TehachapiNews.com

Canyon Fire: Additional homes destroyed

Tehachapi News Staff

The Canyon Fire has taken a greater toll than previously known.

Canyon Fire 83 percent contained

Tehachapi News Staff

Cal Fire has announced progress on the Canyon Fire.

Firefighters gaining on Canyon Fire

Tehachapi News Staff

The Canyon Fire has grown to 14,802 acres and is 60 percent contained.

Environmental review, land use plan amendment proposed for Alta East Wind Project in Mojave:Scoping’ meeting in Mojave Aug. 4

The Bureau of Land Management last week announced the beginning of an environmental review of the proposed wind energy project on 3,200 acres near Mojave that a spokesman said could produce 300 megawatts of electricity.

Friends of Sand Canyon oppose wind project

Ed Gordon, Contributing Writer

Approximately 75 community members attended a meeting of  The Friends of Sand Canyon held at Dr. Beverly Billingsley’s barn on July 9 to get an update on the status of possible windmill construction in their area.

Planning down on the ranch

Deborah Hand, Columnist

The news that the Pahnamid Wind Energy project has been withdrawn from the County Planning Office is good news to most of us up here on the mountain. After spending several million dollars between the City of Tehachapi’s General Plan, the County’s Specific Plan, and the Kern Council of Government’s “Blueprint,” it would be foolish to start making zoning changes at the first opportunity. These plans all had considerable public input, and were several years in the making.

Local group sues: Tehachapi First claims Walmart EIR violated CEQA guidelines

Carin Enovijas, News Editor

Tehachapi First, a local, organization which grew out of opposition to a proposed Walmart store, reported on Friday, June 17, that is has filed a lawsuit challenging  the City of Tehachapi’s May 19 approval of a 165,000 square-foot superstore on Tucker Road.

City Council approves Walmart

Tina Forde, Staff Writer

In the span of eight minutes on May 19, the Tehachapi City Council recorded three votes that cleared the way for the Wal-Mart Corp. to build a 165,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter here.

By 5-0 voice votes, the council:
• Denied the appeal of the Tehachapi Planning Commission’s 4-1 approval of the project on Jan. 31;
• Accepted the project’s Environmental Impact Report and adopted the statement of overriding consideration; and
• Upheld the Planning Commission’s approval of the project with an additional requirement that Walmart indemnify the city in case of challenges to the EIR.

City sets Walmart hearing date

Tina Ford

On May 19, the Tehachapi City Council will continue the public hearing it started on March 28 to address an appeal of the Planning Commission’s approval of a Walmart Supercenter in Tehachapi.

The hearing is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, in the Tehachapi High School Gymnasium, 801 S. Dennison Road.

Tehachapi’s Salvation Army unit lifted up Old West Ranch fire victims

Tina Ford

Bruce Burson was just one of the Old West Ranch fire victims helped by the Tehachapi Service Unit of the Salvation Army.

The unit, under the direction of Marget Willer, provided for the most pressing needs — food, clothing, temporary shelter — as well as long-term power needs (Old West Ranch is off the grid).

Community unites to rebuild home for Old West Ranch resident

Tina Ford

On Feb. 24, workers installed seismic piers under the double-wide mobile home that Rimer Homes of Bakersfield had donated to Bruce Burson of Old West Ranch.

The piers were the last major detail Burson needed to secure a permit from Kern County so he could occupy the home.

No jail time for fire starters

Jeff Goodman, The Bakersfield Californian

The men accused of starting the Old West Ranch fire will not spend time in prison.

Daniel Gentle, 47, and Michael Kulikoff, 24, each pleaded no contest Feb. 18 to a misdemeanor charge of operating a device that kindled a fire, according to the Kern County Superior Court website. Felony charges of causing fire to an inhabited structure were dismissed. Each man paid $515 in fines and was given three years probation, court records show.