Centennial's Tyler Burnes, Stockdale's Jared Kinoshita and Liberty's Warren Miller sat together at a table in the clubhouse at Sundale Country Club. They were waiting patiently for the other competitors in Tuesday's Central Section South Area Tournament to finish their 18 holes.

The longtime friends were the first three to play the par-72 course and, as it turned out, they set the standard for the day, finishing first second, and third, respectively.

Services scheduled

Jesus "Chito" Cueto, 66, Bakersfield, May 4. Visitation 5 to 8 p.m. with rosary at 6 p.m. May 7, Basham Funeral Care; Mass 10 a.m. May 8, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church; interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Basham Funeral Care.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The Contractor's State License Board has cited a Bakersfield man for various violations during an undercover sting in east Bakersfield. 

Donald Ray Laverdure was among several contractors who were cited after investigators had posed as homeowners on April 30th at an east Bakersfield home.  The investigators would ask the suspects to bid on several projects including painting, patio construction and tree trimming.  Laverdure was also taken into custody for DUI and domestic violence warrants, according to a CSLB news release. 

Nine people had been cited for contracting without a license.  Six suspects according to the news release were cited for illegal advertising which is a misdemeanor. 

The CSLB says among those cited were Frank Tirado, Jim Scott Meadors, Raymond Lee Rangel, Richard G. Palezyan, Heriberto Gonzalez Rodriguez, Julian Robert Baca, Wulfrano Briviesca Lopez and Librado Mateo-Mondragon.

For more information about hiring contractors log on to www.cslb.ca.gov or calling CSLB's toll-free automated line, 800.321.CSLB (2757).

BAKERSFIELD, CA-- The highway patrol is offering a free class Wednesday to current and prospective teenage drivers, and their parents or guardians.  The Start Smart class organizers say, discusses important issues such as safe driving habits, and tips on how to avoid a collision. 

The class takes place at the CHP 420 club on 3910 Alfred Harrell Highway beginning at 6:00 p.m. The two-hour class will also feature people affected by poor choices who will speak. 

If you would like to sign up, call the Bakersfield CHP office at 661-864-4444 to sign up.  Another class will be held on Tuesday June 10. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- People in Lake Isabella can learn more about wildfires and how to prepare for an emergency Saturday at Uffert Park. 

The Kern County Fire Department will hold a wildfire awareness expo from 11 a.m until 2:00 p.m.  Fire officials say there will be wild land firefighting equipment on display and the opportunity to meet local wild land firefighters. 

There will be free hot dogs, chips, drinks, and educational materials for children.   The Kern County Fire Explorers, Helicopter 408, Forest Service, American Red Cross, CERT Teams, Fire Safe Councils, and Kern County Fire Hand Crews will be in attendance.  Smokey Bear will be available for pictures.

For more information, call Kern County Fire at 661-391-7000 or email: fireinfo@co.kern.ca.us

BAKERSFIELD, CA--World War II and Korean veterans are packing their bags for the next Honor Flight Kern County. It's wheels up Tuesday morning. Taft resident Vern Longtin joined the Navy in 1944 when he was just 17. He told 17 News at his daughter’s house in Bakersfield on Monday it was all he ever wanted to do at that point in his life.

"I wanted to go in 1941 but I wasn't old enough," Longtin said.

Three years later, he did becoming a plane captain. It was his job to check over planes before giving the aircraft to its pilots. Longtin was assigned to the escort carrier USS Suwannee after it had been damaged in one of the first Kamikaze or suicide attacks by the Japanese in World War II.

"It was really badly damaged, lot of guys killed," Longtin said.

He was preparing for the invasion of the Japanese mainland when the atomic bomb was dropped.

"I know there is a lot of controversy about that but I tell ya, as far everybody I knew out there we were a happy bunch," Longtin said.

Though he was glad the Japanese surrendered Longtin went to Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped and saw images that have stayed with him all these years.

"Enormously new weapon but it was kind of ugly,” Longtin said “It just annihilated everything it hit."

Dennis Heilscher said his stepfather was rather tight lipped about his military service. He will be Longtin's guardian during this week's honor flight to Washington D.C.

Longtin has battled prostate cancer and his stepson is grateful there is still time to share the experience of seeing the monuments together.

"I think if you have a veteran of that generation you need to do all means possible to go,” Heilscher said.

If you are interested in going on a future honor flight give them a call at 661-544-8387.

Juan Silva's RBI double with one out in the seventh inning tied the game and Kyle Waldrop added a sacrifice fly later in the inning that was the difference in the Bakersfield Blaze's 6-5 win over Inland Empire Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight win for Bakersfield, which has the California League's best record (24-8).

Juan Silva's RBI double with one out in the seventh inning tied the game and Kyle Waldrop added a sacrifice fly later in the inning that was the difference in the Bakersfield Blaze's 6-5 win over Inland Empire Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight win for Bakersfield, which has the California League's best record (24-8).

Juan Silva's RBI double with one out in the seventh inning tied the game and Kyle Waldrop added a sacrifice fly later in the inning that was the difference in the Bakersfield Blaze's 6-5 win over Inland Empire Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight win for Bakersfield, which has the California League's best record (24-8).

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police need your help finding a man suspected of hitting another man in the face with his elbow last month.  Investigators say the man attacked the victim on April 26 in the 1100 block of South P Street and that attack appeared to be unprovoked.  The victim suffered a traumatic head injury, according to police and was admitted to the hospital. 

Police describe the suspect as a white man, 30’-40’s, 5’11”-6’0”, reddish/blond curly hair, gray full beard/goatee, wearing a black baseball cap, black hoodie, blue jeans and black riding boots.

The suspect vehicle is described as a: older model custom chopper, unknown plate.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Chris Feola at (661) 326-3871 or Bakersfield police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police are looking for a man they say stole a car stereo from a vehicle last week.  Police say on Sunday afternoon April 27, the man forced his way into the victim's car in the 3200 block of Ming Avenue and removed the car stereo. 

Police describe the man as white, 20's, 5'10", heavy build, short military style haircut.  He was seen wearing a brown t-shirt, red shorts, black tennis shoes, a wrist watch on his left wrist and a large cross medallion around his neck. 

Police say the suspect vehicle is a black Honda, 2000's 2-door. 

Anyone with information, is asked to call Detective Craig Checklenis at 661-326-3907 or Bakersfield police at 661-327-7111.  

FRESNO, CA - The direction of the high speed rail line will likely be decided on Wednesday. The original plan has it going right through Bakersfield, but city officials hope it doesn't get that far.

On Tuesday, there will be a public hearing at Fresno City Hall on the plans.

The high speed train's tracks are reported to be coming from downtown Fresno to downtown Bakersfield. Its environmental impact report became available April 18th, but state and city leaders said 17 days to review the 20,000 pages wasn't enough time to know the impact on having a train run through Bakersfield.

Bakersfield City Manager Alan Tandy said the train's route would take out arena parking and the joint city utilities and law enforcement car servicing lots.

Bakersfield officials sent a one hundred page letter to the rail authority, but didn't get an adequate response, according to Tandy.

Tandy said the bright spot is a second item proposal that would stop the rail north of 7th Standard Road.

"We can't not be able to provide services from our only common facility in the middle of the city from which we disperse all of our trucks and vehicles," said Tandy. "And, if they are making a commitment not to build that section until they've spent more time working with us on the alignment and the routing and so on, that would be a good thing."

The public hearing is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fresno City Hall. California High-Speed Rail Authority board members will be there to answer questions.

The board will be back at Fresno City Hall on Wednesday, May 7 to certify the report, which would give the go-ahead to start procuring land for the high-speed rail project.

The city also sent a proposal asking the board to give Bakersfield officials 60 days notice if it plans to make changes to its rail line plans.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The back and forth continues in the civil trial between the family of an autistic girl and the Kern High School District.

The family is suing, claiming the then 16-year-old was sexually assaulted on school grounds by another student and is mentally damaged as a result.

The judge in this case, Lorina Brumfield, ruled not to allow our cameras in the courtroom Monday.

Four people took the stand Monday. They included the former coordinator of special education for the district, two teachers aides, and a speech pathologist.

They all testified they were familiar with the female student in this case either before or after the alleged assault.

In 2009, a teacher's aide found an autistic boy and the autistic girl in the bathroom at Independence High School.

The boy was behind her with his hands on her hips, and both had their pants down, but the distinct said nothing else happened.

The girl's family says she was hurt from the experience. They claim her learning regressed and her behavior worsened.

But, the school district's special education coordinator at the time of the incident testified Monday, her educators did not see a difference in the girl, in her learning skills or behavior after the incident.

The family's attorney, Ralph Wegis, was not surprised by the testimony.

"What I am going to hear out of the school is what the school attorney would like to present in this case, that there is no change, uh, at all," said Wegis. "I think the real question is why at school is she having the problems she does, and I think what they are doing is they are consciously ignoring those problems because they don't want to confront them."

The Kern High School District did not comment again.

Police reports from this incident are not allowed into evidence in this trial.

However, Tuesday, an officer who responded hours after the teenagers were found in the bathroom, will testify.

The trial is expected to last another two weeks.

TEHACHAPI, CA -- Two Tehachapi men are under arrest on suspicion of pointing a laser at an airplane and drug possession.
Officers arrested Daniel Mahler and Mario Manero Sunday night, after a pilot reported he was being targeted by a green laser while landing.

That pilot said he was temporarily disoriented by the beam.  A Tehacapi police officer went up with the pilot, who again was targeted by the laser.

Officers say it was coming from the 1400 block of Cimarron Court in Tehachapi. Police searched a home and found the laser, along with a half pound of meth with a street value of more than $20,000.   They also found scales, other drug paraphenalia and $1,400 in cash.

Officers also seized an 8 millimeter rifle and ammunition.

Services scheduled

Earlene Bocleair, 82, Riverside, April 30 in Riverside. Visitation 9 to 10 a.m. May 10, Greenlawn Southwest Celebration of Life Center; service 10 a.m. May 10, Greenlawn Southwest Celebration of Life Center. Greenlawn Funeral Home Southwest.

A new program that helps homeowners make energy and water efficiency renovations through financing, is celebrating success here in Kern County.

There are many benefits to making your home energy efficient, and now some Kern County communities have even more incentive to make those helpful renovations.

HERO allows homeowners to make those money-saving improvements without any out-of-pocket cost.

It's a bright idea when it comes to energy efficiency and saving you money. Since its launch in March, the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity, or HERO, has been a hit in communities throughout Kern County.

"I'm excited to see that we already have 500,000 in committed success. We've got millions in the pipeline literally, and I believe the program's going to go and it's the private policy we should really be touting here locally," said Chair of the Kern County Board of Supervisors Leticia Perez.

HERO is the leading property-assessed, clean energy, financing program nationwide. The private program provides tax deductible, low-interest loans for homeowners who want to make energy and water efficient renovations. Payments are made through property taxes and can be paid off over as many as 20 years.

"The biggest thing is that we actually don't use credit score as a qualifying criteria for this type of financing product, and it's really what distinguishes the HERO program, and it's allowed the HERO program to become the number one energy efficiency financing program in the nation," said Matt Messina, Community Development Manager for HERO.

Bland Solar, a locally registered HERO contractor, anticipates a significant increase in business through the program, creating dozens of jobs over the next few years.

"I'd say it's been beneficial to me as a contractor. I think most importantly to me though is putting people to work in Kern County, hiring local people, training local people, and providing a means of making a living," said CEO and owner of Bland Solar, Glen Bland.

Delano, Taft, and Ridgecrest are some of the local HERO communities. HERO is not yet available in Bakersfield and some other incorporated cities in the county.

If you would like to learn more about HERO, click the Hotlink icon on our home page.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police say a suspected hit and run driver is hospitalized with moderate injuries following a crash near Valley Plaza Monday afternoon. 

Police say the man driving a Chevrolet SUV was involved in a hit and run collision in the mall's parking lot.  That's when police say he left the scene and started heading eastbound on Ming Avenue at a high rate of speed.  Police say he struck the light pole and Ming Avenue and Hughes Lane with such force, the outside traffic light became dislodged and fell into the number one eastbound lane. 

Police believe alcohol was a factor in the collision.  Anyone with information is asked to call Bakersfield police at 661-327-7111. 

BAKERSFIELD,CA- When putting your alarm across the room isn't enough motivation to get you out of bed, how about apps that charge you every time you hit the snooze button?

"Everyone plays little psychological games with themselves. But that isn't one I'll play," said Bakersfield resident Melonie Demkey.

With apps like Charity Alarm, there is now an incentive to get out of bed.

"Every time you hit snooze, it links up to either your credit card or bank account and then it puts it into a specific fund for a charity of your choice,"said Gabe Ulloa with Arrc Technology.

Other apps like Pact, allow you to log the number of days you go to the gym and your meals on myfitnesspal.com . When you sign up for a pact, you select a certain amount, $5 or $10-that is deducted from your credit card or paypal account for each day you miss.

"Now if you actually succeed and hit all of your goals. The money that they take from those who miss their goals. They actually distribute to those who are actually meeting their goals," said Ulloa.

The app rewards users ranging from 30 cents to $5 per week. Some like the idea of a little more motivation to hit the gym.
others, not so much.

"I wouldn't want people to just arbitrarily take money out of my checking account just because i missed a gym appointment or decided to sleep in once,"said Bakersfield resident Mike Shoemaker.

According to a study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, weight-loss mobile apps have the potential to be a helpful tool but they lack behavioral strategies that lead to weight-loss.

There are 20 behavioral strategies that have been found to be effective in a weight loss journey including problem solving, stress reduction and relapse prevention.

The apps studied included on average just 18 percent of those strategies.

GREELEY, Colo. -- Austin Davis struck out eight in 82/3 innings and did not walk a batter, and got some help from closer Max Carter as the Cal State Bakersfield baseball team held off Northern Colorado 4-3 on Sunday at Jackson Field, completing a three-game sweep.

Davis (3-8) scattered eight hits and allowed three earned runs. he carried a 4-0 lead into the ninth before finally getting into trouble in the Western Athletic Conference game.

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — There are moments in a career where you step back and take a moment to enjoy what is around you. One of those moments happened to me the other day.

Starting pitchers are typically on a five-day rotation, with four days of preparation between each start.