Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Wasco Independence High School held a mock interview workshop to provide seniors with a real job interview experience with local employers. "We decided to host this event as a continuum from the career fair we recently hosted and continue to expose students to diverse career opportunities within the community," Principal Rusvel Prado said. He said that it's important for students to have these types of opportunities to take what they are learning in the classroom and put it...
It was a busy morning for the Ross store at its grand opening on Saturday, with over 150 people walking through its doors in the first 10 minutes. Bri Villa was one of the shoppers. "I am here today to check out the new store because it's closer than Delano or Bakersfield. I wanted to be one of the first shoppers to have the first look at the merchandise. It's also a sign that the city is growing, adding new stores and expanding with all the new housing." Another shopper,...
There was a house full of worshipers on Sunday at the Wasco Community Revival. The special event occurred at True Light Baptist Church in Wasco, with almost 100 people celebrating the power of prayer and unity. The message was one of love and joy where various churches in Wasco and from outside came together to pray for the town, including the recent violence. It was open to everyone, and it didn't matter what church you went to; all were welcomed. There was music in English a...
Representatives from American Refuse attended the City Council meeting Tuesday night and gave a presentation on the recycling bag and information they are leaving residents, along with their new blue recycle cart. This is all in preparation for the introduction of the new recycling program beginning next week. "There is a brochure that lists what goes in every cart and a welcome letter," recycling coordinator Maria Medina said. The brochure includes information about what is...
On Saturday, a strategic planning workshop for the fiscal 2023-24 year was held for the City Council and city leaders to come to a consensus on priorities that will help the staff form the upcoming budget. At the workshop, the council and key staff members shared updates on their efforts, accomplishments and initiatives related to each department such as finance, public works, community development and human resources. The "impact categories" discussed were enhancing...
The community came out on Friday to celebrate the life of a great man, Robert (Rob) Cobb. It was a moving tribute to a lifelong educator that contributed much to the city of Wasco. Pastor Dave Moorhead welcomed and prayed with those in attendance. "We want to celebrate him. It's an honor to Rob and an honor to his family. We are grateful we had him and how he touched our lives." He said of the service, "I think it is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. It was special...
Wasco Elks Lodge #2419 will host its first annual Clay Shoot Tournament fundraiser on Saturday, April 15, at the Kern County Gun Club. It will be a morning of play for all levels, from beginners to experts. Clay Shooting is an event where you use a shotgun to shoot clay targets tossed in the air or across the ground. To add fun and competitiveness to the event, there are a number of shooting stations to test your skills. It is very similar to a golf tournament, but instead of...
The Wasco Recreation and Parks District have an extensive lineup of activities for youth, including NFL flag football, t-ball baseball, coach pitch baseball, Little League baseball and Little League softball. All of the sports programs are aimed at promoting fun and learning the basic fundamentals of the game. The programs fall in line with the mission of the WRPD. "Our goal is to provide safe and enjoyable programs to build character and form relationships so kids can play wi...
A ceremony was held for Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Phillip Campas with the unveiling of a memorial sign designating the interchange of Highways 65 and Highway 99 in his honor. It was a touching recognition that brought together family, friends, law enforcement and political leadership, including State Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), who organized the event. Campas died in the line of duty on July 25, 2021, while responding to a 911 dispatch reporting that an armed man,...
Kris Tiner is an accomplished jazz trumpet player, composer and educator that will soon be inducted into the Cal State Bakersfield Alumni Hall of Fame. A Wasco native, he credits the town for the many teachers that inspired him to follow his dreams of becoming a professional artist. Tiner attended local schools, including Karl F. Clemens, Palm Avenue, Thomas Jefferson and Wasco High School. "I have nothing but fond memories. Wasco is a beautiful place to grow up in. I had all...
After a nearly two-year battle against cancer, esteemed Wasco Union High School District educator Robert (Rob) Cobb passed peacefully on Saturday morning, surrounded by his loved ones. Cobb made a tremendous impact on the community – a success story as he worked his way up from teacher, vice principal, principal and assistant superintendent to the superintendent role for Wasco Union High School District. He worked in the district for the last 27 years. WUHSD Acting S...
Up to 12 vehicles are set to be the first fleet for the new Wasco Police Department. At the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday, a resolution was passed to authorize the city manager to approve a purchase order for six new police vehicles and up to six used vehicles, a move toward establishing a Wasco police department. "With this, we have a variety of fleets we can phase in over time. It's a step forward with the essential logistics to make the Police department come...
The Wasco Community Scholarship Association is now taking applications for its annual scholarship awards and invites seniors and alumni of Wasco High School who are pursuing post-secondary education to apply. It is expected that four-year university and college scholarship winners will receive $1,500, and two-year college and trade or technical school scholarship winners will receive $700. The number of scholarships granted and the dollar amount per award will depend on the...
Wasco Union Elementary School District offers its students a safe place to learn and keep active through its after-school programs, serving 200 to 300 youth at each elementary school site and over a hundred students at each middle school site. Jennifer Fendrick is the coordinator for the extended day programs. She explained that there are several components. "The first is the ASES program which stands for after-school education and safety. This is for students from TK to 8th...
The City of Wasco received a $288,000 SNIP spay/neuter grant from UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program in connection with the California of All Animal Statewide Animal Shelter Assistance Program. The purpose of the grant is to partner with the SNIP Bus to expand the city's spay/neuter capacity. SNIP Bus will hold no-cost spay/neuter clinics monthly for three years, completing an estimated 1,800 surgeries. Public Works Director Luis Villa said receiving the grant is...
No date has been announced for the arraignment of a Wasco middle school counselor arrested last week on charges of sexually molesting a 14-year-old student at the school. The employee was arrested on Jan. 30 after the girl charged he had touched her “inappropriately,” according a release from Kern County Sheriff’s Office. The incident allegedly occurred in May of last year. The employee, Jose Solis, 37, of Shafter, is a counselor at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and has been with the district for five years. Solis was booke...
Valentin Medina was recently elected to serve as a council member representing District 3. He has strong roots in Wasco and is grateful the community put trust in him to carry out the public service role. Medina was born in Delano but raised in Wasco and attended local schools. He graduated from the University of California, Davis, in 2012, lived in Bakersfield for a few years, and then moved back to Wasco in 2017. He said it feels great to have the vote of the people. Medina...
The Wasco High School boy's varsity, junior varsity and girls varsity wrestling teams all took wins against the Shafter Generals. It was a proud moment for them all and an opportunity to move forward in the league. The boy's varsity team won 54-18, the junior varsity 36-15 and the girls varsity team won 48-22. Juan Gallardo is the head coach for all three teams and is joined by three other coaches, Danny Arellano, Garth Wara and Joe Blanchard. Gallardo has been coaching for...
The California Farmworker Foundation aims to improve the quality of life of farmworkers through personal and professional development. The Zumba program it organizes for the community aligns with this goal. Zumba is a form of fitness class in which you burn off calories by dancing to different kinds of lively music, often Latin-American inspired, such as salsa, merengue and samba, and other types of modern music such as hip hop and Bollywood (music from the Indian films)....
Addison Tatum, the 2023 Kern County Ms. United States Agriculture, will compete for the state title on Saturday, Jan. 28. She brings a wealth of excitement and enthusiasm to the pageant. Tatum has lived her entire life in Wasco and feels proud to represent the city. "It's a small town and is special to me. I like advocating for women because there are not many of us in agriculture." She graduated from Wasco High School in 2018. She is currently a student at California State Un...
Westside Family Fellowship will host the "I AM" women's conference on Saturday, Jan. 28. It will be an event that is sure to empower and uplift all those women that attend. LaRonna Rhodes co-pastors along with her husband, Jonathan. She is passionate about helping other women live their best life possible through the spiritual word and ministry. "The heart of the conference's theme is based on Ephesians 2:10, [BEGIN ITAL]'for we are his workmanship, created in Jesus Christ...
For over 25 years, Casting for Recovery has provided healing outdoor retreats for women with breast cancer. These retreats, using the sport of fly fishing, bring hope, inspiration and empowerment. The retreats are open to women with breast cancer of all ages, in all stages of treatment and recovery, at no cost to them. CfR's healing program is unique. Teresa Adams, co-coordinator for CfR Southern California, said, "It is a combination of many factors, but the main thing is to...
A Wasco man, Nestor Jose Perez, 33, was arrested for attempted murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, assault with a deadly weapon, shooting from a vehicle and stalking. According to a media release from the Kern County Sheriff's Office, on Jan. 19 at approximately 2:30 a.m. deputies from the Wasco sunstation were dispatched to the 600 block of North Maple Avenue for a shooting into an occupied vehicle. During the investigation, Perez was identified as the suspect. At appr...
The Wasco Union Elementary School District held its monthly Parent University last week. It was an opportunity to learn about different topics and a way to empower the whole family. The Parent University workshops align with the WUESD mission to provide all students with an education that promotes lifelong learning and appreciation for diversity and responsible citizenship. Angela Devin is an English learner and early literacy coordinator with the WUESD. She said it is a way...
A 16-year-old male juvenile was shot, transported to a local hospital via air medic for treatment and subsequently died in an incident last Thursday at 6th Place and Cedar Avenue. The Kern County Sheriff’s Office called the shooting a homicide in its media release, and said the investigation is ongoing. Right after the shooting, Mayor Vincent R. Martinez said, “Public safety is a number one concern in Wasco and for the City Council. Right now, we are meeting with Con...
