Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Get ready for a magical evening on Friday, Dec. 6, when the Shafter Christmas Parade and Festival brings snow to Mannel Park, thanks to the Lions Club. The festivities will kick off at 4:30 p.m., offering a feast for the senses with a diverse range of dishes. From Mexican favorites to Korean delights, there will be something for every craving. Sip on specialty drinks such as hot chocolate, champurrado (a warm, thick Mexican chocolate beverage) and freshly brewed coffee, or indulge in sweet...
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Santa Claus will make a special early appearance in the area, accompanied by Mrs. Santa Claus. "I personally know Santa, and I'm able to get him to fly in from the North Pole to Minter Field Air Museum and deliver stuffed animals to all children, compliments of PetSmart Ming Avenue," Chairman Ronald Pierce said. Santa will arrive at 11 a.m. The museum, at 401 Vultee Ave., will be open for the public to tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum also will observe Pearl Harbor...
The 2024 Wasco High School Valley Champion cheer and Tiger wrestling teams, along with the JV and sophomore Bengals football teams, will be this year's Honored Guests and Tree Lighters at the Kindness Shines Wasco Christmas Festival Saturday, Dec. 7, marking the event's inaugural year at the newly opened Wasco Downtown Plaza on 7th Street. "We are so excited to announce that the Wasco Christmas Festival is moving back downtown!" Orange Heart Foundation President Traci Mills-Clendenen said....
The Wasco City Council will fund an expanded Veteran's Banner Program for family and friends to honor their veterans through a personalized banner flown on downtown light posts during portions of the year. The $5,000 approved at Tuesday night's meeting will be used to create, repair and replace damaged banners, covering the cost of new banners for friends and family facing a financial barrier. The city has recently installed a video screen at the new Veteran's Memorial at 7th Street & F Street....
A Wasco man received a prison sentence of over eight years for a DUI-related crash in July 2022 that killed a 1-year-old infant and left five others injured in Shafter, according to Kern County Superior Court records. The crash occurred on July 23, 2022, at approximately 4:30 p.m., when Irving Rodriguez-Barraza was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck eastbound on Burbank Street with a passenger. According to the California Highway Patrol, Rodriguez-Barraza ran a stop sign at the intersection of...
Don Sushi, a unique fusion restaurant blending the flavors of Japanese and Mexican cuisine, opened its doors in Wasco in August. The restaurant is the collaborative creation of owners David Sauceda, Baudel Guerrero and chef Kevin Vizcarra. Vizcarra, who has been cooking since the age of 16, says his passion lies in the reactions of customers as they experience his dishes. "What excites me most is seeing the look on customers' faces when they try our plates. And also, the possibilities that...
Almost 20 vendors gathered for the annual Wasco Woman's Club Pop-Up & Craft Fair on Saturday, with food and drinks sold by the club. The Orange Heart Foundation provided face painting for the children, and all the money raised from the event will go back to the community. "Thank you to all those that came to support us," Co-President Petra Rueda said. Pictured are OHF co-founder Orquidea Ocampo, Wasco Woman's Club Co-President Petra Rueda and OHF co-founder Traci Mills-Clende...
The Shafter High School girls varsity tennis team claimed second place at the Division IV Valley Championship Central Section last Tuesday at Cesar Chavez High School in Delano. Coach Jorge Maldonado, a 32-year Shafter High School soccer coach, social studies teacher for 27 years, MEChA club advisor and LISTOS program advisor, brought a fresh approach to the team in his first season as their coach. "It was an outstanding season starting in the summer when we did conditioning. I'm a new coach,...
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...
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 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 agreen to pay Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months and pay out his accrued vacation...
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...
