Bakersfield High School Driller alum launch drive to support the football program, and lots of good deeds abound this holiday season

* … DRILLERS: There is a drive among alumni of Bakersfield High School to raise $25,000 to pay for Valley championship rings and to help the athletic program grow. I am told that almost $10,000 has

been raised already. If you are a Driller and want to contribute, make a check payable to BHS Athletic Booster Club and note "football" on the memo line. You can mail them to Bakersfield High School,
1241 G Street, 93301. The Drillers, 11-2, will face Mission Hills in San Diego in the first round of the state Division 1playoffs Friday.

 * … CRIME: Local plaintiff's lawyer Matt Clark was with his wife Molly, son Harry and their two standard poodles outside Baja Fresh at the Marketplace recently when "two young kids, in an older model, teal, Toyota pick-up stopped in front of the outdoor seating.  The passenger jumped out, ran up to a woman who had her purse sitting next to her on the ground, and took the purse. He jumped back in the truck and they fled. The truck had damage on the side, and numerous bumper stickers on the back. Harry remembers seeing the truck driving around on the opposite end of the shopping center, 30 minutes before the theft. Obviously, they were staking the place out looking for a target."

* … MEEK: Kudos to Harold Meek, the former Bakersfield car dealer who has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Bakersfield New Car Dealers Association. Meek is the first recipient of this new award. Meek and his wife Kay sold their shares in the Three-Way Automotive Group in 2008 when he retired from the business. The Meeks have long been active in our community, in both charitable causes as well as Republican politics.

* … GUARDIAN ANGEL: Shirley Machado shared this uplifting story of a stranger coming to her aid. "After visiting the tax office, I returned to my car parked in the garage and promptly spilled the contents of my purse. As dark as it was I thought I had everything and drove home.  My surprise came when a young man came to my door and explained that he was returning my wallet which I had never missed. He told me his name but I'm afraid It didn't register (I was too stunned). All I know is that he had to be my guardian angel in a black sweatshirt with MORRO BAY on it.  If you see him, he just might be your angel, too." Thanks for sharing, Shirley.

* … MORE GOOD FORM: McKinley Elementary kindergarten teacher Jolie Brouttier was driving down Union Avenue when she spotted a young girl in front of a local motel, in the cold with no socks. What did she do? She pulled over and gave the youngster a pair of socks. "Thank goodness Ms. B always carries extras," she said.

 * … AND THIS: Can you stand one more uplifting story from our week? Al Garcia was with a group of about 15 Vietnam veterans having lunch at the Roadhouse Grill when, to his surprise, a young man insisted on picking up the check. "Can you image how this made 15 to 18 of us feel?" Garcia said. "He wasn't a veteran and just wanted to do something nice." The good Samaritan identified himself as Chris Russell, who runs an oilfield construction business.

McCarthy: still a Driller and recognizing the brightest of our students

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) heads back home today and sends in this report from the week. In his words:

"This week I announced the 22nd Congressional District of California Merit Award winners for Kern County. The award honors the achievements of our communities’ best and brightest high school students, and recognizes their positive achievements to inspire all of our students. As a community, we can create a positive environment that supports the hard work of our next generation’s leaders. Students who will receive the award were nominated by their principals because they have demonstrated academic excellence (having earned a 3.5 GPA or higher), exemplary school citizenship, volunteerism, involvement in extracurricular activities and leadership skills. To join us for the Merit Award Presentation, come by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office today May 8, from 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm.

"This week I also introduced a resolution (H.Res 411) to support the Intermediate Space Challenge in Mojave, which will take place on May 15. The Space Challenge is an exciting and challenging opportunity for students in grade school to think about outer space and energize their interest in science and math. We can encourage our children’s imagination to explore career opportunities in science and math to help them compete in a competitive global economy.

"I am excited to be participating in the Fourth Annual Driller Football Hall of Fame Banquet and induction ceremony on Friday night at the Marriott. As a proud member of the class of ’83, I was glad to be asked to offer the keynote remarks for the dinner. We will be honoring the following alumni: William Fanning, T.H. Lockard, Davis Loustalot, Bob Warkentin, Willie Brown, and Pat Preston.

"Last week I told you about the National Council for a New America that my colleagues and I introduced to engage citizens and create solutions to address the issues we face in our country. The first discussion kicked off at a pizza restaurant in Arlington, Virginia this past Saturday with former governors Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, and had a good turnout to talk about solutions to move our country forward. If you would like to find out more about the National Council for a New America, please visit the recently unveiled website: www.wethepeopleplan.org.

"And if you are on Facebook, don’t forget to check out my Facebook page for the latest happenings in DC and our local communities. Check out the video of Burt Rutan’s latest project – amazing things are happening out there in Mojave!