23ABC News at 6 p.m. | Top Stories for Jan. 1

23ABC News at 6 p.m. | Top Stories for Jan. 1

HARRINGTON.

TONIGHT'S TOPSTORIES..A LOOK BACK AT A KERN COUNTY NEWYEAR'S EVE MIRACLE... ANDRARE OCCURRENCE...TWO YEARS AGO -- TWIN BABIES --BORN IN SEPARATE YEARS-- HOW THE FAMILY AND THOSEBABIES ARE DOING NOW...AND -- A SURPRISE MILITARYHOMECOMING HERE ATMEADOWS FIELD AIRPORT -- OURCAMERAS THERE -- CAPTURING THEPRICELESS MOMENT...ALLISON???23ABC NEWS AT SIX STARTS RIGHTNOW...WE BEGIN TONIGHT -- WITH A LOOKBACK AT A RARE MOMENTAND BIRTH THAT CAPTURED THEHEARTS OF KERN COUNTY WHENFIRST REPORTED TWO YEARS AGO...ON NEW YEAR'S EVE 20-18 -- WEBROUGHT YOU THE STORY OF ANEARLIMART FAMILY THAT HADTWINS..

ONE BORN IN 2017 AND THEOTHER IN2018.23ABC'S DANIELA GARRIDO CAUGHTUP WITH THE FAMILY TO SEEHOW THOSE TWINS HAVE GROWN.JOAQUIN FLORES IS THOUGHT TO BEONE OF THE LAST BABIES BORN IN2017 WITH A BIRTH TIME OF 11:58P.M ON DECEMBER 31ST.GITANA FLORES WAS ONE OF THEFIRST BABIES BORN IN 2018 AT12:16 A.M.

ON JANUARY 1ST.THEY ARE TWINS..

BUT THEYCOULDN'T BE ANY MORE DIFFERENT.TWO YEARS SINCE THEIR BIRTH WECAUGHT UP WITH THEM AGAIN.THEY'RE DIFFERENT BECAUSE SHEHASPROBLEMS ITS NOT THE SAME WITHHER WE HAVE TO TAKE HER TO A LOTOF MEDICALAPPOINTMENTS SHE DOESN'T WALK ORINDEPENDIZE HERSELF LIKE HERBROTHER HEGOES EVERYWHERE AND EATS REGULARFOOD BUT SHE DOESN'T"SINCE THEIR BIRTH, THE FAMILYHAS STRUGGLED TO TRANSITION TOA NEW WAY OF LIFE."WE LIVE VERY HARD..

I CAN'T WORKBECAUSE I JUST HAD SURGERY ANDMY HUSBANDWORKS TWICE A WEEK BECAUSE THEREISN'T MUCH WORK"THE MOTHER OF THE TWINS JUSTUNDERWENT SURGERY FOR ADISLOCATED SURGERY AND JOAQUINSAYS ITS A LOW SEASONFOR THE FARMWORKS..

MAKING ITDIFFICULT TOFINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MEDICALAND GROWING NEEDSOF THEIR CHILDREN."I SPENT MOSTLY DRIVING TWO HOURSAND WE NEED FOOD AND GAS AND ALLTHECOSTS THERES JUST TIMES WE DONTHAVE AND WE HAVE TO ASK FOR ALOAN"GITANA HAS PHYSICAL THERAPY FORHER CEREBRALCONDITION AT LEAST FOUR TIMES AMONTH AT THE VALLEYCHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN MADERA.THIS YEAR WE DIDN'T CELEBRATESINCE SHEJUST GOT SURGERY WE DIDN'T DOANYTHING"THE FAMILY SAYS HEALTH ANDFINANCES PAUSED THE BIRTHDAYCELEBRATIONS THIS YEAR..BUT WITH THE HELP OF THEIR OLDERDAUGHTER THEY MAKE THEMOST OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES."WE WORK FOR THEM NOTHING MORE"WE BROUGHT A CAKE AND SOMEPRESENTS TO SING THE TWINS AHAPPY BIRTHDAY AND RING IN A NEWYEAR..DANIELA GARRIDO, 23 ABCCONNECTING YOU...IT WAS AN EARLY CELEBRATION ATMEADOWS FIELD TUESDAY NIGHT --AS A LOCAL SOLDIER SURPRISED HERFAMILY WITH AHOMECOMING AT THE AIRPORT.SERGEANT ELAINE MORENO IS A U-SARMY RESERVIST.SHE HAD BEEN DEPLOYED TO IRAQFOR 10 MONTHS AS PARTOF HER FIRST EVER DEPLOYMENT.SHE WAS GREETED AT MEADOWS BYFAMILY --INCLUDING HER THREE YEAR OLD SON-- WHO DIDN'T KNOW HIS MOMWOULD BE BACK HOME."IT WAS EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL.

ITWAS...I'D SAY SURREAL.

I'M JUST INDISBELIEF BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SOLONG."SERGEANT MORENO SAYS SHE'S HOMEFOR GOOD AND ISLOOKING FORWARD TO CELEBRATINGTHE NEW YEAR HEREIN BAKERSFIELD.NEW DETAILS TONIGHT -- A MAN ISIN CUSTODY AND TWOFIREFIGHTERS ARE INJURED --AFTER THE KERN COUNTY SHERIFF'SOFFICE WAS CALLED TO HELP KERNCOUNTY FIRE -- BECAUSE ACOMBATIVE MAN HAD BARRICADEDHIMSELF INSIDE A BURNING HOMEWEDNESDAY...K-C-S-O OFFICIALS SAID FIRECREWS RESPONDED TO A HOME ONFIRE ON NORMANDY DRIVE IN EASTBAKERSFIELD.WHEN THEY ARRIVED, K-C-S-O SAIDPATRICIO ORQUE BECAMECOMBATIVE BEFORE BARRICADINGHIMSELF INSIDE AROOM IN THE HOME.DEPUTIES WERE CALLED OUT ANDWERE ABLE TO FORCE THEIR WAYINTO THE ROOM TO REMOVE ORQUE.TWO FIREFIGHTERS WERE INJUREDDURING THEPROCESS.

ORQUE WAS BOOKED ONMULTIPLE CHARGES OFASSAULT ON A PEACE OFFICER.C-H-P IS STILL REMINDING DRIVERSTO BUCKLE UP ANDAVOID DISTRACTIONS WHILE BEHINDTHE WHEEL.FOR THIS NEW YEAR'S DAY MAXIMUMENFORCEMENTPERIOD -- C-H-P WILL USE ALLAVAILABLE UNITS UNTIL 11-59 P-MTONIGHT.C-H-P WILL TARGET IMPAIREDDRIVERS... BUT OFFICERS WILLALSO WATCH FOR DISTRACTEDDRIVING... SPEEDING ANDSEAT BELT VIOLATIONS.ACCORDING TO CHP DATA... DURINGTHE 20-18 NEW YEAR'SENFORCEMENT PERIOD -- AT LEAST25 PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND270 OTHERS WERE INJURED INCOLLISIONS INVOLVINGIMPAIRED DRIVERS ON CALIFORNIAROADS.HAPPENING TOMORROW -- THECALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OFWATER RESOURCES IS SET TOCONDUCT ITS FIRST SNOWSURVEY OF 20-20...THE DEPARTMENT'S SNOW SURVEY ISA CHANCE FOROFFICIALS TO MEASURE THE WATERCONTENT IN THESNOWPACK.DATA COLLECTED FROM THE MONTHLYSNOW SURVEYS WILLHELP DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OFWATER THAT WILL MELT AND RUNOFF TO STATE RESERVOIRS DURINGWARMER MONTHS.THE INFORMATION IS CRITICAL TOTHE WATER MANAGERS WHOALLOCATE CALIFORNIA'S NATURALWATER RESOURCES TOREGIONS DOWNSTREAM.SO -- TOMORROW -- OFFICIALS WILLMEET AT THE PHILLIPS STATION INSIERRA NEVADA, ONE OF 260 SNOWCOURSES ACROSS THE SIERRANEVADA THAT THE DEPARTMENT WILLMANUALLY OR ELECTRONICALLYMEASURE EACH WINTER AND EARLYSPRING.WE BEGIN 2020 WITH CALMCONDITONS ACROSS THE REGION.

WEHAVE BEEN TRACKING A DRY COLDFRONT SWEEPINGTHROUGH TEH AREA.

THIS BROUGHTPASSING CLOUDSTODAY AND BREEZY CONDITIONS INTHE KERN COUNTYMOUNTAINS AND DESERT.THERE IS A WIND ADVOSRY INEFFECT UNTIL NOON THURSDAYIN THE FORT TEJON, TEHACHAPI ANDMOJAVE AREAS.SUSTAINED NW WINDS 15 TO 25 MPHAND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH.HIGH PRESSURE DOMINTES THURSDAYTHROUGHSATURDAY BRINING WARMINGTEMPERTSURES AND AIR QUALIYTHAT IS UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVEGROUPS.

THERE ISNO BURNING FOR ALL.BAKERSFIELD WILL HAVE A HIGH OF58 ON THURSDAY, THEN JUMPING TOTHE MID-60S ON FRIDAY ANDSATURDAY.

LAKE ISABELLA WILL BEIN THE MID-50S ON THURSDAY,WHILE THE SOUTH MOUTNAINSWILLBE IN THE UPPER-40S.WE ARE TRACKING THE CHANCE FORFOG BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAYMORNINGS IN THE VALLEY DUE TOTHE CALM CONDITIONS.A STORM WILL BE IMPACTING THEREGION ON SUNDAY, BUT ITDOESN'T LOOK TOO PROMISING FORRAIN IN KERN COUNTY.

AS OFNOW, TEMPERATURES WILL BEDIPPING BACK TO THE UPPER-50SWITH AN INCREASE IN WINDS AND A10% CHANCE OF RAIN.

OUR NEXTRAIN CHANCE WILL BE THIS TIMENEXT WEEK.CAUGHT ON VIDEO...ONE FLORIDA MAN WHO SPENDS HISDAYS HELPING PEOPLE LIVEHEALTHIER LIVES IS CREDITED WITHSAVING A DOG FROM DEATH.

ITHAPPENED WHEN SOMEONE IN HISBUILDING ACCIDENTALLYLEFT A LEASH IN AN ELEVATOR.ANGIE ANGERS HAS THE AMAZINGVIDEO OF WHAT HAPPENED NEXT...SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CAUGHT THEWHOLE THING.YOU CAN SEE IT HERE - THEELEVATOR DOORS CLOSING ON THISDOG'S LEASH.AND THE OWNER PANICKING, TRYINGTO FREE HER PUP.

THROUGH THEDOORS - IN WALKS DOCTORMOHAMMED AWAD HOLDING A PLATE OFFOOD.THEN THIS!AWAD THROWS HIS FOOD, DOESN'TWASTE A SECOND.

JUMPING OVER ANDOVER TRYING TO PULL THE DOGDOWN.

HE EVEN STUMBLES HIMSELFBEFORE FINALLY SNAPPING THELEASH FREE.DR. MOHAMMAD AWAD/INTERNIST"IN MY HEAD IM LIKE THERE'SNOTHING ELSE YOU CAN DO.

I HAVETO GO HELP THIS DOG, AND IT WASALL LIKE SLOW MOTION TIMING."WE HAD THE CHANCE TO CATCH UPWITH DOCTOR AWAD - HE SAYS HE'SGRATEFUL THAT HE WAS THE ONETHERE ON SUNDAY NIGHT,AND THAT HIS INSTINCTS TOOKOVER.

NATSOT/ANGERS"NO ONE REHEARSES SOMETHING LIKETHIS!

OBVIOUSLY IT WAS DANGEROUSFOR YOU, TOO." DR. MOHAMMADAWAD/INTERNIST"HONESTLY?

I WASN'T REALLYTHINKING ABOUT ANYTHING.

IDROPPED ALL MY FOOD.

I JUMPED TOTRY TO GRAB THE DOG TO TRY TOBREAK THE LEASH.

INITIALLY ITDIDN'T WORK OUT.

I GO BACK AT ITAGAIN, THE DOG IS SCREAMING ANDSCREAMING AND I'M LIKE OH MY GODTHE DOG HAS SECONDS TO LIVE."LUCKILY - IN THIS FIGHT ORFLIGHT MOMENT - HE HAD THESTRENGTH TO SNAP THE LEASH.AND THE DOG TUMBLED TO SAFETY.RIGHT ON TOP OF AWAD'S DINNER.DR. MOHAMMAD AWAD/INTERNIST"EVEN THOUGH I'M A HUMANPHYSICIAN, I WENT AND EXAMINEDTHE DOG I TOUCHED HIS THROAT,LOOKED AT IT.

THE DOG DRANK SOMEWATER.

I KNEW IT'D BE OKAY." ANDWHILE AWAD DOESN'T KNOW THEWOMAN HE HELPED, OR THATPUP PERSONALLY.HE'D DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT.DR. MOHAMMAD AWAD/INTERNIST"I FELT LIKE ANYONE ELSE IN MYPOSITION WOULD HAVEDONE THE SAME THING."IN TAMPA, I'M ANGIE ANGERS.A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS TEMPORARILYBLOCKED A CALIFORNIALABOR LAW THAT WOULD IMPACTINDEPENDENT TRUCKERS.THIS NEW LAW WOULD MAKE ITHARDER FOR COMPANIES TOIDENTIFY WORKERS AS EMPLOYEES.INDEPENDENT TRUCKERS ARE NOTENTITLED TO MINIMUM WAGE,OR WORKERS COMPENSATION.ONE DEMOCRATIC ASSEMBLYWOMANSAYS QUOTE "TRUCKINGCOMPANIES HAVE PROFITED FROMMISCLASSIFYING DRIVERS ASINDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.

TAKINGAWAY RIGHTS SUCH ASMEAL AND REST PERIODS AND FAIRPAY."GRAB YER PARTNER -- "IT'S TIMEFOR THE RIVERTOWNHOEDOWN."THAT'S THIS YEAR'S THEME FORFRIDAY'S ANNUAL KICK OFFDINNER - AS WHISKEY FLAT DAYSRETURNS TO KERNVILLE.THE EVENT IS A COUNTDOWN FOR THEWHISKEY FLAT DAY MAYOR RACE--- WHERE THE CANDIDATES TRY TOEARN YOUR VOTES.WHISKEY FLAT DAYS HELPS RAISEMONEY THAT GO TOWARDKERNVILLE COMMUNITY EVENTS ANDPROJECTS.THE DINNER IS SCHEDULED FORFRIDAY AT 6 AT EWINGS ON THEKERN IN KERNVILLE.TICKETS ARE 32 DOLLARS A PERSON-- JUST TURN TO OURWEBSITE TURN TO 23-DOT COM TOPURCHASE YOURS TODAY.THE NEW YEAR IS HERE -- AND LIKEMANY -- YOU HAVE PROBABLYSTARTED WORKING ON THAT "NEWYOU."AND A LOCAL CANCER CENTER ISHOLDING A SERIES OFSEMINARS TO HELP PEOPLE LIKE YOUFIND WAYS TO START AND STAYHEALTHY AND PREVENT CANCER...THE A-I-S CANCER CENTER ISHOLDING THE "PATH TO WHOLESOME"PROGRAM.IT IS A INTEGRATIVE NUTRITIONAND LIFESTYLEREVAMP PROGRAM THAT WILL HOLDSEMINARS FROM JANUARY 7THUNTIL MARCH 24TH.THE SEMINARS ARE HELD TUESDAYSFROM 10 A-M UNTILNOON.THEY FOCUS ON HELPING YOU ADOPTAND/OR IMPROVELIFESTYLE HABITS THAT WILL HELPYOU GAIN ENERGY, FOCUS,MANAGE YOUR WEIGHT ANDPREVENT CANCER AND OTHER CHRONICDISEASES.PROGRAM INCLUDES LIGHTREFRESHMENTS, BIOMETRICSCREENINGS AND A BOOT CAMP.PROGRAM IS OFFERED FREE OFCHARGE TO ADULTS AT LEAST18 OR OLDER.THE SEMINARS ARE HELD AT THECANCER CENTER -- IN ITS 3RDFLOORCONFERENCE ROOM.THE CENTER IS LOCATED AT 26-20CHESTER AVENUE IN BAKERSFIELD.THOSE INTERESTED -- CAN CALL6-3-7--83--21 TOREGISTER.FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW --BAKERSFIELD WILL HOST A WOMEN'SMARCH IN DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELDTHIS MONTH...THIS IS VIDEO FROM A PREVIOUSYEAR...ORGANIZERS SAY THE EVENTCOINCIDES WITH NATIONWIDEMARCHES.THE MARCH WILL FEATURE LOCALSPEAKERS AND PERFORMERS...MORE THAN 50 LOCAL NONPROFITSAND LOCAL BUSINESSVENDORS SHOWING THEIR SUPPORTFOR EQUALITY ANDRIGHTS.THE EVENT IS SCHEDULED FORSATURDAY, JANUARY 18-THFROM 10 A-M UNTIL 3 P-M ATCENTRAL PARK OFF OF 21-STSTREET IN DOWNTOWN BAKERSFIELD.STILL AHEAD....THE CALENDAR JUST HIT 2020...BUTWE'RE CURIOUS..... WHATCOULD THE BAKERSFIELD SPORTSSCENE LOOK LIKE BY2030?