Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Shafter Teen Challenge is a free, one-year residential, faith-based program for men ages 18 and older who suffer from any addiction. The goal is to transform lives, offering hope and a brighter future. Greg Hill, a Shafter native, has been a kitchen manager and teacher advisor for five years. He is a testament to the impact Teen Challenge can have on an individual. "I'm a product of the program," he said in an interview last week. "In 2017, I came here broken and homeless. I had a rough...
Minter Field Air Museum hosted its 7th Annual Wings 'N' Wheels event on Saturday, showcasing a variety of aircraft, tractors and custom vehicles. The event featured vendors, a beer garden, raffles and a wide selection of food, offering a fun-filled day for families and enthusiasts of airplanes and cars. Thousands of spectators attended the museum's biggest fundraiser of the year, admiring nearly 75 private aircraft from across California and almost 200 custom cars, motorcycles and trucks on...
The Friends of the Shafter Library have launched the Book Bench project to inspire a love of reading across the community. This initiative combines art and literacy by placing benches designed to look like books, each painted with unique artwork, throughout town, promoting their mission to make literacy accessible and valued by all while beautifying public spaces with creative designs. Modeled after a public art installation by the Bakersfield Museum of Art, the project began with its first...
Kern County Public Works hosted a bulky waste collection event on Saturday in Shafter. Residents could drive in and drop off their unwanted residential bulky waste for free. More than three tons of waste were collected, with 43 people dropping off items, most of which were appliances. (Photo courtesy of Kern County Public Works)...
It was a night of community and fellowship at the Kiwanis Club of Shafter Foundation Fall Scholarship Dinner, dedicated to raising funds for Shafter High School students. The event featured a lively reverse raffle, drawing guests together to support the mission of empowering local youth in their pursuit of education. The club's biggest fundraiser collected $10,000. Club President Phillip Jimenez, now in his second term, expressed his enthusiasm about the dinner's success: "We sold all our...
The Shafter Woman's Club will host its annual fundraiser, A Holiday to Remember, on Wednesday, Nov.20. Tickets are $28, including a Chicken Cordova lunch and a door prize ticket. This year, attendees can explore a special vintage ornament sale. Over the years, the Shafter Woman's Club has gathered handmade ornaments crafted by past members. Each unique ornament, priced at $2, carries a tag with the maker's name and donation year. "Come pick up a piece of history!" invites Kathy Gamboa. A $5...
It was a joyous occasion for local students at the monthly Shafter Kiwanis Club luncheon recently, honoring Terrific Kids for the enthusiasm they brought to the classroom and their academic endeavors. Parents and community members were in attendance to celebrate the students nominated by their teachers for demonstrating the character trait of enthusiasm. In addition to the delicious lunch enjoyed among their peers from other schools, each student received a certificate of recognition, a pencil,...
The Wasco Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is on its way, with Tilo Cortez, co-owner of California Home Pros, leading the effort. Inspired by his previous experience on the City Council and recognizing a void in the community that a local chamber could fill, Cortez said last week, "I felt that I am the right person to get it started because I am familiar with the needs of the business community as well as the city's regulatory requirements. I believe I can be a good liaison between those...
Sean Medley, a Wasco High School alumnus of the Class of 2013, was inducted into the Wasco Union High School Athletic Hall of Fame last month, a honor following a remarkable athletic career. Sean's high school years were filled with accomplishments in both wrestling and football, where he excelled and left a lasting impact. Originally from Los Angeles, Sean moved to Wasco after his father started working in Bakersfield quite often and he had a cousin in Wasco. Then, they met the Johnson family...
The Teresa Burke Elementary School Student Council hosted its 10th annual Veterans Day program, honoring all who have served our great nation. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps members attended, creating a memorable morning for the school's 503 students as they gathered to show their gratitude and respect. Drew Raney, one of the Student Council advisors, was the master of ceremonies, with his father, Michael Raney, a trumpeter with 34 years of experience in the Bakersfield Symphony...
The City of Wasco unveiled the Veterans Memorial Park with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony, honoring the courage, dedication and patriotism of those who have served and continue to serve our nation. This event also marked downtown improvements, showcasing a revitalization of the city center. Councilmember Gilberto Reyna thanked Caltrans for awarding the city a $5 million Clean California Local Grant, which funded the park's construction and the downtown beautification efforts. "This...
The City of Wasco, Wasco Police Department and other law enforcement agencies from across the area are inviting residents to celebrate National Night Out and enjoy a fun evening with local safety officials. Featuring free hot dogs (while supplies last), food vendors, music, emergency vehicles on display, demonstrations, and engaging programs and activities, the event aims to promote strong relationships between residents and law enforcement and strengthen neighborhood spirit. Its goal is to...
The Wasco Rotary Club held its annual Fall Festival fundraiser last week at the Wasco Elks Lodge, featuring a steak dinner, silent auction, 50/50 drawing and a reverse raffle with a $5,000 grand prize. The last five ticket holders, Greg Lane, Itze Rodriguez, Kenneth Newman, Ross Shafer and Clara Acosta, each received $1,000 after choosing to split the pot. US Bank Manager Rodriguez shared, "It's exciting. Especially tonight when the energy in here was so special. I'm going to take out my team...
The 8th Annual Jesse Acebedo Memorial Golf Tournament took place on Saturday, with 34 teams gathering to celebrate the life of Jesse Acebedo, who dedicated much of his life to serving in law enforcement, empowering Wasco youth and actively contributing to the community. Proceeds from the event benefited the Wasco Community Scholarship Association. Jesse's sons, Keith, Ben, and Jeff created the memorial golf tournament as a tribute to him. Ben shared, "When we first started, it was just my brothe...
The Shafter Commanders youth football and cheer organization, for ages 6-14 and part of the GEYFC league, made history this Saturday as their freshman, sophomore and varsity football teams each won the National Division Golden Empire Youth Football Championship for the 2024 season. President and headv arsity coach Fortino Valdivia, who also has helped coach Shafter High's varsity football team for the last nine seasons and is the co-chair of the Shafter Recreation and Parks District, said, "We...
Wasco celebrated the official ribbon-cutting for its new Wendy's restaurant on Highway 46, introducing the latest addition to the growing business landscape. Community members and local officials gathered to welcome Wendy's, excited about its positive impact on the local economy and dining options. Mayor Valentin Medina called it a step in the right direction for economic development. "This is a $3.5-million investment into our community, providing 37 local jobs with over 400 applications...
Countryside, a local family-owned business specializing in national food brands, gas, retail and car wash ventures throughout Kern and Tulare counties, has significantly contributed to Shafter's growth over the past decade, bringing the town its first Subway, Taco Bell and Starbucks. Last week, they opened their first Countryside Car Wash in the area, providing an efficient express wash experience. The team also announced that it will be bringing another Starbucks to town as early as next year....
The Shafter Harvest Festival was a night filled with trunk or treating, a haunted house, food trucks, music, and a variety of games and activities. Sponsored by the Shafter Lions Club in partnership with the city and supported by numerous local organizations, the event celebrated the spirit of community. Councilmember Gilbert Alvarado remarked, "As president of the Lions Club, it was our pleasure to be part of something as big as this event turned out to be. Seeing the turnout, with attendance...
During Shafter/Wasco High rivalry week, an annual breakfast brings together football players, cheerleaders and Associated Student Body members from both schools. This gathering kicks off the day leading up to the highly anticipated football game and takes place before the rallies at each other's campuses. It's a friendly, spirited exchange that fuels school pride and amps up excitement for the big night, where anything can happen. This year, the breakfast took place at Wasco High School, where...
Perhaps no other rivalry in the Central Valley is more powerful than the one between the Shafter Generals and the Wasco Tigers, a tradition that dates back nearly a hundred years. This annual football game is more than just a competition - it's a historic event celebrated by both schools and their communities, bringing out intense school pride. Leading up to the big game, each school held spirit week with activities, dress-up days and the burning of their respective mascots at night. A...
The City Council approved a homeless outreach coordinator position to provide outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness. This role will involve collaboration with Code Enforcement, Police Department staff and nonprofit organizations to link individuals with essential services and housing. The outreach coordinator will engage with those facing homelessness to help them identify programs offering housing, mental health services, substance abuse treatment and/or rehabilitation...
Strata Credit Union celebrated its Día de los Muertos Member Appreciation Event on Friday, complete with traditional Mexican pan dulce, hot chocolate, custom Strata tumblers and lively entertainment from Radio Lobo. The festive gathering featured raffles, face painting and games for kids, while sharing resources and highlighting the support services available to members. The celebration also marked Strata Credit Union's upcoming one-year anniversary on the 30th, and CEO Brandon Ivie shared his...
The Wasco Recreation and Parks District hosted its 5th Annual Trunk or Treat event, transforming the evening into a delightful celebration of Halloween for families and children. There were creatively decorated trunks, a plethora of candy, a festive atmosphere, and hundreds of residents, all eager to enjoy a memorable night of trick-or-treating. WRPD District Manager Chris Serna said in an interview after the event, "Our annual Trunk or Treat was a great success. Our community came together for...
A groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday for The Wonderful Company Community Sports Complex in Shafter was attended by dignitaries and other prominent figures, generating excitement for the project that will feature four basketball courts, three soccer fields, four baseball fields, two softball fields, five baseball batting cages, three universal courts, three handball courts, two large youth/child playgrounds, two barbecue picnic areas, a baseball concession stand, three parking lots and two...
The Shafter Tiger Chase Color Fun Run last Saturday at the SHSl was the kickoff to Shafter/Wasco rivalry week. Yearbook teacher Larissa Davis, who co-organized the inaugural event with student advocacy teacher Sharya Durant, was inspired to start a new tradition that would bring the whole community together. "It was something we had talked about for a couple of years and thought this year was a good year for it." Around 60 students, teachers, families and friends joined the noncompetitive...
