Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Marcus Ballard is an inspiring leader who is both an educator and assistant pastor. He is a shining example of someone committed to building a brighter future for the community of Wasco. Ballard has been a teacher for 10 years, now teaching 6th grade at Palm Avenue Middle School. As a teacher, he said, "I hope to inspire, motivate and be a role model to my students. Not just in education, but in life." He was born and raised here, and he graduated from Wasco High School in 2003. Afterward, he...
In the dynamic realm of football, where strategies evolve and victories are crafted through innovation, Wasco High School varsity football Head Coach Chad Martinez shines. Known for connecting with his players extremely well and for his attention to detail, under his leadership, those skills propelled his team forward into greatness – including playing in the State Championship game last year. He is originally from Inglewood, in the center of Los Angeles. "I grew up there. I played football. I...
Third in a series profiling candidates for 4th District county supervisor, representing the Shafter and Wasco areas. Other stories can be found at TheShafterPress.com or WascoTrib.com. Veronica Vasquez has a bachelor's in human development from Cal State East Bay, with a minor in political science and women's studies and a master's in social work with an emphasis on mental health. She has interned with Sen. Barbara Boxer in San Francisco with a role to help veterans and mental health constituent...
North Kern Christian School, founded in 1978 by the Wasco Mennonite Brethren Church, is dedicated to delivering high-quality education within a Christian setting, employing a curriculum rooted in Christian principles. Sandy Armstrong has been the advisor for the Home Study Program since 1990. She started as a junior high teacher in 1980. "People here are like-minded and focused on providing the best Christian education," she explained. "It's a pleasure to go to work every day." "It's a safe,...
The Orange Heart Foundation is a nonprofit organization with a mission to enhance the community of Wasco. The organization aims to instill optimism through educational and recreational initiatives, uniting through events, and focusing on the betterment of the local area. The goal is to elevate the quality of life in the community by establishing constructive and inspiring customs that represent the entirety of residents. The OHF was founded in 2015 following the organization of the Centennial...
Planet Dance Studio opened its doors in 2002, providing the art of dance to thousands of students in tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop. Regionally and nationally, it has garnered multiple championships and accolades and received scholarships at the highest level of competition. Jacob Hernandez is the director and founded the school with his mother, Corine Matera. "Our studio has been within Wasco and Shafter for the last two decades, and we absolutely love being in these communities. There was nothi...
Diana and Tomas Lopez are the proud owners of Wasco Glass. They bring a wealth of experience and dedication to their commercial and residential glass shop and agricultural equipment glass replacement business. "We offer complete windows on homes and specialize in shower door installations, custom build screens, retrofit windows, mirrors, tabletops, tempered glass, new patio sliding doors, pet mesh screens and windshield chip repair only," Tomas said. Wasco Glass launched on Nov. 1, of last...
The Wasco Animal Shelter plays a crucial role in the community by providing a safe haven for stray and abandoned animals, working to find them loving homes. The shelter houses typically anywhere from 15 to 25 dogs at a time. The most common breeds found are pit bulls, huskies and chihuahuas. On average, a dog will stay at the shelter for two months before being adopted or rescued. Animals will often come in as strays, and others surrendered by their owners. Marco Silva has been an animal...
Passion runs deep for Wasco sports, and Juan Gallardo is one Wasconian who exemplifies the love that comes with someone who truly cares about the youth he serves through athletics. Gallardo has been the Wasco High School varsity co-ed wrestling coach since 2010. What he enjoys most about is being invested in the kids. "Helping them through homework and in-life issues at home and in school. Try to hold them accountable as adults. And try to have them make sure they get done with everything they...
First in a series of interviews with candidates for Kern County supervisor in the 4th District, including the Shafter and Wasco areas. VERONICA JACUINDE The Shafter Press and Wasco Tribune Alex Garcia was born and raised in Wasco. He attended Fresno State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Garcia moved back to Kern County in 2015 to work for Assemblyman Rudy Salas as a field representative for Arvin, Lamont, Wasco and Shafter. “I built good relationships in...
There is full lineup of activities for the youth of Wasco offered by the Wasco Recreation and Parks District, with registration now open. "Wasco Little League Baseball is open to boys ages 7-12 who reside or attend any schools within our boundaries," WRPD Manager Chris Serna said. It is a live-pitch baseball program. "This is a competitive division with rules and guidelines associated with Little League International. There is a Majors and Minors Division offered." The Majors Division offers a...
The City of Wasco has been awarded the prestigious Annual Comprehensive Financial Report award for 2022. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the city, since it was last recognized in 2012. "This award is a testament to the dedication and hard work of every member of our team. Over the years, we've faced challenges such as frequent staffing shortages and frequent leadership turnover within the Finance Department, making this achievement even more remarkable," Finance Director...
The Wasco Elks Lodge #2419 will host its 2nd Annual Clay Shoot Tournament on Saturday, April 6, at the Kern County Gun Club. Jeff Tackett, past exalted ruler, is spearheading the event. "It's a shotgun start like golf. There are teams of five with 18 stations. Each team will take turns shooting at each station. The highest score among the teams, male, female, youth shooter, will win a trophy." He invites the community to attend. "Come out. You'll have fun. It's interesting." He also added that...
In another historic accomplishment for Wasco High School athletics, the varsity boys wrestling team made history by winning the Valley Championship. The girls team had standout performances, with Areli Solis securing the Valley Champion title in Division 1 and seven girls qualifying for the masters. Juan Gallardo, the head coach, described winning the prestigious championship as exciting. "It was something I never felt before that the kids did it. The kids were committed to the program, and it...
The Wasco High School swim team is set for its first meet on March 1 at the Wasco pool. It is a South Sequoia League meet and Shafter, Taft and Delano will compete. It promises to be an opportunity for the team to showcase the talents they have been working hard to cultivate under the leadership of Head Coach Chris Gebhardt. "Chris has almost a decade of coaching experience. His coaching philosophy is unique. "I look at coaching swimming more than just the swimming. My goal is to help the kids g...
Mike Martin is a story of inspiration from humble beginnings, from a family of hardworking farm laborers to owning multiple companies, including a spreading, composting and pistachio company. He is an example of the values of perseverance and the importance of dreaming big. He was born in Visalia in 1965 to parents who worked in the fields. From an early age, he started working alongside them. This experience taught him the lessons of a strong work ethic that would serve him well in life. "I...
Brad Maberry, a dedicated educator and community leader, has been an integral part of the Wasco Union Elementary School District since 1996. Starting as a teacher, he has gradually climbed the ranks and, in 2023, assumed the role of superintendent. He is a native of Bakersfield but has worked in Wasco since 1996. "It's a magnificent small town with caring parents and community members; the small-town culture is really what has kept me here." Maberry has stayed involved in the community as a...
Pastor Brian Klassen is the new chaplain of the Wasco Police Department, being a bridge between the police force and the community. He comes with almost three decades of experience in ministry and said it is an exciting opportunity. "I believe coming to Wasco means that I'm called not only to pastor a church but also to serve the community. It's working with Chief [Charles] Fivecoat; he is an amazing man. I've had the pleasure to meet several police officers, and I think they are tremendous...
Esmeralda Díaz is the proud owner of Esmeralda’s Flower Shop & More, a quaint flower shop and secondhand store that offers a variety of new and gently used items. She bought the establishment from a previous owner who had the business for over 40 years, and she wants to continue with the legacy. “I opened two years ago and have been blessed so far. The community has supported me, and for that, I am grateful. After being around for so long, the business has great potential, and I’m lookin...
At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, the Wasco City Council recognized the newly formed Wasco Police Officers Association. Employees of the department formed the WPOA to represent officers and other staff when negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the city. In Wasco, as is common in most cities, the MOU document acts as a labor contract to establish hours, wages, working conditions and policies for its members in collective bargaining. "We are happy to see our Police Department emplo...
A 52-year-old woman suffered multiple life-threatening stab wounds and was rushed to a local hospital for treatment after an carjacking attack Monday. The incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. in the 400 block of Peppermint Court in Wasco. During an investigation, deputies from the Wasco and North Area substations identified Randy Flores-Lopez, 21, from Wasco, as the suspect. Flores-Lopez also took the victim’s silver 2005 Chrysler minivan, California license plate 6LQE901, according to the...
The Wasco High School wrestling team, under the guidance of Head Coach Juan Gallardo, has emerged victorious from the South Sequoia League Championship. The team's achievements and the dedication of both players and coaches have led to a memorable season. About the win, Coach Gallardo said, "It's wonderful. Overall, with varsity boys, varsity girls and the JV boys, we had 20 champions." As the head coach, Gallardo oversees 48 wrestlers with the help of eight other coaches. "I've got a great...
The Shafter Ford Theater has set auditions for their upcoming production of "Anne of Green Gables." This classic tale is set to come alive on stage, and the theater is looking for talented individuals to bring this beloved story to life. Audition packets for "Anne of Green Gables" will be provided upon request. These packets contain information about the characters, scenes and the overall audition process. Auditions will be held on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10 and 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Tin...
The Wasco Police Department and Arvin Police Department have announced a long-term collaboration to enhance police operations, training and interagency relationships. WPD Chief of Police Charles Fivecoat said, "We have used the same model throughout my time as a chief, even when I was in Shafter. The idea is to maximize resources to benefit our communities' citizens, which is why this collaboration is good." "You look at all the officers, sergeants, lieutenants and everybody; they all have...
On Saturday, it was the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the completion of the renovation of the old PG&E building by California Home Pros. It was an opportunity to spotlight the business along, with Sherry Knapp's California Home Loans and the opening of Pops Barbershop. "It's a culmination of a year's worth of hard work of getting the building ready for our customers and contributing to the beautification of downtown 7th Street," California Home Pros owner Tilo Cortez said. "We...
