Recent Blog Posts: Tehachapi News

I ended up at Edwards Air Force base on my way to Mammoth?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:54:24 PDT

I did....believe it....or not!

Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!

It's the

Newsletter..."Funkdafied" edition!

School’s almost back in session for all you college folk and high school is right around the corner.

Did anyone really get a chance to take a vacation? I did ... Sorry!?

Our economy isn’t doing too well, but that doesn’t mean you have to give in and be a bore.

I managed to save up some dough, play a few extra gigs with my band Mento Buru and off it was to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland, yes Knott’s AND Dis.

I don’t care how old you are, once I pass through an amusement park gate, I turn into the biggest kid. Two days of running around, Tower of Terror, Indiana Jones, and stinky people. It wasn’t that bad — after a while, I came to the conclusion that we all have a “funky” side as humans, and there’s only so much AXE spray to save the world — just go with it. Shout out to my not-so-stinky son Mark, Josey, and her son, Brendan who joined me for the adventure.

When I got back to the office, Bakotopia was in full swing, and we’re back and packed with fruit-flavor!

In this issue: Jarod Palmer Intrudes and Alerts!; NL survives the Comic-Con nerdathon; Buck Shot gets berzerk; Jason Frost gets evicted, if you don’t take his books; a punk lit party at Russo’s; 800lb Gorilla is giving away a sweet bass; Gamestor Gil talks Maddenflu; Circa Survive magically appears; and more!

I heard from Chase — our former Super Intern — last week, and he says all is well in San Diego (so far). Good Luck, homie!

Don’t forget to visit our wonderful advertisers who keep us FREE! And if you spot an empty Bakotopia magazine rack, let us know, so we can fill you back up!

Special “Gracias” to photographer Joseph Gomez, who came in to save the day last minute.

(CLICK ON ANY PIC BELOW TO BE RE-DIRECTED AND READ NOW!)

NEW BAKOTOPIA MAGAZINE ISSUE 34 IS HERE!
"INTRUDER ALERT - BAKO'S OWN ONE MAN COMPU JAM!!
(CLICK ON COVER AND FIND A RACK WITH OUR NEW MAP!)

COVER STORY: "JAROD PALMER - INTRUDER ALERT!"
Local electronica phenom is on tour now!

LIVE FROM COMIC-CON 2008! A BAKOTOPIA EXCLUSIVE!

BAKO MMA FIGHTERS AT TACHI PALACE! LIVE PIX!

ENTER TO WIN TIX TO SEE RAPPER ICE CUBE IN CONCERT ON 8/27/08!

BUCK SHOT - THE NEW HEADBANGIN' HOOTENANNY!

CONTEST: TAKE MY BOOKS PLEASE! JASON FROST NEEDS HELP!

GAMIN' WITH GIL - WEEKLY VIDEOGAME NEWS!

LES OF 800LB GORILLA IS GIVING AWAY THE BUCK OWENS BASS!

ANTHONY GREEN OF CIRCA SURVIVE - BAKOTOPIA INTERVIEW!

LIVE PIX: KISS TRIBUTE BAND - GODS OF THUNDER AT FISHLIPS 7/19!

ANGST-FILLED NOVELIST HAS SOMETHIN' FOR LULU AND YOU!
COMING TO RUSSO'S BOOKS - 8/9/08!

LOCAL CONSUMER LEAVES OPEN LETTER TO BODY XCHANGE - YOUR THOUGHTS?

THE HIPPEST AND BEST EVENTS IN BAKERSFIELD!! GET YOURS LISTED FREE!

PIX FROM ALL KINDS OF LIVE EVENTS IN BAKO! DID OUR BAKORAZZI GET YOU?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! WE LOVE YOU ALL!
WANNA SEE YOURSELF IN OUR DELIGHTFUL, DELICIOUS MAG?
NEXT DEADLINE FOR ALL STORIES, EVENTS AND PICS: 8/13/08!

GET INVOLVED! POST YOUR STORIES! SEND US THE COOL STUFF!

Peace,

Matt

Another hotel needed?

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:57:20 PDT

I see now that the construction going on near K-Mart is a Marriot hotel. I'm not sure I see the need for another hotel in Tehachapi. It is nice to see growth in Tehachapi, but it should be "useful" growth. That spot would have been a great location for a Trader Joe's!

At least it is not another Mexican restaurant.

Dogs in the Attic (Pet Abuse... Again.)

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:44:55 PDT

This past weekend we witnesses yet another despicable case of animal abuse in Tehachapi. I hate sharing these stories, but they need to be told. Situations like this should not be swept under the rug, no matter how uncomfortable they are.

One of our customers is building a new house and it's still under construction. About two weeks ago, someone dumped off some Chihuahuas to fend for themselves. They were seen running around outside, but no one was able to catch them. Then, they somehow managed to get up into the attic of the house under construction, where no one could reach them. The dogs began using fiberglass insulation as bedding. The family tried to catch the dogs for several days, but it took some cat traps with food to accomplish that. One dog was even dry walled into a room and he dug his way back out, hurting his paws and nails.

The adult female dog was brought in to our shot clinic this past Saturday, but the vet said she was too thin and dehydrated to risk shots. The third dog, an un-neutered male (probably dad) was caught on Sunday and brought into the store. He was scared to death and it took me an hour to coax him out of the crate. He had skin irritation from the fiberglass, ticks, drywall in/under his nails from digging at it, and stunk like you-know-what. We gave him a bath and he's now at a foster home.

If anyone is interested in adopting these dogs, they will be available shortly through A Safe & Secure Rescue. For more information on these and other homeless animals that need permanent homes, please visit the S&S Rescue website at http://www.asafeandsecurerescue.org. Other local rescues with adoptable pets include the THS http://tehachapihumane.org/, Canine Canyon Ranch Rescue http://caninecanyonranch.org/ and STOP http://thestoppers.org/

Dumping defenseless animals to fend for themselves is not only immoral, it is a crime punishable by law. No matter how dire your circumstances, there are always options to abandonment. Our website lists numerous organizations you can call, so there are NO excuses for this behavior. If none of these entities are available to help, it's much kinder to euthanize a pet than subject it to pain, suffering and an unknown death.

Wine and cheese

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:37:21 PDT

RIceme the wine cellar has panini sandwiches that can be made into vegan or vegatarian. one of the cooks there is vegetarian just have your sister ask for no cheese. The red wine is great even some white wine is great. I also love the red and the beer is diverse and cold. It will be a great time for you, your sister or anyone else that you bring there.

flipflop

Tehachapi High School Multi-Year Reunion: Saturday, 16 August 2008

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:16:12 PDT

MONDAY, 11 AUGUST 2008 UPDATE

DEADLINE EXTENDED!!

Hello all:
I just got off the phone with Tina at the BVS Resort. I prepaid for those who paid so far, but she gave me the okay to add more people until Thursday this week! So if you still wanted to come the deadline has been extended until August 14th. Spread the word. If you are going to mail a check it needs to go out today or tomorrow at the latest. At this point the best way to pay would be via credit card on paypal.

As of today we have 93 attendees and 71 are former classmates!

Please help me spread the word!
Thanks,
Allison

Allison Fallick-Mupas
Aug 11 2008 12:07 PM PST

*****

****SATURDAY, 9 AUGUST UPDATE****

Hey, everybody! See Allison's comment below that ALL Tehachapi High School Alumni are welcome to the multi-year reunion! Mimi, Vader, yaso, eek, (EVERYONE!!), sign-up and pass the word!!

.....

I've heard that some folks aren't aware of the THS Multi-Year Reunion that's right around the corner. Following are the details, which can also be found via www.classmates.com

Event Type: Reunion

When:
Aug 16 2008 6:30 PM -
Aug 16 2008 11:30 PM

In-Person Event: Confirmed

Where:
Oak Tree Country Club
29500 N Lower Valley Rd
Tehachapi, CA 93561 USAmap

Price: $65.00 payment info

Organizer: Allison Fallick-Mupas

Posted Jan 10, 2008 10:17:26 PM PST
Created By Allison Fallick-Mupas
Reunion: Seeking photos from 86-91
For the Multi-Year Reunion if you wish to send me any fun or cute photos to be used to make a presentation for the reunion please scan and send them to Allison Mupas or e-mail for a postal address. Please put names and dates on a sheet with the photo or on the back of the photo and a postage paid envelope if you wish to have the photos returned. Thanks, Allison

Posted Jul 28, 2008 7:56:23 PM PST
Created By Allison Fallick-Mupas
Reunion: Multi Class Reunion
Hey everyone... The date is quickly approaching and I am hearing rumors that people are planning on Crashing the reunion! Here is the scoop! The resort will not have the ability to accommodate Crashers! I have to pay for everyone who is attending about 1 week prior to the event. They pre-order their food and will not be able to accommodate changes after that point! If someone shows up at 6:30 who has NOT prepaid they will be told to come back at 9:30pm and when they return they will be charged $30.00 to cover costs of the room, planning expenses & DJ. So they might as well be encouraged to come for the whole party! PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! FINAL PAYMENT MUST BE IN MY HANDS BY AUGUST 9th! There will be a list at the front door of who has paid. If you have not yet RSVP'd please take a minute now and do so! Thank you for your help spreading the word! Allison

Posted Aug 04, 2008 8:24:10 PM PST
Created By Allison Fallick-Mupas
Event News: IF YOU RSVP'd YES
People who have RSVP'd yes need to have also prepaid in order to be counted for the reunion. I have to prepay for each person so I need the money in my hands by next Saturday August 9th, 2008 either via check or paypal. NO PAYMENTS WILL BE TAKEN AT THE DOOR...Help me spread the word!!!

Apathy in Alpine Forest

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:42:32 PDT

Hello, I just received in the mail a notice that our H.O.A. was not able to reach a quorum for electing a new board of directors. Again ! This is the second attempt for this election.

I do believe apathy is the reason for this, no one wants a continuation of mismanagement on the part of the board of directors. I think those who have not voted yet have not done so, hoping that the association will just fade away.

Will this be the case, or will it just allow the current inadequate board to stay on as the free spending mismanage rs that they are ?

What is the scenario now ?

No News ?

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:35:06 PDT

It's Monday ........were is the news ????????????

Is anyone else tired of seeing City Councilman Stan Beckham liver spotted face every time you log into the TN.........I know I am..............The man is not easy on the eyes..........were is the news ???

Canine Creek Makes a Great Offer!

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:59:50 PDT

If you wish to donate towards cat food for the cats we are currently trapping, Susie at Canine Creek has offered it at her cost so we would get more for the buck! This offer is only being made for today, so please let her know before 6 p.m. today.

Call @ 822-0307

Online @ www.caninecreek.com

e-mail @ info@caninecreek.com

Lost Dog - Male Queensland Mix

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:32:16 PDT

8/4/08 - Male Queensland Heeler mix lost on 7/27. Blue merle color, long tail, wearing a leather collar with studs. Last seen in the area of Schout & Backes Roads. If found please call 428-6380 or 822-4698.

wine and cheese cellar

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:43:57 PDT

I saw some of you talked about the wine and cheese cellar, I wanted you to know that if dont like wine it has great cold beer also. They have a lot of different beer to choose from and its really fun to try something that you wouldn't normally get in a restaurant. On the front of the tehachapi news was a sticky note and it said there is going to be a beer tasting on the 9th of Aug from 12-3. It has to be as good as the wine tasting if its something the wine and cheese cellar is hosting. Its a great place to eat, take friends its a great time

A Plea for Help

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:48:31 PDT

The following information is a cross-post from the Tehachapi Humane Society. If you remember the recent case where dog and cats (dead and alive) were taken from the home of an animal hoarder, that's what this is referring to. If you are able to help in ANY way -- fostering, adoption, money, anything! -- please contact Sharon at the Tehachapi Humane Society at kcornelison@bak.rr.com. With NO government run animal shelter in Tehachapi, our private rescourses are tapped out, and we need help from the public. Your assistance and compassion are greatly appreciated. Susie

FROM THE TEHACHAPI HUMANE SOCIETY...

"The THS has trapped seven cats and reports from a neighbor said Animal Control Trapped seven and this same neighbor took one. We were told there is at least one maybe two more cats so that would be a total of 17 unless we come up with more. These cats were all indoor cats and we can't say much about their behavior or friendliness because the trauma of all the different people in and out of the house has them truly scared to death yet I never heard any growl and none spit or tried to scratch as they were put in our cars and then transferred from traps to cages. They are all adults and as far as we know have been spayed or neutered as we never found any kittens and Deborah had all the dogs fixed for sure. We don't think they are sick as was first reported to us. I saw no runny noses or eyes, none seem lethargic and I didn't notice any runny BM signs at the house.

We have no foster homes for these cats and no prospects of permanent homes at this time. I have them at my house, but can't keep them here much beyond Monday or Tuesday as this will play havoc with my three dogs and four cats. If you or anyone you know might feel they can give these poor cats a second chance please contact me. They are in desperate need of some loving care. Sharon"

4-H General Meeeting

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:33:57 PDT

Four Seasons 4-H will be holding it's general meeting on Tuesday Aug 5 at Central Park. We will be holding eleclections and holding a potluck BBQ. We will also be playing water games.

4-H is a program for ages 5-19 and enables all youth to reach their fullest potential through:

Developing citizenship, leadership, and life skills
Learning by doing
Utilizing the knowledge and resources of the land-grant university system
4-H enables youth to have fun, meet new people, learn new life skills, build self-confidence, learn responsibility, and set and achieve goals!

We have many projects to choose from. Arts n Crafts, Gardening, Foods & Nutrition, Food Preservation, Sewing, Poultry, Rabbits, Dairey Goats, Market Goats Swine, Sheep, Beef(steer), Mini Horses, Lg Horses and many more. We also have a mini 4-H project just for our 5-8 year old children.

Just come to our meeting and join th fun.

Brenda Smith

822-1461

Kids and Critters

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:08:19 PDT

Kids and critters make for some interesting interactions, like what do you do if you’re a kid and catch a porcupine? This is not “Can I have a pony?” or the kind of animal you tell the folks “It followed me home; can I keep it?”

While camping out in the Piutes prospecting for tungsten at the time of the Tehachapi earthquake my dog Tippy showed up with a nose full of porcupine quills. After doctoring Tippy, I fashioned a lasso from a length of rope and went in search of the critter and found it not far away under a large pine tree. It wasn’t difficult to get the loop over the critter’s head and I dragged it back to our camp at Saddle Springs. Now I had a pet porcupine. But other than looking at it and marveling at the strangeness of it what does anyone do with a porcupine? It isn’t like I could pet it or teach it any tricks, but for some odd reason it just seemed like the thing to do; lasso the very large porcupine and drag it back to our camp.

Maybe I was just trying to get even with the critter for hurting Tippy? After all, Tippy wasn’t the kind of dog to harm critters and might have just been curious and here this forest varmint gives him a nose full of quills rather than being friendly! After a time, I released the porcupine not having the foggiest notion of what else to do with it though I suppose it might have made a dinner for us. I was raised not to be squeamish about such things, and grandad being quite wise in wilderness lore taught me better than to name something we might eat or putting up with any nonsense about a pet “Yearling.”

But there is no accounting for the way kids and critters sometimes relate. One night I was awakened by a faint scratching sound inside our cabin on the mining claim. I had a flashlight by my bed and shined it in the direction of the slight sound and there was a skunk on the draining board of our sink. We didn’t have electricity or indoor plumbing, but grandad had put in a sink where we could wash dishes and the water drained outside the cabin. Apparently the skunk was looking for something to eat.

I was fascinated by the thought of having a pet skunk, but being nocturnal it would only visit at night so I began to leave scraps of food for it before going to bed. For some reason it didn’t seem prudent for me to advise my grandparents of my visitor (Of such decisions on the part of children often come the nightmares of parents). This worked quite well until I forgot to put Tippy out for the night.

We were all awakened by the pungent odor, and when grandad lit the coal oil lamp a smoky blue haze could be seen hanging in the air. Seems Tippy had once more tried to be friendly with a critter and the skunk didn’t cotton to him. Grandad exhibiting a downright uncharitable attitude toward my pet skunk set about its demise with cyanide-laced sardines. But the skunk having tangled with Tippy and apparently not wanting to make friends with him did not return. However, grandad’s plan did result in finding our cat dead as a doornail the following day.

The Sequoia National Forest was an idyllic place for a boy like me before the Isabella Dam was built and the lake went in. The thousands of acres in which I hunted and fished back then without ever encountering another person seemed designed for a natural born, budding mountain man and I imagined myself taking my rightful place alongside Kit Carson and other worthies; it was just the critters and me without any interlopers or outside interference; absolutely grand and as I came to appreciate an enchanted, almost fairytale world all my own.

There were the drawbacks to be sure; having only a woodstove and fireplace for cooking and heating required I cut down trees, sawed, chopped and split a lot of wood, but because of this I was never in better physical shape in my life though while other children dreamed of bicycles I dreamed of having a chainsaw, but never got one. And living with only a hand-dug well for water presented difficulties of its own.

When it comes to the great outdoors I have no illusions about the simple life in such an environment and I continue to marvel at what it took for my maternal great-grandmother and grandparents to have lived in such harsh, demanding, and very unforgiving conditions. I was a boy and took it all in stride, but what fortitude the old folks must have had to do so without ever a word of complaint speaks of the kind of character they had as my role models. Me complain about living without A/C or a swamp cooler here in the Kern River Valley during the heat of summer? Not hardly. I’m grateful for just having electricity and indoor plumbing. And in winter there is no having to heat water in a kettle on a woodstove after kindling and lighting that in the mornings to thaw out the hand pump for a well. I turn on a tap and out comes the water; but it is something that because of my having lived without such a wonder I have never taken for granted.

But I miss many things here in the valley I enjoyed as a boy. At the beginning of each summer I would move my bed outside under an old pine and fall asleep to the music only a pine tree can make as a soft and fragrant evening breeze brushed the needles of the tree with a pleasing sound as though an angel’s hands were gently moving over the strings of a heavenly harp.

There were seldom any bears around our place, so I didn’t worry about them as I slept outdoors. Of more worry now would be the two-legged barbarous, uncivilized creatures without any of the redeeming qualities of those found in nature.

Despite the lack of a population for society or the entertaining diversions common to city dwellers there was plenty of excitement to be found in nature for a boy like me. There was the time I was hunting quail for the family pot and Tippy chased up a mountain lion and seemed to aim it in my direction; but the big cat made a 90 degree turn from me as it abruptly showed up at a slow trot only about fifteen feet away! At least I had the good sense not to irritate the lion or get its attention with a load of #8 from a singleshot .410.

We never killed any wild critters excepting those that threatened livestock or as food for our table. Rattlesnakes and ground squirrels were the exceptions, and I dutifully effected the transmigration of these to the nether regions without a pang of conscience. Never in my life have I seen so many fleas as found on a ground squirrel!

It seems it takes too many people crowding in where nature never intended them to turn everything topsy-turvy. I don’t begrudge folks wanting to live with nature, but they should understand that nature has its own rules it plays by. But I would caution parents who think nature will accommodate curious children without threat or injury.

Looking back it amazes me that I survived some of the experiences I had here as a boy, some of which had I shared them with my grandparents might have given them heart failure! Guardian angels? Perhaps. But they do seem almost capricious at times, seeming to be quite choosey about who to guard from what, and nowhere in the literature fabulous as it may be about them do I find any accommodation for just plain stupidity; of such are those in my opinion for example that believe lions and tigers make neat pets. I do admit to having a prejudice against caging wild animals even in zoos.

I would far rather nature was allowed to follow its own rules, but humans just seem determined to bend nature to their own will. I have to suppose from my own experience nature has a way of catching out the foolish and dealing with them. That the ways of nature are dreadfully harsh at times should be a lesson for all of us humans, but it seems we are determined to flaunt nature, even too often seeming to despise our own planet and treating it contemptuously and that I have to believe is to our own harm.

While nature is indeed red in tooth and claw, harsh and unforgiving of the foolish it is for us to accommodate ourselves to nature, not to destroy as is the way of overpopulation and growing demands on dwindling resources the good things nature supplies. Looking back I realize there are some things I learned from my pioneer life it has taken a lifetime to appreciate. I can only hope there are many without such an experience that will appreciate these things as well before it is too late and kids no longer have a chance to learn from nature and its critters in the wild.

Local weeds?

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:26:42 PDT

Hey everyone!

As a first time gardener (and naturally curious person), I am wondering what the most prominent weeds are in my now extensive collection. Can any enthusiasts out there enlighten me? If you have a tested way to keep these particular buggers away, that would be great, but I'm also just curious as to what they are.

Thanks!

Elk

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:53:08 PDT

Took this the other day. There were five of them in the field across the street.