Bakersfield son turns Memorial Day into a tribute that spans generations

CNN Newsource on May 25, 2026

By Chantaye Imani

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    BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — At Historic Union Cemetery, a Bakersfield business owner is working to preserve the legacy of his father and other local veterans.

George Clerou, whose family founded Clerou Tire Company in East Bakersfield in 1942, said honoring veterans is deeply personal.

“All four of these individuals were from Bakersfield,” Clerou said while looking through photographs of his father and his friends in uniform. “And they all went to high school together.”

The photos tell the story of a generation of Bakersfield men who went off to war together during World War II.

Clerou’s father, Joseph Clerou, was a Bakersfield native who played football at Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield College before earning a scholarship to the University of San Francisco. After graduating, he joined the Marine Corps.

“They said all of a sudden, ‘Hey Joe, you’re going to Pendleton and you’re a company commander,’” George Clerou said. “And here he was, a second lieutenant fresh out of Marine Corps boot camp.”

As World War II intensified, Joseph Clerou trained soldiers before deploying to Guadalcanal.

He later traveled to New Zealand, where he helped train members of the Second Marine Division.

In November 1943, he was deployed to Tarawa, one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific theater.

“He was now a captain in a pioneer battalion handling logistics and supplies, and that was a very heated battle,” George Clerou said.

Joseph Clerou survived several more battles and later served during the Korean War.

By then, he was married with two children, including George.

“He figured, ‘I can’t get shot at again,’” George Clerou said. “Instead of being deployed to Korea, he ended up spending the Korean War in Virginia.”

George Clerou said growing up with a military father came with discipline, but also love and respect.

“He was a colonel in the Marine Corps, so you didn’t want to cross him,” he said. “It was his way or no way, but we all loved him.”

Today, Clerou continues to honor veterans through both the family business and his role on the board of Historic Union Cemetery.

“People don’t understand the sacrifice, or they take that sacrifice for granted,” he said. “I don’t want to forget them. I don’t want to forget any of these headstones. They all have a story.”

Joseph Clerou 1919-2003.

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Fire crews battle early morning blaze at Wilson office building

KIFI on May 25, 2026

Par Kermani

Wilson, Wyo. (KIFI) — Fire crews remain on scene Monday after a structure fire broke out at an office building in the Teton Pines area of Wilson early Monday morning.

According to Jackson Hole Fire/EMS, Teton County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received the initial report of the fire around 3:01 a.m. on May 25.

Jackson Hole Fire/EMS and Teton Village Fire Department crews arrived to find heavy fire conditions.

One firefighter with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS was injured during operations and transported to St. John’s Health. Officials say the firefighter is in stable condition.

No other injuries to firefighters or the public have been reported.

Officials say the fire remains contained to the office building and no evacuation orders have been issued.

Multiple agencies responded to assist during the incident, including Lower Valley Energy and the Aspens Water and Sewer District, which helped coordinate utilities and infrastructure support. The Wyoming State Fire Marshal’s Office is assisting with the investigation into the cause of the fire.

The Good Samaritan Mission also provided food and water for firefighters working at the scene.

“From utility coordination to water system support, investigation and fireground operations, every partner organization has played a critical role in maintaining an efficient and unified response,” said Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Battalion Chief Chris Stiehl. “Our crews remain on scene conducting suppression and overhaul work to ensure the structure is fully secured and the area is safe for the community.”

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the immediate area as emergency crews and apparatus remain on scene throughout the day. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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El Centro unites at Bucklin Park to remember the fallen

KYMA on May 25, 2026

Lynette Niebla

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – Under the morning sun, the rustle of the American flag carried a profound weight Monday at Bucklin Park.

The City of El Centro, alongside the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 9305, hosted its annual Memorial Day Ceremony.

The event brought the community together for a morning of solemn remembrance, deep gratitude, and shared reverence.

In addition, the ceremony served as a powerful reminder of the cost of freedom. Citizens from all walks of life stood together. They answered the call to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.

The gathering drew a diverse crowd of generation-spanning support, uniting local heroes and future leaders alike.

Local first responders from the El Centro Fire and Police Departments stood in steadfast solidarity to honor those who served.

Beside them, the community’s future took shape as Air Force cadets and local Boy Scouts stood proudly at attention.

Surrounding it all, local residents stood side-by-side, united in a collective promise to never forget the ultimate sacrifices made for their freedom.

As the clock struck 10:00 a.m., the atmosphere transformed into a tapestry of tribute. The annual event ensures that the names, stories, and bravery of our fallen heroes remain etched into the heart of the community.

For El Centro, Memorial Day is more than a holiday. It is a sacred pledge to remember that our freedom was bought and paid for by the brave.

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Man accused of stealing vehicle after crawling through hole used for office air conditioner

KMIZ on May 25, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Boonville man was charged on Friday with a pair of felonies after authorities claim he broke into a building by crawling through a hole that housed an office air conditioning unit.

Joshua Allen Kautzman was charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle. A warrant was issued and a $25,000 bond was set. He is not listed on the Cooper County Jail’s roster, but court documents say he was detained in Illinois.

The probable cause statement says an employee of a business – whose identity was redacted, but court documents say is located in the 1400 block of West Ashley Road — reported a white Chevrolet 1500 was stolen when they arrived to work on Thursday, May 21.

The statement says the employee found an air conditioning unit on the floor of the main office. They reviewed video and saw the unit fell around 9:25 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, court documents allege. Kautzman was allegedly seen crawling through the hole into the business at 5:37 a.m.

The Chevrolet was found at 7:24 a.m. Friday in Benton, Illinois, the statement says. Kautzman allegedly admitted to pushing in the air conditioning unit, entering the business, taking keys and stealing the vehicle, court documents say.

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100 Deadliest Days: How to keep you and your teenager safe

KIFI on May 25, 2026

Maile Sipraseuth

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI)– Dangerous days are ahead for teen drivers as the weather warms up and more people hit the roads. Between Memorial and Labor day traffic increases and risky driving behavior becomes more common among teens.

According to the National Road Safety Foundation, car crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens. During the “100 Deadliest Days,” teens are 20% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than during the rest of the year.

According to Matthew Conde, director of government and public affairs for AAA Oregon/Idaho, summer driving conditions create additional dangers for inexperienced teen drivers.

“We know there’s a new group of teens every year learning the ropes,” Conde said. “That youthful inexperience tends to play a role in crashes. They don’t always have the judgment and decision-making skills that come with experience, which helps many of us intuitively recognize dangerous situations.”

Several factors contribute to the increase in fatalities during this time period, including:

Summer break putting more teenagers behind the wheel

Inexperience. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, teen drivers have crash rates nearly four times higher than drivers 20 and older per mile driven

Distracted driving

Speeding

Drunk driving

Parents and guardians can help make these 100 days safer by encouraging smart driving habits early. Experts recommend reminding teens to never drink and drive, stay off their phones behind the wheel, always wear a seat belt and follow speed limits. Modeling safe driving behavior can also make a major difference.

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Hundreds gather to honor the fallen at Gold Star Memorial Day parade

KMIZ on May 25, 2026

Marie Moyer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Hundreds of parade-goers on Monday packed East Broadway in downtown Columbia for the Gold Star Memorial Day Parade.

Parade founder Sherry Wyatt marked the second year since the event’s return after a six-year hiatus, honoring fallen service members on Memorial Day.

“This is extremely important to us because the greatest sacrifice that any of us can give, of course, is our lives for the people who love and we care for, defending the freedom of our country,” Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 280 and parade member Charlie Brown said. “The families that are affected by that, our Gold Star families, are worthy of the highest honors that we can give.”

The Gold Star title honors the immediate family members who have experienced losing an active-duty military service member.

“To have all of these people to support us and to love on us, it’s been wonderful,” Gold Star family member Rhonda Fingar said.

Rhonda and David Fingar were in the parade honoring their son and U.S. Army Specialist Jason Fingar. Jason Fingar enlisted in 2008 and served in Afghanistan before being killed in action on May 22, 2010, after his military vehicle hit an IED.

“Jason was the first person in the convoy,” Rhonda Fingar said. “Even though he passed, he saved all those people that were behind him.”

“He was the moral compass,” David Fingar said. “He didn’t want to have that attention of, ‘he’s someone important.'”

The parade was also organized with the USTF Veterans Foundation and featured chapters for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, American Legion Riders, and Mid-Missouri Vietnam Vets and the Nurses Honor Guard of Mid-Missouri, among other groups.

“My son went to Afghanistan and he also came home, so we have a lot to be thankful for and I definitely like to honor those who didn’t make it back,” Parade-attendee Sarah Brilhante said.

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Partial mistrial declared in Boone County child molestation case; court grants man reduced bond

KMIZ on May 25, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A partial mistrial was declared on Friday in a Boone County child molestation case involving an Iowa man.

Fred L. Fox, 56 of Humeston, Iowa, was originally charged with two counts of child molestation, one count of child enticement and sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old. He is being held at the Boone County Jail.

Court filings show the jury on Friday found Fox not guilty of the child molestation counts, but could not come to a verdict for the other two charges.

Previous reporting indicates Fox was accused of abusing a child during a two-year period in Iowa and Missouri. Court documents in previous reporting say a parent of the victim or victims told investigators that Fox had been visiting and stayed for anywhere from three to 14 days at a time.

The court declared a mistrial on the child enticement and sexual misconduct charges on Friday. Fox was granted a reduced bond of $25,000.

A status hearing in the case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, June 22.

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Hindu leader Rajan Zed to speak at BYU-Idaho interfaith event

KIFI on May 25, 2026

Par Kermani

REXBURG, Idaho (KIFI) — A Hindu and interfaith leader is set to speak at Brigham Young University–Idaho later this week during an event hosted by the university’s Interfaith Leadership Society.

According to organizers, Rajan Zed will address students on May 28 in Rexburg. Faculty members from the university’s Department of Religious Education have also been invited to attend.

The Interfaith Leadership Society is a student-led organization founded in 2020 at BYU-Idaho. Organizers say the group has grown to more than 400 members.

Zed serves as president of the Universal Society of Hinduism and has been involved in interfaith dialogue efforts both nationally and internationally. Organizers say he has received the World Interfaith Leader Award and serves on several interfaith advisory boards and organizations.

Zed is also familiar with Idaho audiences. Over the years, he has delivered opening prayers before the Idaho State Senate, county commissions in Bonneville and Owyhee counties, and several city councils across the state, including Boise, Meridian, Burley, Star, St. Anthony and Arimo.

Hinduism is considered the world’s oldest religion and the third largest globally, with roughly 1.2 billion followers worldwide, according to organizers.

BYU-Idaho states students pursuing a bachelor’s degree are required to complete 14 religion credits before graduation.

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Lake-area restaurant catches fire, no injuries reported

KMIZ on May 25, 2026

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A restaurant near the Lake of the Ozarks caught fire on Monday morning, according to a social media post from the Mid-County Fire Protection District.

The post says crews were called at 2:51 a.m. Monday to Pebble Bay Club Restaurant off of Good Neighbors Road, west of Camdenton. About 25% of the building was seen on fire when crews arrived, the post says.

The fire was brought under control after about 45 minutes of crews arriving, the statement says. The state fire marshal is investigating the cause and origin.

No injuries were reported.

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Selena & Salsa Returns to Downtown El Paso: Music, Culture, and Community

KVIA on May 25, 2026

Nichole Gomez

El  Paso, TX (KVIA-TV)-The countdown is on as the Downtown Management District prepares to welcome the return of Selena & Salsa next week in Downtown El Paso.

Happening on Saturday, May 30, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Union Plaza, the free, family-friendly event will bring together music, culture, shopping, and bold flavors for one of Downtown’s most vibrant community celebrations.

Inspired by the legacy of Selena, Selena & Salsa will feature 40+ market and food vendors, live entertainment by Jezzika Sax, a Selena look-alike contest, and a salsa tasting competition where attendees can sample and help crown the best salsa in the city.

The Downtown Management District is once again partnering with La Nube STEAM Discovery Center and the Mexican American Cultural Center to help bring the celebration to life.

The celebration begins even earlier with the MACC Selena & Salsa Pre-Party on Friday, May 29, giving the community another opportunity to celebrate Selena’s music and cultural impact ahead of Saturday’s main event in Union Plaza.

The event is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit DowntownElPaso.com or follow @DowntownElPaso on social media.

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