Category: Uncategorized

CREDIT: Jessica Weston/Daily Independent

“CALIFORNIA CITY — More diversified business growth. Long-term sustainable jobs at a livable wage. Housing to support new business development, and retail and other amenities to support quality of life.

These were key among definitions of success in economic development and diversification, as brainstormed during the kick-off meeting for the Kern County Economic Diversification Plan in California City Wednesday.

Business leaders and stakeholders from Ridgecrest, California City, Tehachapi and Mojave gathered for the project’s inaugural meeting Wednesday. The Ridgecrest contingent included representatives from Cerro Coso Community College, the China Lake Alliance, the Indian Wells Valley EDC, the Desert Empire Fair, the city of Ridgecrest and others. Mojave Air and Space Port CEO Karina Drees and Bill Deaver were among those from Mojave. The California City Chamber of Commerce acted as host, and California City elected officials were also in attendance, along with a representative from the city of Tehachapi economic development and tourism commission…” (Read full story via The Independent Daily).

“LOS ANGELES January 19, 2016—FOUR WHEELER, the world’s leading 4×4 authority, has selected the Ram 1500 Rebel as the winner of its prestigious 27th annual Pickup Truck of the Year Award.

FOUR WHEELER’s Pickup Truck of the Year award program is an invitation-only shootout open to all-new or significantly revised pickup trucks for the upcoming model year. For 2016, the field of vehicles included four entries:

Chevy Colorado Z71, 2.8L I-4 turbodiesel
Nissan Titan XD PRO-4X, 5.0L V-8 turbodiesel
Ram 1500 Rebel, 5.7L V-8
Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road, 3.5L V-6

FOUR WHEELER’s highly experienced judging staff thoroughly evaluates each vehicle in a variety of terrain and conditions ranging from 0-60-mph and quarter-mile acceleration and 60-0-mph braking distance at the racetrack to real-world situations on the highway, down backroads, in traffic, and, of course, through every off-road terrain imaginable. Vehicles are judged on a wide range of criteria, including off-road performance and survivability, interior appointments and amenities, quality of construction, and the ability to perform in rigorous off-road environments…(Read full story via fourwheeler.com)