Mettler News

This 2,000 square foot house at St. Anton and Target in Pine Mountain was destroyed in a two-alarm fire that was fully involved by 2:50 a.m. on Saturday, Nov.

Oh yes, if the Tejon Indian tribe gains federal recognition, Kern County will likely have an Indian gaming casino in its future.

Images: Alex Horvath Alex Horvath / The Californian With family and supports Dr.

Eligible voters: 478,796 Registered voters: 307,571 Republicans: 44.8 percent 137,837 voters Democrats: 36 percent 110,750 voters Decline to state: 15.5 percent 47,671 voters Note: Not all parties included.

Top, 7:25 a.m. on Idaho Trail as house bursts into flame Sunday, Oct. 18. Bottom , Farnum's car was in the garage where the heat was so intense it could be felt across the street.

BY JEFF NACHTIGAL AND CHRISTINE BEDELL, Californian staff writers jnachtigal@bakersfield.com; cbedell@bakersfield.com HOT TOPICS: Loading Stories Kern High School District Trustee Ken Mettler took on the district's teachers union Monday for directing dues to a "new" political action committee that will "affect local elections." But the group's ...

Roadside fruit vendor Francisco Hernandez sells produce at a Tulare County intersection.

For the past six months, Tehachapi City Council meetings have began with an invocation prayer, but at Tuesday's council meeting, the first since receiving the letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, there was no prayer, instead the Pledge of Alligence.

Shafter High School students make their way to their first class after attending a back-to-school assembly in 2002.

A structure fire in the former Rocio's Mexican Restaurant and Bar in Lake of the Woods was put out at about 1 a.m. Tuesday, Sept.

A rapidly spreading series of wildfires is threatening homes and businesses near the community of Wofford Heights, in the mountains near Lake Isabella.

This heat-loving grape can develop a love-it-or-hate-it ripeness level, with juicy berry aromas and flavors that accompany often-high alcohol levels.

On Wednesday, Rural Crime Detectives from the Kern County Sheriffs Department and Rural Crime Detectives from the Madera County Sheriffs Department concluded an eight month investigation into the theft of farm chemicals and farming equipment.

This tidbit slipped by us quietly last month. Rob Badewitz filed a civil lawsuit against Kern High School District Trustee and local "Yes on 8" Chairman Ken Mettler July 10 over their infamous sign scuffle last year.

Ken Mettler, the sometimes controversial Kern High School Board member, has taken the first step toward running for the California Assembly.

There were rumors, or maybe just jokes, that the Padre Hotel's freshly removed rooftop rocket would make a guest appearance at Wednesday night's city council meeting.

The California Republican Assembly, the supposed "conscience of the Republican Party in California: is calling on Republicans to call specific California Senators to vote now on SB 572, a bill that would recognize May 22 Harvey Milk Day and "encourage" schools to "commemorate" the life and career of this homosexual San Francisco politician as part ...

The Kern High teachers' union chief called board member Ken Mettler's public interference in contract bargaining a "side show." "I'm disappointed in Ken Mettler's actions; he's not honoring the process of negotiations," Kern High Teachers Association President Mitch Olson said of Mettler's Tuesday call for public school employees to take a 5 ...

Ken Mettler called on the Kern High School District Board of Trustees Tuesday to "think outside the box" and consider cutting public school employee salaries, benefits and pensions due to the budget crisis.

Athletics is a big part of the fabric of Kern County, and parents and coaches came together Monday to try to save junior varsity sports.