Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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With the Kern County Board of Supervisors adjusting the budget for the 2020-2021 year, the future may be a little brighter for some Kern County libraries that were facing permanent closure. The libraries had been facing a 22% budget cut, but the Board of Supervisors adjusted the reduction to between 7 and 8%. It is still unclear which libraries will be able to open in 2021. According to Ethan Picman, Shafter branch director, only eight libraries were going to reopen under the...
Neste, the world's largest producer of renewable diesel, has opened four new locations. One of the stations, operated by Jeffries Brothers Petroleum, is in Shafter, two are in Wasco and one is in Buttonwillow. The Shafter location is next to the Tin Cup off of Beech Avenue. In Wasco, the two stations are on Highway 46, one of them within the city limits at the Tiger Mart station. Kristine Janata, account executive at rbb Communications, which represents Neste, says the move...
For the second time in three months, Shafter has shut down its city buildings, as well most of the businesses in town, because the governor has placed Kern County back on the state’s watch list during the coronavirus pandemic. With the spike in new cases in Kern County, the region was forced to close all non-essential businesses and services. Restaurants with outside dining areas are allowed to serve customers, as well as offer take-out and delivery. Other businesses, such as hair salons, movie theaters and gyms, are being s...
Following guidelines put forth by the county and the Kern County Health Department, Shafter has closed its city buildings until the governor announces that the restrictions have been eased. Two weeks ago, Governor Newsom announced that certain counties would be put back on the watch list and would have to close all non-essential businesses that operate indoors. Businesses with outdoor service options are still able to serve the public. This includes restaurants with outdoor...
When you ask about anyone about Daniel "Danny" Escalante, you are bound to hear a variety of adjectives, such as generous, kind, hard working. But most people who knew him will mention that Escalante was a truly nice guy. Escalante passed away on July 19, just days after being honored by the Honor Flight of Kern County for his service to his country. He originally planned to participate in an Honor Flight to the nation's capital, but with the pandemic and his failing health,...
Representatives of several agencies met virtually recently to discuss the challenges presented by the coronavirus. Those in attendance included Russell Shipley, principal of Shafter High School; Rosa Romero, interim superintendent of the Richland School District; members of the Richland Board of Trustees; and Shafter City Council members Chad Givens, Cathy Prout, Manuel Garcia and Mayor Gilbert Alvarado. Among the topics was a discussion of the status of each school district...
The pandemic, which cost last year's high school seniors their chance to compete in the spring sports season, will sideline fall sports as well. The California Interscholastic Federation has ruled that all fall sports in the Central Section will have their seasons delayed until the winter quarter, with football, soccer and volleyball scheduled to begin their seasons in December. With the late start to fall sports, the ruling makes it difficult for those students who usually co...
City of Shafter buildings will be closed to the public again beginning Friday, July 24. City offices will still be open and customers will be served using the alleyway behind the building, much like a drive thru service. The Shafter Building Commission will still be serving the public with building inspections and other essential services. City Manager Gabriel Gonzales said at the recent City Council meeting that with Kern County being put back on the watch list, there will...
In an about-face, the Richland School District will begin their school year with students learning from home. Last week, the district put out a reopening plan that would see two groups of students attend school in person for two days, while distance learning the rest of the week. But with Governor Newsom’s announcement of stricter guidelines for reopening, the Richland district had to rethink their plan. “Unfortunately, with the new statement by the governor, we don’t qualify to reopen for in-person sessions, leaving us no...
The nomination period for candidates running for the Shafter City Council began on July 13 and will run until Monday August 7, 2020. Residents interested in running for a seat on the City Council must be a registered voter and otherwise qualified to vote for that office at the time that nomination papers are issued. You must be registered to vote in Shafter, be 18 years of age or older, and live within the boundaries of the city of Shafter. In an effort to protect...
A local World War II veteran was honored last week at Carrington House, where he resides. Danny Escalante was presented with a number of mementos for him and his family. Escalante, who served in the Army, and his family are part of Shafter's rich history, with Danny being known throughout town for his kindness, generosity and character. Escalante's daughter said her father was chosen to be a part of the Honor Flight of Kern County, which helps veterans visit the World War II...
Shafter and Wasco have more than the threat of the coronavirus to worry about this summer as two disease-carrying species of mosquito have been found in Kern County. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which can infect people with yellow fever, Zika, and dengue fever, was first noticed in northern Kern County last year. The culex mosquito, which can carry the West Nile virus, has also been found in the county. Entomologist La Khang, who is with Kern Vector and Mosquito Control, said...
Shafter and Wasco residents are suffering from whiplash after learning July 17 they had been removed from the governor's Watch List and July 18 they were back on it again. The number of coronavirus cases are spiking in Kern County. As of July 20, 332 Wasco residents had tested positive for covid-19 with 137 recovered; Shafter had listed 328 positive cases with 207 recovered, according to the Kern County Health Department. Local businesses in Shafter are requiring all...
With the mercury climbing to the point where it's dangerous for seniors, several cooling centers are opening in Kern County, including one at the Walker Senior Center in Shafter. Located at 505 Sunset Avenue, the cooling center will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on days when the high temperature is forecast to be 105 degrees or higher. With this week expected to have temperatures hovering around the 102 mark, the Shafter center will not be open unless the forecast changes to...
With the community still trying to return to some semblance of normalcy, it is important that we still have certain constants in our lives. One of those in Shafter is the tradition of vacation Bible school. In years past, there were several vacation bible schools, but this year there have been just a couple. The one held this past week was a community effort, with several churches participating. This information came from Rachel Friesen: "Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church...
The community showed its support for and appreciation of the Shafter Police Department recently when a group presented the department with gift bags and lunch. Chief Kevin Zimmermann said the group gave the officers tote bags full of items including a water bottle, coffee mug, stress ball, gift cards and other items. Each water bottle had the officer's badge number on it, which was very special, Zimmermann said. "This means so much to me and the department, especially in this...
The cities of Shafter and Wasco, which had high hopes when Gov. Gavin Newsom reopened the state with certain precautions, have seen those hopes dashed with an increase in cases that has made it necessary for the cities to take a step backward. Most of the businesses in Shafter and Wasco now require a face mask to enter, and restaurants have seen their dine-in options thwarted again. Those establishments that have outdoor dining space can offer that service for the time being,...
The Richland School District approved plans to begin its fall semester on August 6, with the district using an AA/BB scheduling system. Interim Superintendent Rosa Romero said the staff has been working diligently on a plan that will give students the best education and keep them safe and healthy for the school year. " In the approved plan, students would be in either Group A or Group B. Each student would go to the school two days a week and would distance learn the other...
For the second time in less than a month, restaurants that offer dine-in service have lost that option, following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s order that made it necessary for all restaurants to close their dining areas. The move is the result of a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state since California relaxed some of its restrictions. Businesses in Shafter have gone back to take-out and delivery only. Most businesses in Shafter have also started to require all customers to wear face coverings while in their buildings. Even the e...
The coronavirus continues to affect Shafter, with the closures of the local Bank of America branch and the DMV office. Customers at Bank of America were found waiting outside of the local branch a little after 9:30 a.m., waiting for them to open at 10. A sign posted on the door said they are temporarily closed. Juan Moreno said he looked online and it said that the bank would open at 10 a.m. By the time 10 arrived, there was a line of confused and frustrated people waiting to...
The Shafter City Council held a public hearing on the subject of placing the rate schedule for sewage and solid waste service for the Gossamer Grove area on the property tax roll. A report was prepared by the Public Works Department that indicated there would be annual charges of $348.60 for wastewater assessment and $319.44 for refuse assessment, for a total of $668.04 a year per household. The council also received a report from Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann on the results...
The Fourth of July weekend in Shafter was the first holiday in which the new illegal fireworks ordinance was in effect and the SPD issued 21 citations during the holiday weekend. Last month, the Shafter City Council passed a resolution that gave the Police Department authority to issue citations of $1,000 for violators of the new ordinance. According to Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann, there were 16 citations handed out Saturday, with five others issued out earlier in the week....
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Shafter High School sent their senior class across the stage, ending what was an unprecedented school year where a graduation ceremony had seemed unlikely just a couple of months ago. Wednesday, June 24, at the Shafter High Football stadium, the Class of 2020 received their diplomas, opening the next chapter in their lives. Each senior was allowed two guests who could be seated with them on the football field. The bleachers were empty, with the fu...
It is that time of year again. The weather is warming, trees and plants are needing to drink more water to keep that green hue, and there are the sounds of bombs bursting in air. No, you are not in downtown Baghdad. You are in Shafter coming close to the Fourth of July. Yes, the city seems to be under siege, and it’s not some terrorist organization, it is all friendly fire. This year seems to be a lot worse than any in recent memory. You can’t go one night without seeing a bun...
The Shafter City Council held a special meeting this week to assist the Police Department in their fight against violators of illegal fireworks ordinances. On Thursday, June 25, the council voted unanimously to approve a resolution that would cost those citizens who shoot off or have possession of illegal fireworks $1,000. City Attorney Marco Martinez addressed the council and said that there are different ways that violators can be pursued. "There is the criminal route, in...
