Updates for the Kern River Valley...Cal Water rate hike, animal shelter, "Tales of the KRV"

It's a tasteless thing to do as all utilities prices have "isn't it smart of us to charge you more" meter mentality, with electric bills taking care of local complaints about "dark skies" at night, and now the water company needs to clean it up.

The Public Utilities commission will be holding a public meeting, taking down complaints and issues for the record, as they decide whether to grant Cal Water it's almost 17% raise this year, with a couple more raises over the next two years based on inflation and other issues I'm sure we will hear all about.

As we remember from the last two meetings put on by Cal Water to begin the quest for understanding.

I wouldn't want to be Cal Water right now asking for this. I'd rather be the hospital asking for 25 million. No, I'd rather be the Governor asking for severe cuts in education and healthcare.

I know who I don't want to be: anywhere near the poverty level as there is a vortex pulling at everyone's wallets, savings accounts, and sometimes in cases I'm hearing about, food money.

So, it is time to voice your complaints, honestly, it probably won't do much good, as the PUC has been very liberal with the handouts to companies who still are paying dividends to their stockholders.

We do have problems with the water here, no doubt, it's disgusting, I cannot drink it. My sister hates to visit because of what it does to her hair. My friends thought when they came to visit they would get clean, clear mountain water. Yeah, but from another mountain.

Here's a small list of problems you will hear about tomorrow night, Thursday, February 18, at 7 pm, in Kernville at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce.

Chlorine, we have too much it's eating up filters.
Uranium, it's a real stumper, but it's natural.
Arsenic, that was related to the last rate hike as the EPA lowered the levels.
Fluoride, a questionable but natural ingredient which is poisonous.

Again, we are going to have to be a community who speaks up or dries up and blows away. Hope to see you there.

Your animal shelter and you

The Southlake Animal Shelter has some puppies running amok along with some loving older dogs who can sure use a home. Go to the KRV Pet Corner and take a look at some of the critters available.

There are animals going for $10 as the shelter is always putting the animals first.

The KRV Pet Corner will begin taking pictures of animals that are lost, abandoned, in need, and we will post these on the site for free. We will network with other sites to help bring pets back home or find new homes for them.

I still haven't decided on my new dog. I guess the two mourners that we are, my Boxer Walter and I, are waiting for the right time.

More details on the upgrades for the Animal Shelter as the thoughts are for keeping pets in a place that people can see them behave in a more natural outdoor environment, rather than the din of the dogs in the smaller cages.

Introducing (stage left) "Tales of the Kern River Valley."

It's news, but it's entertainment, and it all emanates from this valley. The stories will be news, but don't forget there is a story in everything.

Yes, investigative journalism, will be on the menu, but we will focus on the talent of the valley, as there is a plethora of artists of various kinds hiding out up here who have decided to come out of the woodwork and let us into their creative minds.

And this will be a venture for the young and young at heart. Teenagers have their own perspective on this valley and what it needs to be a place to stay and not make it a hangout for thugs, neo-nazi's, hatemongers of any sort, but for expression of the things that cause such extreme reactions.

Teenagers have their own language, what it is, is what we can learn from the youth.

And of course, politics is always fun and most especially this year I might say. We, the people of this valley, may have to look at a different way of governing our little piece of the mountain.

We have about every government agency on hand here to drag us down to a low level economy, but that can change when there are those who are willing to go up against those who cannot see the future, or have no vested interest in a good future for all involved.

Coming soon.