4 TAFT INDEPENDENT
January 10 - 16, 2014
Syrian Dilemma Highlights Westside Watcher Importance of American Missile Defense Editorial
The Taft
Independent
Restaurant and Entertainment Guide
Your Guide To The Best Restaurants and Entertainment on the Westside Tumbleweed Café Asian Experience and Steakhouse Asian Food and Pizza
Steak, Seafood, Wild Game, Full Bar Monday – Friday 6 am to 2 pm Saturday – Sunday 7 am – 2 pm Dinner Hours Friday and Saturday 6 pm to 9 pm 24870 Highway 33, Derby Acres 768-4655
Paik’s Ranch House Where Everybody Meets Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Open 7 Days Mon. Tues. Wed., Thur. 6 am-8:30 pm Sun. Fri. & Sat. 6 am - 9 pm 765-6915 200 Kern St. Taft Sagebrush Annie’s Restaurant and Wine Tasting Wine Tasting and Lunch Sat. & Sun. 11:30-5 pm 4211 Highway 33, Ventucopa (661) 766-2319
Lunch and Dinner Tuesday - Friday 11 am - 2 pm 4 pm - 9 pm Saturday 4 pm - 9 pm 215 Center Street, Taft 763- 1815
Black Gold Cafe & Deli Pastas - Sandwiches Espresso - Beer - Wine Craft Beers Open Monday to Friday 6:30am to 8pm Saturday 7:30am to 8pm Sunday 10am to 2pm 508 Center Street 765-6556
514 Center Street • (661)765-7469 LIKE us on Facebook: Fox Theatre Taft TAFTFOX.COM Week of Friday, January 10, 2014 through Thursday, January 16, 2014
Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (R) Fri & Sat: 7:30, 9:15 Sun: (4:30), 6:15 Mon - Thu: 7:15 PM The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) Fri & Sat: 7:15, 9:30 Sun: (4:15), 6:30 Mon - Thu: 7:15 PM Saving Mr. Banks (PG-13) Fri & Sat: 7:00, 9:20 Sun: (4:00), 6:20 Mon - Thu: 7:00 PM
Paik’s
Ranch House Restaurant “Where Everybody Meets” Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Open 7 Days
Mon, Tues, Wed., Thurs - 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fri. Sat. and Sun. 6 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
765-6915
200 Kern Street, Taft, Ca.
By Michael James Barton
Down Home in Taft
The Obama Administration is currently working with the international community to relieve Syrian President Bashar AlThe other day while driving down the 300 Block of Pierce Assad of his chemical weapon stockpile. Of course, there’s ample reason for pessimism. Even if AmerStreet I noticed how nice all the American Flags looked at ican and Russian officials were to work in perfect harmony, the Sole’s houses. As I drove by Jefferson School I noticed fully ridding Assad of his entire arsenal in the middle of a civil how nice it looked with its new coat of paint. As I drove war will be difficult, complicated, and likely impossible. by Lincoln Jr. High I noticed the nice Lincoln sign that The Syrian crisis speaks to the broader challenge of containwas replaced awhile back and looks even better. As I drove ing anti-American regimes equipped with weapons of mass down Warren Street I noticed Doug and Donna Evans new destruction. While America continues to pursue all available American Flag above their house and it looked great. I diplomatic options for curbing these threats, we must also poslooked over and saw the amazing resurfaced roller skating sess the best military capabilities needed to protect the nation rink next to the Natatorium. Lots of things around Taft are in case diplomacy fails. The most effective military technology looking better. for combating the mounting WMD threat is missile defense. In the 200 block of Center, Sears has always been a nice The United States must continue to support these systems to looking building since it was built. The Asian Experience protect the homeland. building was fixed up several years back and still looks great. America has been the world leader in missile defense for The Monarch Fleet building was an eye sore just a year ago more than 30 years. and now is a beautiful building and a great business. The The first major breakthrough came with the Patriot system, owner Manny Campos is now fixing up the old S.J. Mobley first used in the Persian Gulf War. Now, the Patriot boasts Car Lot across the street from his shop. There are some over 2,500 successful tests. It’s used by over a dozen American other rough looking places in that block. In the 700 block allies, including several in the Middle East, whose leaders watch of Center Street Dr. Walker’s Office always looks great but warily as the Iranian nuclear program moves forward. most of the ones around him sure don’t. This is just one component of America’s missile defense There are so many Historic Buildings around Taft that infrastructure. were beautiful but have been neglected and look horThe Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System enables warships rible. Wouldn’t it be nice to see the old Stewart’s Drug and to shoot down enemy ballistic missiles. The Terminal HighWilson’s Hardware buildings fixed up. It is nice to see great Altitude Area Defense enables the United States to intercept businesses like Personal Style and Old’s Cool but then you missiles in the upper reaches of the atmosphere. see other businesses that look like the roof is going to fall in. Our systems are varied and proven. And they play an integral I love seeing businesses with nice items on display out front role in containing global hot spots and keeping our allies safe. but others look like their having a yard sale. But we can’t afford to let investment in these vital technoloSince I was a kid I loved the country group Alabama gies lag. The missile capabilities of hostile regimes are growing and one of my all time favorite songs by them was “Down more advanced -our defense systems must have sustained supHome.” Back then and still today that is a Taft song. When port to keep ahead of the curve. you get a chance listen to that song because it is one of those Exhibit A is Iran’s 10,000 centrifuges which continue to enfeel good songs. They talk about a handshake and those rich uranium. The country intends to install thousands of more days sadly have been ruined by greed so you no longer can efficient centrifuges in the near future, in addition to other do business by a handshake these days but that is everycapabilities they may be doing in secret. where. I like walking into Albertson’s and knowing most of The alarming rate of Iran’s progress toward a nuclear bomb the people. Chester, Victoria, Donna, and several others are underscores how wrong the Obama administration was to always working hard and are very friendly. If you need Jewabandon our allies and scrape the planned elry or gifts, Acme Jewelry is the place to go. Donna Smith missile defense shield program for Eastern Europe in 2009. was one of the nicest ladies at Taft High when I went there That system’s chief purpose was deterring the Iranian nuclear and I love seeing her and Ray these days at Acme. threat. Without it, the hardliners in the Iranian regime can still You need body work done to your vehicle everyone make plausible threats against America and its allies. knows you go see Dave Gill at Precision Body Works. Dave North Korea’s nuclear arsenal presents an even more serious does great work and is a great guy. One way or another he problem. Satellite images released in September reveal that the is related to several people here in Taft so it is a good thing country might be close to bringing its Yongbyon plutonium they are good people. When I had motorcycle’s I always production reactor back on line. The Defense Intelligence took them to Cycle Katz. I’ve known Donnie for a long time and he is a great guy that you can trust. You need parts Agency has concluded that the country could already have a for your vehicle you go see Ron Waldrop at Waldrop’s Auto nuclear weapon small enough to fit atop a missile. Meanwhile, the threat of terrorists exploiting the resources Parts. I’ve known Ron and his great family since I played of a weak or baseball with his son Scotty when we were kids. chaotic government, like Egypt’s, is very real. These radical nonThe last few New Year’s Eves my family and I went to state actors need just a single bomb attached to a single missile Pizza Factory with my best friend and his family. Pizza to present a serious threat to the United States. Factory has great food and the kids can go a little crazy. The Assad can’t be taken as an honest broker. In the event that owners Felix and Sherry love Taft and have a great family. he does agree to hand over his chemical weapons, it is unlikely They do not get any better than our City Manager Craig we can confirm all will be in custody. Witness the near-endless Jones. I’ve known him forever and he loves Taft and is the discovery of additional WMD facilities in Libya after their perfect man for his job. WMD disarmament 2003 -- and that wasn’t in the middle of Lots of our great business owners have left Taft for Cola civil war. The key lesson from the last decade is that preventlege, Military, work, family, etc, but they came back because ing hostile actors from obtaining and using the world’s most they love Taft like Quick Smog, Taft Chevron Gas Station, destructive weapons isn’t always possible. Asian Experience, Messenger’s Automotive, Fast Trip at In a world where more and more of our enemies can access 10th and Kern Street, Monarch Fleet, Artz Liquor and WMDs, keeping the United States and its allies safe from a Deli, and Fox Theatre. Support these great business owners cataclysmic attack demands greater ingenuity and vigilance. and all our other Taft Businesses. These are just a few of the Missile-defense systems can play a crucial role in efforts to reasons I love being “Down Home” in Taft. “Down home, combat these threats. where they know you by name and they treat you like famMichael James Barton served as the deputy director of ily!” Stay positive Taft! Middle East policy at the Pentagon from 2006 through 2009 and is currently a director at ARTIS Research. John Swearengin