Services scheduled

Richard "Dick" L. Barnett, 80, Bakersfield, April 29. Visitation 2 to 5 p.m. May 8, Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara Funeral Directors; service 10 a.m. May 9, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Doughty-Calhoun-O'Meara Funeral Directors.

MCFARLAND, CA -- A McFarland man is facing almost three dozen felony sex charges after police say he had molested a then 11-year-old girl for several years.  Miguel Herrera, 39, was booked Thursday on 34 felony counts and is being held on more than $3 million dollars bail. 

McFarland police say their investigation began Monday and an emergency protective order was issued against Herrera.  Detectives say Herrera admitted to the molestation allegations provided by the victim. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jerrod Place at 661-792-2121 extension 3207.  Herrera is expected to be arraigned on the charges Monday. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Cat lovers who are looking to adopt a furry friend can do so for a special price on Fridays throughout the month of May. 

During the promotion, all cats can be adopted for $5 at all three Kern County Animal Services shelters in Bakersfield, Mojave and Lake Isabella.  Typical adoption fees according to Animal Services are normally $40 and $50.  All of the fees include spay/neuter, first set of vaccinations, microchip, rabies vaccination, flea treatment and de-wormer. 

For information on adopting a pet, please email adopt@co.kern.ca.us or call 661-868-7100 Monday-Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.

Baseball

Independence 5, Liberty 3

With time winding down and the Condors in desperate need of a game-tying goal on April 24, coach Troy Mann turned to Andrew Carroll.

When goaltender Laurent Brossoit raced to the bench, Carroll jumped onto the ice and immediately headed to the blue paint where he camped out in front of Utah goaltender Igor Bobkov.

Juan Silva hit a three-run home run in the third inning and the Blaze's three pitchers made that hold up in a 3-1 win over the Stockton Ports Thursday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Zach Vincej singled and Jon Matthews walked before Silva drove his second homer of the season over the centerfield wall.

Alec Slykerman's win in his singles match spearheaded Garces' 5-4 victory over Bakersfield High.

"We were lucky to win this," said Garces coach Barb Johnston Hill. "We won 5-4, so I'm obviously happy about that, but we beat these guys 8-1 earlier this year and they came back at us today. It was hot and we had a few guys who could've played a lot better."

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A Navy SEAL commander who starred in the 2012 film "Act of Valor" was in Bakersfield Thursday night, to support the families of fallen soldiers.

Navy SEAL Commander Rorke Denver says he knows too many families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. The gala was dedicated to raising funds and awareness for those who are not on the front lines of battle, but who deal with the pain that comes from losing a loved one.

He starred in the hit film "Act of Valor." Navy SEAL and author, Rorke Denver, was keynote speaker at the inaugural "Red, White, and Blue Gala" benefiting T.A.P.S.- the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.

"Warriors, in general, are prepared for that ultimate sacrifice. You don't train to pay that ultimate price, but you're obviously aware that, that's a potential in your job. Sadly, it feels like it's the families who pay the tax of those decisions and that sacrifice," said Denver.

T.A.P.S. is a national organization dedicated to helping families cope with the loss of a loved one who served in our armed forces.

"Our families here in Kern County are so grateful to the support T.A.P.S. has provided. They've been connected to other survivors who have suffered a similar loss and they've found hope and healing," said president and founder of T.A.P.S., Bonnie Carroll.

T.A.P.S. has helped more than 200 local families throughout its 20 years of service. Organizers of the gala hoped to raise $75,000 - $100,000 that will go toward seminars, grief counseling, and summer camps for children of fallen warriors.

"We're such a patriotic and generous and giving community, and now we want to start what we call a third triad to help the families of our veterans, especially those killed in active duty," said Jim Tague of E&B Natural Resources, the company that sponsored the gala.

For Denver, Kern County's military supportive reputation preceded itself.

"It's super special to be in a place where service is much more the norm, than a very unlikely path for a man or woman who wants to serve," Denver said.

On Friday, there will be a golf tournament benefiting T.A.P.S. at the Bakersfield Country Club.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - Preparations are underway for the country's biggest 24-hour cancer fundraiser.

Organizers of Bakersfield's Relay for Life, say more than $1 million has already been raised for cancer research.

So far, 290 teams have registered for the event, with nearly 4,000 participants.

Survivors say it's a time to come together and make Relay for Life even bigger.

It's also an event that helps Lisa Sadro, a two-time breast cancer survivor. This year, she and her friends have their own team.

"We're called the "Breast Friends" because we're all best friends and it's breast cancer. We just thought it was the cutest thing," said Sadro.

After she was first diagnosed with cancer in 2010, Sadro quit her job and decided to give her kids her undivided attention.

"At the end of the day, I don't want to say that I've worked all my life. I want to say that I've experienced life with my kids and I was there. I was part of their school.I was part of their after school sports. I never missed a game. That's the stuff that's important to me," Sadro continued.

"She's the strongest lady I know," said Ashley McMahan, Sadro's best friend. "Everything that she's gone through, she's done it with a smile and kept everyone in awe of her. She's an amazing lady."

Cancer survivors say Relay for Life makes you realize how precious life is and that cancer research is not over.

"Everybody in one way or another is going to benefit from the research that's being done whether it's you, your family member or your best friend," said Patsy Romero, breast cancer survivor.

"2,900 people will be diagnosed with cancer in Kern County this year, but we'll see fewer people die of cancer this year. So, it's another amazing testimony to the advances we're seeing in research," said Brittney Neal, American Cancer Society.

ACS says research is critical to cancer patients and survivors.

"We're going to finish the fight and we're going to keep moving forward because that's our passion and mission to celebrate more birthdays and have a better world and better future that's cancer free," Romero continued.

Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, with the survivor's lap starting at 10 a.m.

Services scheduled

Diana Fay Smith, 58, Bakersfield, April 25. Private visitation; graveside service 1 p.m. May 5, Greenlawn Funeral Home Southwest. Basham Funeral Care.

BAKERSFIELD, CA --Bakersfield Police need your help finding a sex offender and parolee they say who has disabled his ankle monitor and his location is unknown.

He has been identified as Phillip Eugene Williams, 33.  He is 5’11”, and weighs 190 lbs.

If you have any information, call Bakersfield police at (661) 327-7111.

Services scheduled

Vivian Michelle Herrera, 49, Bakersfield, April 28 in Los Angeles. Visitation 4 to 8 p.m. May 5, Hillcrest Memorial Chapel; service 10 a.m. May 6, St. Francis Church. Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police say two Kern County Sheriff's deputies were arrested late Wednesday night after a fight involving several people at a restaurant in southwest Bakersfield. 

Police say their investigation revealed three suspects were initially involved in a fight inside Applebee's on Ming Avenue  and several other patrons and employees attempted to separate the combatants.

After the fight one of the suspects, Sean Curtis, 24, of Bakersfield, fled in a vehicle driven by Curtis’ girlfriend and was stopped by officers a short distance away. The other two suspects, Christopher Saldana, 23, and Jonathan Nunez, 23, both of Bakersfield, who identified themselves as Kern County Sheriff’s Deputies, remained at the scene.

Witness and suspect statements indicated that the fight started over comments made about Curtis’ girlfriend. Curtis requested citizen arrests of Saldana and Nunez and Nunez requested a citizen arrest of Curtis.

Officers accepted their citizen arrests. Saldana and Curtis were arrested for fighting in public, assault and public intoxication.

Nunez was arrested for fighting in public and assault. All were booked into the Kern County Jail.  A sheriff's spokesman says Saldana and Nunez are on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation.  All three people have been released on bail. 

If you have information regarding this case call Bakersfield Police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police say a 72-year-old man suffered minor injuries after a crash Thursday morning in central Bakersfield. 

Police say the man had to be rescued by firefighters after the Nissan pickup he was driving was struck by a Ford F-450 work truck, towing an empty cement trailer.  It was heading eastbound on Brundage Lane.  The 72-year-old man had been pinned inside after the collision.  The investigation found the Nissan had ran a red light before the collision with the work truck. 

The Ford was driven by a 24-year-old man who was not injured.  Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.  If you have any information, you're asked to call Bakersfield police at 661-327-7111. 

A prominent environmental group accused state oil regulators Wednesday of failing to comply with public disclosure rules contained in an interim version of California's new fracking law.

The accusations are part of the Center for Biological Diversity's efforts to build support for a proposed fracking moratorium that on Wednesday cleared the state Senate Environmental Quality Committee. The legislation, Senate Bill 1132, would disproportionately impact Kern, by far California's top oil-producing county.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - A group of local veterans is coming together through art -- to recognize women who served in the military. They say the female veteran is often overlooked.

The committee formed about a year ago, in an effort to reach female veterans in our community. This Saturday, the group is inviting women to come share their story of service through an art project.

Women Veterans Advisory Committee member Jeannine Waits said, "We're going to decorate our combat boot in a way that reflects how we each have viewed our own military journey and how that's maybe impacted our civilian lives."

"Walk a Mile in My Boots" is a creative workshop for female veterans.

Committee member Jenny Frank said, "Well I served four years in the Marine Corps. I served from 1989 to 1993, during Desert Storm."

"I was in the Air Force. I'm actually a third generation Air Force," said Waits.

Committee chair Deborah Johnson said, "I joined the military, the Wisconsin National Guard when I was a senior in high school."

Each woman has a different story, but they all face similar challenges.

"When we leave the military, we take on completely different roles than our male counterparts do when they leave. We become mother, we become wives, we go into the workforce and so those different roles that we take on kind of tend to bury what we did in the military, as far as our own personal identity," said Waits.

The California Veterans Assistance Foundation's Women Veterans Advisory Committee aims to locate females who were in the military and honor them for their service.

Johnson said, "It is a part of who we are and we need to be proud of it and let people know."

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates there are almost 185,000 female vets in California. So far, the local committee has identified 135 in our area.

"Kern County, being such a large veteran population, that we do have a lot of women veterans out there and there are a lot that haven't been reached yet and just don't know that there are those services out there for them," said Frank.

The group hopes events like "Walk a Mile in My Boots" will help get the word out to more local women.

Waits said, "We want to be able to gather with other women veterans and talk and share the stories and share the memories, share the experience and share the recovery."

The event is Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Mercy Art and Spirituality Center downtown. It's free, but registration is required. To register call 632-5747 and leave a message with your name and phone number.

The combat boots will be provided. Organizers say veterans are encouraged to bring patches, tags or anything to personalize the boots. They also say art experience isn't necessary.

To register, click on the link below.

http://www.mercybakersfield.org/PATIENTS_AND_VISITORS/ART_FOR_HEALING/INDEX.HTM

Stockton scored the tie-breaking run in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday and beat the Bakersfield Blaze 5-4 at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Chad Pinder led off the Ports' ninth with a single.

Stockton scored the tie-breaking run in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday and beat the Bakersfield Blaze 5-4 at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Chad Pinder led off the Ports' ninth with a single.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- More than 150 Chevron employees have pledged to give back to their community at the 2014 Humankind nonprofit expo.  The event held Tuesday in southwest Bakersfield put together the employees with more than 30 non-profit organizations. 

The goal of the event was to among other things identify board leaderships and charitable donation opportunities for Chevron's employees.  Organizers say the employees can give up to $10,000 of their own money and Chevron was expected to match that donation.  Last year, Chevron employees volunteered more than 7,700 hours to benefit more than a hundred non profits. 

For more information about the company's community programs you can log on to www.chevron.com/countries/usa/chevronincalifornia/partneringwithcalifornia/

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The county is still reeling from Tuesday's grim financial news from Kern Medical Center losing $3 million a month, and the hospital is again considering layoffs. But it brings up the question, do we need this county hospital? 
The county studied eliminating KMC in a report in November. Its answer? We don't need a county hospital by law, but the county is obligated to take care of indigent or poor and uninsured people.
At the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, KMC officials told county officials the hospital is losing patients and as a result, revenue, up to $30 million this fiscal year. It's a rate county staff says is unsustainable.
"It's a needed entity that cannot exist in its current environment," said Russell Judd, CEO of Kern Medical Center Tuesday. 
Which is why Tuesday Supervisor Mike Maggard asked this question. 
"The county should evaluate whether or not we should have a hospital," said Supervisor Maggard. 
County staff studied this in November, drafting this study. By law, the county needs to provide care to the uninsured and poor, but it doesn't need a county hospital to do so. In fact, only 11 of 58 California counties have a county hospital. 
"The county is considering all of its options," said Chief County Administrative Officer John Nilon. 
Nilon said the county could create a separate hospital authority to run KMC or contract out services to another hospital . So far, no Kern County hospital has volunteered to help.
"We're going to need them to come to the table to share some of the load and continue to benefit the community," said Nilon. 
If the county loses KMC, it will lose more than a county hospital. It's the only Level 1 Trauma Center and the only teaching hospital in the county, not requirements but definitely a benefit according to county staff. 
"Kern Medical Center plays a vital role saving thousands of lives every day," said Judd. 
But, if KMC doesn't bandage its financial wounds soon, supervisors warn the whole county could bleed out.
"Are we only going to have county government operate a hospital?" said Supervisor Maggard.
All of these questions will be addressed at a special day-long meeting May 12th.