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09-05-2008
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) - The sisters of two children whose skeletal remains were found in a Bakersfield storage facility say their mother told them their siblings had gone to live with relatives.
But the sisters told The Bakersfield Californian that they "had a feeling" the bodies found earlier this month in a storage unit would be their younger siblings. Tricia and Victor Reyes were 12 and 11 years old when they went missing four years ago.
Authorities say the children's mother, Alicia Valadez, is suspected in the deaths. She died in January of complications related to drug addiction.
In an interview The Californian, sisters Vanessa and Tanya Reyes say their mother cared well for the family until she became addicted to heroin, and that's when she became abusive. Tanya Reyes says she believes the killings were a mistake.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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09-05-2008
Organizers from the American Cancer Society had plenty of coffee and sharpies on hand this morning for people stopping by to sign the Fight Back Express bus during a stop at Bakersfield's Beach Park. Tim Gibbs, a legislative advocate for the group, says more than half-a-million people die each year from cancer, and Congress must do more. He says the Fight Back Express is a rolling petition that's made more than five-hundred stops since May on a 48-state tour. For details, and to see the bus route online, visit acscan.org. You may also call the Cancer Action Network at 661-327-7827. |
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09-04-2008
Kern County has to pay $1.08 million to lawyers representing the city of Los Angeles and Orange County in the latest round in the sludge dumping fight. L.A. federal judge Gary Feess had already ruled against Kern County's Measure E, saying it was unconstitutional to block those entities from dumping biowaste out of their territory. That decision is being appealed, and Kern may appeal this latest ruling, too. |
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09-04-2008
State Cal Grant money to help students with good grades but limited income go to college is on hold until a new state budget is finally passed. Cal State Bakersfield spokesperson Kathy Miller says while we're waiting for that to happen, the chancellor's office is covering the tuition portion of those awards, while the living expense portion is being paid by the school. Bakersfield College Financial Aid Director Joan Wegner says the district is also covering Cal Grant expenses out of their own funds for now. Officials at both BC and CSUB expect to be reimbursed for those expenses once a budget is passed, although it's possible some of the money will be lost if the Cal Grant budget is cut. |
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09-04-2008
The race for the two open seats on the Kern High School District Board of Trustees just got more interesting, with the announcement that a minister of the Unity Church of Bakersfield is officially running. Standing on a soapbox at Liberty Bell Plaza today, the Reverend Chuck Cournyea said the current board has no business taking a position on a gay marriage ban in the state, because it has nothing to do with the children. He especially wants to debate incumbent Chad Vegas, whom he accuses of being part of a "religious, political machine...that's unduly influencing the public school system". Cournyea is himself a high school dropout, but says he was a success because of vocational training, and thinks that's key to stemming the high dropout rate locally. He's also calling for term limits for board members, and plans to campaign from street corners...on his soapbox...all over town. |
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09-04-2008
Bakersfield police have arrested one of two men suspected in a south Bakersfield shooting early Thursday morning. 19-year-old Jared Roberts was arrested for prowling near Monitor Street and Deanna Way shortly after the shooting of 41-year-old Roosevelt Barbee at an apartment on Balboa Drive, but at the time officers didn't find evidence connecting Roberts to the shooting. Later detectives received information implicating Roberts, and they went back to the area and found two guns, one of which is believed to be the gun used to shoot Barbee. Roberts has since been booked on attempted murder, conspiracy, gang and weapons charges. A second suspect is still at large. At last report Barbree was in critical condition at Kern Medical Center. |
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09-04-2008
Bakersfield police say the body of a man seen jumping off the Chester Avenue bridge into the Kern River Wednesday night has been recovered. 23-year-old Charles Frederick Seaman was seen jumping into the water shortly before 9:00 PM, and his body was recovered about two and a half hours later by the sheriff's search and rescue team. Police say the investigation is continuing, but so far neither suicide nor foul play is suspected. An autopsy is planned to determine if Seaman drowned or suffered a fatal injury from diving into the shallow water. |
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