http://www.swvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/25473 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 &quot;Sunday&quot; social&nbsp;this weekend&nbsp;-- 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.&nbsp; I'm sorry to anyone who didn't get the word in time!&nbsp; I posted the contest as soon as I could.&nbsp; We had one winner in the Southwest, &quot;raychopra1&quot; who won a 4-pack of tickets for Sunday (a sundae on Sunday).&nbsp; 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&nbsp;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,&nbsp;and it seems as if you've been on hold for an hour (or it IS an hour), THAT is why!&nbsp; There are only roughly 250 cops to patrol our city of nearly 350,000, and those 250 police officers&nbsp;are spread out into 5 shifts (allowing for vacations, illnesses, etc., too).&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; How awful, huh???&nbsp; Just makes me appreciate the job they are doing all the more.&nbsp; Thank you, BPD. 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 &quot;Sunday&quot; social&nbsp;this weekend&nbsp;-- 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.&nbsp; I'm sorry to anyone who didn't get the word in time!&nbsp; I posted the contest as soon as I could.&nbsp; We had one winner in the Southwest, &quot;raychopra1&quot; who won a 4-pack of tickets for Sunday (a sundae on Sunday).&nbsp; 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&nbsp;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,&nbsp;and it seems as if you've been on hold for an hour (or it IS an hour), THAT is why!&nbsp; There are only roughly 250 cops to patrol our city of nearly 350,000, and those 250 police officers&nbsp;are spread out into 5 shifts (allowing for vacations, illnesses, etc., too).&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; How awful, huh???&nbsp; Just makes me appreciate the job they are doing all the more.&nbsp; Thank you, BPD. en-us <p>Hi Dana,</p> <p>(I'm sorry to contact you via the Comments.... I tried to send an e-mail and it wouldn't go through...) If I write an article today or tomorrow about a FREE event on May 26th (Memorial Day), will it make it into the Voice before the event? I can't remember if the new edition comes out this week or next. I already have the event posted in the SW Voice Calendar of Events, but it would be great to see it in the Voice as well.</p> <p>Hope to hear from you soon!</p> <p>God Bless,<br /> Stephen Moffett<br /> (661) 364-4750</p> http://www.swvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/25473/#c_237076 http://www.swvoice.com/home/Blog/sunnica/25473/#c_237076 <p>Hi Dana,</p> <p>(I'm sorry to contact you via the Comments.... I tried to send an e-mail and it wouldn't go through...) If I write an article today or tomorrow about a FREE event on May 26th (Memorial Day), will it make it into the Voice before the event? I can't remember if the new edition comes out this week or next. I already have the event posted in the SW Voice Calendar of Events, but it would be great to see it in the Voice as well.</p> <p>Hope to hear from you soon!</p> <p>God Bless,<br /> Stephen Moffett<br /> (661) 364-4750</p>