THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008 WWW.BAKERSFIELD.COM LOCALLY OWNED SINCE 1897 50 CENTS CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVITIES AWAIT YOU, E10 DRIVER DRAMA AT SPEEDWAY, D1

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A P I E C E O F C O U N T R Y H I S T O R Y L O S T Beer fest incident Suspect ‘sorry it WAR ON TERROR Al-Qaida back happened’ on the attack Day after man dies, details of Al-Qaida has rebuilt some of its pre-Sept. 11 alleged assault remain cloudy capabilities from remote hiding places in BY STEVE E. SWENSON Pakistan, leading to a major spike in attacks Californian staff writer last year in that country and neighboring e-mail: sswenson@bakersfield.com Afghanistan, the Bush administration said ssault suspect Wednesday. Attacks in Pakistan more than Matthew Reed says the Festival FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN A doubled from 375 to 887 between 2006 and of Beers incident that 2007, and in Afghanistan, the number of In the spotlight one last time. Homer Joy, who wrote “Streets of Bakersfield,” stands in Buck Owens’ old has left Kevin Johnson recording studio Wednesday on North Chester. The studio is closing its doors for good. attacks rose 16 percent, to 1,127 incidents brain dead “should never have happened.” last year, according to the State “Kevin was a really Department’s annual terrorism report. good friend of mine,” ‘Buck was there’: Legendary Oildale studio Reed, 33, said in a tele- Reed Terrorists killed more than 22,000 people phone conversation. “I around the world in 2007, 8 percent more closes with little fanfare but many memories have a lot of love for than in 2006. him. I’m really sorry it happened.” BY SHELLIE BRANCO says quietly. Reed said he is talk- Californian staff writer Behind the whitewashed exteri- ing to an attorney so he e-mail: sbranco@bakersfield.com or of the old River Theater lived can’t say a lot about four decades of music history. what happened on Sat- n the half-lit studio, Rick Davis Homer Joy, who famously wrote urday at Stramler Park, sits in a folding chair among the hit song “Streets of Bakers- but he denied coming mic stands, glossy red and yel- field” in anger after the studio up to Johnson, 29, from low electric guitars, a xylo- brushed him off, stops by Wednes- I behind and punching Johnson phone and a low, dusty black day with warm feelings for the couch better left to a frat house. his neck. It’s Wednesday morning, and Please turn to STUDIO / A3 “I did not come up from behind,” Reed said. the man who took over Buck “I love that dude. I never wanted him to be Owens’ old studio on North hurt like that.” Chester Avenue is shutting it Bakersfield.com Reed said there was an argument first. Bakersfield police initially reported an argu- down. He sent an e-mail to cancel See video of Homer Joy reminisc- his insurance. He’s ready to sell ment between the two men came before the ing about recording “Streets of punch, but then said Reed hit Johnson from the equipment. Bakersfield” in the studio. “It’s a logical, orderly progres- behind. EDUCATION sion in closing a business,” he Jonathan Davis, musicians who “It was not during a fight,” Sgt. Greg Terry says. filled this room in Oildale with said Wednesday. Johnson was hit on the side of Surrounded by walls covered in twang and thrash. The sole the neck, toward the back, Terry said. sea foam green sound panels, Owens-era piece of equipment Reed said the whole incident “was beefed up College tuition underneath a ceiling lined with left in the building is a reel-to- by two girls” — both ex-girlfriends of his and ’60s space-age white globe and reel mastering machine one of whom is Johnson’s current girlfriend. cylindrical metal light fixtures, shoved into a corner. He declined to name the women or elaborate up, grads down Davis talks Buck, Don Rich and Something passes over his on the advice of his attorney. He also denied the Buckaroos, Merle Haggard, face and he forgets he’s a busi- that the incident stemmed from a dispute over Students are a growing source of revenue Glen Campbell, Big House, and nessman. a guitar. for colleges, but little of that money is going his own son, Korn frontman “It’ll hit me later,” Davis Please turn to REED / A3 into classroom instruction even as tuition increases continue to outpace inflation, according to a study released today. Despite spending more per student than any other industrialized nation, the United States ranks at the bottom in degree completion at Air regulators approve cleanup plan 54 percent, a sign that spending priorities aren’t helping colleges create more hibited. graduates. The report found that research, Measure targets diesel trucks and industrial plants Kern County could see up to 30 no- Inside burn days during winter months com- BAD NEWS: Bakersfield still high on list public service and financial aid were the and could double Kern’s no-burn days this winter pared to about 12 this season under the of nation’s smoggy cities, Page B1 fastest-growing expenses. current rule. BY STACEY SHEPARD and chemicals that create fine particu- The plan will bring the valley into Councilman Henry Perea and Fresno Californian staff writer lates, a form of air pollution considered compliance with a federal pollution physician John Telles opposed the plan. email: sshepard@bakersfield.com most damaging to human health. standard by 2014. It was approved in an Clean air advocates who spoke dur- Its cleanup measures largely target 8-3 vote by the San Joaquin Valley Air ing a public hearing before the vote GAS PRICES an Joaquin Valley air regulators diesel trucks and industrial plants but Pollution Control District Governing criticized the air district for not includ- Wednesday approved a plan to could also increase the number of days Board. Board members Raji Brar, an ing stricter measures in the cleanup No more SUVs S clean up tiny specks of dust, soot when residential wood burning is pro- Arvin councilwoman, Fresno City Please turn to AIR / A3 2008 Audi A4 2.0 T for lawmakers What do you give the car that has everything? I N D E X W E A T H E R F O R T H E Introducing the 2008 Audi A4 The use of a car — maintenance, insurance, Special Edition. 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Continued from A1 The Kern County coroner’s staff reported Tuesday afternoon that He said he has no plans to leave Johnson died from his injuries. town, and pointed out that he Supervising Deputy Coroner turned himself in on Monday on a John Van Rensselaer said a possi- felony battery charge. He bailed ble scenario for the cause of death out of jail Monday evening. is a blow that causes the brain to Reed said he just gave his “life to swell. God” on Easter at Valley Bible An autopsy will have to be done Church in a ceremony that includ- to confirm what happened, he said. ed his friends from Set Free Min- But by late Wednesday morning, istries. Johnson was still on a respirator at He said he did that because “I’m San Joaquin Hospital, so his organs done with all the drama in my life. I could be donated, Brown said. just want to live free and peaceful- Both Johnson and Reed have ly.” criminal records, according to the In reaction to Reed’s story, Kern County Superior Court Web Bryan Brown, Johnson’s brother- site. in-law, said that was Reed’s side of Johnson has been convicted of things. both felony and misdemeanor A friend of Reed’s, Stephanie spousal abuse, and misdemeanor Oswald, 26, stuck up for her former possession of marijuana since 2000. neighbor. Reed has been convicted in the “He doesn’t provoke fights,” she last seven years of misdemeanor said. “I’ve seen him walk away counts of vandalism, drunken driv- from fights.” ing, public drunkenness and two She said Reed has intervened to counts of assault with a deadly keep a man from abusing her. weapon.

AIR: Many speaking against FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN Rick Davis, who operated Fat Tracks Recording Studio (the old Buck Owens recording studio) from 1993-2005, cues up “Streets of Bakersfield” as the song’s writer, Homer Joy, stands to the right. plan were from Arvin, Lamont

Continued from A1 PM 2.5 occurs in the valley in wintertime and is considered the STUDIO: Owens family in no big rush to sell off property plan. They raised the same con- most harmful air pollutant. In addi- cerns a year ago when the air dis- tion to triggering asthma attacks Continued from A1 old guys in there. Don ... Don was was busy and Haggard had a com- When he moved out the grand trict board voted on a controversial and lung ailments, the tiny parti- there. Buck was there.” mitment in Sacramento. piano a few months ago, Davis had smog cleanup plan. cles can pass through the lungs and place. He hasn’t stepped inside Many of those speaking against into the bloodstream, where they the building since 1974, two years Bakersfield metal blues artist Buckaroo Jim Shaw says the to sit down and play one more Marc Jones was the last to record Owens family is in no rush to sell. time. the plan were community organiz- can clog arteries. after he penned the rebellious ers in Arvin and Lamont who said Doctors have documented trends Bakersfield anthem. in Pig Studio, on Sunday night. To They still have a tenant, a medical But Homer Joy’s duet with equipment repair shop. If some- Owens, “John Law,” is the final neighborhood committees consis- that show an increase in deaths “I had blisters in my boots by avoid a conflict of interest, Rick one has a good offer down the line, song to bounce around Wednes- tently rank air pollution as their from lung diseases, heart attacks the time I got back to the motel Davis subleased to Pig Studio they’ll consider it. day morning. That’s subject to biggest concern. Arvin has experi- and strokes on days when fine par- room, and I sat down with ‘Streets owner Nick Forcilo in 2005 when change. enced some of the highest levels of ticle pollution is high. of Bakersfield,’” says the 63-year- he became executive director of “We said goodbye 18 years ago “I’ll probably come back tonight air pollution in the nation in recent A 2006 Cal State Fullerton study old, recalling the walk from the the Kern County Board of Trade. when we moved out and the TV and sit out in the studio and sing a years. estimated particle pollution costs studio that inspired the song. Pig Studio stopped taking new station (KUZZ) took it over,” he few choruses of ‘Streets of Bakers- Air District Executive Director valley residents $3.2 billion annual- The motel on Garces Circle is clients April 1 and finished exist- says. “ ... I’ve been here 38 years field,’” Davis says. Seyed Sadredin said scientific stud- ly in doctor’s visits, lost productivi- long gone. A strip club took its ing projects by the end of the and it’s hard not to say that it’s ies by the air district showed the ty and early death. place. month. totally without emotion, but the advocates’ suggestions for further Heavy-duty diesel trucks are the Joy and Davis circle the studio. Davis moved his Fat Tracks stu- building’s still there, reducing PM 2.5 wouldn’t work. largest source of PM 2.5. Other Joy points out a section of wall dio into Owens’ building in 1992. the room is still Sadredin said the current plan is major contributors include burning that once contained the vocal The building is still run by the there, the equip- one of the toughest in the nation. of forests, orchards and agricultur- booth. Inside, he and Buck’s musi- Owens family. ment will be moved “This plan has every control you al fields and industrial machinery cians used to act goofy, “flip each It’s hard to run a studio of this out one more time. can imagine,” he said. burning liquid fuel and natural gas. other off and blow each other kiss- size, Davis says. The demand isn’t Things are different es.” there, not when young musicians than they were when can lay down tracks at home with “It was like it is now, but it’s I started in 1970.” Pro Tools software. kinda like all that evaporated for He doubts the stu- me,” Joy says later by phone. “I “I was just honored to have the dio will make a come- could see the piano sitting there. I chance to be caretaker, in a sense, back. could see the drum deal with a to be here to help it close with dig- “I don’t think you picnic umbrella over the drums.” nity,” he says. could get enough busi- “For a little while today, I was Davis invited his son and Merle ness or Rick would 25 years old,” Joy adds, his voice Haggard to walk around the stu- have done it,” he says. full of emotion. “I saw, felt all the dio one last time, but Jonathan

Homer Joy and Buck Owens in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1997. FILE PHOTO

AP Soldiers from B Company, 1st Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment Garces explored Kern spots patrol in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq. The U.S. mili- tary death toll hit a seven-month high of 50 for the month of April, nearly The natives received him with half in attacks in Baghdad where Americans face running street battles Spanish missionary crossed river 232 years ago, joy and he rewarded them with Share your story against Shiite fighters in the Sadr City district. gifts of glass beads and tobacco. This story was written by a reader recorded geographical, cultural details of area The villagers gave a feast and per- like you. To submit stories or photos formed ritual dances in his honor. to The Bakersfield Californian or Bakersfield.com, visit BY GEORGE GILBERT LYNCH guides, he traveled by foot, lead- The next rancheria they Bakersfield.com/yourwords. Ques- Iraq deaths Contributing writer ing a mule with his provisions encountered was at Poso Creek, tions? Contact Contributions Editor As of Wednesday, at least 4,063 members of the U.S. military have died since the from the Colorado River at Yuma which Garces named “Rio de San- tiago.” Indians in this village wel- Jennifer Baldwin at 395-7568 or beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. On this day 232 years ago, and across the Mojave Desert. He comed them and gave them a feast jbaldwin@bakersfield.com. The figure includes eight military civilians. At least 3,307 died as a result of hos- Father Garces crossed the Kern then headed north through the as well. tile action, according to the military. River for the first time. Francisco San Fernando Valley, ascended the Tehachapi Mountains and The next morning, Garces pro- The AP count is five more than the Defense Department’s tally, which was last up- Hermenegildo Tomas Garces was ceeded north until they arrived at “This area has beautiful hills, safe dated Wednesday. a great missionary explorer of the entered the San Joaquin Valley. On May 1, 1776, Father Garces a rancheria on White River which from any flooding, that will be ide- late 1700s. Born in Spain, he was and a local guide arrived at the he named “Rio de la Santa Cruz.” al for building a mission. I name ordained at age 25 and attended The latest deaths Kern River, about two miles west The natives welcomed the padre this place San Miguel de los college in Mexico where he pre- reported by the military of the Kern River Canyon. The and a grieving mother and father Noches.” pared for missionary work. A soldier was killed Wednesday by an explosive in northern Baghdad. river was high with spring runoff asked him if he could minister to No mission was built, but on that The Franciscan missionary and Father Garces said, “It was a their ill son who was about to die. very hill a school named Garces Two soldiers were killed Wednesday by an explosive in southern Baghdad. explored, on mule or foot, much of large river making much noise, The padre gave the infant the first Memorial High School was even- A soldier was killed Wednesday by an explosion in Ninevah province. the Southwest and Baja Califor- the beautiful crystalline waters recorded Christian baptism per- tually built. nia. His detailed diaries made him were bountiful and good to drink.” formed in the San Joaquin Valley. Garces headed back to Yuma. The latest identifications reported by the military an important explorer of early The current was too strong to A monument marks this location In 1781, he was among the many Army Pfc. William T. Dix, 32, Culver City, Calif.; died Sunday at Camp Buehring, North America and his writings cross so they walked downstream on Highway 155, eight miles east killed at the Mission San Pedro y Kuwait, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident; assigned to the 14th Engi- gave us a virtual picture of the to a quieter area. From another from Highway 65. San Pablo de Bicuner in an Indian neer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, I Corps, Fort Lewis, Wash. geology, geography, wildlife and rancheria on the north bank came Garces returned south to the uprising. Two statues to his mem- Three Army soldiers died Monday in Baghdad of wounds from indirect fire. Indian culture of the era. Indians to assist the padre across Kern River and was directed to an ory are in Bakersfield, at the Killed were Pfc. Adam L. Marion, 26, Mount Airy, N.C.; Sgt. Marcus C. Math- The king of Spain requested the because he could not swim. He area downstream with a bridge. Garces Traffic Circle and at es, 26, Zephyrhills, Fla.; and Sgt. Mark A. Stone, 22, Buchanan Dam, Texas. Franciscan order to find a shorter named the river “Rio de San He found a village where the riv- Garces Memorial High School. route from Mexico to their mis- Felipe.” A monument depicting er forked. This would probably George Gilbert Lynch is a mem- Marion was assigned to the 171st Engineer Company, North Carolina Army Na- sions in Monterey and San Fran- this event is east of Bakersfield on have been near Columbus Street ber of the Kern County Historical tional Guard, Saint Pauls, N.C. Mathes and Stone were assigned to the 94th cisco. Father Garces set out on the Highway 178 near Rancheria west of Chester Avenue. The Society and writes about local his- Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division quest. With two Mojave Indian Road. padre saw the bluffs and said, tory. (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, La.

Dead sailor enlisted in Bakersfield Audit: Prisons getting better, but still need work A U.S. Navy sailor who died April 20 in Bahrain claimed Bakersfield was her hometown because that was where she enlisted, a Navy spokeswoman The Bakersfield Californian yelling and walking toward a guard to fire from elevated positions, the gets” and that an extensive test said. Improvements have been made when he was hit. latest audit says. Both of those fac- showed that shooting from an ele- Petty Officer 1st Class Cherie L. Morton was found dead in her home in to the state prison system since the Past audits have led to the Cali- tors may have contributed to vated position doesn’t have a signif- Galali, Muharraq, Bahrain, according to published reports. Morton, 40, 2005 death of an inmate held local- fornia Department of Corrections Provencio getting struck in the head, icant change in the point of aim and was assigned to Naval Security Force, Naval Support Activity Bahrain. ly, but more needs to be done, says and Rehabilitation improving the the Inspector General’s office said. point of impact. The Basic Correc- Morton was born in Rockford, Ill., and graduated from high school an Inspector General audit. process of identifying maximum In response, California Depart- tional Officer Academy, however, there, according to Millie Slamin, spokeswoman for Naval Support Activi- In 2005, Wasco State Prison security inmates who shouldn’t be ment of Corrections and Rehabili- does train cadets in shooting the ty Bahrain. Several reports said Morton was from Bakersfield. inmate Daniel Provencio died after placed in the general prison popu- tation Secretary James E. Tilton 40mm from an elevated platform, She enlisted and later re-enlisted in the Navy in Bakersfield, according a guard shot him in the head with a lation. They have also improved sent a letter to the Inspector Gener- his letter stated. The Inspector to Slamin. 40mm foam bullet during a fight in weapons training, the report states. al’s office saying that the depart- General’s office performs annual Morton’s funeral is scheduled for May 3 in Rockford, Ill. a prison day room. Provencio, who But the prisons still need to train ment “does not have the ability to accountability audits to follow up The cause of her death has not yet been determined. was drunk at the time, had been officers to fire at moving targets and fire the 40mm rifle at moving tar- on previously identified problems.