Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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In a display of community unity and holiday cheer, Wasco came alive with the vibrant colors and festive spirit of its annual Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony. The event saluted honored guests, including the new Wasco Police Department and the triumphant Wasco High School and Wasco Bengals football champions. The streets were lined with eager families and enthusiastic spectators who eagerly awaited the procession of dazzling floats adorned with shimmering lights and intricate...
As has been done since 2014, the Wasco Woman's Club helped ring in the holiday season for the special education students of Wasco High School with treats, music, dancing and, of course, Santa. Brian Cortez is an administrator for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, which runs the special education program. "This is something we always look forward to. It's giving our students an opportunity to have a fun social event and celebrate the spirit of Christmas." "It's also fun to watch them...
Strata Credit Union opened its doors to the public with a jubilant grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting. "Today marks the beginning of a lasting relationship. We are your financial advocate and your neighbor," CEO Brandon Ivie said. "Opening a bank in Wasco is significant because it aligns with our mission of serving the underserved and the underbanked. "Wasco is a community of nearly 30,000 residents, and yet only has one bank to serve that entire population. So with us opening our bran...
It was a fun and festive Toys for Tigers Christmas Extravaganza on Monday night for the children and families of Wasco. "We organize this to bring people together and give kids in Wasco a chance to meet Santa, write him a letter and enjoy Christmas activities," Madeline Nicole said. The event put on by Toys for Tigers provided games, crafts, face painting, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, raffles and pictures with Santa. Toys for Tigers is a charitable organization that purchases Christmas...
At a special meeting on Tuesday, the City Council made moved toward the next phase in the demolition of the old Wasco Farm Labor Camp with the selection of a contractor, Resource Environmental, to do the job. The decision was made after the original bid was rejected. Currently, the labor camp is at the step of abatement, which is making sure that the materials that need to be removed are properly disposed of from the site, such as lead paint and materials containing asbestos. The process of...
The Wasco High School varsity girls cross country team has had an impressive season, most recently qualifying for the third straight year for the California State Championships. Omar Garcia is the head coach. "This set of girls have been working hard since their freshman year, with many of them staying active during the COVID years." "We competed during their first year, but it wasn't a whole season. Once we were allowed to compete fully, we had an opportunity to showcase their talent." They...
The holiday spirit is set to come alive on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 16 and 17, at the Shafter Ford Theater as the Young Adults Theater of Shafter presents "A Christmas Chaos." It promises to be an evening of delightful enchantment and holiday cheer. Joshua Cooley is the director and one of the actors. He has been with the theater group for 13 years. What he enjoys most is the fun he gets to have, and the freedom he has to build his own characters. This holiday, the play he is directing is a...
Santa Claus has made his travel plans to be in Wasco for the Christmas Parade, Tree Lighting and Vendor Faire on Saturday, December 2. For the third year, the Wasco Rose Festival and Orange Heart Foundation will bring our community an evening of fun, fellowship and festivities on the first Saturday in December. The Vendor Faire begins at 4 pm at Wasco High School at the cafeteria parking lot to allow shopping and eating before and after the parade and tree lighting. It will feature a variety of...
It's that time of year when the Wasco Toys for Tigers share the spirit of giving. Since 2002, this dedicated group has been making a difference in the lives of children in need by spreading joy through their annual Christmas initiatives. At the core of their mission is the distribution of toys to over 1,000 children in Wasco who are facing economic hardship. "Our goal is to spread holiday cheer for as many kids as possible.," said Board Treasurer Pat Ketcherside. "Every family deserves a special...
Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Westside Family Fellowship Church hosted its monthly Food Giveaway with a record-breaking attendance of 1,400 individuals and over 350 cars participating. "We distributed fresh fruit and vegetables, canned and dried goods, and meat products," Pastor Sukie Martinez said. The food banks occur every fourth Thursday of the month from 8 to 10 a.m. This month was special because they had the support of the Grocery Outlet. "We received a donation from the...
At the heart of community and social justice, the Dolores Huerta Foundation serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration. Established by the labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta, the organization embodies a commitment to equality and the pursuit of a better future for all. Dolores Huerta has worked for civil rights for over 50 years. In 1962, Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez founded the United Farm Workers union. She served as vice president and was critical in many of the union's...
At a time when college and quality employment are out of reach for many people, America's Job Center of Kern County provides an alternative for those looking for a career in a high-demand industry and helps employers find the best of the best employees. Aaron Ellis is the chief workforce development officer for the county and has been with the organization since 1992. "I get to help our community find employment and gain skills offering free training in a myriad of industries, including...
On Nov.12, Gloria Soto, a 41-year-old bicyclist, was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene, leaving the woman to succumb to her injuries. An investigation by deputies from the North Area Substation led to the arrest of 21-year-old Wasco resident Gabriela Garza for hit and run, causing death and other vehicle code offenses. The incident occurred at around 6 p.m. near the area of Poso Drive and Palm Avenue, when deputies located a downed bicyclist and attempted life-saving measures but were...
It was an epic showdown between Shafter High School and Wasco High School after a week-long schedule of activities leading up to the rivalry game, a long tradition for decades. Though the WHS football players gave it their all, they fell short. The festivities began on Monday at WHS with the student Dress Up Days throughout the week. In line with the "Wasco is Out of This World" space theme, students showed their Tiger pride. On Thursday, there was a "Burn the General" community rally, with a...
The Wasco Recreation and Parks District hosted its Trunk or Treat event at Barker Park on Tuesday. It was a fun-filled time for 2000 children, with lots of candy and music made possible by the sponsorship of many organizations. The heart of the event, held on Halloween night, was the creatively decorated vehicle trunks, each brimming with candy for eager trick-or-treaters. Children wearing costumes walked from car to car, filling their bags with goodies. There was also a costume contest for the...
For the third year, the Wasco Rose Festival and the Orange Heart Foundation will bring back a magical holiday tradition with a vendor fair, Christmas parade and tree lighting on Saturday, Dec. 2. It will be an evening of fun, festivities and fellowship for the community to enjoy. The vendor fair begins at 4 p.m. to allow for shopping and eating before and after the Christmas parade, starting at 6 p.m., with the tree lighting ceremony at approximately 7:15 p.m. The block party will continue...
On Saturday, the City of Wasco, in partnership with the Dolores Huerta Foundation, Bakersfield Pace and Kern Sol News, hosted a community resource fair. Councilmember Gilberto Reyna said, "This is a great opportunity for us to bring much-needed resources to our community with our collaborators. It was very well attended by families who were able to access essential information." "We do these events because we know there is a need in our community, and we aim to fill that void. I'm happy to work...
The Wasco High School girls golf team has once again proven their dominance on the green, securing their third consecutive South Sequoia League Championship title. Following this win, they took runner-up place at the Valley Championship. Under the guidance of Coach Ed Moreno, the Lady Tigers have continued to set the bar high for their competitors. Moreno has instilled in his players not just the skills to succeed on the course but the values of teamwork and resilience. This season, those values...
Last Friday, the Shafter Ford Theater came alive with a story of suspense and intrigue as the Young Adults Theater of Shafter staged a captivating murder mystery show. The talented young actors showcased their skills, leaving the audience in awe as they attempted to solve the crime. The play, "The Romanian Uranium," was centered around a uranium mine deal gone wrong and involved the unintentional death of a waitress. European detective Inspector Clueless investigates the murder of two investors...
In the heart of Kern County, Veronica Vasquez, a lifelong resident of Delano, is hoping to make history as the first Latina supervisor for District 4, including Wasco and Shafter.. Rooted deeply in the United Farm Workers movement, she comes from five generations of family advocates supporting farm work and labor rights. Professionally, she has been an employee of the Department of Human Services working in Child Protective Services. "I have been a social worker since 2007 in emergency response...
Prisoners at the Wasco State Prison are charging that razor blades, laxatives – and even rat feces – are appearing in their food, and prison officials are denying the problem and not helping the inmates. Jakiya Abrams, who lives in northern California, said her husband, Sonny Granados, an inmate at the prison, called her to tell her of the incidents. "It was their turn to eat. He is in Pod C, and as he was eating, he found a razor in his hot dog. Also, it was unknown that they were putting lax...
The Wasco Rotary Club has long been a pillar of the community. For years, they have dedicated their efforts to fostering goodwill, promoting peace and serving humanity. The annual Rotary Club Festival is one of the club's most anticipated fundraisers, and last Thursday's event was no different, as the club hosted a night of delicious food, camaraderie and philanthropy. Residents from all walks of life, city leadership, local business owners and Rotary Club members came together to support this...
A Kern County jury found Jorge Millan and Elizabeth Jara guilty of numerous counts of abuse that nearly caused the death of their 6-week-old son. On Oct. 19, Millan was found guilty of attempted murder, torture and child abuse under circumstances likely to produce great bodily injury or death. Jara also was found guilty of assault likely to cause great bodily injury and child abuse under circumstances likely to produce great bodily injury or death. For more than a month – from March 20, 2021, t...
The Wasco City Council on Tuesday hosted a badge pinning ceremony to welcome four new hires to the soon-to-be-established Wasco Police Department. The significant gathering exemplified a commitment by leadership to enhance public safety and ensure the growth and security of the city. The honorees were Alecio Mora, lieutenant; Lionel Lopez Jr., sergeant; Maira Puente, sergeant; and Erika Morris, senior dispatcher. At the event, community members, city officials, friends and family of the new...
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and The Open Door Network recognized this with a "Light the Town Purple" event last week in Wasco. The organization is based in Bakersfield but serves smaller communities throughout Kern County, such as Wasco, Shafter, Delano, McFarland and Arvin. "We know domestic violence is happening in our rural communities," Director of Client Services Ilene Parra said, "One of the things that I've recognized in Wasco and other surrounding areas is...
