People

High-profile killer, sex offender comes to Delano

Delano is the temporary home for a sex offender who gained national attention for killing two teenage girls in the San Diego area.

John Albert Gardner III was transferred Tuesday from San Diego County Jail to North Kern State Prison, according to Fox 5 TV in San Diego.

Gardner was sentenced last week to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole for murdering 17-year-old Chelsea King and 14-year-old Amber Dubois. He got a third life term with a 25-year minimum for the attempted rape of a jogger who escaped by smashing him in the nose with an elbow.

The 31-year-old man reached a plea deal last month that spared him the death penalty.

KTLA-TV in Los Angeles is reporting that North Kern State Prison is acting as Gardner's processing center for the state prison system.

Delano, Tehachapi educators named Teachers of the Year

Submitted by Erica Bain on Wednesday, May 5th, 5:19 pm

Sergio Fernandez, a bilingual teacher at Delano Union School District's Fremont School and Glen Orr, teacher of students with severe disabilities at Tehachapi High School, were honored on May 4th as Kern County's Teachers of the Year for 2009-2010.

Fernandez has taught school since 1988. During his career, the state has recognized Fernandez for his work with migrant students and the district for his teaching excellence. He has served as chairman of Fremont's math and oral language teams, while providing support to beginning teachers and others as a coach and mentor.

Orr teaches severely disabled students who range in age from 14-22. He says he got into education to help those, like himself, who struggled with continual failures in high school.

Charges dropped against teacher who urinated in class

By Cory

Watch a March 25 interview with Matthew Davis

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Charges have been conditionally dismissed against the substitute teacher who urinated inside a Delano classroom filled with students.

Matthew Davis must not teach for a year, not be around kids for a year, complete 100 hours of community service and seek treatment for his condition, according to a deal worked out Thursday with the Kern County District Attorney's Office.

Davis' family has said he suffers from an early onset of dementia. It's unknown if that contributed to his actions that day in the classroom.

Attorney Kyle Humphrey said he is pleased with the agreement, because it shows compassion for his client.

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Hundreds expected to march for immigration reform

Submitted by Jose Gaspar on Thursday, March 25th, 10:44 pm

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, along with state senator Gloria Romero, is expected to join hundreds of others in Delano in a march for immigration reform and to celebrate the legacy of Cesar Chavez.

The event will begin this Sunday with an outdoor mass at 10am at Cesar Chavez Park located at the corner of 9th and Ellington in Delano.

Chavez was the founder of the United Farm Workers Union that began an historic battle for farm worker rights in 1965 in Delano.

The Delano UFW sponsored march is part of the Reform Immigration For America national campaign pusing for comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would allow approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants to legalize their residency status in this country.

For more information contact Maria Machuca, UFW Communications Director at 661 837-9828.

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Teacher discusses ordeal of urination arrest

By Cory

Matthew Davis said Thursday that "life throws odd curves" while talking about the accusations that he urinated inside a Delano classroom filled with students.

The 58-year-old substitute teacher talked with Eyewitness News on condition that he not be asked if and why he allegedly urinated into a cup Monday while teaching a freshman math class at Cesar E. Chavez High School. He cited the ongoing legal situation as reason to avoid those questions.

Davis pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Kern County Superior Court before posting bail. He's facing a misdemeanor count of public nuisance.

"I think it was a misunderstanding, and things got a little bit misconstrued," he said.

High school officials have offered counseling to students who said they were troubled by the incident.

Delano plays host for Relay for Life cancer fundraiser

Submitted by Nicole Neumiller on Tuesday, January 26th, 10:54 pm

Relay For Life is a 24-hour team event to fight cancer. It raises awareness of cancer in the community and raises money to support the programs and services of the American Cancer Society.

Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society's signature event. It honors cancer survivors, remembers those who lost their battle with cancer and educates the community about early detection and prevention of the disease. It raises much needed money for community programs and services as well.

The event will be held at Delano High School from April 17-18.

For more information call (661) 327-7827, or visit its Web site, www.relayforlife.org/delanoca.

There are also Relay events in Wasco, Bakersfield, Taft, Arvin and Tehachapi.

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