Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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VISALIA -- For the first time in the school's 96-year history, the Shafter High Generals are Valley Champs in baseball after an 8-0 rout of the Matilda Torres Toros on Friday at Valley Strong Park in Visalia. Shafter got their first run in the third inning of the Division V title game, getting three runs across on some timely hitting and quick base running. On the mound, Matteo Martinez pitched a masterpiece. Martinez allowed the Torros three hits through the first three...
UPDATE: The body of a 16-year Kern County Sheriff's Department veteran was identified as the deceased man found in the Gossamer Grove area on Tuesday, May 21, the county Coroner's Office announced on Thursday. He died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the statement said. The man was identified as Senior Deputy Benjamin Alan Michael Harmonson, who began work with the Sheriff's Office in 2008. Harmonson, 36, was found in an unmarked patrol vehicle on Seventh...
A new business opened in Shafter last weekend, a balloon and gift shop located on Central Avenue next door to Sno-Fun. Owned and operated by Judith and Noe Gonzalez, the store sells balloons, greeting cards, t-shirts and gifts for the family. A ribbon-cutting took place on Friday, with Mayor Chad Givens, Mayor Pro-Tem Cathy Prout and Councilmember Pete Espinoza on hand, as well as a good number of the community. Gonzalez said that he is so excited to be open, not only for the...
The Shafter High Generals baseball team headed to the semifinals of the Central Section Division V playoffs with a 3-1 victory over rivals Wasco High. Shafter used a three-run second inning to put up all of the runs they would need to take care of the visiting Tigers. The Generals used three pitchers in the contest, when starter Lukas Pena had a little trouble from the beginning of the game. Andy Gomez came in and promptly put the Tigers down in order. Gomez dominated until...
A teacher at Sequoia Elementary School saw her case in a Bakersfield Superior Court postponed for the third time last week. Candie Springer is now scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday, June 6, on a felony count of child cruelty and a misdemeanor count of allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle. Last year, Springer allowed her then-15-year-old son to take her car for what she thought would be a quick trip to the market. Jace Springer instead picked up...
The community showed its support for their Shafter Police Department last week as they participated in National Police Week. In addition to the proclamations given out by Mayor Chad Givens to the different departments in the police force, residents participated in Project Blue Light. Police dispatchers and police officers were honored for their sacrifices in making Shafter one of the safest cities in the county, if not the state of California. Retired Assistant Police Chief...
The Shafter Generals' Jesus Figueroa added to his accolades last week as the Central Section's Scholar Athlete of the Year. Figueroa was named to the South Sequoia League's First Team for his prowess on the champion Shafter High Generals football team. He also excels in track and field, competing in running and jumping events, just missing qualifying for the State Track Meet this weekend in Clovis. Figueroa is not only a star on the field and track. He is also a star in the...
The Shafter High School Senior Awards took place last Thursday, giving Shafter's seniors a total of over $100,000 in scholarships. The event was held at the Fred Starrh Performing Arts Center on the high school campus. Over 150 seniors were presented with scholarships, giving them a head start on their future educational journey. Principal Russell Shipley welcomed the family and friends of the students. "I am so excited and proud of this graduating class. They have been...
VISALIA -- For the first time in its 96-year history, the Shafter High Generals are Valley Champs in baseball after an 8-0 rout of the Matilda Torres Toros on Friday at Valley Strong Park in Visalia. Shafter got their first run in the third inning of the Division V title game, getting three runs across on some timely hitting and quick base running. On the mound, Matteo Martinez pitched a masterpiece. Martinez allowed the Torros three hits through the first three innings, but...
A Wasco man was sentenced to a year in prison after pleading no contest to several charges in the Superior Court of Kern County. Tellez was charged with felonies, including two counts of removal of human remains from other than a cemetery, destroying/concealing evidence, and resisting a peace officer. Resendo Tellez, 27, was additionally charged in Shafter Municipal Court with possessing drug paraphernalia, but the case was continued until the outcome of this hearing was...
The body of a 16-year Kern County Sheriff's Department veteran was identified as the deceased man found in the Gossamer Grove area on Tuesday, May 21, the county Coroner's Office announced on Thursday. He died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the statement said. The man was identified as Senior Deputy Benjamin Alan Michael Harmonson, who began work with the Sheriff's Office in 2008. Harmonson, 36, was found in an unmarked patrol vehicle on Seventh Standard Road,...
The Shafter High Generals baseball team swept their rivals last week, completing their SSL season in second place. The teams came into the series tied for second place. The Generals beat the Tigers at home, 2-1, to get a game separation between them heading into the final game of the regular season. Shafter traveled to Wasco on Thursday and completed the sweep with a 12-10 win. The Generals used timely hitting in the first meeting, with a strong pitching performance by Jesus...
Shafter will host a Jobfest event on Thursday, May 23, expecting to attract over 40 employers who will be on hand. With finding a job becoming a challenge, events such as this will help as being a one-stop-shop for job seekers. Registered employers and recruiting firms include the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, Fastrip, Walmart, Harvest Grow and Apple One Employment Service. Frank Cabrera, pastor for The Truth Church in Shafter, also works for the County of Kern and is h...
Mothers and sons in Wasco had a very special time on Saturday, attending the inaugural Mother-Son Dance, sponsored by the Wasco Parks and Recreation Department. The event attracted over 60 pairs and had a theme of the Wild West. Attendees came dressed in the Western outfits, complete with cowboy hats, blue jeans and boots. There was also a western-themed backdrop as they entered, with hay bales, balloons and horseshoes decorating it, giving each mother and son a chance to...
Police confiscated gambling machines and arrested the owner of the Shafter Tobacco Shop last week. Yassim Shaw, 50, was cited and released after the Tuesday raid, allegedly allowing illegal gambling in the back room of his business. The investigation involved officers from the Shafter Police Department and inspectors from the California Tax and Fee Administration, who searched the business and found that the business was in possession of illegal cannibas and tobacco products....
A Lady General athlete became the first ever to qualify from Shafter High for the State Swimming Championships – male or female. With a first place in the 100 yard butterfly at the Valley Championships, Sara Jane Osborne punched her ticket for the State meet this weekend – by over a full second. According to Head Coach Larissa Davis, Osbourne has been dominant this year and she is proud of all of the girls. "We have worked so hard, especially with not having a home pool to...
The Shafter Library and Learning Center hosted Viva El Arte, a fine arts show on Friday afternoon, featuring artists displaying their works, including paintings, sketches, sculpture and photographs. One of the featured artists was Nora Pineda. Pineda grew up in the area of Shafter known by many as the Mexican Colony, now La Colonia. Pineda said that she is proud of her heritage and she puts her culture and passion into her work. Pineda had several sculptures on display, each...
In connection with the annual Shafter Cinco de Mayo Festival, the Shafter Learning Center and Library hosted Dia del Ninos last week, giving youths a chance to celebrate in a unique way. The event was a celebration of children in the community, giving families a place to have some safe fun in town. The traditional event is a celebration of children held with a variety of games, activities, food and music to celebrate the youth of the community. There was face painting, music,...
The Shafter City Council decided not to help pay for the Chamber of Commerce 3rd of July Fireworks Show. City Manager Gabriel Gonzales said that the city had discussed the proposal and deemed it okay for the city to be a Patriot Sponsor for the annual event. Gonzales said that the show is attended by the public, allowing it to help fund the event. At the first-ever meeting at Gossamer Grover's Community Park Tuesday night, Councilmember Gilbert Alvarado asked Gonzales if the...
The Shafter Cinco de Mayo Festival was held on Saturday, complete with a parade downtown and a slew of activities at Mannel Park following the parade. The parade was led by this year's Grand Marshal, Diana Burnett, who retired this past year as the highest-ranking female officer in the department's history, retiring as the assistant chief of police. Burnett was followed by the Minter Field Air Museum's entry, which included their Follow-Me Yellow Jeep and their Vietnam-era LOA...
If you have wondered what those black poles going up around Shafter are, they are the newest aid in keeping the city of Shafter safe. The city has purchased 25 Flock Cameras to put up around town, placed in strategic locations throughout the city. The cameras are license plate readers, catching on record every vehicle that passes. The readers use technology that will aid the Shafter Police Department in responding to crimes committed in the city by reading the plate and...
The Shafter High Drama Department put on their production of the Broadway hit Guys and Dolls at the Fred Starrh Performing Arts Center last weekend, giving the crowd a taste of Broadway, with a musical that tested the actors singing, dancing and acting skills in one production. Led by advisor Hal Friedman, the actors told the story of 1920s New York, with a glimpse of the underbelly of the city, with gambling, drinking and the fight that leads to redemption. It tells of...
The Minter Field Air Museum will be offering free tours of the Gossamer Condor, which flew the first human-powered control flight. The flight took place in Shafter at the Minter Field Airport. An anniversary celebration will be held on Saturday, Aug. 24, with a banquet at Hodel's Country Dining in Bakersfield. The dinner will honor those involved in the project, as well as give attendees a chance to relive a part of aviation history. Gossamer Condor Pilot Bryan Allen; Sam Dura...
The San Joaquin Valley Air District Board has approved a couple of plans that propose improvements in Shafter. As a result of the work of the AB617 Committee, which has been working for five years to improve the city's air quality, there will be sidewalks in North Shafter, beginning at Apple Market and will go north past Fresno Avenue. This addition are intended to improve the safety of the roads in the area, protecting pedestrians and children as they walk along the stretch...
