Events that shaped our county, our lives
DECADE: Rep. Bill Thomas steps into powerful post in Washington
| Friday, Jan 01 2010 09:22 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jan 01 2010 09:24 PM
First of two parts
The near-miss of a sequel to the Great Depression took the starch out of many of us as 2009 limped to a close, so the decade that started with a whimper (that Y2K meltdown that never happened) seemed to end with a muffled groan.
But when you consider what happened in the years between -- Sept. 11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the breakneck advances in the Digital Age -- there's no question that the Zero Decade changed the country and the world forever -- and those changes reached all the way to Kern County.
What stories of the last 10 years inspired, saddened and shocked us? Sure, there was the good (hello, Merle Haggard Drive!) the bad (Crisp and Cole, the poster boys for greed in the real-estate meltdown) and the side-splitting (those "We'll Kick Your ..." decals, courtesy of former Sheriff Mack Wimbish).
But The Californian also offered reporting and analysis on issues as diverse as the quality of the air we breathe to the political leaders whose decisions influence the way we live our lives. We introduced to readers the everyday people who give our city its character and kept our finger on the pulse of the cultural life of our community.
So before we say good riddance to the decade, sit back and relive just some of the moments that made headlines.
Today's package covers the years 2000 through 2005.
Tomorrow: 2005 through 2009
2000
The Board of Supervisors permitted two Chino cousins to move 28,000 cows to southwest Bakersfield, the climax to a bitter controversy over the Borba Dairy expansion into Kern.
The glassy-winged sharpshooter infested grapevines, Kern's No. 1 crop in 2000. The pests spread Pierce's disease, which choked the plants of nutrients.
Kern County supervisors required all businesses and households in unincorporated Bakersfield and Taft to sign up for garbage pickup.
The Gibson Environmental facility south of Rosedale Highway was drained of toxic chemicals and demolished.
Bakersfield's new Amtrak station opened on the Fourth of July to rave reviews.
The Manter Fire, which started just outside Kernville, charred 79,224 acres. More than $15 million was spent battling the fire.
The Spotlight Theatre opened in downtown Bakersfield, adding to the city's nascent arts district.
Tejon Ranch Co. sold an 80-acre site to IKEA.
Fruitvale Properties LLC sold the remainder of RiverLakes Ranch to Riverlakes Land Co. as part of a $16 million deal that included 350 acres of undeveloped residential land and 100 acres of land zoned for commercial and industrial use.
2001
Rolling blackouts hit Bakersfield for two days in March, as power costs soared amid fallout from the state's attempt to deregulate the industry.
Bakersfield and Kern County elected leaders endorsed a 30-year, $1.6 billion transportation plan for metropolitan Bakersfield.
Sheriff Carl Sparks, with tears in his eyes, announced he would not run for re-election,ending what would be a 12-year career as the county's top cop.
Ambulance company owner Harvey Hall took office as Bakersfield's mayor, joining new council members Sue Benham and Harold Hanson.
Belridge School District Superintendent Steve Wentland resigned after two years of controversy sparked when the west Kern district began using textbooks designed for use in evangelical Christian schools.
Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield, was named chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
The Bakersfield Museum of Art quadrupled in size after a dramatic $2.6 million redesign.
UC Merced's Bakersfield facility opened.
An extension of Rosedale Highway's Northwest Promenade opened with such retail giants as Target Greatland, Ross and Linens 'n Things.
Bakersfield native Kevin Harvick was thrust into the national spotlight when he replaced teammate Dale Earnhardt after the racing legend's death on the track. Harvick became the first driver to win the Busch Series title and Winston Cup Rookie of the Year honors in the same season.
Foothill High football coach Ned Permenter retired after 37 years.
The CSUB women's basketball squad became the first team in NCAA history at any level to make the postseason in its first year of existence.
2002
Former Stockdale High and Fresno State quarterback David Carr was selected the No. 1 overall in the NFL draft by the expansion Houston Texans. He became the highest draft pick from Kern County and made his second appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Bakersfield natives Joey Porter, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Brock Marlon, of the Miami Dolphins, were named to the NFL Pro Bowl.
Low interest rates and prices sent Bakersfield homes sales soaring. The year saw more people moving from Southern California and coastal areas to take advantage of the Central Valley's affordability.
The Padre Hotel was sold and began a massive renovation.
Wal-Mart revealed plans for several new supercenters.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen M. Tauzer was found dead in his Bakersfield home. Chris Hillis was later charged in connection with the slaying.
The McNally Fire, the largest blaze in the history of Sequoia National Forest, burned 150,000 acres.
Digger, the much-loved black bear who lived with his sibling, Dart, at California Living Museum, was euthanized after becoming permanently paralyzed. The bears, who went to CALM after their mother died, had never been apart.
Kern County Supervisor Ken Peterson died of a heart attack at 52. Retired television executive Ray Watson won his vacant seat.
In a controversial move, the Bakersfield City Council voted to approve the posting of the words "In God We Trust" on a wall inside City Hall.
Arvin city government experienced a year for the ages. Mayor Juan Olivares, council members and other city officials engaged in numerous public screaming matches. But that was nothing compared with the indictments, arrests, convictions, retirements and firings that colored much of the year.
Retired California Highway Patrol officer Mack Wimbish narrowly defeated Kern County Supervisor Steve Perez for sheriff.
Congressional aide Nicole Parra beat Republican Dean Gardner for Assembly by just 265 votes of more than 50,000 cast.
2003
The Bakersfield Police Department announced it was being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice over accusations of excessive force and racial profiling.
Former Desert Counseling Clinic CEO Terry Cumberworth was indicted on charges of embezzling nearly $750,000 from the now-defunct nonprofit mental-health agency.
Police detained Bryanna Jagels, then-wife of District Attorney Ed Jagels, on suspicion of trying to pass a forged prescription for painkillers and a sedative. Soon after, Jagels filed for divorce and sought full custody of their son.
An underground section of the Kern Island Canal that cut across 19th Street and the Jim Burke Ford parking lot collapsed, sucking in four vehicles and three people. No one was hurt.
Kern County Sheriff Mack Wimbish was the focus of controversy over decals placed on two sheriff's patrol cars that said "We'll Kick Your Ass" and "We'll Bite Your Ass."
What would become a years-long Dean Florez-Nicole Parra feud erupted when Florez charged that Assembly Democrats were blocking a key anti-smog bill so Assemblywoman Parra would not have to cast a vote on the controversial measure. The Florez smog bills eventually passed.
Bakersfield couple Steven and Lyndsey Denny celebrated the birth of quintuplets at a Phoenix hospital.
Bakersfield was named as a site in the National Cemetery Expansion Act of 2003, winning the rights to build one of the nation's newest veterans' cemeteries.
For the first time, valley residents were forbidden to use their fireplaces during winter episodes of bad air quality, the result of a controversial rule approved by valley air quality officials.
Cal State Bakersfield President Tomas Arciniega announced his retirement after more than 20 years with the university. The official date of his retirement was July 1, 2004.
Food Maxx opened at Union and California avenues, followed by Albertsons on Chester, giving southeast and central Bakersfield residents more than 100,000 square feet of grocery choices.
Coleman Homes and Kyle Carter Homes, Bakersfield's two largest hometown home builders, were swallowed up by the big guys. Lennar Corp. bought Coleman and The Corky McMillin Cos. snapped up Kyle Carter.
The Tejon Ranch announced it would sell up to 100,000 of its acres for an environmental preserve. Meanwhile, environmental groups filed a lawsuit over expansion of Tejon's industrial complex, and the military unexpectedly stepped on Tejon's plans for a proposed 23,000-home community, saying it would interfere with flight plans.
2004
A parent-led movement to remove a book from classrooms fell apart after Kern County High School District trustees declined to ban Toni Morrison's novel "The Bluest Eye." An East High parent objected to the book's sexual content.
Kern High School District Superintendent Bill Hatcher retired after 40 years with the district. Don Carter replaced him.
John Stoll was released from prison after 20 years when a judge tossed out his child molestation conviction.
Bill Rector became the 17th Bakersfield Police Department chief, succeeding Eric Matlock.
Bakersfield police arrested Vincent Brothers and charged him with five counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his estranged wife, Joanie Harper, their three children and his mother-in-law, Earnestine Harper.
Bakersfield High's Robert Swift was drafted 12th overall by the NBA's Seattle Sonics, becoming the first Bakersfield player to bypass college and go straight to the league.
Burt Rutan made history when his SpaceShipOne successfully flew a human to space and back twice, earning his team the $10 million Ansari X Prize. The Rutan team's effort was bankrolled by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen. Rutan, a longtime aerospace pioneer and Mojave resident, made the cover of Time magazine for the flight.
Assemblywoman Nicole Parra won a rematch against Dean Gardner, whose history of unpaid taxes, bankruptcies, name changes and lawsuits became an issue in the race.
Pete Parra lost his bid for Kern County supervisor to Michael Rubio, a 27-year-old aide to Parra family foe, state Sen. Dean Florez.
The McMurtrey Aquatic Center, which cost $6 million, opened in downtown Bakersfield.
Kern County sued former Sheriff Carl Sparks over extra pay involving department commanders.
Local youth pastor and conservative Chad Vegas unseated 10-year incumbent Bryan Batey, shaking up the Kern County High School District board.
