Ridgecrest
LATEST NEWS
Ridgecrest’s 6th Annual Music Festival Sat., May 18
Tomorrow, May 18, the Desert Empire Fairgrounds and Event Center will host a family-friendly all-day event. The music will start at 11 a.m. and end at 10 p.m. Kids 12 and under are free, but everyone else must make a $10 donation. Folks can camp on-site for added fun and convenience. All profits will benefit Murray and Monroe Middle Schools’ orchestras.
Bidding wars lead to success of China Lake Museum's annual fundraiser
Excitement was high during the China Lake Museum's annual fundraising auction and dinner held last Saturday at the Kerr McGee Center. Auctions paddles were flying through the air as numerous attendees got into bid wars over many of the items generously donated to the museum in support of its mission to preserve a big part of history of the Indian Wells Valley.
New police chief to be announced Monday
The City of Ridgecrest will announce who will lead our local officers as their new chief on Monday. According to City Manager Ron Strand, the new chief will be sworn in during the next city council meeting June 3.
Two public meetings scheduled for city next week
Next week, the City of Ridgecrest will have meetings open to the public. The first meeting will be held Monday, May 20, starting at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room B of City Hall when the Measure P Oversight Committee. During the meeting, the board will review an updated draft of the Measure P report.
Local first responders, city staff honored at council meeting
Council members made a number of presentations during the city council meeting held last Wednesday evening. The first presentation was in honor of our local first responders. The city proclaimed May 19 through 25 as Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week. Special recognition was given to Liberty Ambulance, Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, Kern County Fire and Ridgecrest Police.
Biker Blessing Ride Saturday, May 11.
Ninety-seven motorcycles and 129 riders participated in the Annual Calvary Chapel Biker Blessing Ride on Saturday, May 11. The ride began at 11 AM from the Calvary Chapel parking lot. It paraded through town and around the Indian Wells Valley, returning for lunch at 11:40. The event promotes awareness and reminds everyone to ride and drive safely. Proceeds go toward next year’s Biker Blessing Ride and Tunnels to Towers.
My thoughts: Another school year
I hope all the mothers out there had a very happy Mother's Day. My mother has been gone for four years now, but I still get a chance to visit her at the cemetery and wish her a happy Mother's Day. I should point out that the day after Mother's Day was my dad's birthday, so I had a chance to visit him and wish him a happy birthday.
Sierra Sands awards employees of the year
The Sierra Sands Unified School District 2023-2024, employee awards were presented Wed., May 10, at the Kerr McGee Center Banquet Hall. Presentations of the awards were made by Bryan Auld, SSUSD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, 16 Employees were given special recognition. Hundreds of District employees attended the event. Prior to the ceremony musical selections were performed by Burroughs High School Madrigals, under the direction of Amber Petersen Choral Director.
Local Hoop Shooter makes run to semifinals
Local Hoop Shots contestant Yareli Ponce had a historic run winning the Southern Regional championship and competed in the West Regional Semifinals for a spot in the National Finals in Chicago. Unfortunately, Yareli just missed reaching the National Finals finishing in third place in her final appearance in the Hoop Shots Free Throw Contest. Yareli spoke on the experience of competing in the Hoop Shots Free Throw Contest the last two years.
Is it just me? The little thrift store that has the community's 6
Many of you may not know this, but there is a thrift store nearby that is so exclusive you have to have a security clearance to shop there. Just kidding - well, sorda. But to get there, you do have to have access past those security gates leading into China Lake. Not an easy feat these days unless you are employed there. Even for people like me who lived on base for the first 16 years of my life, played in the jail cells of the police department where my mother worked for the chief during those first 16 years, and once held a - ahem - clearance while I was employed as a civil servant and assigned to departments in need of critical support.
Letter to the editor: DCOA sends thanks to WACOM for support
On behalf of the Desert Community Orchestra Association (DCOA), I would like to thank WACOM for their generous donation to DCOA at their spring distribution of funds. The contribution from WACOM will help with the expense of our operations and music scholarships, thus allowing us to continue providing concerts and awards for the community. Thank you to WACOM for being such a benefit to our community!
National cyber breach impacts RRH vendor
A February ransomware attack that compromised Designed Receivable Solutions Inc., a vendor of Ridgecrest Regional Hospital, has created significant disruptions and delays related to client billing and account management. The attack is similar but unrelated to the cyber attack that compromised Change Healthcare, which officials are calling the most consequential...
City authorizes rate increase for Waste Management
During the last council meeting, council members authorized a resolution to approve a rate increase for solid waste services for fiscal years 2024-25 with Waste Management effective July 1. Assistant City Manager Travis Reed gave a presentation to the council on the rate adjustment which Waste Management request on March...
Ridgecrest Police warn public of phone scam
The Ridgecrest Police Department (RPD) has recently been made aware of a concerning trend involving scam calls targeting our citizens. These calls are originating from unknown individuals who falsely claim to be officers of the Ridgecrest Police Department, even using the names of real RPD officers. "We want to reassure...
Inyokern residents to get hit with significant hike in water rates
Inyokern residents will soon be paying more for water service after the majority of the board members of the Community Service District voted in favor of a rate hike during a special public hearing held April 30. "(Rates) are going to change drastically. It's going to at least double if...
Crusaders softball falls in first round of playoff
The Immanuel Christian softball team was on the road for the first round of CIF-Central Division V playoffs. The Crusaders visited the No. 6 East Yosemite fifth place Porterville Panthers, and lost 11-1 in six innings. Immanuel went into the top of the sixth trailing 9-0 and scored its sole run but gave up two runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Crusaders finish the season with a 12-6 overall record and a sixth straight Hi-Lo championship with an undefeated record of 8-0.
Cerro Coso hosted 50th Annual Commencement last Friday
Cerro Coso Community College Jessica Weston DA III, Public Information Officer– Cerro Coso Community College (CCCC) graduates, after years of hard work, late nights, and sacrifice culminated in two separate commencement ceremonies for a record number of Cerro Coso graduates. “College can change your life,” stated Dr. Sean Hancock...
Rotary Club of China Lake sends 20 graduates to college
Proud parents and generous donors applauded as 20 local high school seniors received scholarships at the Rotary Club of China Lake’s Scholarship Award dinner. Held at the Clarion Inn, in lieu of their regular Wednesday luncheon, Rotarians gathered with the students and their families to celebrate their academic futures. Club President Elect David Saint Amand served as the MC for the evening and started by giving a short history of Rotary International for the guests.
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