Meet Your New Neighbors

Dan and Stacie Miller moved to Tehachapi in April from Henderson, Nevada. They had lived in Henderson since 2016 while Dan was working as a government contractor on the F16 jet at Nellis Air Force Base there. Dan said he really was not looking to move to California but the offer of lead engineer on an F22 at Edwards changed his mind. Dan explained that Edwards has five F22s and each plane has its own staff and crew. Dan said that Tehachapi was the closest community most similar to where they grew up in Iowa.

Both Dan and Stacie come from Iowa but did not know each other in school. Stacie has two brothers and Dan has one. Dan spent 17 ½ years in the Air Force and was deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. He and Stacie met online in Iowa. They discovered that they had both grown up in the same church and lived near each other. Dan was a drummer and played in a band while in school and when he and Stacie compared notes, they discovered they had most likely attended some of the same parties but never met since he was always behind a drum set. By the time they did finally meet, each of them had three children. Stacie said that when they got married it was a bit like the Brady Bunch with four girls and two boys between the ages of 5 and 20 (now 19 and 32). They now have added four grandchildren. Their at-home children now are two 12-year-old lab/retriever-mix dogs named Husker and Honey.

When I asked Dan what his hobby was, he answered, "working with fighter jets." Needless to say he loves his work. Stacie has an accounting background but still has the monumental job of getting everything put away after their move. After that, she can think about what she wants to do next.

Welcome to Tehachapi Dan and Stacie. With the 59th Mountain Festival happening this weekend, we know you will find more reasons to be glad you chose Tehachapi.

If you have moved to Tehachapi within the last six months, Hilltop Welcoming Service has a bag of information about the Greater Tehachapi area, including local activities, events, government and facilities. There are always a few coupons and gifts, as well. It is a great way to learn about your new community. Being part of this column is strictly optional. If you would like a visit from the Welcome Hostess, contact our office at (661) 822-8188.