Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
Sorted by date Results 1026 - 1050 of 1554
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...
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...
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...
An arrest was made over the weekend and three other cases were handed to the District Attorney’s Office for investigation regarding a rash of illegal fireworks activity in and around Shafter. Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann posted a video reaching out to the community for assistance in catching the perpetrators, who have been inundating the community with a series of explosions, some strong enough to rattle windows. Shafter’s pet population has also been disturbed by the noi...
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the community of Shafter still held its annual Community Vacation Bible School, letting the kids delve into the mystery of creation. This event was the result of a collaborative effort, involving local churches and a host of volunteers. Put on by Valley Bible Church, De La Saron Church, Shafter Christian Fellowship and New Hope Church, the Vacation Bible School was a chance for local children to gather for the first time for a lot of fun...
With the governor of California reinstating the Stay at Home order for one county in the state, 12 more counties have been put on a watch list, creating the possibility that the order may be reinstated. To try to negate the need for it, an order has been made that makes it necessary for residents to wear a face covering whenever entering most public buildings in the state. In Shafter, more than 75 percent of businesses now require customers to wear a face mask to enter. Even...
One group of the population that has been hit hard with the current pandemic is the animal residents of the county, with its shelters limiting their services, including suspending all adoptions and rescues. In March, all adoptions and rescues were suspended. Last week, however, Shafter's shelter reopened to the public, with all services in operation, including adoptions. There are guidelines to follow: All business is by appointment only, and face coverings are required to...
The Walmart Distribution Center in Shafter, which has seen its opening date pushed back into the spring of 2021, celebrated the Fourth of July with a flag raising and a fundraiser benefiting the Children's Miracle Network. Caleb Dobbs, the event coordinator, said this was the first time the flag was raised at the facility. The Shafter Police Department was on hand as well. Distribution Center 8522 has hit some delays in scheduling its opening date. With much of its equipment...
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...
Tigers' Taekwondo, with studios in Shafter and Wasco, were back in action as training sessions began on Monday June 15. The studios had been closed for almost three months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Returning students were met with a different setup, including a hand sanitizer station at the entrance and a laser thermometer that takes every student's temperature upon entering the building. A reading that is not within the normal range requires the student to return home...
The Shafter Chamber of Commerce has been busy at work, even as the majority of city businesses were at a virtual standstill for the past couple of months. The organization has been a go-to source of information when it comes to the status of eating establishments in town, as well as resources available to local businesses and individuals. At a recent meeting, after a lengthy discussion, the Chamber decided not to cancel the popular Fireworks Extravaganza, instead opting to...
An arrest was made over the weekend and three other cases were handed to the Kern County District Attorney's Office for investigation regarding a slew of illegal fireworks activity in and around Shafter. Chief Kevin Zimmermann posted a video reaching out to the community for assistance in catching the perpetrators who have been inundating the community with a series of explosions, some strong enough to rattle windows. Shafter's pet population has also been thrown into chaos wi...
The Shafter City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday night and approved the budget for 2020-21with a unanimous vote. The budget proposal was the same one that had been discussed over the past few weeks with minor changes. The budget projects a 7.5% decrease in sales tax revenue, with there still being a chance, according to City Manager Gabriel Gonzales, of stronger performance because of the position of online retail sales, led by Williams Sonoma. The housewares...
