Bakersfield.com Video Stories List

BHS choir reunion pairs students from 1950s with kids of today

sbranco@bakersfield.com (SHELLIE BRANCO) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:57:40 PST

Julia Pelz remembers having to leave black dye in her brown hair for Bakersfield High School’s production of “South Pacific” in the 1950s.

Pelz, class of 1960, sang in the choir and got to play a Polynesian girl in the cast. The dye left black smudges all over her pillow each night, but she convinced her graying father to give it a shot.

Early bloom

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:23:09 PST

These students know how to tell a story...

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:12:18 PST

High drama on the high seas: Bakersfield couple encounter pirates on cruise

lmedina@bakersfield.com (LOUIS MEDINA) — Tue, 3 Feb 2009 17:40:17 PST

Their swashbuckling, sword-fighting days have vanished in history’s wake, but pirates are alive and well on the high seas of the 21st century.

Some Bakersfieldians know this only too well, including a retired couple whose cruise ship was attacked and a U.S. Navy seaman who, though he is deployed to fight pirates, has never encountered any.

'Joy when there’s sadness': Gospel concert to bring together community

lmedina@bakersfield.com (LOUIS MEDINA) — Thu, 5 Feb 2009 21:34:45 PST

Mary McGee, minister of music at Saints Memorial Church of God in Christ, knows exactly why gospel music is special.

“There’s something about gospel music that brings healing. It brings joy when there’s sadness. It restores,” she said, recalling the origins of gospel music as negro spirituals sung by slaves.

Shall we dance ... and eat ... and hobnob? Can I get a yes!

sbranco@bakersfield.com (SHELLIE BRANCO) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:14:14 PST

Recession? Poppycock!

Despite the doom and gloom of layoffs and corporate meltdowns, some Bakersfieldians are still willing to part with their cash to support a good cause.

Playboy mansion delivers? Hef's chef brings gourmet flair to BC benefit dinner

sbranco@bakersfield.com (SHELLIE BRANCO) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:12:17 PST

Not everyone can wrangle an invite to parties at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.

But Friday evening you can at least sample the snacks Hugh Hefner serves his guests. Tickets are available for the Bakersfield College Foundation’s six-course dinner titled “Sterling Silver: An Evening with Playboy Mansion Executive Chef William Bloxsom-Carter” at the Petroleum Club of Bakersfield.

Grand Night for Music

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:47:33 PST

A familiar feeling: Those who lived through Great Depression tell tales

cedelhart@bakersfield.com (COURTENAY EDELHART) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 22:09:58 PST

Recession. Depression. Does it matter?

A lot of people are hurting these days. Things may not be as bad as they were during the Great Depression, but to some Kern residents who lived through it the first time, today’s economy has a familiar feeling.

transcenDANCE

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:07:57 PST

Inner city youth arts project works to improve their community in San Diego one performance at a time.

Pregnant woman in labor among victims in fatal crash

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 16:09:29 PST

A head-on wreck first believed to have killed three people late Friday morning in south Bakersfield actually killed four — one was a pregnant woman being rushed to the hospital by her husband, California Highway Patrol officials confirmed Friday night.

A fiery collision between two pickups killed 27-year-old Misty Ivester-Gibbs of Lamont, her 42-year-old husband, who officials have not identified, and their soon-to-be-born child, officials said. Andrew Leonicio Marroquin, a 21-year-old man from Arvin, was also killed.

Cops stage pre-dawn raid on Crips gangs

sswenson@bakersfield.com (STEVE E) — Thu, 8 Jan 2009 17:38:35 PST

The toughest gangs in Bakersfield were probably hunkered down Thursday, their criminal plans on hold, thanks to a pre-dawn raid by dozens of officers.

The heavily armed officers, wearing flak jackets, swooped down on homes associated with gang members with orders to arrest those they found — and send a message.

Celebration of theater means no one leaves 'Empty'-handed

lmedina@bakersfield.com (LOUIS MEDINA) — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:07:13 PST

Behind any award, even one called an “Empty,” is a basic human desire that was best expressed Sunday by Lorenzo Salazar, who dominated The Empty Space Theatre’s sixth annual awards dinner.

“It means so much to be acknowledged by anyone, anywhere,” the tearful 26-year-old said to about 100 of his peers gathered for the occasion in a banquet hall at Hodel’s Country Dining.

Reporter takes new ladder truck for a spin

jgeluso@bakersfield.com (JAMES GELUSO) — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 22:21:32 PST

The first thing you need to know about steering the back end of a ladder truck is that you have to go backward.

When the driver up in the cab went left, I had to turn the tiller wheel right. It’s got power steering, but I still had to swing the wheel around twice, at least, to follow.

Man shot by intruder in his south Bakersfield apartment

sswenson@bakersfield.com (STEVE E) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:43:23 PST

A south Bakersfield man walked in on a burglar Tuesday morning and was shot with his own handgun.

The unnamed victim, described by police as being in his 50s, was shot through his right arm and into his chest at 10:50 a.m., police said.

Follow up: Fates of abandoned dogs both happy, sad

jburger@bakersfield.com (JAMES BURGER) — Thu, 1 Jan 2009 10:31:06 PST

In mid-December, real estate appraiser Jeff Burgess found a small pack of seven abandoned dogs living in a half-burnt shed on Gage Street in east Bakersfield that barely sheltered them from the cold, persistent rain.

There were four growing puppies, all nervous and hungry, and three adult animals, two skittish females and one old male.

Lucky dog: Bakersfield man performs CPR to save his pet

sswenson@bakersfield.com (STEVE E) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:28:14 PST

Bakersfield is fast becoming the Chihuahua revival capital of the world; a second one was saved within two months.

Dale Griffin of southwest Bakersfield was in a back room last Wednesday when he heard “an uncharacteristic yelp” from his Chihuahua mix, Clyde, and rushed to the front room to see what was wrong.

Sign flipping

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:31:50 PST

Check out the look — and cost — of our new City Hall

jgeluso@bakersfield.com (JAMES GELUSO) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:34:59 PST

City Hall North is almost ready for business — and the bills are in.

The city has poured $1.3 million into renovations and repairs — from new carpeting to new conference rooms, with new tables, new chairs and new TVs — for the building across the intersection from the old City Hall.

A Family Tradition

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 16:33:41 PST