Tough Times

It’s tough living in Kern County. You have to be hardy to survive here. A couple of articles in the paper today prove it.

In the local section there’s an article about an apartment complex so moldy the residents are getting sick. One woman even blames the mold for the death of her two-year-old daughter. According to the article, “after finding lumps on her daughter’s head” she took her to the hospital. LUMPS ON HER HEAD? I would freak out if I found lumps on my kid’s head. Eleven doctors were unable to figure out what was causing the lumps, and the little girl's health problems continued. On Feb. 29, 2004 she died. How awful.

I have never heard of anyone having a mold problem in Bakersfield. It’s too hot and too dry. I cannot imagine how a landlord could ignore the fact that the tenants are complaining about mold GROWING ON THE WALLS and coughing their lungs up. The woman and 68 others are suing the owner.

The other article is on the front page and the headline reads, “Rule that stranded girl doesn’t worry school.” Apparently, kids in Tehachapi have to pay to go to school. According to the article, residents in the rural area surrounding the city, “pay $75 each semester for a bus pass.” Unfortunately for one little girl, her pass expired, so the bus driver REFUSED TO TAKE HER HOME. The 11-year-old, not knowing what else to do, began to walk the 30 miles home.

Now there is one person who really can claim she had to walk 30 miles uphill in the snow.