It has been a big week around Bakersfield and Kern County with the heat being the top story, but let’s take a look at the stories that have mattered most to our listeners, viewers and readers over the last few days.
HIGH HEAT MAKES EVERYONE MISERABLE
It’s hot in Bakersfield, everyone knows that, but this past week it has been spectacularly hot. Every day featured triple digits and near record highs. Thursday’s high was a record 110 degrees, beating a 47-year-old record of 109. However, the high temperatures, especially at the higher elevations, have made the Kern River even more dangerous, and Kern County Sheriff’s Department’s Search and Rescue is looking for a man who went missing in the river near Keysville on Thursday afternoon.
Our most-viewed video of the week showed exactly how powerful the Kern River really is:
ATTORNEY'S DEATH RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT RACING IN HEAT
When Bakersfield attorney Benjamin Greene died Tuesday evening after racing in a 5-kilometer run through 100-plus degree temperatures at Hart Park it set off a serious questions about why the race was run during an excessive heat event.
On Thursday’s episode of “The Richard Beene Show,” Richard Beene interviewed Bakersfield attorney David Cohn about the potential liability associated with Greene’s death. The race was sponsored by The Bakersfield Track Club.
Listen to the 40-minute interview between Beene and Cohn:
ILLEGAL FIREWORKS STILL A PROBLEM
Each year the Bakersfield Fire Department wrestles with the problem of illegal fireworks during the Fourth of July, and Fire Chief Doug Greener continues to aggressively combat the problem, and The Bakersfield Californian columnist Lois Henry continues to call for an outright ban.
During the June 21 episode of “The Ralph Bailey Show,” Greener said the Fourth is one of the busiest and frustrating periods for the department.
“It’s a complicated issue,” Greener said. “We’ve worked, and I know the (City Council) has struggled with this trying to, not to cross a line regulation wise particularly for the folks who are using legal fireworks, and those who are using the responsibly, they don’t want to do a blanket shutdown.”
BIG CHANGE IN LOCAL EDUCATION
In our most-read story of the month, Stockdale principal Ramon Hendrix started to consider his next steps in his long career in education, and where he might want to finish.
Hendrix had served the last 13 years as principal of the west Bakersfield high school and had a long career in the Kern High School District before making a major decision to leave Stockdale and the district recently.
WOOD-DALE MARKET MAKES A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
For the discerning meat customers, Stine Road’s Wood-Dale Market is the place for the expert advice on the perfect cut of meat for that big dinner or weekend barbecue.
Now that advice is about to get a lot deeper as the Vasquez family, which owns the market, is planning an expansion of their business to a second Bakersfield location later this year. The second location will open in the Grand Island Village in the Seven Oaks area of west Bakersfield.
“We are hoping for Oct. 1,” Israel Vasquez said.
RAIDERS MAKE DEREK CARR A RICH MAN
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr signed a 5-year, $25 million per year contract extension Thursday morning that makes him the highest-paid player in the NFL, and keeps him with the Raiders for years.
But it was during Thursday’s episode of ” The Greg Kerr Show,” where we got some insights into how Carr may spend some of his money. Kerr interviewed Carr’s brother, Darren, who is the coach of Bakersfield Christian High School, and the elder brother said his brother will do good works with the money, but may splurge on something unexpected.
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HEALTH AND WELLNESS EXPO SET FOR SATURDAY
The Kern County Museum will play host to the 2017 Bakersfield Health and Wellness Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
This free event, which is being sponsored by Sendas Urgent Care and Vascular Health, will bring together a wide range of businesses and service providers to help residents of Bakersfield and Kern County with assessing their health and pairing them with vital community services.
The event is presented by American General Media, the parent company of kernradio.com, and is free to attend. As a bonus, all of the buildings in Pioneer Village, where the event will be held, will be open to visitors.
Event organizers Tina Zimmerman and Mike Allen said the free event will feature numerous activities for the entire family, including bounce houses and water slides for children.
Sendas will provide body mass index measurements, blood pressure testing and a CPR demonstration. Other service providers, including chiropractors and dentists, will also be hand to provide information about their practices.
NEED A REASON TO GO TO THE COAST? HOW ABOUT MAC AND CHEESE?
If there is one defining comfort food for millions of Americans, it’s macaroni and cheese and in recent years it has taken on a culinary life of its own.
That celebration of an American classic, along with some pairing of the Central Coast’s finest beer and wine, will be on display from 2-6 p.m. Saturday at the Avila Beach Golf Resort with the sixth Mac and Cheese Fest.
“It’s something we all eat at some point,” said Debbie Thomas, owner of Thomas Hill Organics, which has restaurants in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo. “So, for us to take the box mac and cheese that we all grew up with, and to put a little twist on it to make it more like fine dining, I think it’s fabulous.”
About 25 restaurants from the Central Coast, along with a formidable challenger from Bakersfield, will compete in Saturday’s event. The Mac and Cheese Fest will also have more than 25 wineries and breweries providing samples, and Paso Robles’ BarrelHouse Brewery will have full pours of their beers for sale at the event. The event is for those 21-years-old and over.
DR. JEANINE KRAYBILL DISCUSSES THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
As part of her regular segment on “The Richard Beene Show,” Cal State University Bakersfield political science professor Dr. Jeanine Kraybill visited with Richard Beene to discuss the Senate’s version of the Affordable Care Act.
TAKE A TOUR OF THE RENOVATION OF GRIFFITH FIELD AT BAKERSFIELD HIGH
POLICE INVESTIGATE YOKUTS PARK STABBING
A man was stabbed Thursday morning in Bakersfield’s Yokuts Park, and now the Bakersfield Police Department is searching for the suspect.
Police said the stabbing victim suffered non-life threatening injuries to his upper torso, but was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police said they were called at 10:47 a.m. to the park about a report of a stabbing.
Police said their initial investigation revealed that the two men were involved in an altercation before the suspect stabbed the victim. The suspect fled on foot. The suspect is described as white male, 30-40 years of age, blonde hair, goatee, with tattoos on his arms and neck.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation, or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department (661) 327-7111.
AND HERE'S WHY THEY HAVE THESE RAMPS ON THE GRAPEVINE
CalTrans cameras recently captured why there are runaway truck ramps on the northbound side of Interstate 5 as truckers and motorists make their descent into the Central Valley. A runaway truck used the gravel-based ramp, which helps slow the momentum of big trucks, and slid for several feet before coming to a stop.
