What an odd combination of topics, eh? Well, today was a very busy day at The Voice.

First, I learned (very early this morning) that I had tickets to giveaway for the Junior Achievement Ice Cream "Sunday" social this weekend -- so I had to quickly post the contest on both sites (in my jammies, no less) so that y'all would have enough time to get your email and enter.  I'm sorry to anyone who didn't get the word in time!  I posted the contest as soon as I could.  We had one winner in the Southwest, "raychopra1" who won a 4-pack of tickets for Sunday (a sundae on Sunday).  We had two winners on the other site.

Next, I attended a luncheon hosted by the BPD activities league (PAL), along with others from every other media outlet in town. Here's what I learned and the point I want to get across to our neighbors: At any given time, there has been and can be 75 emergency calls holding at the Bakersfield Police Department. So, when you call about a break-in or a stolen car, or a suspicious person in the neighborhood, and it seems as if you've been on hold for an hour (or it IS an hour), THAT is why!  There are only roughly 250 cops to patrol our city of nearly 350,000, and those 250 police officers are spread out into 5 shifts (allowing for vacations, illnesses, etc., too).  They are getting to our calls as SOON as they can, but each call can require a squad car, and if every squad car goes and takes care of something, then those calls holding have to keep holding until an officer is available.  How awful, huh??? 

Just makes me appreciate the job they are doing all the more.  Thank you, BPD.