Sikh woman allegedly kills baby and buries it in her backyard to prevent family shame, Rep. Kevin McCarthy weighs in on the wall emergency and Valley Republic Bank gets a new CEO

Friday, March 1, 2019

 Welcome to Bakersfield Observed. Our mission is to celebrate life in Kern County by focusing on newsmakers and events and the local characters who make this such a special to live. Send your tips to rsbeene@yahoo.com.

 * ... NEWBORN DEATH: There are few stories more shocking than the revelation that a Sikh grandmother allegedly killed a newborn because of family shame. Police say the newborn was buried

in a flower bed behind the home in southwest Bakersfield in a neighborhood popular with Sikh families. Beant Dhilion pleaded not guilty to chargers of murder, assault on a child under 8 resulting in death and willful cruelty to a child. Police are looking for another family member, Bakhshinderpal Singh for his role in burying the child. The motive: the child was killed because its birth drew shame to the family.

 * ... EMERGENCY POWERS: House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy wasted no time in lashing out at House Democrats who voted to block President Trumps' declaration of a national emergency along the Mexican border. “House Democrats chose today to make a purely political statement against President Trump instead of taking seriously the national emergency at our country’s southern border. The President’s declaration – along with legislative action to appropriate funds for border security – will answer the call from experts and border security personnel on the ground to provide the resources needed to stop illegal entry into our country and the dangers associated with it. Through their resistance, Democrats are closing their eyes and turning their backs to human trafficking victims, victims of drug addiction, and Angel Families who have lost loved ones."

 * ... MORE KMAC: And speaking of KMAC, I spotted this on Jeopardy! earlier this week:

 * ... BEST HEADLINE: Spotted this headline in the New York Post: "Airline pressing charges after man grew coins in engine for good luck."

 * ... SPOTTED ON TWITTER: "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, you’re probably really hot."

 * ... VALLEY REPUBLIC: Valley Republic Bank has a new CEO, replacing Bruce Jay who is set to retire March 31. Jay took control of the bank when it was founded, built it into a successful financial institution and is now turning it over to Geraud Smith, formerly a regional manager for Wells Fargo.

 * ... MEMORIES: Check out these pictures of the old Ridge Route over the Grapevine alongside a more current look.

 * ... MEMORIES: And then there is this advertisement for a big show in Taft.