Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Demolition began Monday on the building at the corner of Highway 43 and Central Avenue, on the site of the city's first retail business. The building featured a mural depicting various scenes of Shafter. During the city's centennial celebration in 2013, the city acquired funding to hire an artist to create the mural. "On that corner, Charles Shomate established the first retail business in Shafter in 1914. He replaced his original building with the brick building now being demolished in l919....
A pinning ceremony was held on Friday to celebrate the appointment of interim Shafter Chief of Police Randy Milligan as the new chief of police. The event honored a decorated peace officer who, over his 23 years in Shafter, has held nearly every position within the department, including traffic officer, field training officer, K-9 officer, senior patrol officer, sergeant, range master, lieutenant, captain, acting chief and now chief. With 26 years in law enforcement, his dedication and service...
Santa Claus, accompanied by Mrs. Claus, flew in from the North Pole to visit the Minter Field Air Museum on Saturday. "They arrived in an airplane, taxied right up to the museum's hangar, got out and greeted all the children and adults there," Minter Field Air Museum Chairman Ronald Pierce said. Hundreds of children from across Kern County had the chance to share their Christmas wishes with Santa. Each child also got to choose a free stuffed animal, donated by the Ming Avenue PetSmart. Members...
The Shafter Christmas Parade and Festival at Mannel Park on Friday brought the community together to celebrate the season of cheer. Hosted by the Lions Club, this evening featured a parade with over 40 entries, including festive floats, decorated cars and trucks, and lively marching bands, all radiating holiday spirit. Kicking off the festivities were activities at the park, including food trucks, games, bouncy houses and lots of "snow." All of the schools in the Richland School District, as wel...
The Kiwanis Club of Shafter hosted a luncheon on Nov. 13 to celebrate local students recognized as Terrific Kids, nominated by their teachers for exemplifying respect in the classroom. The event, attended by their families and community members, showcased the pride and support for the students' achievements.Each student received a certificate, pencil, bumper sticker and t-shirt. "At Kiwanis, we love encouraging kids to develop good character traits that will help them succeed in life. In our...
The Rose Festival Group and Orange Heart Foundation, in partnership with the City of Wasco, hosted the Wasco Christmas Festival on Saturday, with this year's theme, "Kindness Shines." The event featured a parade with over 50 entries, a vendor fair, a kids corner with games, crafts and a train ride and a lighting ceremony, where Miss Wasco Rose Queen Rihanna Sanchez lit the 20-foot tree. This year, the 2024 Wasco High School Valley Champion cheer and Tiger wrestling teams and the JV and sophomore...
On a foggy Saturday morning, a high-speed crash between a pickup truck and a tractor on Kimberlina Road resulted in the death of the truck's driver, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collision occurred about 7:30 a.m. in dense fog that severely reduced visibility. The CHP officials reported that a GMC Sierra pickup truck was traveling eastbound on Kimberlina Road at an unsafe speed, given the conditions. A John Deere tractor pulling an implement of husbandry in tandem was crossing...
Líderes Campesinas is a nonprofit organization founded in 1988 by farmworker women in California's Coachella Valley. "Our mission is to strengthen the leadership of farmworker women and girls so they can serve as a bridge for economic, political, and social change and ensure their human rights," Yesenia Acosta of Líderes Campesinas Kern Norte explained. On Friday, Dec. 20, they will host CampesinXmas at the Wasco Woman's Club, featuring a traditional Mexican posada, a 2024 post-election c...
The "Intergalactic Space Invasion" recital, produced by Planet Dance Studio, conquered the stage on Saturday. The program took place in Delano at the RFK High School Auditorium. With nearly 500 in attendance, the energy was out of this world. Each class gave a phenomenal performance, and the music selection was just as entertaining to match....
The Wasco Woman's Club held its annual Christmas celebration for students on Friday at Grace Community Church. High school youth with disabilities enjoyed pizza, cookies, lots of dancing, and, of course, a highlight was a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, with whom they took pictures and received a Christmas gift. DJ Boomer provided the music, and all the students dressed in their best holiday attire. "It was the most joyous and rewarding Christmas party ever," said Sukie Martinez, Woman's Club...
Get ready for the City of Shafter's Christmas Tree Lighting, Sing and Community Celebration in downtown Shafter this Monday. Enjoy a night of holiday cheer to honor local athletes, savor delicious food and music, and end the evening with a visit from Santa. Distinguished Young Woman of Shafter, Camryn Eubanks, will light the 22-foot community Christmas tree. "It's huge. This year, we are doing a white theme with big snowflakes, iridescent ribbons, and white and silver ornaments. The Lions Club...
Zachary McGraw, a sixth-grade teacher at Golden Oak Elementary in Shafter, was arrested on Monday for allegedly possessing child abuse materials, according to officials. The 38-year-old was detained at his Bakersfield home in the 15000 block of Pinion Court, near Hageman Road and Rudd Avenue. McGraw was taken into custody around 7 a.m. on charges of possessing child sexual abuse material and intending to distribute obscene content involving a minor under 18. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office inmate search page, he is being held o...
A vehicle got stuck on the train tracks at Central Valley Highway and East Los Angeles Avenue in Shafter at about 5:33 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and was struck by an Amtrak train. A 55-year-old female was able to exit the vehicle before a tow truck could remove it from the tracks. Amtrak train 714, traveling south from Oakland to Bakersfield, came to a stop just beyond the train crossing after colliding with the car, according to Shafter Police Department Lt. Marvin Gomez. "Normally, we would...
The Young Adults Theater of Shafter will present “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the Shafter Ford Theater on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. Dessert by Bloemhouse Bakery and Tin Cup Coffee will be provided during the performance. Under the direction of Rori Acres, the cast of 12 has been rehearsing since October to bring this classic Christmas story, where Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas. Not finding it in the silly, goofy advice of his "fr...
The three appointed members, Vincent Martinez, Miguel Raya and Eddie Saldaña, were sworn in at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Valentin Medina was reappointed mayor, while Eddie Saldaña also was reappointed as mayor pro tem. Although this year's election was canceled because Martinez, Raya and Saldaña ran unopposed, they still are considered elected. Councilmember Gilberto Reyna nominated Medina and praised his performance as mayor since August, saying, "He's done a great job, and I think he...
The Light Up Wasco Christmas Cruise is more than just a holiday event; it's a celebration of community spirit, creativity and the magic of the season. On Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 18 and 19, the Wasco Recreation and Parks District, in partnership with the City of Wasco, invites families, friends and neighbors to embark on a magical drive through Wasco, where homes are transformed into displays of holiday lights and decorations. Each stop on the map along the cruise through Wasco, where...
The Wasco Toys for Tigers Christmas Tree Spectacular brought holiday cheer on Tuesday with activities like face painting by the Orange Heart Foundation, cookie decorating, marshmallow snowmen, crafts, games, a candy walk by the Elks ladies and letters to Santa. Treasurer Pat Ketcherside called it "the event of the year, heartfelt with so many children." She thanked those who supported the Wasco Bengals. Pictured are Juliet and Melody Garcia sharing a special moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus,...
Last week, some Wasco residents noticed cloudy water coming from their taps. The city quickly identified the issue, which was linked to the reopening of a well that had been undergoing repairs. According to City Manager Scott Hurlbert, when the well was brought back online, it is likely that sediment that had settled in the system was disturbed and released into the water supply, causing the cloudiness. While the water looked unusual, Hurlbert assured residents that it had been fully tested...
Captain Randy Milligan, who has been acting chief of the Shafter Police Department for the past year, has been named to permanently head the force. A pinning ceremony will take place Saturday, Dec. 7, an email invitation said Friday. Milligan, a 26-year veteran of the force, replaces Kevin Zimmermann, who resigned on Wednesday following a long disability leave. The city agreed to pay Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months and pay out his...
The Wonderful Company recently hosted a visioning workshop, inviting Shafter community members to give design input on its planned Lerdo Residential Project. "The project is meant to provide affordable housing options for young families wanting to build their lives in a safe and welcoming community like Shafter. I hope people will feel like they belong and are proud to live in Shafter, just as I have these past 40 years," explained John Guinn, executive vice resident and chief operating officer...
It was a celebration of local law enforcement at Wasco's National Night Out last week, as agencies from Wasco, Shafter, Avenal, McFarland, Arvin, the Kern County Probation Department and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation joined together in a show of unity with residents. The newly renovated downtown along 7th Street and the plaza in Wasco provided the setting for the festive block party. The event featured a variety of attractions, including food vendors, free hot dogs...
Wasco Cub Scouts Pack 950, serving children from kindergarten through 5th grade, and the BSA Scouting Boys and Girls Troops 950, for 6th grade through age 17, are at risk of closing due to low membership. Destini Mello, committee chairman for Pack 950 and a former scoutmaster, explained the challenge: ""Membership is being affected by low numbers. We are down to six Cub Scouts, five boy troops, and no girl troops. At our highest, we had about 40 Cub Scouts and 20 in each of the boy and girl...
A recent WalletHub report ranked Wasco as the third worst small city in America, but community leaders are offering a much more positive outlook, highlighting the unique qualities that make Wasco special and the strides in public safety achieved by the new Wasco Police Department. Community Development Director Keri Cobb said she doesn't dwell on these types of reviews. "They can be informative in terms of concrete numbers and things we might need to work on, but ultimately, the folks at...
The City of Shafter will pay Chief of Police Kevin Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months, and pay out his accrued vacation in exchange for his resignation, effective Nov. 20. This agreement was announced in a statement read by City Attorney Marco Martinez during the closed session of the Tuesday, November 19, city council meeting. Martinez stated that all terms are pursuant to Chief Zimmermann's employment agreement. In return, the chief...
The PRIDE Pantry at Shafter High School is calling on the community to join its annual community re-stock drive-through drop-off and school-wide Thanksgiving collection drive to help gather essential supplies for students and families in need. On Thursday, Nov. 21, the school will host a drive-thru drop-off event from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the front of the school. You will also be able to utilize boxes placed around town. This is a chance to make a direct impact by donating much-needed items...
