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Sinkhole swallows car in Central Bakersfield

December 6, 2013, 7:26 am
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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A sinkhole has developed and swallowed a parked car in Central Bakersfield.

17 News received multiple calls Friday morning.

Bakersfield police said it was reported just before 6 a.m. at 1st and L Streets.  Police say the vehicle was unoccupied.

It's unknown how deep the sinkhole is.

We spoke to the car owner's mother and she said it felt like an earthquake. She also said police told her to turn off her gas because there may be a possible gas leak.

Officers have closed 1st Street between L and N Streets.


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Revised, housing project for Southwest Bakersfield approved

December 6, 2013, 8:02 am
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BAKERSFIELD, CA- The Bakersfield Planning Commission approved a revised, residential development project for Southwest Bakersfield.

Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday night to move the so-called "River Run" project forward.

It calls for construction of 53 single-family homes by "Kern Land Partners, LLC" on a site once reserved for a school.

When the project was first unveiled last spring, it was a 12-acre apartment project strongly opposed by neighboring homeowners living near River Run Boulevard and Elkhorn Creek Lane. Then it was changed to condos.

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House fire displaces residents in Northwest Bakersfield

December 6, 2013, 8:13 am
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BAKERSFIELD, CA- Kern County firefighters are investigating an early morning house fire in Northwest Bakersfield.

The fire broke out around 12:40 a.m. in the 6900 block of Weldon Avenue, near Fruitvale Avenue.

Firefighters say the two-story home was 75% involved.  However, they say they were able to get the fire under control quickly and prevent it from spreading.

5 people live there, but 4 were home at the time, including a 6-year-old girl.

"There was an explosion in the garage, and when I looked at it, there was a bunch of flames. No point of putting it out. By the time we got out of the house it was out of control," said homeowner Mike Ballard.

Firefighters say the residents were able to escape due to working smoke detectors. No one one was injured.

The homeowner says their cat was treated for smoke inhalation but is expected to be ok.

Officials say damage is pegged at $250,000

The cause is under investigation.
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BPD officers injured in car chase

December 6, 2013, 9:06 am
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BAKERSFIELD, CA-  And an early morning car chase in East Bakersfield ended with an accident involving two Bakersfield Police cruisers.

Two officers in one car, and another officer and adult police explorer in the other car were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The chase started around 12:30 a.m. at Tulare and Quincy Streets, after officers say the vehicle failed to stop during a traffic stop.

Officers arrested the occupants without incident.

Police said the vehicle was stolen.
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Oil drilling dumping banned by water board

December 6, 2013, 3:22 pm
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SACRAMENTO, CA - Kern County was at the heart of a heated debate in Sacramento Thursday involving the dumping of oil drilling fluids. The water board decided to stop the practice done without question by Central Valley oil companies for decades. Staff said it is all in an effort to protect groundwater.

One by one they spoke, including environmentalists like Hollin Kretzmann from the Center for Biological Diversity.

"This is about drilling muds, but it's also priorities and values," said Kretzmann.

There were also a dozen representatives from the oil industry.

"We would strongly encourage the board to maintain the status quo," said Margaret Rosegay, the attorney representing the California Independent Petroleum Association and the Western States Petroleum Association.

The discussion was about a proposed measure to get rid of unlined mud sumps, essentially pits oil companies use to dispose of fluids that come up when drilling an oil well. Water board staff explained to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board that oil companies have had a waiver on this practice since the 1980's, but on Wednesday that allowance dried up.

"The 2008 waiver expired yesterday," said Stephen Klein, a water resources control engineer for the central valley.

Staff did not recommend renewal because they say, oil practices have changed.

"Oil drilling practices have increased since 2008," said Klein. "We have also seen an increase in drilling technologies and increases in drilling outside of existing oil fields."

This was a concern brought to staff originally by the Center for Biological Diversity.

"It's a question of whether we take the quality of water and public health seriously," said Kretzmann.

Industry representatives told the board there was no need to eliminate the waiver.

"We do not agree that techniques have changed to a degree for a new or supplemental CEQA analysis," said Rosegay.

The industry had an expert testify to the practice's safety, but in the end the board sided with staff, voting almost unanimously not to renew the waiver.

Now the only way oil companies can dump is to apply for a $1,900 permit. Kern County oil man Les Clark says he's already had a driller say this will close his business.

"The call was that we're going to shut down our drilling rig and when we get into that knowing that I represent most of the Mom and Pops in Kern County.... I have some real concerns with that," said Clark.

The board's vote does not mean that a waiver may not come back in the future. In fact, staff is already working on a year-long study to make a recommendation to the board on how to control this practice.

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Holiday song highlights the no-snow season in Bakersfield

December 6, 2013, 5:30 pm
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BAKERSFIELD, CA - While there is a chance of snow in the forecast this weekend, history has proven the chance of it falling in Bakersfield is slim to none.

And, it's our unique holiday weather that's inspired a local musician to create a Christmas song titled, "It Never Snows in Bakersfield."

Warren Dobson has been singing Christmas carols for years.

So with the soundboard in check, Dobson gets ready to warm up his pipes at a Bakersfield recording studio to sing about the piping warm weather in Bakersfield. Like sugar and spice, it's a song perfectly paired with his hometown.

Part of the lyrics say, "Down Chester Avenue they got lights on the trees. Looks so nice and Christmas-y, but it's 80 degrees!"

It's a tongue-in-cheek holiday ditty Dobson wrote for the town he loves.

"Hello Bakersfield," said Dobson right into our camera.

The Gaslight Melodrama music director created the Christmas carol years ago, inspired by the countless brown and beige Bakersfield Christmases.

"Because it doesn't snow in Bakersfield," Dobson said. "Because I'm really into Christmas, and everything you see is snow and sleighs going down the street and carolers out in the snow and white Christmases, and we don't have those in Bakersfield."

It actually has snowed in Bakersfield before, albeit the measurable amount happened almost 14 years ago on January 25,1999. A month earlier from that date on Christmas day, it was almost 52 degrees.

And, there has not been a white Christmas in Bakersfield in recorded history.

But, what has been recorded is Dobson's song. It's now part of a two-song holiday CD.

"I recycled this poor song every possible place I could, and now we've immortalized it on a beautiful CD that would make a lovely gift for every single person you know," said Dobson.

It's celebrating the city's snow less season, surrounded in the spirit of the holiday with loved ones, rather than coated in a freezing, fluffy frosting.

The two song CD is on sale at the Gaslight Melodrama. Dobson is also performing the song during his show there. It runs through December 23rd.

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Bakersfield man sentenced for toddler's death

December 6, 2013, 5:31 pm
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BAKERSFIELD, CA - A Bakersfield man will spend 25 years to life behind bars, after he was convicted of killing a three-year-old boy in 2011.

27-year-old Dustin Wedel was found guilty last month of second degree murder and child abuse in the death of James Fanshier.

On Friday, Wedel's family told 17 News he didn't kill the toddler and that justice wasn't served.

"He's not a monster. I'm a mother whose son just got sentenced to life," said Donna Castilleja, Wedel's mother.

Castilleja cried the whole time in court, while her son Dustin Wedel learned his fate, nearly three years after killing James Fanshier.

"My heart goes out to them that he committed these crimes and that they're having to deal with the aftermath. It's a tragedy for everyone," said Deputy District Attorney Andrea Kohler.

Investigators said the boy had broken ribs, a broken arm, and bruising all over his body. 

According to the coroner, Fanshier died of multiple blunt force injuries.

"We loved that baby. My son loved that baby. The Christmas before he passed he said 'mom don't buy me any presents, buy them for James and the other kids.' Does that sound like someone who can hurt a child?," said Castilleja.

During Friday's sentencing, an emotional Wedel teared up as Judge Kenneth Twisselman read his sentence.

Wedel's family says he didn't kill Fanshier and shouldn't be behind bars.

"If I had thought that my son could do something like this, I would say yes, lock him up. But, never in a million years would he hurt a child. So justice was not done today. Whoever hurt that baby is out there to hurt more babies," continued Castilleja.

But, Kohler says all the evidence pointed to Wedel.

"I believe that justice was served in this case. I believe that when you do something like that to a small child, that you should go to prison for the rest of your life."

Judge Twisselman denied probation with sentencing because he called Wedel an extreme danger to the community.

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Sinkhole swallows car in central Bakersfield

December 6, 2013, 6:24 pm
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BAKERSFIELD,CA- Crews had to fish for David Williams' Cadillac Friday morning.

"I came over here to find that my car was in a hole," said Williams.

Williams got a phone call from his dad around 5:30 a.m., telling him his car had been swallowed by a sinkhole.

"I'm heartbroken. I'm sad. That was my baby. So, I don't know what to do now," said Williams.

Emergency crews responded to check a deteriorating sewer line.

"The top of the sewer line that's running through there was flowing and took the dirt out from underneath the asphalt, and it could have been going on probably a few months. It just took the dirt away and eventually the asphalt gave way," said Bakersfield Streets Superintendent Michael Connor. 

Connor says that type of deterioration is found in older concrete lines, eroded by gas from the sewer line. The crews routinely check underground lines, but say it's difficult to predict where problems will be.

"Hard to say because anything that's underground is really hard to know. I've seen voids under the ground with a hole that's the size of a quarter on top and 13 foot deep and 13 foot round below," said Connor. 

Connor says because the sewer line didn't burst, it's running normally. He says no one in the neighborhood is affected. Except for Williams, who hopes the city will replace his Caddy.

"Or if it's able to be fixed, fix it," said Williams.
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Puppies dumped outside SPCA in bitter cold

December 6, 2013, 6:46 pm
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BAKERSFIELD, CA - The Bakersfield SPCA got quite a delivery Friday morning. Fifteen puppies were dropped off during the middle of the night.

Workers discovered the four-day-old puppies around 7 a.m. The puppies were outside in below-freezing temperatures for six hours in a cardboard box, covered by a blanket.

Security video shows a person in a white truck dropping off the puppies at the SPCA just before 1 a.m. Friday.

"It is against the law to abandon. I am pretty sure it comes under animal cruelty when you leave animals, especially that young, in freezing temperatures," said Deryle Kidner, SPCA worker.

All 15 puppies are alive so far, and will go into foster care.

"Somebody has a lactating mother at home and is taking six of the puppies, and the rest are going out. Some to staff members, some to volunteers that regularly foster care for us," added Kidner.

The shelter relies on volunteers to bottle feed the puppies every two hours around the clock.

"It's a hard job, and a lot of girls do not want to do it because they do not want to give up the puppies. But, I do it for the cause. Just like today all these puppies they need someone," said volunteer Dana Seagraves.

Dana Seagraves said there was no reason to drop the puppies off in the middle of the night. "It's a shame to just dump them. There is people out there willing to help."

The SPCA says it hasn't contacted authorities for a possible animal cruelty case because workers say there aren't enough distinguishing features on the tape.

The Bakersfield SPCA is a 'no kill' shelter so the animals will be there until they find a good home.

SPCA staff says they are out of puppy milk, and they're asking the community for donations to get them through until the next order comes.

If you would like information on donating, go to www.bakersfieldspca.org.
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Grapevine, Highway 58 close due to snow, icy conditions

December 7, 2013, 9:43 am
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The California Highway Patrol closed Interstate 5 over the Grapevine and Highway 58 through Tehachapi Saturday morning, after a winter storm dumped snow on the mountain passes.

A series of wrecks were reported starting shortly after 9 a.m., including a pickup truck that reportedly plunged 100 feet off the roadway near Ft. Tejon Road.  Snow began falling earlier and sticking to the roadway in the Gorman area around 9:20 a.m.  Officers began slowing down traffic, and eventually shut the roadway down 10 minutes later.    

The CHP also shutdown both east and westbound directions of Highway 58.  More than an inch of snow began sticking to the roadway around 8:30 a.m. Officers attempted to run traffic breaks to slow traffic, but closed eastbound traffic at Towerline Rd. and westbound traffic at Sand Canyon Rd by 9 a.m.

At 9:45 a.m. Officers closed SR 33 from SR 166 through Lockwood Valley Rd due to heavy snow.
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Principal shaves head in act of solidarity

December 6, 2013, 11:25 pm
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BAKERSFIELD, CA --A local elementary school principal gave up a piece of himself Friday to support an ailing student. With a cheering crowd of kids behind him and with a few passes of the clippers, Columbia Elementary school principal Bill Jager made good on a promise, sacrificing his locks in a show of solidarity for one of his students.

Ben Martinez is battling cancer and has lost his hair. Ben's classmates are supporting him as well by purchasing special bracelets, necklaces and key chains.

"Our goal was to raise $3,000 and the deal I made with the kids here at Columbia is we raised $3,000 selling those bracelets that I would shave my head,” Jager said. “We exceeded that by $2,000 we raised $5,000 for Ben and his family."

Ben and his mom Diane Proctor were there to enjoy the head-shaving spectacle and are grateful to the school for their support

"It's a rough journey but these little things, actually this was a really big thing today,” Proctor said. “These things help (make) this journey a little more bearable."

The kids at Columbia elementary wanted to take it a step further and have Jager shave his beard as well.

"Absolutely not,” Jager said. “I have had my beard for 40 years my wife, my children, my grandchildren have never seen me without a beard so I did not want to scare anybody."


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Memorial for woman found in Delano canal

December 7, 2013, 5:46 pm
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PORTERVILLE, CA--Two memorials were held Saturday for Erika Padron Lango. Her body was found in a canal near Delano on Tuesday. Her mother, Esther Padron, told 17 news her daughter's body was given to Lango's estranged husband, Julio Lango and he forbid Lango's family from attending his memorial service. So her mother held her own service in Porterville and said she is having a hard time finding closure with Erika's killer still on the loose.

"It's hard to say it helped because they murdered my daughter," Padron said.

Lango was memorialized at the Word of Victory Christian Center in Porterville. Lango's body was found Tuesday on the west bank of the Friant-Kern Canal, just outside Delano.

"What happened to Erika is not God's fault,” said Pastor Jose Angel Segura. “There is an enemy and his name is the devil."

During the memorial a montage of Lango's photos played on video screens as mourners wept.

They lined the small Christian center to pay their respects to Padron. Gabriel Segura, who attended the memorial, could relate after losing a loved one himself.

"My wife passed away five months ago and I am going through that too,” Segura said. “So I know what she feels."

Erika Lango's body was released to Julio Lango who police named a person of interest after she disappeared in October.

Julio Lango and Esther Padron have been at odds over the rights to Erika Lango's remains. He held a separate memorial in Delano Saturday. Padron hopes that justice will prevail.

"This wicked thing they did, justice has to be done,” Padron said. For sure no one can not escape the judgment of God."

17 News could not find the memorial service held by Julio Lango. Delano Police continue to search the banks of the canal for clues. So far no arrests have been made in connection with Erika Lango's death.
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Eight-year-old donates toys to homeless children

December 8, 2013, 7:59 pm
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BAKERSFIELD,CA -- In October we introduced you to eight-year-old Jaxon Evans who was selling Kool-Aid to raise money to buy toys for homeless children. He said his goal was to raise $50 every time he set up his Kool-Aid stand. Fast forward two months, 20 gallons of Kool-Aid and $3,300 dollars raised Jaxon got to see his idea for charity come to life on Sunday.

"Because I am kinda like Santa too,” Jaxon said. “I wanted to be Santa because there are kids who are saying ‘Hey Santa Claus can I have a hug?' and I actually gave him a hug and he was happy."

When Jaxon initially came up with the idea of selling Kool-Aid and using the money to buy toys for homeless children his mother, Alandra Evans, was not exactly in favor of the idea.

"I thought he wanted to buy himself something,” Evans said. “It was summertime , it was hot and too much trouble and a lot of work so I told him no."

Johnny Jimenez has nine children with him and is glad Jaxon persevered. Though he is taken aback that such a thoughtful idea came from an eight year old.

"That is amazing, that is exciting,” Jimenez said. “My kids see that and it boosts them up. No matter how old you are or how young you are things can happen that are good. He did a good thing."

Jessica Jimenez, 12, is one of Johnny Jimenez's children.

"I feel excited to get a toy and happy for the little kids getting their toys," Jessica said.

Jaxson's story has made news nationally on websites like Yahoo which prompted an increase in donations. It also inspired Jennifer David to volunteer and make balloon animals for the children.

"We wanted to come out and show our hearts and have some fun with the kids,” David said. “We showed them how to twist balloons and we kept it popping in here. It was a lot of fun."

Even though Jaxon’s mom was not on board with his idea at first she now has a hard time keeping her emotions in check after seeing the culmination of her son's work.

"The smiles on these kids faces and them running around and playing and all the happiness that is in this room with the parents,” Evans said. “How can I not want to do something like this and help him with this next year. I am so proud."

Jaxon has already thought about next year. He has plans to raise money with a dog wash.


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Police looking for missing transient man

December 9, 2013, 11:00 am
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BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield Police need your help finding a missing transient man.  Bakersfield Police say on Sunday the family of Timothy Hembree reported him as missing.  Hembree is considered to be at risk due to a pre-existing medical condition.

He is described as a transient and was last seen in the 500 block of Tanner Street on Friday night. Hembree is described as a White male adult, 51 years old, 5'5", 170 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, last seen wearing a black/green jacket and blue jeans.

If you have any information on Timothy Hembree you are urged to call Bakersfield Police at 327-7111.
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Citrus Crops inspected after freeze

December 9, 2013, 7:05 pm
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KERN COUNTY, CA - Freezing overnight temperatures threaten the Valley's fourth largest crop, citrus. State inspectors came down to see if area fruit orchards suffered during the eight hours of 26 degree temperatures last week.

Kern County Department of Agriculture biologists said as of Monday afternoon, the trees are not in danger, but the freeze could threaten to dry out their fruit before harvest.

On Monday, agriculture biologists inspected Arvin-area oranges, mandarins, and lemons, but found only minor freeze damage in a select few.

"You can see on this top side we have a lot of damage right here, but if you flip it over on the backside it's relatively smooth," said one biologist inspecting a lemon with damage too insignificant to report to state inspectors.

Frost damage will burst the juice sacs inside citrus fruit, which will lead to drying. Biologists collected several lemons that appeared to be damaged until it was determined they were year-old fruit still on the trees.

"If it falls below 28 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four hours then it will sustain damage," said Deputy Director of Kern County's Department of Agriculture Manuel Villicana.

Biologists collected several lemons that appeared to be damaged until it was determined they were year-old fruit still on the trees. Fruit with high sugar can survive longer than others.

"If there's extreme frost damage, they just won't pick the fruit. It'll fall to the ground," said Villicana.

However, that means farm workers will be out of work and less produce would be shipped, driving up grocery store prices. The last hard freeze came in 2007 and devastated Kern County citrus growers.

"There is not enough damage to the frost to call it score-able," said agricultural biologist Ken Kenney.

A non-score is a good score for the fruit, but inspectors will be out again Tuesday to collect more samples to see how citrus fruit fared over the weekend freeze.
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Tehachapi approves construction of a Walmart

December 10, 2013, 12:31 am
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TEHACHAPI, CA- It's a battle that's been going on for for nearly three years. Monday night the Tehachapi planning commission voted to allow Walmart to go ahead with construction on a Supercenter near Tucker Road and West Tehachapi Boulevard.


Some residents said they like the small town feel of their community, but they also feel allowing Walmart to build there will be a big boost for the local economy.


"I would be just as pleased if Walmart did not come to our community because of the fact that we are a small town,” said Chairman Charles White of the Tehachapi Planning Commission. “However there has been a massive outpouring of support from local residents. People want Walmart they want to shop there and for that reason I think it is appropriate for it to be here."


Last year, a judge sided with a group trying to stop Walmart, saying the city of Tehachapi needed a brand new environmental impact report on noise, traffic and water before a new Walmart  Supercenter could come to town. The city complied.


"We have enough water not only for this purpose but other growth purposes in the future," White said.


Officials  told 17 News they expect Walmart opposition groups to appeal Monday’s decision to the city council.

That could delay construction for a long period of time.


 Walmart has not said when they plan to break ground.

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Spinal cord stimulation relieving patients from chronic pain

December 10, 2013, 6:54 am
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BAKERSFIELD,CA-  If you're waking up in pain in the morning, you're not alone. A study from the Institute of Medicine indicates chronic pain affects the lives of more than 100 million Americans.

"There's times where I'll be walking and my legs would give out and I'll fall and then I have bruises all over my legs and I have to sit for days just to get my legs back to their normal way," said Penny Fletchall.

Fletchall is among the one in three Americans who suffer from chronic pain. The pain starts from Fletchall's lower back and shoots down to her left leg.

"I lay in my bed a lot because I'm in pain or because I'm sleeping a lot because of the pain medicine," said Fletchall.

She takes five different prescriptions to ease the pain. She's tried injections and therapy. None of it has worked. Which is what brought her to Dr. Jan Eckermann, a surgeon.

"Precision Spectra which is the latest and greatest version allows us to interrupt these pain signals and dramatically improve patient's pain," said Dr. Eckermann.

Dr. Eckermann is one of the first surgeons to use Precision Spectra in Bakersfield.  It's a spinal cord stimulator that delivers electrical pulses along leads that help to mask pain signals traveling to the brain.

Fletchall went through a trial test with an external device on in October.

"The next morning I woke up, that was the first time I slept all through the night in 12 years and I almost wanted to cry the next morning because it worked so good," said Fletchall.

Dr.Eckermann will make two incisions. One for the electrical paddle that will be placed near Fletchall's spinal cord. The paddle is connected to a motor the size of an Oreo which generates the pulses. It's controlled by an external remote. Fletchall is looking forward to being more active again.

"I would like to ride my bike more. I'd like to just go out an do things with my family. Play more with my grandson and get off of the pain medicine," said Fletchall. 

It's an outpatient procedure, the doctor says it takes about an hour and the results come as soon as the unit is turned on.
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Vacant duplex destroyed by fire in East Bakersfield

December 10, 2013, 7:50 am
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BAKERSFIELD, CA- A fire destroyed a vacant duplex in East Bakersfield Monday night.

It happened just before 9 p.m. in the 1000 block of Quincy Street near Gage Street.

Bakersfield fire crews were assisted by Kern County Firefighters. City fire said the coordinated attack brought the fire under control in 25 minutes.

The BFD is investigating whether it was started by a homeless person who came in from the cold.

"The structure was abandoned. It had been boarded up at one time. Whether or not somebody had been inside and was using it to sleep at night during these cold nights is unsure at this time. The fire is under investigation," said Battalion Chief Gary Turner with the Bakersfield Fire Department.

Damage is pegged at $110,000. No injuries were reported.

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Freight train partially derails near Tehachapi

December 10, 2013, 12:10 pm
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TEHACHAPI, CA -- A freight train partially derailed between Tehachapi and Keene Tuesday morning.

Brett Grassi with Kern County Fire says they were called out about 6:54 a.m. as a precaution, but no injuries were reported.
According to Lena Kent with Burlington Northern Santa Fe, the cargo train was heading from Chicago to Stockton, and there were no hazardous materials on board.

The two cars toppled about 300-feet down an embankment and are visible from Highway 58.

The tracks even slid partially down the hill with the train.   No estimate on when the tracks will reopen as BNSF officials investigate what caused the derailment.


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Expect delays on Highway 99

December 10, 2013, 1:48 pm
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BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The Highway Patrol says construction work on southbound Highway 99 has traffic backed up for nearly 6 miles near 7th Standard Road.  Two of 3 lanes are closed for repairs until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. 

Traffic is backed up to Lerdo Highway.  Drivers are urged to use I-5 if possible or another route or to expect long delays. 


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