength, or higher, as the well informed the Electoral College offsets this by placing the weight of government in favor of reason and experience. It remains the best system in the world. I realize that in a day when we have high-speed communication it is easy to assume that, as a result, we have high-speed knowledge and experience as well. As a college professor in the subject area, I can emphatically argue otherwise.

Nothing replaces the benefits of reason and experience and these don’t come high speed.

Given our history it is likely that the Electoral College will be called upon, once again, to go against the popular vote when the seasoned voters of the College have reason to distrust the peoples’ choice. It is there duty. It is decidedly undemocratic but we are not a democracy.

Hopefully they won’t have to do so this year.

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.

September 7 - 13, 2012

Obituary

Arthur Julius Rector August 2, 1931 - September 4, 2012 Mr. Arthur Rector, age 81 of 1941 Blackwater Court in Las Vegas, Nevada passes away from complications due to a series of illness’s in Summerlin Hospital, Las Vegas, Nevada. Arthur was born and raised in Blaairsville, Ga. to Oliver Monroe Rector and Katie Bell Brackett Rector. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Elon and Amon Rector and his sister Elizabeth Carringer. He served in the military in Ft. Hood, Texas. He established himself in Taft, California working with Standard Oil from 1956 - 1972.

He moved to Saudi Arabia working with Aramco Oil from 1972 - 1990. He retired in 1990 from Aramco settling in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mr. Rector is survived by his wife Noha Rector, four daughters and son in laws Beverly and Dennis Wooton, Grove, OK., Nancy and Charlie Snyder, Taft, Ca., Linda and Mike Hickey, Jacksonville, Fl., and Rebecca Day, Las Vegas, NV; eight grandchildren; Tausha Rector, Rebecca Dupeire, Brandy Dupeire, Nathan Williams, Christopher Williams, Jennifer Bright Echols, Nicholas Wooton, Nichole Wooton; Thirteen great-Grandchildren and one GreatGreat Grandchild.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: New Union Baptist Church 4159 Jones Creek Rd. Blairsville, GA 30512

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September 7 - 13, 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.

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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

September 7 - 13, 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.

Business Services YARD SERVICES

COOLER 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.

Yard Sale. 207 Van Buren. Sept. 8. 7 am - 12.

102 Polk Street 8am Sat. 9-8-12 Lots of children and baby items Plus much more.

Big yard sale. New and used items. 8am to 3p.m. Fishing items.

Sat. and Sun. 26032 Cherry Ave. Valley Acres.

416 Shasta Street In garage facing the street.

Saturday ONLY, Sept.

8, 2012 From 7:00-1:00 Misc craft supplies, stuffed animals, dishes, decorative storage racks, used surf boards and much more. Some school supplies also

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.

HELP WANTED CHILD CARE SERVICES

Wanted

WANTED

For Sale FOR SALE

5 person jaccuzzi for sale. $2,000 obo. (661) 617-0967

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

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 $700 218 Shattuck 3/1 $800 535 B Street 3/1 $850 108 E. Calvin 3/1 $950 224 B St 3/1 $900 116 Franklin 3/1 $900 127 Franklin 3/1 $1,000 500 Welch 3/2.5 $1,200 108 Brandon 3/1.75 $1,500

_

3bd. 2 ba. 2 living rooms, fireplace. 1 acre property, fenced. $1,200 mo. plus dep. Dunstin Acres. Contact Cody (661) 770-7020.

201 and 203 Lucard St. 3bd $775. mo. plus dep. 2bd avail. 1 mo. or more. $765-4644. 7-14.

3bed, 1 1/2 bath. Newly remodeled, great neighborhhood. $985 plus $1,000 dep. 763-1086.

8-31.

2 Bed, possibly 3rd, 1 bath. Updated, fenced yard. $750. mo. Dep. $800. 763-1086. 9-28.

BUSINESS FOR SALE

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

661 343-0507.

HOMES FOR SALE

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

661 343-0507.

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

707 Fillmore. 2bd with office. $725. 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. Imperial Gardens. 1 bd. $525. 2bd $625. plus dep. Pool, Stove and dishwasher. 661 7654299. 9-14.

Personals PERSONALS

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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.

Week of the Taft

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

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

Used to be Paul’s Bike Shop

BMX

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

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

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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

HAVE YOUR DOG FLEA DIPPED or MEDICATED BATH AND CONDITIONER FOR ONLY

• Small Dog $11.00

• Medium Dog $15.00

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

Customer can provide medicated shampoo or add $4.00 for our Zymox itch relief therapy shampoo.

Service does not include nails, blow drying, brushing or clipping. Shaw’s recommends using a follow up flea treatment spot-on after dip.

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

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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

12 TAFT INDEPENDENT

September 7 - 13, 2012

Which Of These Neuropathy Symptoms Do You Suffer From?

If You Suffer From A Single One Of These Torturous Symptoms - Numbness, Tingling, Or Sharp Nerve Pain - THEN THE FACTS BELOW MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT YOU HAVE EVER READ Neuropathy affects every part of your life -- walking, sitting, and even sleeping.

Maybe you’ve had multiple tests, only to find out no one has any idea what you have. Maybe you’ve even been put on a drug with heavy side effects.

My name is Dr. Keith Sparks, owner of Sparks Chiropractic. Our practice has been helping people with neuropathy and nerve problems for more than 15 years.

More than 20 million Americans suffer from peripheral neuropathy, a problem caused by damage to the nerves that supply your arms and legs.

This painful condition interferes with your body’s ability to transmit messages to your muscles, skin, joints, or internal organs. If ignored or mistreated, neuropathy can lead to irreversible health conditions.

Why not get help by those trained to correct the major cause of peripheral neuropathy?

Data from the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners’ Job Analysis of Chiropractic lists arm and leg neuropathy as the second most common nerve problem treated by chiropractors.

Often neuropathy is caused by a degenerating spine pressing on the nerve roots. This can happen in any of the vertebral joints from the neck all the way down to the tail bone.

Do you have any of the following symptoms...

• Pins and needles feeling • Numbness in the hands or feet • Tingling or burning sensations • Weakness in the arms or legs • Sharp shooting or burning pains

If so, you may have a condition called peripheral neuropathy The Single Most Important Solution To Your Neuropathy By using gentle techniques, I’m able to release the pressure that has built up on the nerve. This allows the nerve to heal and the symptoms to go away.

Numerous studies have proven chiropractic’s effectiveness in helping nerve conditions...

“Manipulation [chiropractic adjustments], with or without exercise, improved symptoms more than medical care did after both 3 and 12 months.”– British Medical Journal

Our Patients Say It Best.......

This was my first visit to a chiropractor; I am now pain free and have taken back the walker I had to rent. I have full mobility and the improvement to my neuropathy in my hand and feet has been amazing.

Patients showed an 85.5% resolution of the nerve symptoms after only 9 chiropractic treatments. - Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2008 With chiropractic care, patients had “significant improvement in perceived comfort and function, nerve conduction and finger sensation overall.” – JMPT 1998 “Significant increase in grip strength and normalization of motor and sensory latencies were noted.

Orthopedic tests were negative. Symptoms dissipated.”

– JMPT 1994 What these studies mean is that with chiropractic care, you could soon be enjoying life...without those aggravating nerve problems.

How To Find Out If This Will Work For You It’s time for you to find out if chiropractic will be your neuropathy solution.

For 10 days only, $29 will get you all the services we normally charge new patients up to $250 for!

Don’t let neuropathy hold you back from enjoying life.

You’ll get to see everything first hand and find out if this amazing treatment will be your pain solution, like it has been for so many other patients.

The appointment will not take long at all. And you won’t be sitting in a waiting room all day either.

Here’s What To Do Now The offer is only good until September 17th, 2012.

Call today 661-765-2225 and we can get you scheduled for your consultation, exam and x-rays as soon as there’s an opening.

Our office is located at 1107 Kern St. #7 (next to Chicken of Oz).

When you call, tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Neuropathy Evaluation so she can get you on the schedule and make sure you receive proper credit for this special offer.

Sincerely, Keith L. Sparks, D.C. P.S. At our office, we have specialized treatment programs for treating patients who suffer from neuropathy.

Why suffer with years of misery?

What does this offer include? Up to everything. Take a look at what you will receive:

That’s no way to live, not when there could be an easy solution to your problem

• An in-depth consultation about your health and wellbeing where I will listen…really listen…to the details of your case.

Don’t live in pain when we may have the solution you’ve been looking for all along. This offer exipres September 17th.

• A complete neuromuscular examination.

• A full set of specialized x-rays to determine if a spinal problem is contributing to your pain or symptoms…

(NOTE: These would normally cost up to $125.00).

Call today...To Schedule Your $29 Neuropathy Evaluation. ($250 Value)…661-765-2225

• A thorough analysis of your exam and x-ray findings so we can start mapping out your plan to being pain free.

Due to federal law Medicare restrictions apply