Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
Sorted by date Results 1301 - 1325 of 1616
Strata Credit Union, which is celebrating its 70th year, granted a wish to the Minter Field Air Museum recently, donating $2,000 to the museum to help support their operations. Brian Ivie, CEO of Strata, said that the museum does so much for the community of Shafter and the rest of Kern County, that it was a pleasure to help the museum continue that work. "Strata Credit Union is proud to be a part of this organization and wants to congratulate the museum and its staff on being a bridge between...
In the 93rd installment of one of the longest and fiercest rivalries in the county, the Shafter Generals held off a late charge by the Wasco Tigers Friday night and won bragging rights for the year with a 28-21 victory. The Generals have now won the "Big Game" two years in a row, with the latest game allowing the Generals to claim a share of the SSL title – an a spot in the Valley playoffs. The Tigers started Friday night on a dominant note when the junior varsity team from Wasco dismantled t...
The Kern Housing Authority announced recently that they will be utilizing a farm labor camp in the Arvin/Lamont area to house approximately 50 to 75 women this year while the camp is essentially empty during the winter months. In a report just two months ago, the office was considering using the Shafter Farm Labor Camp on Highway 43 and Merced Avenue midway between Shafter and Wasco, which drew a large amount of opposition. Concerned citizens made phone calls to Supervisor David Couch's office;...
The Shafter Generals pulled off the biggest upset of the football season so far as they knocked off the previously unbeaten Kennedy Thunderbirds, 27-21, on Friday night, giving them a chance to capture at least a share of the South Sequoia League title. The last time the T-Birds lost a game to a Central Section team was to the Generals during the regular season last year. Kennedy then went on to go undefeated the rest of the season and beat the Generals in the Valley Championship game. Shafter...
The secret has been out for some time now. Shafter is home to one of the finest Mexican restaurants in Kern County. In 2016, El Michoacano Restaurant, located on Central Avenue right next to Bank of America, was visited by Pete Tittl, the food critic for the Bakersfield Californian.Tittl was celebrating his anniversary and raved about the sizzling enchiladas. The restaurant has been building on that reputation steadily over the years and the business, according to owner Alejandra Aviles, has...
Those residents who are Shafter High alumni know the saying "Once a General, Always a General." Well, there is another saying going around now and it also gives SHS alumni a great feeling about walking those halls of blue and gold. General PRIDE is a sensation that has swept the campus. Students and staff will tell you that General PRIDE is not a program, but it is an approach for creating a culture on the campus that is positive and has individualized support for students. No two students are...
A meeting was held recently bringing together stewards and other supporters of Shafter's Little Free Library system. Lupe Velarde, a steward herself, hosted the gathering in her backyard in La Colonia on Oct 12. She was assisted by Melissa Bergen, Katie Wiebe and Jill O'Brien. About thirty people, big and little, delivered bags and boxes of books for the occasion, with more donated by Community Action Partnership for Kern County, Richland School and the City of Shafter. The books were made...
Shafter High School joined all other schools in the Kern High School District in participating in their annual Principal Partner's Day recently. This event allows local dignitaries and community members to connect with the their local high schools and observe the operations of them as they work to educate youth and help them become productive citizens. The event began at each high school in the district as they hosted a breakfast, followed by a tour of their respective schools. The tour included...
If you missed the evangelistic event last year at the First Southern Baptist Church in Shafter, you have a chance to be a part of the event this year as Raul Perez is returning to deliver his unique message to the city. Perez will also be returning to Shafter High to talk to the students about his experiences, giving them a message of hope and faith. The event will take place on October 25-27, beginning at 7 p.m. each evening. Pastor Jim Neal said that Perez has a connection with the everyday pe...
I recently wrote a piece about new legislation that makes it illegal for schools to suspend students for “willful defiance.” This phrase includes noncooperation, such as cussing out a teacher, sleeping in class, refusing to obey classroom rules and being disruptive. Before, a student could be suspended if he or she did not heed warnings given by teachers and administration. This new legislation recommends the use of positive reinforcement, or a “focus on healing, respect, support, and the gener...
The City Council decided that it would be beneficial that the next city manager speak Spanish. They approved a brochure that will be used in the search that includes a preference for bilingual candidates and increased salary for those with that ability. The necessity for the search occurred with the resignation of City Manager Scott Hurlbert in late August. The council attained the services of CPS HR Consulting to aid them in their search. One of the duties of the firm was to create a brochure...
Two Town Hall meetings were held recently to allow the public to give input into the recruitment process to find a new city manager. The workshops' goal was to get the residents of Shafter involved in the process of finding a replacement. The City Council accepted the resignation of City Manager Scott Hurlbert at the end of August. The firm of CPS HR Consulting was retained by the city to lead the process. The firm has been involved in recruitments for a number of cities throughout the state,...
The Ebenezer Reformed is one of many churches in the city with a rich history and will be commemorating its 100th year with a ceremony this weekend. Ebenezer Reformed, located at the corner of James Street and Sunset Avenue, was organized on April 14, 1919. They give thanks as they look back over the last century and behold "what the Lord has wrought." According to Greg Williams, the name "Ebenezer" is from 1 Samuel 7:12, where, upon recognizing God's help, Samuel set a stone between Mizpah and...
The First Southern Baptist Church, in addition to an evangelistic event, is holding a Harvest Fair for the entire family on Sunday, Oct. 27, that will have something for every member of the family. Kern Street will be blocked off to accommodate the celebration. There will be bounce houses and games for the kids, as well as face-painting and other activities. There will be food and drink, and music will be performed. A highlight of the event will be the Trunk or Treat for children, with candy...
Shafter High's annual Pink Out game against breast cancer drew a crowd Friday night. Two cancer survivors and their families were invited to midfield for the pregame coin toss. Kathy Phillips and her family were on hand, along with Isabel Morales and her son, SHS teacher Jorge Maldonado. Game story, Page 7....
The Shafter Generals celebrated their Pink-Out Night with a whitewashing of the Arvin Bears by a 43-22 score. Shafter continued their newfound success this season with a total team effort that saw the locals contribute in every phase of the game. Shafter spotted the Bears a 7-0 when Arvin scored on their first possession, using a series of misdirection and trick plays that ended with a 12 yard touchdown. The Generals would answer right back with a driveled by quarterback Jackson Sanchez, who...
Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church was the site of an afternoon of classical music sponsored by the Shafter Symphony. The Shafter Community Recital featured a variety of musical pieces by different composers performed by Shafter community members. Stephen Penner of the Shafter Symphony led a group of talented, local residents who displayed their skills in a series of challenging pieces. Ben Wilson opened the recital with a lively Concerto in E-flat written by Johann Baptist Georg Neruda....
The Shafter Kiwanis Club held a luncheon to honor the Terrific Kids from the Richland School District. Each month, students are nominated by teachers who believe that the students has displayed improvement either in the classroom, playground or in citizenship, being a good example of the character traits that the Terrific Kids program personifies. The Terrific Kids Program is a national student recognition program that promotes character development, self-esteem and perseverance. "Terrific" is...
A five-gallon water bottle first referred to as a "suspicious device" caused a stir near the Shafter Courthouse on Friday before it was determined to more decorative than anything else. The Kern County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad Unit was deployed to Shafter Friday when the bottle was found in a dumpster between the Shafter Courthouse and the Omni Health Medical Clinic on James Street. At approximately 9:30 a.m. Friday morning, the Bomb Squad arrived to investigate. Once the robot had inspected...
No one can complain there isn't anything to do in Wasco this weekend. Five full days of Homecoming ended Friday night at Shafter High School, culminating in a rout of McFarland on the field and fun off the gridiron. There were several dress-up days throughout the week, such as Career Day, where students were encouraged to dress in the garb of their favorite occupation. There were also a variety of games, activities and fun at lunchtime. Students competed in different games, each class against...
The residents of Shafter had a night out filled with good conversation and valuable information, thanks to the city’s finest. The Shafter Police Department held the Police Night Out Tuesdayat Veterans Park. The event allowed the residents of Shafter to put faces to the badges. The department is enjoying a productive year that has had them serving the safest community in Kern County, according to a recent report by Background.com. The force is also growing, with two new officer positions, and a...
The Wasco/Shafter Elks Lodge held its third annual Blaine Willard Car Show on Saturday, with a large collection of classics and hot rods on display. Organizer Jerry Bozarth said the members of the lodge decided about three years ago to hold the event to remember their good friend and lodge brother, Blaine Willard. There was much more than displayed cars at the event. There were also plenty of prizes raffled off and a silent auction with several items up for grabs, including a date-night package...
The Shafter Police Department celebrated National Coffee with a Cop Day with an event at Shafter Donuts recently. Several officers, including Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann, met with a number of Shafter residents discussing a wide variety of topics. There was talk about the speeding problem in different neighborhoods, as well as problems some residents are having concerning crimes committed in residential areas Enrique Hernandez attended the event and said that it was nice to be able to talk to...
Kyler Martinez, a Shafter High graduate and one of six valedictorians in 2019, was the recipient of a $3,000 scholarship from the Entertainment Software Association to help him pursue his goal of a career in the gaming industry. Martinez said the scholarship will help alleviate the financial stress that comes with college and will allow him to concentrate on the most important part of college – learning. "I have a love for storytelling, writing, graphic design and music. Video games take several...
The Shafter Generals celebrated their Homecoming night with a rout of the McFarland Cougars by a score of 47-7, upping their SSL record to 2-1. Shafter kept the momentum that they created with a win on the road at Taft as they came out scoring on Friday night. Coach Jerald Pierucci decided to start Jackson Sanchez at quarterback against McFarland after the Generals' breakout game against the Wildcats. On their first possession of the game, the Generals wasted no time and gained 45 yards on...
