UC Santa Barbara broke a tie with four runs in the top of the eighth inning and went on to beat Cal State Bakersfield 7-3 Tuesday night at Hardt Field.

Alec Daily, who replaced CSUB starting pitcher Steven Gee in the seventh, struck out Robby Nesovic to open the eighth, but Nesovic reached base on a passed ball by catcher Cody White.

UC Santa Barbara broke a tie with four runs in the top of the eighth inning and went on to beat Cal State Bakersfield 7-3 Tuesday night at Hardt Field.

Alec Daily, who replaced CSUB starting pitcher Steven Gee in the seventh, struck out Robby Nesovic to open the eighth, but Nesovic reached base on a passed ball by catcher Cody White.

No. 4 seed Stockdale dropped a 5-4 heartbreaker in the Central Section Division I quarterfinals, losing the final doubles match in a third-set tiebreaker against No. 5 Clovis North on Tuesday.

The teams were tied 3-3 after six singles matches.

One of these years, Bakersfield Christian isn't going to win a Central Section boys tennis team championship.

This season? It turned out to be another dominating run to a championship.

ARVIN, CA-- Residents in Arvin voiced their frustration at local officials and Petro Capital Resources Tuesday night over a field gas leak that forced 50 people to evacuate their homes in March.

Residents are frustrated because they thought Tuesday night at the city council meeting they were going to hear data from government officials detailing the cleanup process and what progress was being made. Instead they heard the city complain to the county, and the county complain to PCR about a lack of transparency in releasing data.

“We fully expected that we would have data released this evening and that we would get some information along with you and we are very disappointed,” said Leticia Perez, District 5 Kern County Supervisor.

One of the evacuated homes was broken into last week even though PCR hired a private security firm to watch over the area.

"The items piled up outside, and were still in the process of burglarizing the house, as I understand it, when security forces discovered the break in,” said Louis Cobarruviaz, Arvin Police Chief.

Arvin police say they have made one arrest and have two juvenile suspects while the burglaries are being investigated. For homeowners they just want to know when they will be able to return home and when they do, if it is going to be safe.

"I don't want to bring my kids to that house until they tell me the house, or they can prove the house is safe, and good for my kids,” said Andy Lara, evacuated resident.

An outline of the health and safety standards PCR must meet before residents can move back into their homes was presented at the meeting. However, a timeline for completion of those goals was not.

For half this season, Greg Miller was a key asset for the Stockton Thunder.

Assigned to the Thunder by Bridgeport (Conn.) of the American Hockey League, Miller racked 38 points in 37 games to lead Stockton in scoring. His last goal for the Thunder came in a 1-0 over Utah on Feb. 15.

Ed Lively, 53, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., would like a lot LESS cowbell.

Well, that ain't gonna happen.

Centennial's Tyler Burnes, Stockdale's Jared Kinoshita and Liberty's Warren Miller sat together at a table in the clubhouse at Sundale Country Club. They were waiting patiently for the other competitors in Tuesday's Central Section South Area Tournament to finish their 18 holes.

The longtime friends were the first three to play the par-72 course and, as it turned out, they set the standard for the day, finishing first second, and third, respectively.

Services scheduled

Jesus "Chito" Cueto, 66, Bakersfield, May 4. Visitation 5 to 8 p.m. with rosary at 6 p.m. May 7, Basham Funeral Care; Mass 10 a.m. May 8, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church; interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park. Basham Funeral Care.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- The Contractor's State License Board has cited a Bakersfield man for various violations during an undercover sting in east Bakersfield. 

Donald Ray Laverdure was among several contractors who were cited after investigators had posed as homeowners on April 30th at an east Bakersfield home.  The investigators would ask the suspects to bid on several projects including painting, patio construction and tree trimming.  Laverdure was also taken into custody for DUI and domestic violence warrants, according to a CSLB news release. 

Nine people had been cited for contracting without a license.  Six suspects according to the news release were cited for illegal advertising which is a misdemeanor. 

The CSLB says among those cited were Frank Tirado, Jim Scott Meadors, Raymond Lee Rangel, Richard G. Palezyan, Heriberto Gonzalez Rodriguez, Julian Robert Baca, Wulfrano Briviesca Lopez and Librado Mateo-Mondragon.

For more information about hiring contractors log on to www.cslb.ca.gov or calling CSLB's toll-free automated line, 800.321.CSLB (2757).

BAKERSFIELD, CA-- The highway patrol is offering a free class Wednesday to current and prospective teenage drivers, and their parents or guardians.  The Start Smart class organizers say, discusses important issues such as safe driving habits, and tips on how to avoid a collision. 

The class takes place at the CHP 420 club on 3910 Alfred Harrell Highway beginning at 6:00 p.m. The two-hour class will also feature people affected by poor choices who will speak. 

If you would like to sign up, call the Bakersfield CHP office at 661-864-4444 to sign up.  Another class will be held on Tuesday June 10. 

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- People in Lake Isabella can learn more about wildfires and how to prepare for an emergency Saturday at Uffert Park. 

The Kern County Fire Department will hold a wildfire awareness expo from 11 a.m until 2:00 p.m.  Fire officials say there will be wild land firefighting equipment on display and the opportunity to meet local wild land firefighters. 

There will be free hot dogs, chips, drinks, and educational materials for children.   The Kern County Fire Explorers, Helicopter 408, Forest Service, American Red Cross, CERT Teams, Fire Safe Councils, and Kern County Fire Hand Crews will be in attendance.  Smokey Bear will be available for pictures.

For more information, call Kern County Fire at 661-391-7000 or email: fireinfo@co.kern.ca.us

BAKERSFIELD, CA--World War II and Korean veterans are packing their bags for the next Honor Flight Kern County. It's wheels up Tuesday morning. Taft resident Vern Longtin joined the Navy in 1944 when he was just 17. He told 17 News at his daughter’s house in Bakersfield on Monday it was all he ever wanted to do at that point in his life.

"I wanted to go in 1941 but I wasn't old enough," Longtin said.

Three years later, he did becoming a plane captain. It was his job to check over planes before giving the aircraft to its pilots. Longtin was assigned to the escort carrier USS Suwannee after it had been damaged in one of the first Kamikaze or suicide attacks by the Japanese in World War II.

"It was really badly damaged, lot of guys killed," Longtin said.

He was preparing for the invasion of the Japanese mainland when the atomic bomb was dropped.

"I know there is a lot of controversy about that but I tell ya, as far everybody I knew out there we were a happy bunch," Longtin said.

Though he was glad the Japanese surrendered Longtin went to Nagasaki after the bomb was dropped and saw images that have stayed with him all these years.

"Enormously new weapon but it was kind of ugly,” Longtin said “It just annihilated everything it hit."

Dennis Heilscher said his stepfather was rather tight lipped about his military service. He will be Longtin's guardian during this week's honor flight to Washington D.C.

Longtin has battled prostate cancer and his stepson is grateful there is still time to share the experience of seeing the monuments together.

"I think if you have a veteran of that generation you need to do all means possible to go,” Heilscher said.

If you are interested in going on a future honor flight give them a call at 661-544-8387.

Juan Silva's RBI double with one out in the seventh inning tied the game and Kyle Waldrop added a sacrifice fly later in the inning that was the difference in the Bakersfield Blaze's 6-5 win over Inland Empire Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight win for Bakersfield, which has the California League's best record (24-8).

Juan Silva's RBI double with one out in the seventh inning tied the game and Kyle Waldrop added a sacrifice fly later in the inning that was the difference in the Bakersfield Blaze's 6-5 win over Inland Empire Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight win for Bakersfield, which has the California League's best record (24-8).

Juan Silva's RBI double with one out in the seventh inning tied the game and Kyle Waldrop added a sacrifice fly later in the inning that was the difference in the Bakersfield Blaze's 6-5 win over Inland Empire Monday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

It was the fifth straight win for Bakersfield, which has the California League's best record (24-8).

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police need your help finding a man suspected of hitting another man in the face with his elbow last month.  Investigators say the man attacked the victim on April 26 in the 1100 block of South P Street and that attack appeared to be unprovoked.  The victim suffered a traumatic head injury, according to police and was admitted to the hospital. 

Police describe the suspect as a white man, 30’-40’s, 5’11”-6’0”, reddish/blond curly hair, gray full beard/goatee, wearing a black baseball cap, black hoodie, blue jeans and black riding boots.

The suspect vehicle is described as a: older model custom chopper, unknown plate.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Chris Feola at (661) 326-3871 or Bakersfield police at (661) 327-7111.

BAKERSFIELD, CA -- Bakersfield police are looking for a man they say stole a car stereo from a vehicle last week.  Police say on Sunday afternoon April 27, the man forced his way into the victim's car in the 3200 block of Ming Avenue and removed the car stereo. 

Police describe the man as white, 20's, 5'10", heavy build, short military style haircut.  He was seen wearing a brown t-shirt, red shorts, black tennis shoes, a wrist watch on his left wrist and a large cross medallion around his neck. 

Police say the suspect vehicle is a black Honda, 2000's 2-door. 

Anyone with information, is asked to call Detective Craig Checklenis at 661-326-3907 or Bakersfield police at 661-327-7111.  

FRESNO, CA - The direction of the high speed rail line will likely be decided on Wednesday. The original plan has it going right through Bakersfield, but city officials hope it doesn't get that far.

On Tuesday, there will be a public hearing at Fresno City Hall on the plans.

The high speed train's tracks are reported to be coming from downtown Fresno to downtown Bakersfield. Its environmental impact report became available April 18th, but state and city leaders said 17 days to review the 20,000 pages wasn't enough time to know the impact on having a train run through Bakersfield.

Bakersfield City Manager Alan Tandy said the train's route would take out arena parking and the joint city utilities and law enforcement car servicing lots.

Bakersfield officials sent a one hundred page letter to the rail authority, but didn't get an adequate response, according to Tandy.

Tandy said the bright spot is a second item proposal that would stop the rail north of 7th Standard Road.

"We can't not be able to provide services from our only common facility in the middle of the city from which we disperse all of our trucks and vehicles," said Tandy. "And, if they are making a commitment not to build that section until they've spent more time working with us on the alignment and the routing and so on, that would be a good thing."

The public hearing is scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fresno City Hall. California High-Speed Rail Authority board members will be there to answer questions.

The board will be back at Fresno City Hall on Wednesday, May 7 to certify the report, which would give the go-ahead to start procuring land for the high-speed rail project.

The city also sent a proposal asking the board to give Bakersfield officials 60 days notice if it plans to make changes to its rail line plans.

BAKERSFIELD, CA - The back and forth continues in the civil trial between the family of an autistic girl and the Kern High School District.

The family is suing, claiming the then 16-year-old was sexually assaulted on school grounds by another student and is mentally damaged as a result.

The judge in this case, Lorina Brumfield, ruled not to allow our cameras in the courtroom Monday.

Four people took the stand Monday. They included the former coordinator of special education for the district, two teachers aides, and a speech pathologist.

They all testified they were familiar with the female student in this case either before or after the alleged assault.

In 2009, a teacher's aide found an autistic boy and the autistic girl in the bathroom at Independence High School.

The boy was behind her with his hands on her hips, and both had their pants down, but the distinct said nothing else happened.

The girl's family says she was hurt from the experience. They claim her learning regressed and her behavior worsened.

But, the school district's special education coordinator at the time of the incident testified Monday, her educators did not see a difference in the girl, in her learning skills or behavior after the incident.

The family's attorney, Ralph Wegis, was not surprised by the testimony.

"What I am going to hear out of the school is what the school attorney would like to present in this case, that there is no change, uh, at all," said Wegis. "I think the real question is why at school is she having the problems she does, and I think what they are doing is they are consciously ignoring those problems because they don't want to confront them."

The Kern High School District did not comment again.

Police reports from this incident are not allowed into evidence in this trial.

However, Tuesday, an officer who responded hours after the teenagers were found in the bathroom, will testify.

The trial is expected to last another two weeks.