Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Tim Unruh, who has served Kern County and specifically the areas around Shafter and Wasco, as the district manager of the Kern Cemetery District, is retiring at the end of this week. Unruh has held this position for over 34 years, beginning his tenure in January 1978. During his years in the district, Unruh has been instrumental in ushering in the "computer age," developing the district's first database. Another strong point for Unruh, according to his District Secretary Eliza Caudillo, is the...
The city's Young Adult Theater will be presenting their annual production in a couple of weeks, taking local theater-goers down the Yellow Brick Road as they look for the Wizard of Oz. Cris Starrh began the Young Adult Theater three years ago for young adults interested in theater and have aged out of the city's Children's Theater. The Young Adult Theater is for those in junior high to their 30s. "We provide an outlet for those wanting to improve their theater skills, be it on stage or behind...
After a year in hiatus due to the pandemic, the Shafter Community Sunrise Easter Service made a return on April 4. The event began at 6:30 a.m., with music being played as the sun broke over the trees at "The Green," located at the intersection of Kern Street and California Avenue, at the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church. The event was sponsored by the Shafter Kiwanis Club. Over 70 people were in attendance at the celebration, including worshipers from a variety of churches in the city, no...
The Ceja sisters were determined to make the most out of the pandemic, launching new businesses that not only let them be creative, but bring in some extra income. Vahira Ceja, who has had experience in the food industry, focused on starting her own business selling fruits and vegetable dishes and displays created from fresh fruit and items she prepares. The items range from fruit bowls filled with melon, pineapple, strawberries, or whatever fruit she finds during her shopping trips for...
The Shafter High Generals shut down the Kern Valley Broncos, 48-0, continuing their undefeated streak since their recent win against Arvin. Celebrating their seniors during Senior Night, Quarterback Tyson Dozier tossed seven touchdown passes and 324 yards on the night. Dozier's success would not have been complete without a variety of receivers including transfer Cameron Huerta accounting for two of the touchdowns on five catches for a total of 127 yards. The game was even better for the...
The Shafter High Generals took to the football field for the first time since the pandemic began, winning 52-3 against the Arvin Bears. The Generals began the game strong, scoring three times in the first five minutes of the game. With no kick-offs, the Bears took possession to open the game at their 20 yard line. The Generals' defense gave the offense a chance on the first play of the game as they recovered a Bears fumble, giving the offense the ball deep in Bears' territory. The Generals'...
Vietnam veterans were celebrated and honored during a ceremony March 29 at the Portrait of a Warrior Gallery in Bakersfield as part of National Vietnam Veterans Day. Shafter native Ed Gaede, who has been instrumental in the operations of the gallery, said that the veterans of the Vietnam War are getting their due as heroes, which had been denied them for so long. "It is important to recognize these men and women who have given their lives for us, no matter the circumstances," Gaede said....
Lennar Homes is opening a new phase in Gossamer Grove for homes. Lennar opened the Summer Series with models with three and four bedroom options, along with a flexible floor plan. Lennar also offers a New Gen option, giving families the choice of an attached suite that can be used for living space with a separate entrance, bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom. This option is for families with parents who need a separate living space or for older adult children who move back from after school. The...
Easter will once again be celebrated with a Sunrise Service on Sunday at 6:30 a.m. after the service was canceled last year due to the pandemic. The service will be held at “The Green,” at the intersection of Kern Street and California Avenue on the Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church lawn. The speaker will be Pastor Gabriel Espinoza and the event is sponsored by the Shafter Kiwanis Club. With the county’s designation changed to the red tier, this also means less restrictions on a variety of se...
The Distinguished Young Woman of Shafter program, previously known as the Shafter Junior Miss program, will be held on Saturday, April 10. Due to pandemic restrictions, the event will be shown online for viewers. Tickets to the livestream will be sold on the event's website, Toni Frantz, of the Distinguished Young Woman of Shafter Committee, said. Ticket holders will receive an email on April 10 with a link to the show. The program will begin at 7 p.m. Frantz said that the committee wants to...
Sun Country Flowers has continued producing bouquets and gifts as more people began to send flowers to loved ones, owner Carol Reichenbach said, making 2020 one of the shop's busiest years. Instead of being able to travel or attend certain functions, Reichenbach said, people were a lot more likely to send some flowers, or a gift of some kind. "Also, to be honest, this is the busiest year we have ever had when it comes to funeral services," she said. "I can't say what percentage of the services...
This girl is Trina, a brindle and white Pit Bull/Shepherd mix. Trina is about 1 year old and is a really sweet pup. She will need someone to teach her manners and some basic commands. She is shy until she gets to know you. A large yard with a tall fence would be a big bonus to help keep this girl safe. If you would like to meet Trina, come to the Shafter Animal Shelter at 18849 S. Shafter Ave. The hours at the shelter are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. They...
Development in the city is staying strong amid the pandemic as a drive-thru car wash and an Amazon fulfillment center prepare to open their doors. With the majority of the businesses having to at least restrict hours, services, and sometimes close altogether, the pandemic has taken its toll. According to Bob Meadows, business development director, the city had begun focusing on attracting companies with unique assets, such as the rail yard that can help companies ship goods, as well as a...
Over 200 residents loaded up their bulky waste and drove it over to the bulky waste drop-off event this past Saturday. American Refuse, partnering with the City of Shafter, hosted the event. Several roll-off trucks were stationed at the Shafter Aquatic Center parking lot to carry off items not normally picked up in regular trash collections. Residents dropped off a variety of items including electronics, mattresses, and furniture. This was the second event held in the past month. An event in Was...
The Portrait of a Warrior Gallery in downtown Bakersfield will be holding a ceremony on March 29 in observance of National Vietnam Veterans Day. The gallery is honoring the 176 Kern County veterans who lost their lives in Vietnam. A bell will be rung as well as a Roll Call being conducted, announcing each of the veterans' names. According to Ed Gaede, a Shafter man who is on the board at the gallery, this will be a special ceremony that honors those local heroes who served in the Vietnam War....
The Wasco High Tigers couldn't dig out of a first half hole when they traveled to Templeton to take on the Eagles on Friday night, dropping their season opener by a score of 39-22. "Offensively, we had 22 points, but defensively we gave up 39," Free Safety Kevin Chavez said. "There were lots of mistakes given out. We didn't play the game we could have, but we are moving forward and bouncing back this week." The Tigers couldn't get their offense started in the first quarter, with the Templeton...
The Shafter High School sports programs got the green light and are preparing for an abbreviated season, with the only exceptions being indoor sports such as basketball, volleyball and wrestling. The Kern High School District laid out a plan that will get the majority of the sports programs back in action beginning late this month. Practices have begun with safety measures and protocol in place including temperature checks, daily screening and social distancing when possible. The Shafter General...
As the pandemic continued, a group of Shafter High students were feeling disconnected with their peers as they left the school campus to learn at home. The group soon developed a solution to help better support their peers, starting a program called THRIVE. Audrey McPhetridge, Yesenia Gil, Jose Magana and Anthony Olivas wanted to find a way to get their peers together after so much time by themselves. "We could feel that the connectedness of the students was lacking we wanted to find a way to...
A project 50 years in the making for Shafter resident Barry Bongberg has finally come to fruition. Bongberg recently published "Dear Mom and Dad - Letters from Vietnam," a project which began for his daughter. The book is based on a series of letters that Bongberg wrote to his parents while he was overseas in Vietnam between 1967 and 1969. "I didn't even want to think about Vietnam once I got back home," said Bongberg, who also said that it wasn't very popular to let people know that you had...
The City Council approved an agreement with Kern County to open the Shafter Library for two days a week for the next three months, beginning in April. In March 2020, the library was closed due to the coronavirus and it remained closed because of budget constraints. A group of citizens wanted to reopen the library, stating that the library is necessary for children and adults. With a number of libraries in the county reopening, it was deemed not feasible to open the Shafter branch. The newly appr...
Shafter High School and the rest of the Kern High School District schools are preparing to return to campuses in April. The district board approved a plan that would allow seniors to return to campus to finish their high school careers in the halls of Shafter High School. The plan gives students and their families a choice to get in-person instruction or remain in the distance learning program. According to Shafter High Principal Russell Shipley, the plan is a big step in returning to a sense...
The 80-year-old roof on the Minter Field Air Museum was peeled off this past week as the museum got a new roof thanks to the community's help. During the pandemic, the museum had to suspend the majority of its fundraising including the annual Wings 'n' Wheels event. The event typically provides a majority of the museum's funds as it brings in spectators from all over the country. GAF Roofing Manufacturing Company, San Joaquin Construction Service and American Refuse, among others, stepped in....
A Shafter man was killed after his motorcycle and a pickup truck collided on Lerdo Highway Tuesday. Jonathan Rosales, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash around 3:20 p.m. According to the Shafter Police Department, Rosales was traveling westbound on his 2002 Honda 954 when it collided with a Ford F250. The Ford was turning left onto Lerdo Highway from Vultee Road. It is too early in the investigation to say if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident, according to Captain...
The city has lost one of its icons with the passing of Dick Witcher. Witcher was a three-sport athlete at Shafter High before focusing on football at Bakersfield College, eventually being drafted by the San Francisco Forty-Niners. Witcher would go on to help San Francisco make the playoffs and had a couple of game-winning plays that highlighted his eight-year career with the team. Dick was one of many Witchers to walk the halls of Shafter High between 1956 and 1978, more than two dozen in all,...
Amazon is opening a distribution center in Shafter, making it the second Amazon facility to open in Kern County. The new center will be in the Wonderful Industrial Park and is expected to open later this year, bringing 1,000 jobs to the area. Amazon opened a facility in Bakersfield last year. "Amazon is excited to make this investment in Kern County that will support local economic development and help us deliver to our growing number of customers in the region. As we continue to grow in Califor...
