LOCAL AND REGIONAL NEWS
Tuesday, January 26th, 2021
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported one new COVID-19 death and 351 cases today. These bring the county’s total to 90,564 resident cases and 591 deaths.
Due to the extreme weather, there will be NO Covid 19 testing in Mtn. Mesa this week. Testing should resume next Wednesday on Birch Street from 7 am to 2 pm.
If you would like to make an appointment for a vaccine shot, call 442 320-3048 from 9 am to 3 pm. DO NOT CALL THE KERN VALLEY HOSPITAL OR MOUNTAIN VIEW HEALTH CENTER. Once you have made contact on the 442 number, someone will get back to you with an appointment and location. It does take days some times, so please be patient.
he state has confirmed this morning that it has ended the stay-at-home order in all affected regions, including the San Joaquin Valley. The California Department of Public Health said the four-week ICU capacity projections for the affected regions are above 15 percent, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order. The Sacramento region exited the order on Jan. 12 and the Northern California region never entered the order. Returning to the "Puple" tier means outdoor dining, places of worship, and other businesses may go back to offering restricted service.
If you are wondering how quickly a fake news story can be created and shared online, look no further than Newsy Congressional Reporter Nate Reed's recent Twitter post about the National Guard troops sleeping in the Capitol prior to the inauguration. Within minutes, someone took the photo and fictitiously published this caption on social media: "Massacre at the Senate." Sadly, there are not just a few, but many who believed it.
Weather conditions should improve today with drier conditions and slightly warmer temperatures. The chance of snow returns tonight though and will continue into tomorrow. By later tomorrow, temperatures should rise enough to create rainy conditions through Thursday.
Late yesterday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol began escorting traffic over Interstate 5 along the Grapevine and Highway 58, from east of Edison through Tehachapi and eastbound to Mojave. Major roadways in the Kern County mountains were closed for the better part of yesterday because of snowy conditions in the area.
Monday, January 25th, 2021
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 1,118 new COVID-19 cases today. These bring the county’s total to 90,213 resident cases and 590 deaths.
Free Covid 19 testing will happen again this Wednesday from 7 am to 2 pm on Birch Street in Mtn. Mesa. Please remain in your car and wear a mask until you are instructed to lower it. The results will be sent directly to you.
Vaccinations in the KRV are scheduled to take place each Monday and Thursday and are given at the Mountain View Health Center Mobile Clinic. The ONLY number to call to make an appointment is area code 442 320-3048. 442 320-3048. Do not call the hospital or the clinic. They cannot make appointments. The appointment makers are getting slammed right now, so please have patients and know that they will contact you as soon as possible. Also, do not call back if you haven't heard back in few days. It takes time and that will only confuse the issue further.
There is going to be a free food giveaway this morning beginning at 10:30 am at the Canyon Hills Church in Wofford Heights. We are assuming that will also be the case for the Veterans and Senior Center in Lake Isabella and at Grace Chapel in Mtn. Mesa.
We have a winter storm warning in effect for the higher elevations in Kern County, including we here in the KRV. The Grapevine is probably going to have it's issues as will the mountain communities like Tehachapi. According to forecasters, clear weather is predicted for tomorrow and then more wet weather late tomorrow night.
Matt Constantine, director of Kern County public health, is planning on retiring later this spring. Constantine submitted a letter late last week that stated that he was planning on retiring in March, according to Kern County Public Health.
The master tenant of a San Francisco Bay Area warehouse where 36 people perished when a fire ignited during a 2016 dance party pleaded guilty Friday to the deaths, avoiding a second trial after the first ended in a hung jury. 50 year old Derick Almena, plead guilty to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in exchange for a 12-year sentence.
On Friday, over a month after the disappearance of four-year-old Orrin and three-year-old Orson West, multiple agencies inspected the adoptive boys' home in California City. Jon Walker, California City Police Chief, said investigators took measurements inside the home. This isn't the first time the home has been searched with a warrant. Five to ten officers from three different agencies entered the home on Friday.
Friday, January 22nd, 2021
Update:
According to the Kern Valley Healthcare District, for those qualified to receive the vaccination we encourage you to leave a message on our designated phone line (442) 320-3048 between Mondays – Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm. DO NOT CALL Kern Valley Hospital or Mountain View Health Center. Going forward we are expecting to provide vaccinations on Mondays and Thursdays. At this time, we are expecting our new shipment to arrive sometime next week. Please have patience, they will return your call.
Baseball Hall of Famer Henry Louis “Hank” Aaron died Friday at the age of 86. “Hammerin’ Hank,” would go on to set the career home run record, surpassing Babe Ruth. The record would later be broken by Barry Bonds during baseball’s steroid era. 23 years with the Atlanta Braves.
Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry said the activity at the Desert Start Motel on this morning was the result of a two-year investigation into human trafficking. Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer called the Desert Star a modern day brothel. She said her office will partner with the U.S. Attorney’s office on the cases resulting from this investigation.
President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act Thursday to ensure needed supplies are available to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and meet the goal of delivering 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days of his administration. "This is a wartime undertaking," Biden said at a press briefing.
Authorities confirm they've asked the adoptive parents of the missing California city toddlers to submit to a lie detector test. Cal City Police Chief Jon Walker confirmed Jacqueline and Trezell West were asked to take the test, the day after the couple reported 3-year-old Orson and 4-year-old Orrin West missing on Dec. 21.
Could be a wet weather period in the KRV for the next few days. Clouds are supposed to roll in later today brings showers and snow showers. Some clearing Sunday morning but likely snow Sunday night through Monday night.
An employee of the Target near the Park at River Walk has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling more than $30,000 from the business, according to police. Becky Fernandez, 37, was arrested Dec. 27 on a charge of felony embezzlement, police said. An investigation began after the store contacted police and provided video evidence. Target’s corporate office on Thursday sent an email saying Fernandez had worked at the store at 11000 Stockdale Highway since 2018 and was a Human Resources leader.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is looking to keep Eric Munchel, also known as ‘Zip Tie Guy,’ detained while he waits for trial to begin. A motion filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville argues the Nashville man, arrested for his alleged actions at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, would be a danger to the community and a flight risk if he were to be released. FBI agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force discovered 15 firearms, including assault rifles, a sniper rifle with a tripod, other rifles, shotguns and pistols and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in the home. They also located a drum-style magazine inside the residence.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 11 new COVID-19 deaths and 474 cases yesterday. The county’s total is up to87,714 resident cases and 583 deaths.
Federal agencies are warning the public about a series of COVID-19-related scams. “Scammers are using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-19-related scams,” the Office of the Inspector General said in a statement. Fraudsters are reportedly offering phony COVID-19 tests, HHS grants and Medicare prescription cards “in exchange for personal details.” All of these “services are unapproved and illegitimate.”
A dramatic drop in the number of flu cases this season — an indirect result of the COVID-19 pandemic — is stunning doctors. From Sept. 29 to Dec. 28, 2019, the CDC reported more than 65,000 cases of influenza across the U.S. During the same period during the 2020 flu season, the agency reported 1,016 cases. If we stay away from each other, we'll be healthier. Yeah.
Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday posted video of himself receiving the coronavirus vaccine at the Dodger Stadium mass vaccination site as he urged other eligible residents to do the same. He tweeted that if you’re eligible, join me and sign up to get your vaccine. Come with me if you want to live!
Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) is no longer the Senate Republican leader effective immediately. Grove's office confirmed the change Wednesday. Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) was elected by Republican constituents. The GOP lost two of its 11 state senate seats in the Nov. 3 election. Senator Grove exacerbated the situation when she had tweeted that the assault on the U.S. Capitol was caused by Antifa. Many Republican business leaders began to doubt her, thinking she may be a believer of so-called fringe views.
Thursday, January 21st, 2021
Update:
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported eleven new COVID-19 deaths and 474 new cases today. These bring the county’s total to 87,714 resident cases and 583 deaths.
One ticket sold in Maryland matched all six numbers to win Wednesday night’s $731 million Powerball jackpot, lottery officials said. Officials said the winning ticket holder now has a big choice to make: Take an estimated annuity of $731.1 million paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or take the cash option of $546.8 million.
A bronze bust of Cesar Chavez is now part of the decoration in President Joe Biden’s Oval Office. Chavez’s son and president of the foundation, Paul F. Chavez, says having the bust there is a symbol of hope for the nation.
The Biden administration has begun its first 100 days with the goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans within that time frame. Joe Biden said “our plan is as clear as it is bold.”
A recent report by the non-profit organization Community Solutions stated that Kern County is among five communities in the country that have significantly reduced chronic homelessness but questions have come up on what that means since there are still homeless people in the community.
Bakersfield Senator Shannon Grove is no longer in charge of California Republicans. The GOP voted unanimously to replace Grove with Senator Scott Wilk from Santa Clarita. Grove exacerbated the situation with a tweet blaming the U.S. Capitol riots on antifa. While she deleted and sought to walk back the tweet, sources said it amplified concerns among mainstream Republican allies like business groups that Grove embraces fringe views.
Kern County Public Health said today that a total of 6,350 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine batch was received in Kern County. The department said that as of now, none of the vaccination facilities have reported cases of adverse reactions. None of the vaccines given in the Kern River Valley were from that particular batch of Moderna product.
Kern County Public Health reported 522 new positive Covid 19 tests yesterday and 7 additional deaths. There are now more that 87 thousand positives detected among Kern County residents, and we are at 572 deaths.
A 4-year-old boy in Washington, D.C. wanted to thank the National Guard for protecting the neighborhood — and he did it with cookies. Kavi Sadar’s mother, Janet, said it was his idea to bake the guard members cookies. They live close to the capital and Janet said after the riots on Jan. 6, it has been a little scary in their neighborhood. On Biden’s Inauguration Day, Kavi brought the baked goods to one of the last checkpoints before arriving at the U.S. Capitol — and delivered them personally to the guardsmen. In return for the cookies, one of the guards gave Kavi an American flag patch. A small reminder of how it can and should be.
A 103-year-old Massachusetts man who has lived through the Spanish flu and the polio outbreak received the COVID-19 vaccine this week. Tom McAuley, a resident at Loomis Village Retirement Home in South Hadley Massachusetts said he feels great after receiving his first dose of the vaccine. Born in 1918, he has lived through the Spanish flu and the polio outbreak. He said he remembers getting the polio vaccine when it was first developed. Now, at 103 years old, he is getting ready to get his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine.
It certainly was an inauguration that was unprecedented yesterday, but Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as President and Vice President. Not everyone share the same feeling of normalcy, but many feel they can finally exhale for the first time in 4 years.
A Kern County Jury found a man guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday. Joel Rodriguez was one of several people arrested in the stabbing death of Kasey Villegas outside of a Bone Thugs-N-Harmony concert at the Fox Theater in 2018.
Wednesday, January 20th, 2020
Update:
If you would like to make an appointment to have a Covid 19 vaccination shot here in the KRV, the number to call is (442) 430-3048. (442) 430-3-0-4-8. DO NOT call the hospital. Call (442) 430-3048. They will get back to you and arrange an appointment.
Free Covid 19 testing takes place each Wednesday from 7 am to 2 pm on Birch Street in Mtn. Mesa. It is a drive through test so stay in your car and please wear a mask.
A North Texas man arrested for storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 threatened to shoot his children if they turned him in, according to recently released federal court documents. Guy Reffitt has been charged with obstruction of justice and knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority.
Not as windy today in the KRV but wind will continue and partly cloudy conditions will remain. Temperatures will be mild and there is a possibility of rain and/or snow Friday night and continuing into Saturday. Clear weather back Sunday.
During a press briefing held Tuesday afternoon, the Secretary for California Health and Human Services Dr. Mark Ghaly said California "starting to see the decline" in new cases of COVID-19, and hospitalizations have stabilized. We are also seeing it in those heavily impacted areas like Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley," according to Dr. Ghaly.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 530 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. These bring the county’s total to 86,718 resident cases and 565 deaths.
President Donald Trump released a video farewell address yesterday afternoon. In his farewell address, President Donald Trump said he will pray for the success of the next administration. “This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous,” Trump said. He said “all Americans were horrified by the assault on our Capitol” and that “political violence is an attack on everything we cherish as Americans” and “can never be tolerated.” Trump also praised what he sees as his top achievements in office, including efforts to normalize relations in the Middle East. That was admittedly a good thing.
Don Sutton, a Hall of Fame pitcher who was a stalwart of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation spanning an era from Sandy Koufax to Fernando Valenzuela, died Tuesday. He was 75. The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, said Sutton died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, after a long struggle with cancer. The Atlanta Braves, for whom Sutton was a long-time broadcaster, said he died in his sleep.
The Kern County District Attorney’s office warned residents against committing crimes — regardless of whether they occur during a protest or the ideology behind them — ahead of Wednesday’s inauguration of Joe Biden as president. The release cited state law requiring people to leave an area if an unlawful assembly has been declared by law enforcement as a result of criminal activity.
The Kern County Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire burning near Wind Wolves Preserve off of Highway 166. According to KCFD, strong winds have fanned the flames to approximately 200 acres in the span of an hour. KCFD said winds are nearing 50 mph. Ground and air resources on scene fighting the flames.
Around 10:30 a.m. yesterday, the Kern County Sheriff's Office was conducting an undercover narcotics investigation when three suspects attempted to kidnap a federal agent. When deputies were attempting to stop the kidnapping one of the suspects showed a gun and that is when the officer-involved shooting occurred. According to KCSO, the suspects fled the scene and were later taken into custody and a gun was recovered. No one was injured.
High winds in the Sierras and throughout the Central Valley caused numerous problems. PG&E issued Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) after the National Weather Service issued High Wind Warnings. In addition to the PSPS, PG&E is also responding to widespread outages related to the wind storm, but not caused by the PSPS.
The National Park Service announced Yosemite National Park was closed yesterday. The closure was due to high winds that have knocked down trees, blocking roadways, and causing damage to park facilities. Earlier in the morning, the Park Service announced roads were closed within the park but then updated the full closure before 9:00 a.m. Employees and residents were told to "shelter in place" until further notice.
Tuesday, January 19th, 2021
Update:
The Kern County Fire Department announced they have officially started the first academy of the year. Over the next eight weeks, the 35 recruits will be instructed by a cadre of Kern County firefighters in a variety of disciplines.
As President Donald Trump prepares for life post-presidency, some of his neighbors in South Florida are pushing to enforce a decades-old agreement that says Mar-a-Lago, his private social club, cannot be used as a full-time residence. Trump has suggested he plans to call his Palm Beach resort ‘home’ once he leaves the White House. However, the 1993 agreement with the town of Palm Beach states club members cannot spend more than 21 days a year staying at the club and no more than seven consecutive days at a time.
Kern Valley Healthcare District said it has been inundated with more than 600 messages from people seeking appointments for a COVID-19 vaccination. The district is asking for patience as it goes through the requests. A response could take a few days. Anyone who has already submitted a request is asked to not call or leave additional messages.
Tomorrow is another round of free Covid 19 testing in the Kern River Valley. It happens from 7 am to 2 pm on Birch Street, across the street from the Emergency Room Entrance at the Kern Valley Hospital. Please stay in you vehicle and please wear a mask. Testing is done each Wednesday only for the time being.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 826 new COVID-19 cases today. These bring the county’s total to 86,188 resident cases and 565 deaths.
California on Monday became the first state to record more than 3 million known coronavirus infections. The grim milestone, as tallied by Johns Hopkins University, wasn’t entirely unexpected in a state with 40 million residents but its speed was stunning. The state only reached 2 million reported cases on Dec. 24.
It’s a time for lovers of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Do-si-dos to look forward to every year but during a pandemic, there are questions on how girl scouts will be able to sell their famous cookies. Due to the pandemic, you won't have to travel very far to get your favorite $5 box of cookies this year. Instead, they'll just show up right at your door. Those new ways to sell cookies during the pandemic come in forms like their recent partnership with Grubhub, the contactless delivery service. Or through the Girl Scout Cookie Finder app.
California's state Senate closed its session to the public on Friday after threats against lawmakers a day earlier. The move came as a tense capital city prepared to deploy the National Guard amid fears of disturbances surrounding next week’s inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The shouted threats from two women protested mass coronavirus inoculations, not President Donald Trump's imminent departure. But they spurred the Senate to block public access to the Senate gallery.
This week’s inauguration is set to be unlike any in American history, with precautions being taken due to the ongoing pandemic and potential threats of violence. Shortly before noon, Harris is set to be sworn in first by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Then at about 12 p.m. ET, Biden will be sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts. After they take their oaths of office, Biden will deliver his inaugural address. Biden, Harris and their spouses will then visit Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They’ll also be accompanied by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and their wives. Afterwards, Biden will receive a presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House with every branch of the military present.
The Better Business Bureau is warning the public about a text message scam that promises free Netflix for a year. The BBB says those who’ve fallen victim to the scam received texts that say something like, “Due to the pandemic, Netflix is offering everyone a free year of service to help you stay at home. Click the link to sign up.” Do Not Sign Up.
A 4.2 magnitude earthquake was reported in Monterey County at about 8:01 p.m Saturday, according to the United States Geological Survey. There are no initial reports of damage or injuries in the area.
The Kern County Public Health Services Department reported 826 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. These bring the county’s total to 86,188 resident cases and 565 deaths. We will get an update this afternoon.
Free Covid 19 testing will be held tomorrow on Birch Street in Mtn. Mesa. Stay in your car and get in line around Dogwood and Birch across from the Emergency Room entrance to the Kern Valley Hospital. For the time being, test are only being given on Wednesdays from 7 am to 2 pm.
State health leaders are recommending vaccine providers stop using a batch of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines after a few suspected allergic reactions at a San Diego vaccination site. The California Department of Public Health said fewer than 10 people reported reactions after getting vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A at Petco Park last week. They sought medical attention in the 24 hours after getting the doses.