Tehachapi News

 The sons and daughters of Tehachapi who are serving in the military will be acknowledged on downtown banners, the Tehachapi City Council declared at its Aug. 4 meeting at Veteran’s Hall.

Following a presentation by project organizer Janet Edwards, the council voted 5-0 to purchase banners featuring pictures and names of local men and women in the military, to be displayed on the new light poles.

“They’re making a sacrifice on a daily basis and we get lost in our own worlds,” said Edwards, 43, whose father was a Marine.

“He never got thanked for all he did,” she said.

Other project organizers are Diane Koeth and Monic a Bonham.

Edwards suggested that options for selecting those who will be on the banners “begin with Tehachapi residents who are currently deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or any designated combat zone or have died while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
The next category would be those currently service active duty in any of the armed forces outside of the United States.

The third category might be those serving active duty within the United States.
The last category might be immediate family members of a Tehachapi resident who are currently deployed to a combat zone.

Mayor Deborah Hand, citing how touched she was a t a recent fundraiser in Bear Valley Springs for wounded Marine Justin Clenard, said, “For a family who has lost a loved one -- to have that acknowledged in their community – it means so much more than the money spent on the pole. I’d be very much in support of this.”

Councilman Ed Grimes said his stepson served in Iraq “and he was one of the lucky ones. He came back. This [banners] is more permanent. This is more visible. We are proud of our soldiers. They are heroes.”

Councilman Stan Beckham asked if the wind would be a factor in ruining the banners.

City Manager Greg Garrett said a seasonal banner program under the auspices of Main Street Tehachapi and the Great Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce was established already.

 “This is a city banner,” Garrett said. “Through the RDA (redevelopment funds) we have purchased the breakaway arms, enough for a two-block area. We’ve already established the plan. We can incorporate Ms. Edwards’ project. ”

In other city council business, the members approved a lease agreement between the city and the Tehachapi Community Theatre for use of the remodeled Beekay Theater [cq on the spellings].

“We have a lease,” said Mayor Hand jubilantly after Councilman Stan Beckham challenged the deal and apparently was satisfied with the explanation.

“It’s on the cusp of not being ethical,” Beckham said preliminarily. “To turn it over to someone almost for nothing with RDA funds is unethical.”

Garrett said the building will available to other community organizations, who will rent from the theater group, which will set the fees.

City attorney Tom Schroeter said, “I think this is a political issue.”

Calling the theater operation “budget neutral,” Karl Schuck, president of the theater group, said, “We have been working very diligently with Greg. We have invested hundr eds of hours. Under the business plan we’ve devised, we have this building operate at no cost to the city. We pay for the utilities, the maintenance, the equipment, the chairs and the risers. The city is not providing any staffing or financial support.”

Schuck said if the contract were made under the state of California rules, union stagehands would earn $48 an hour for 40 hours of work, with time- and- a- half for work at night – “pricing the building out of use for more potential users. It’s a bargain.”

Councilman Phil Smith said, “It will breathe even more life into downtown. This is a no-brainer.”

The vote was 5-0 on the lease.

Carl Gehricke, whom the council named a planning commissioner at the last meeting, said he decided to decline the position after seeing Form 700, the financial disclosure document.

“They required me to fill out Form 700,” said Gehricke, who was worried about identity thef t. “It would be a public document. It would show all the property I own, my income, where I received it and any savings over $10,000.”

Gehricke is the owner of Tehachapi Bible and Bookstore on Curry, which also sells satellites for television.

Charles White, who is active in the Tehachapi Heritage League and other civic activities, accepted the planning commission position.

Kay Koski brought a group of senior ladies to thank the city council for supporting the Senior Center nutritional meals program against a threat by the county to close it down.

“We were successful,” she said. “The program has changed. Now we are bringing in meals in bulk from Rosamond. Today (Aug. 4) we had liver and grilled onions and Brussels sprouts. The seniors really enj oyed it. It is hot colorful, wholesome food. They were all impressed.”

Koski said 22 came to the center for lunch that day. She wants to build the number to 40 or 50 and increase the meals sent to homebound seniors. The seniors, she said, like to socialize and play pinochle and chicken foot.

Seniors accompanying Koski were Diane King, Jean Lind, Barbara Moore, Evelyn Nash, Hazel Owens and Gigi Gomez.