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Articles written by Joshua Cooley


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  • Wasco Summerfest benefits Orange Heart, wrestling club

    Joshua Cooley, For the Wasco Tribune|Updated Jul 17, 2023

    Wasco community members came alive with excitement as it hosted its first-ever Small Town Summerfest last month. The event, held in support of the Orange Heart Foundation and the Wasco Families Wrestling Club, brought together residents from near and far for a day filled with thrilling games, tacos, and an opportunity to contribute to worthy causes. One of the highlights of the Summerfest on June 17 was the friendly competition that unfolded on the grounds. Members of the community had a thrilling time playing cornhole and...

  • Church unites community with a fair

    Joshua Cooley, For the Wasco Tribune|Updated Jul 17, 2023

    The Free Will Baptist Church hosted a lively community fair last month, featuring a diverse array of 19 booths offering a variety of services and attractions. The event aimed to bring the community together and provide valuable information about different organizations that supported the fair. Among the booths, several organizations stood out, including CAPK, the Kern County Cancer Foundation, and CCS. CAPK's representative, Araseli Lopez, emphasized the importance of raising awareness about mental health and providing inform...

  • SHS Student Spotlight

    Joshua Cooley, For The Shafter Press|Updated May 30, 2023

    David Bloemhof IV is a senior at Shafter High School with a long list of extracurricular and academic accomplishments. He plays the trumpet for the wind ensemble and jazz band, and plays the piano for the choir at the school. David performed with the Kern County Honor Jazz Band at the Bakersfield jazz workshop on May 16. They performed an hour-long music set, with a professional studio recording the performance, which will be released on listening platforms. David has played...

  • Love of science leaves a legacy

    Joshua Cooley, For the Wasco Tribune|Updated Apr 30, 2023

    Wasco High School Alumni Francisco Javier Baltazar passed away in the early morning of April 16. He was born Dec. 5, 1989, and from a young age was in love with science. His mother, Priscilla Baltazar, said, "He loved learning, he always pushed himself to be the best." Francisco was co-valedictorian of the 2008 graduating class. He had big dreams, and in order to accomplish them he left Wasco shortly after graduation at age 17. He attended UC Davis to obtain his bachelor's...

  • WHS club aids community with food event

    Joshua Cooley, For the Wasco Tribune|Updated Apr 30, 2023

    Wasco APLC is joining with Canyon Hills Food Ministry to feed the community, with an event to take place at the Canyon Hills church parking lot. Food will be distributed from 4 until 6 p.m. The dinner includes spaghetti with sauce, cheesy garlic bread and water, with a meat and a no-meat option. The Wasco APLC is an organization on the Wasco High campus that focuses on student leadership and community service. The club's goal is to push future leaders to be involved as much...

  • Children's Theater to reprise 'Willy Wonka'

    Joshua Cooley, For The Shafter Press|Updated Apr 18, 2023

    The Shafter Children's Summer Theater enters its 28th year with a production of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," originally performed in 1997. The theater program was founded in 1995 by Cris Starrh. Starrh created this program because, "We lived in the country and there were not a lot of activities for my kids to do." The program put on its first production at the Shafter High School auditorium, performing "101 Dalmatians." They have put on many musicals since, such as "The Aristocats," "Aladdin," "Peter Pan" and...