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        <title>Recent Posts : Tehachapi News</title>
        <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com</link>
        <description>Recent Posts on http://www.tehachapinews.com</description>
        <language>en-us</language>
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                <title>Terle Named to Dean’s List at Washington University</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72198</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285059/0/0/" width="100" height="96" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;On Aug. 20, Julia Terle, of Tehachapi, was name to the Dean&amp;rsquo;s List for the spring 2008 semester at Washington University in St. Louis. Terle is a graduate of Tehachapi High School and is enrolled in the university&amp;rsquo;s College of Arts &amp;amp; Sciences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To qualify for the Dean&amp;rsquo;s List in arts &amp;amp; Sciences, students must earn a semester grade point average of 3.5 or above and be enrolled in at least 14 graded units.&lt;br /&gt;
Washington University is counted among the world&amp;rsquo;s leaders in teaching and research and it draws students and faculty to St. Louis from all 50 states and more than 125 countries. More than 13,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional students enroll each year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The university&amp;rsquo;s 3,140 faculty teach in seven schools: Arts &amp;amp; Sciences, Olin Business School, Sam Fox School of Design &amp;amp; Visual Arts, School of Engineering &amp;amp; Applied Science, School of Law, School of Medicine and George Warren Brown School of Social Work. Twenty-two Nobel laureates have been associated with Washington University, with nine doing the major portion of their pioneering research here.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The university offers more than 90 programs and almost 1,500 courses leading to bachelor&amp;rsquo;s, master&amp;rsquo;s and doctoral degrees in a broad spectrum of traditional and interdisciplinary fields, with additional opportunities for minor concentrations and individualized programs.&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Cadets team up to present the colors at festival, school board meeting</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72196</link>
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                                    &lt;p&gt;This past weekend, cadets from Edwards Composite Squadron and Tehachapi Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol teamed up to perform the colors in the Mountain Festival parade and at the Tehachapi Unified School District meeting. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cadet Sgts., Matt and Niko Lopez, Rusty McCullough, Michael Riley (pictured) and Aaron Haak supported these events.&amp;nbsp; Cadets have supported their communities with colors at the THS graduations, Jacobsen graduations,&amp;nbsp; Memorial Day, July 4, as well as events at Edwards Air Force Base. These are just part of the civic responsibilities that cadets learn, disciplines in drill, uniform wear, customs and courtesies are all part of the Cadet Program. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Cadet Riley is the Cadet Commander for the Tehachapi Squadron. He leads the weekly meetings for cadets, carrying out the agenda and making sure cadets gain the knowledge and training that is required. He was appointed to the position after a resume submittal and review board.&amp;nbsp; Cadets learn early how to present themselves and interview.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Recently the Tehachapi Squadron held an &amp;quot;Open House&amp;quot; to highlight the activities and programs that are part of Civil Air Patrol. Visitors went through various stations to learn about the Cadet Programs, Aerospace Education and Emergency Services that CAP members (both adults and cadets) provide. Senior Member Chela Czirr (pictured) is shown conducting a hands on activity for interested persons with the &amp;quot;Alka-Fuji&amp;quot; Rockets. Lt. Kristabel Elam (pictured) is demonstrating how CAP members search for downed aircraft with Directional Finding equipment. Kristabel is a former cadet of 12 years and currently has enlisted in the US Air Force and will be a linguist. Maj Bob Souza (pictured) is explaining details about flight opportunities in CAP with his personal aircraft. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Several guest visitors also attended, former Cadet Casey Schaubschlager (pictured in uniform, with former cadet Joe Eastwood). Casey was a cadet for 10 years and Joe for 5 years. Casey, during his time as a cadet received National Honor Cadet at the National Cadet Competition in 2001. Casey is now retired from the US Marine Corps after two tours in Iraq. He has returned to serving in CAP at the Bakersfield Squadron Civil Air Patrol to &amp;quot;give back&amp;quot; to the cadet program there.&amp;nbsp; Also attending was Chaplain Major Wes Claire, National Guard (Vicar at the St Jude&#039;s Episcopal Church in Tehachapi.) The Chaplain opened the event with a dedication prayer.&lt;br /&gt;
Cadets do not have to go into the military from Civil Air Patrol. The leadership skills and disciplines they learn in the Cadet Program put them in the forefront in many corporate jobs as well as Police, Fire and Health Services. Most cadets also continue serving their community, state and nation in many ways; volunteerism is the spirit of Civil Air Patrol.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Civil Air Patrol started in Dec. 1941 out of war time homeland civilian assistance and was established by Congress in 1947 as a non-profit organization and Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Civil Air Patrol supports their Community, state and nation by volunteer efforts of it&#039;s members in Disaster Relief, Search and Rescue, Cadet Youth Programs (age 12-18) and Aerospace Education to the public. Fore more information on Civil Air Patrol, www.capnhq.gov &amp;lt;http://www.capnhq.gov/&amp;gt;&amp;nbsp; or call your local unit 867-9934 (evenings).&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Employees Recognized for Service at Tehachapi Unified School District meeting</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72194</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285052/0/0/" width="100" height="97" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;At its first general meeting on Monday, Aug. 18, the Tehachapi Unified School District opened the 2008-2009 school year with a presentation of the colors by Tehachapi Composite Squadron 46 of the Civil Air Patrol and a beautiful rendition of the national anthem sung by Maria Werth, a new substitute for the school district. Gary Warner, president of the school board, then thanked all employees for their contributions to TUSD. &amp;ldquo;It&#039;s humbling,&amp;rdquo; he said. &amp;ldquo;I&#039;ve got the best seat in the room because I&#039;m looking at you, the people that make us great.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Dr. Richard Swanson, TUSD Superintendent, then proceeded to share the results of a lengthy strategic planning process and asked that all future decisions be made with reference to the plan. &amp;ldquo;I&#039;ve worked at many other districts, and I must say that this district has the greatest potential to be great,&amp;rdquo; he said. &amp;ldquo;We&#039;re going from good to great,&amp;rdquo; he added.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As a cap to the meeting, and among applause and cheers by their colleagues, employees were awarded certificates and pins for milestone service years as follows:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Five years of service: Debra Haycock, THS VP Secretary; Carol Horst, THS Art; Mary Krantz, Extended Day Care; Patricia McCormick, Extended Day Care; Penelope Miles, Noon Supervisor; Patricia Pinkard, CV SDC; Gunilla Ream, Noon supervisor/day care; Chad Rhinehardt, Crossing Guard/noon supervisor; Martha Strauss, JMS Secretary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ten years of service: Peggy Carey, Title 1 aide; Carie Cerda, Payroll technician; Kristi Cowee, JMS,&amp;nbsp; 8th grade math; Lorna Hansen, Technology; Julie Heaslet, THS/ROP; Garry Parrott, Tompkins 4th grade; Carin Reddig, Library Clerk; Sandra Resendiz, Custodian; Karen Scaggs, THS Social Studies; Larry Scaggs, JMS, science; Rick Scott, Tompkins 5th grade; Debbie Slemp, JMS science; Emily Van Andel, CV 3rd grade; Jean Wright, CV Library Clerk.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Fifteen years of service: Mark Bernacchi, JMS math; Janna Calaway, JMS language arts; Joan Cooper, THS math; Gloria Cornielle, Noon Supervisor; Debra Franchere, JMS Library Technician; Susan Galloway, JMS language arts; Laura Haight, JMS 6th grade; Sandy Hiner, Tompkins Music; Lauren Hollen, THS science; Robert Hutton, Maintenance and Operations; Valerie Kerr, JMS Secretary; Lauralyn Lockway, CV 2nd grade; Kelly Maddox, bus driver; Lora Minton, JMS 6th grade; Michael Pierce, Tompkins Adaptive P.E.; Alex Robb, Tompkins 5th grade; Jana Walker, Tompkins 2nd grade; Lynette Zahnow, Food Service, Liz Gividen, RSP Cummings Valley&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Twenty years of service: Anna Cardiel, school bus driver; Sally Ehli, purchasing clerk; Martin Feehan, JMS Technology; Liz Heinchon, Transitional 1st Tompkins; Kathryn Hinkle, CV 2nd grade; Stephanie Hoehne-Mattly, Tompkins; Jackie Lawlor, JMS; Theresa Morrow, GH Kindergarten; William Smith, THS Social Studies; Craig Waldram, THS/JMS music.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Twenty-five years of service: Robert Cesena,&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Custodian; Richard Cotta, THS Agricultural Mechanics; Cliff Wiggins, THS English.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Thirty years of service: Pam Alvarez, Food Service Supervisor.&lt;br /&gt;
Thirty-five years of service: Cheryl Wright, CV 2nd grade.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Tehachapi Unified School District Welcomes New Teachers</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72193</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285051/0/0/" width="100" height="56" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;The Tehachapi Unified School District welcomed ten new teachers at a special meeting on Aug. 15 designed to give them an early start to the school year. &amp;ldquo;What a wonderful and energetic group of teachers!&amp;rdquo; exclaimed Bobbie Wieder, Chief Administrator for Personnel Services. &amp;ldquo;They are going to fit right in with the rest of our great staff,&amp;rdquo; she added.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Sean Clifton - THS, math/geometry/algebra&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I love being able to share something that I am passionate about with students and watching students understand something for the first time. I have heard great things about the programs at THS. I also live in the community and I look forward to supporting and encouraging students in and out of school.&amp;rdquo; Sean enjoys &amp;ldquo;hanging out&amp;rdquo; with his family, youth group, soccer, golf, racquetball and backpacking.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Derek Devine - Golden Hills, 4th/5th grade Special Day Class&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I love having the opportunity to help a child realize the many possibilities that await them. I chose to teach in Tehachapi because I love the idea of working close to home.&amp;rdquo; Derek is a real outdoorsman with hobbies of basketball, tennis, hiking and camping.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Amber Epley - THS, geography/world history&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I love teaching because the students give me new insights into the world every day. My husband and I fell in love with this beautiful community.&amp;rdquo; Interestingly, Amber stays busy by cooking, reading and working on cars!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Danielle R. Evansic - THS, math&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I enjoy the enthusiasm, when the students master a concept or just experience something new. We live in Tehachapi, and I would love to contribute to the community and help the district achieve/surpass its goal of &#039;good to great&#039;.&amp;rdquo; Danielle is interested in crafts, camping and aerospace.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;David Gamble - JMS, choir/guitar&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I&#039;m very passionate about teaching and love to watch student growth. My father, &#039;Chick,&#039; taught choir here for 36 years where I got my exposure to music. I also love the community.&amp;rdquo; Not surprisingly, David enjoys music, arts and entertainment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Scott Heitman - THS, 11th/12th grade Special Day Class&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;The students keep me young and energetic. I chose Tehachapi because it&#039;s a small town and has good kids.&amp;rdquo; Scott spends his free time golfing or riding motorcycles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paula Macon - THS, US history/government&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to have a positive impact on the students I am entrusted with on a daily basis. I also love the fact that I learn from them every day! My family and I have been coming to Tehachapi for many years to visit my sister and her family. We have always loved the community spirit of Tehachapi and the family values that are portrayed throughout town. To be able to live and work in such a great town is a blessing.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Donna Marchand - JMS, Special Day Class/Severely Handicapped&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I love the sparkle in the students&#039; eyes when they grasp the new concepts I am introducing. I chose Tehachapi because of the clean air, small town and small schools for our children. I have five children ranging from six to twenty-nine and four grandchildren.&amp;rdquo; Donna will fit right in with her sewing, reading and canning.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paul Marchand - THS, math&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I enjoy seeing the students understand the concept being taught, and I like the small community.&amp;rdquo; Paul also likes hiking and skiing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Paul Press - THS, Vice Principal&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I enjoyed the interaction with students and helping them succeed as a teacher for 16 years. As a vice principal, I enjoy the organizational part and watching the entire school work together to achieve a goal. Having been born and raised in Bakersfield, it was natural for me to come to Tehachapi for the weather and air quality. The best part is the friendliness; in my over 20 years in education, these kids in Tehachapi are the most outstanding I&#039;ve ever been around.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Brooke Tighe - JMS, 7th/8th grade math&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;One of my most rewarding experiences is igniting excitement in a student who normally shows no interest. I live in Tehachapi, and I am very excited to be a part of my community.&amp;rdquo; Brooke enjoys hiking, skiing and puzzles.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dennie Wagnon - District Office, Teacher-Special Assignment&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;ldquo;I am going to enjoy the challenge of this new job, especially after 21 years of teaching. It will be an opportunity to use my expertise and talents in a new way. I appreciate the vision of the school district and am excited about participating in making it happen!&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;strong&gt;Adam Whittier - Spanish, Tehachapi High School&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Adam is a Tehachapi native and is returning after living in Spain for one year and Ecuador for two. &amp;ldquo;Interaction with students and teaching them concepts they can take with them for a lifetime is amazing&amp;rdquo; &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Local student inducted into National Honor Roll</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72192</link>
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                                    &lt;p&gt;The National Honor Roll recognizes Alexis M. Lee as a high-achieving high school student. &amp;ldquo;Young people such as our inductees, who work hard to attain academic success, deserve to be congratulated,&amp;rdquo; says Lynn Romero, Publisher of the National Honor Roll. &amp;ldquo;Honoring their achievements provides motivation and encourages them to continue striving toward their goals. We&amp;rsquo;re proud to include them in the National Honor Roll.&amp;rdquo;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The National Honor roll offers several benefits that can contribute to the success of its student members. For students recognized for the 2007/2008 school year, National Honor Roll set aside $25,000 to be shared among 25 of its qualifying inductees. All members are entitled to compete for these National Honor Roll Awards for Academic Achievement, which will be awarded in December.&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Exchange Students</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72191</link>
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                                    &lt;p&gt;International high school exchange students are coming to study in the Tehachapi area during the 2008-09 school year. These students will integrate themselves into a Tehachapi area family with the goal of experiencing American culture as an American high school student does. In turn, they will provide insight into their own culture. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;STS Foundation, a non profit student exchange organization, is proud to help facilitate these relationships. They have been doing so for the past 20 years and look forward to finding new host families in Tehachapi and connecting them with exchange students. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Students like Pierre, who is a 16 year old boy from Libourne, France. He loves participating in tennis tournaments and also enjoys skiing, soccer and volleyball. He is eager to meet American people and take part in their experience. Louise is a 17 year old girl from Stockholm, Sweden, who loves playing and coaching tennis. She also enjoys participating in track and field events and is excited to experience the &amp;ldquo;school spirit&amp;rdquo; of an American high school. They are both excellent students and will have their own spending money and health insurance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The host family provides a separate bed, family meals and a safe environment. If your family is interested in being a host family please call 1-800-522-4678 or send an email to lillian@stsfoundation.org. For more information visit www.stsfoundation.org &amp;lt;http://www.stsfoundation.org/&amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Kern County College Night Sept. 8 </title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72190</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285045/0/0/" width="100" height="55" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;Having a college degree can make a difference of approximately $875,000 in a person&amp;rsquo;s lifetime earnings, according to the Employment Policy Foundation. That, among many reasons, is why high school students and parents are invited to attend the free, ninth annual Kern County College Night scheduled for Sept. 8 at the Rabobank Convention Center, 1001 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield. Taking place from 6-9 p.m., it will provide information for high school and community college transfer students and anyone interested in pursuing a college education.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Representatives from 80-100 public and private colleges, universities and trade schools from within and outside California will have booths at the event to provide information and answer questions such as: how much does college cost, what college offers the classes I need and what do I do before I enroll? Local high school and college counselors will also be available to offer advice.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Sessions dealing with financial aid, scholarships and public and private colleges will be available in English and Spanish to aid Spanish-speaking parents.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Students and parents should attend to see the many options available to graduates once they leave high school, said Pat Alexander, one of the event organizers. It is critical for high school students to be college ready. Today&amp;rsquo;s job market clearly demonstrates that training beyond high school gives students a significant economic advantage.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For additional information, contact Christine Goedhart-Humphrey, event coordinator at 636-4330.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>TWEA Open House and Ranch Sorting</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72189</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285044/0/0/" width="100" height="66" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;The Tehachapi Western Events Association&#039;s (TWEA) Grand Opening is on Aug. 30 at the new TWEA/Red Horse Arena. Kick off your Labor Day weekend by attending TWEA&amp;rsquo;s first Ranch Sorting of the season. It&#039;s part of a 3-event buckle series and the buckles are gorgeous! All riders are invited to the sorting, including non-competitors.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Open House will have free food, drinks, along with music and raffles (lots of good prizes). Bring the family and friends to see the new arena at the far end of Stallion Springs. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There will also be other events such as Playdays, Trail Trials and Trail Rides. Among the raffle prizes is a coupon for entry fee to a future TWEA event.&lt;br /&gt;
The Sorting begins around 10 a.m., but the party will go on into the afternoon. Stop by at your leisure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For directions to the TWEA/Red Horse Arena, go to www.tehachapiwesternevents.com. or call Jill or John Nelson at 878-2932 or 823-1114.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Legal Eaze</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72188</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285043/0/0/" width="72" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q:&amp;nbsp; I sold my car to a guy on a Friday night. He wrecked the car two days later and called me for help. He was driving it without insurance and title had not transferred over to him yet. He gave all of my information to the person who hit him. I agreed to help him by making a claim with my own insurance company to help him fix the car. The car was considered a total loss. Now this guy is suing me for his loss. How can I prepare myself for the Small Claims Court hearing?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A:&amp;nbsp; If you were still insured at the time of the incident and there is a claim/lawsuit against you, you should submit the claim/lawsuit to your own insurance company. One of the important duties of an insurance company is to defend their insured in a legal action where their insured and his/her driver are likely to be liable. Otherwise, you may want to consult with a civil litigator long before the hearing, since following some of his/her suggestions may take some time to put into place.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q:&amp;nbsp; While fighting a custody battle with my ex-wife, I was accused of numerous allegations such as child abuse, spousal abuse, philanderer, etc. While reading a section of California Civil Law, I read that by law, no one is allowed to defame another without evidence. Since no evidence was offered, do I have a civil lawsuit against the Superior Court since the Judge and clerks did not stop her from saying all these lies?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A.&amp;nbsp; It is highly unlikely that you would be successful in such lawsuit.&amp;nbsp; Judges are absolutely immune from suit for acts or omissions committed in their judicial capacity. As for the clerks in the courthouse, they have no power to stop a person from saying whatever he/she wants in the courtroom or courthouse. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Q:&amp;nbsp; I found finger and/or toenail clippings in my Del Monte chili.&amp;nbsp; What can I do?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A.&amp;nbsp; Throw it away and never buy Del Monte products again.&amp;nbsp; Or call Del Monte company and complain.&amp;nbsp; They&#039;ll probably send you a flat of Del Monte chili cans to replace the first one. Go back to the store where you bought and demand your money back. If you are thinking &amp;ldquo;Who can I sue to get damages?&amp;rdquo; you will have to prove what damages you suffered as a result of this find. If you did not suffer extensively from &amp;ldquo;gag-eritis&amp;rdquo;, it is unlikely that your lawsuit would be successful. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Maxine de Villefranche has been an attorney for 15 years and is practicing law in Tehachapi and Lancaster. Send your questions via fax at 825-8880 or e-mail your questions or comments to http://www.generalaw.com She will answer your questions to the best of her abilities.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Myrtle Hopkins  </title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72187</link>
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                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285042/0/0/" width="68" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;Myrtle Hopkins, a resident of Tehachapi Hospital skilled nursing unit, died at the marvelous age of 94.&amp;nbsp; Although she lived here for only six years, she was well known to her many friends as &amp;ldquo;The Lady in the Red Hat.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Born in Shanghai, China, Myrtle traveled the world throughout her long life, immigrating to America in 1941. One of her fondest memories was of the honeymoon trip she and her husband took on the Orient Express from Shanghai to meet her in laws who lived in England . &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Myrtle rose to great heights in the mortgage banking industry in the Bay Area and Southern California, breaking many &amp;ldquo;glass ceilings&amp;rdquo; on the way to the top. At one time, she was the only female member of an exclusive group comprised entirely of Mortgage Banking executives.&amp;nbsp; Special arrangements had to be made to accommodate her in a Men-Only meeting room. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Myrtle and her husband T.F.E, Hopkins, who preceded her in death 14 years ago at the age of 92, were well known hosts in their home of many years in Alameda, in the Bay Area. As founding members of the Alameda Little Theater, they enjoyed life to the fullest.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Myrtle leaves behind four children, Susan Williams of Tehachapi, Jill and Tom Teaford, of Santa Cruz, Diana Linderman, of Maui, and Gordon and Becky Hopkins, of North East Pennsylvania. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her legend continues in her grandchildren, Susan and Paul Harrison, Tom and Tina Williams, Jim and Angelise Linderman, Curt Linderman, Jill and Scott King, Liz and Frank Wada, Alex and Dominique Teaford and Arthur Hopkins. Myrtle&amp;rsquo;s grandson Scott Linderman preceded her in death many years ago. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her great-grandchildren, are Michael and Brandi Roath, Rebecca Williams, David and Christopher King, Irene Linderman, Brian and Levi Linderman and Walter Wada. Myrtle also had two great-great-grandchildren, Rhyas and Tyson Roath. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Myrtle&amp;rsquo;s nieces Lynne Norton, Margaret Carmo and Geraldine Tenney and nephew, Jim Johnson, are grieved by the loss as well. Myrtle&amp;rsquo;s brother Bill Tenney, sister-in-law Aloha Tenney, sister Bunchie Johnson and brother-in-law Paul Johnson all preceded her in death.&amp;nbsp; Myrtle was the last family member of her generation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A memorial service will be held at the Tehachapi Community Church&amp;nbsp; on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Tehachapi Community Church , 114 East E St., Tehachapi, Calif. 93561, or the Guild of Tehachapi Hospital, P. O. Box 447 , Tehachapi , Calif. 93581.&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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                    <item>
                <title>John C. Sammis</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72186</link>
                <description>
                  
                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285041/0/0/" width="100" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;John Charles Sammis, former Tehachapi resident and member of the Tehachapi Heritage League, died on June 20 in Bakersfield. He was 81 years old and passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John was born on September 28, 1926 in Xeira, Ohio. He spent his childhood years in Chicago. He enlisted in the Army and served in Germany as part of the U. S. occupation forces from 1946-1949. John returned to Chicago where he graduated from Northwestern University in electrical Engineering. Later he went on to earn his Master&amp;rsquo;s degree.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As a seasoned electrical engineer, John held numerous patents, including the design of the first in-flight airplane recorder (black box) and the interior lighting for the &lt;em&gt;Apollo&lt;/em&gt; spacecrafts. John was a computer wizard and often spoke of a time when everyone would have a computer in the home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After a long and successful career in engineering, John retired to Tehachapi. There he enjoyed the outdoors, flying sailplanes and participating in the rich history of Tehachapi through numerous projects for the Tehachapi Heritage League. He was a former president of the League and a member of the VFW, the Railroad Club and the Sheriff&amp;rsquo;s Auxiliary Unit.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John is survived by his first wife, Elizabeth and their children Beth, John and Robert and grandchildren Jessica, Sevana, Armen and Colette. In 2003 he married Evelyn Eccleston and they moved to Bakersfield due to John&amp;rsquo;s health concerns.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;John Sammis was a man of great intelligence, honor and integrity, a person of wit and grace. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Robert Wayne Smith</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72185</link>
                <description>
                  
                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285040/0/0/" width="79" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;Robert Wayne Smith, 50, passed away August 11 at his home in Lake Isabella after a lengthy illness. A family celebration of life was held August 17 in Tehachapi.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bob was the son of Don and LaDell Duncan. He was born in Hemet, Calif. September 7, 1957. He graduated from Chandler High School in North Hollywood in 1975 and in 1978 he married Karen Lee Lawhun. &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He was an accomplished aerospace machinist and was once employed by General Electric&#039;s jet engine facility in Mojave.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bob was an excellent marksman and avid gun collector. He actively supported veterans, particularly those with disabilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;He is survived by &amp;quot;his girls&amp;quot; Michelle and Stephanie Smith, his wife Karen Smith, all of Tehachapi, and his parents Don and LaDell, of Perris, Calif.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
In lieu of flowers Bob would appreciate donations to the Disabled American Veterans at DAV.GOV&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Wood Family Funeral Services of Tehachapi handled all arrangements. &lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>Mary &quot;Jessie” Mendoza</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72184</link>
                <description>
                  
                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285039/0/0/" width="77" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;Long time Tehachapi resident, Jessie Mendoza, passed away Sunday, August 17 in her home.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessie was born in Montrose, Colorado, to parents Albert Guzman Mendoza and Liboria Herrera Mendoza on October 18, 1927.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Jessie loved everyone, impacted many lives and was loved by all. She was a loving caregiver in many ways.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessie ran the only dental office in Tehachapi for many years, worked for several medical doctors and was active in the Catholic Church.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessie is survived by her dear cousins, Bertha Herrera, Ralph and Jill Herrera, Jim and Beth Herrera and Stella Adcock; brother Gus Canales&#039; children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; brother Ralph Mendoza&#039;s widow, children and grandchildren; sister Mary Lou Valdez&#039;s children Ernie, Arnold and Troy Valdez, Yvonne O&#039;Connell and recently deceased Gerald Valdez, all of whom she helped raise.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Jessie will be missed and eternally loved by her family and friends.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rosary and Mass of the Resurrection were held at St. Malachy Catholic Church and internment is at Tehachapi Public Cemetery Westside. Wood Family Funeral Service, Inc. handled the arrangements.&lt;/p&gt;
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                    <item>
                <title>Pamela Marie Wenner Magdaleno</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72183</link>
                <description>
                  
                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285038/0/0/" width="100" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;Pamela went to be with the Lord on October 4, 2003. She was survived by her father Norvin, her stepmother Rita, her husband Al, her brother Raymond and stepsisters Mary, Loretta and Teresa, and many other family members.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Pamela was troubled most of her life with a bad back. Three operations in a two year period failed to bring her relief. She was a beautiful, God-fearing woman who loved the Lord. Even in her pain she had a wonderful sense of humor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;We will never stop loving and missing you, Pamela, and look forward to being with you in heaven.&lt;/p&gt;
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                <title>First Gold Recognition for Bear Valley</title>
                <link>http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/72182</link>
                <description>
                  
                                      &lt;img src="http://www.tehachapinews.com/file/picture/285036/0/0/" width="75" height="100" border="0"/&gt;
                                    &lt;p&gt;The Special District Leadership Foundation&#039;s (SDLF&#039;s) Recognition in Special District Governance program was designed to honor special district board members and trustees, and is comprised of two distinct parts: (1) the California Special District Leadership Academy, and (2) ten hours of elective courses from one of the following &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SDLF partners:&lt;br /&gt;
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA)&lt;br /&gt;
California Association of Public Cemeteries (CAPC)&lt;br /&gt;
California Association of Recreation and Park Districts (CARPD)&lt;br /&gt;
California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA)&lt;br /&gt;
California Rural Water Association (CRWA)&lt;br /&gt;
California Special Districts Association (CSDA)&lt;br /&gt;
Fire Districts Association of California (FDAC)&lt;br /&gt;
Mosquito &amp;amp; Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;There are also district recognitions as follows:&lt;br /&gt;
Silver Recognition-districts with over 50 percent of their board and district manager recognized.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Gold Recognition-districts with all of their board members and district manager recognized.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Special District Leadership Foundation is happy to report that Bear Valley Community Services District is now the first to achieve Gold Recognition through this program.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bear Valley&#039;s recognized board members and staff are:&lt;br /&gt;
1. Bob Sheppard, Director&lt;br /&gt;
2. Don Kordes, Director&lt;br /&gt;
3. Phil Darling, Director&lt;br /&gt;
4. Alfonso Romano, Director&lt;br /&gt;
5. Ron Samuels, Director&lt;br /&gt;
6. John Yeakley, General Manager&lt;br /&gt;
7. John Martin, Assistant General Manager&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Not only has Bear Valley&#039;s entire board and executive staff been recognized and achieved Gold Recognition through the Recognition in Special District Governance Program, but both John Yeakley, general manager and John Martin, assistant general manager have taken the Special District Administrator certification examination and are certified through this program. Bear Valley Community Services District is also a District of Distinction. What a team - what a district!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you are interested in the Recognition in Special District Governance program, the Special District Administrator certification program or the District of Distinction program, please go to our brand new website at www.sdlf.org for more information or e-mail Diana Zavala at dianaz@csda.net.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;If you are interested in the Special District Leadership Academy, please click on the following link:&amp;nbsp; http://www.csda.net/index.php?option=com_content&amp;amp;task=view&amp;amp;id=193&amp;amp;Itemid=147. You can also contact the SDLF Administrator, Diana Zavala, at (916) 231-2939.&amp;nbsp; &lt;br /&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
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