Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Shafter celebrated its most historic football season in history with a downtown rally on Friday night, honoring the Shafter High Generals, who finished the season as the State Championship runner-up in Division 5. The Generals, led by Head Coach Jerald Pierucci, were honored by representatives of the city, as well as the offices of state Sen. Melissa Hurtado and Dr. Jasmeen Bains, who presented each team member with certificates. The Shafter High cheerleaders performed for the crowd before the...
Recently, a Shafter resident saw a need, asked for help and got it for the whole city. An employee of the Shafter Press, Erica Soriano, and her daughter, Chloe Hathcock, were concerned about the upcoming storms and how they could help their relatives who live in the Fresno Avenue area of Shafter prepare for the forecasted rains. Soriano called the cityys Public Works Department to inquire about the availability of sand bags for residents. She was told that the city did not supply sand bags and...
The latest in the Shafter Library and Learning Center's ongoing series of author appearances, featuring Saida Woolf, was a standing-room-only event. Woolf is a 19-year-old writer and graphic artist from Tehachapi. She began working on her book, "Soulstream," as a sophomore in high school. She finished it during her senior year, signed a contract with graphic novel publisher Scout Comics, and then took a year off so she could promote the book. In September 2022, she began attending San Jose...
A Shafter man was arrested when a simple traffic stop turned into more serious charges when a weapon was found in the vehicle. Kern County Sheriff's deputies stopped the man, later identified as Alexis Garcia, 22, of Shafter, at the intersection of Poso Drive and F Street on Monday night. Deputies suspected that Garcia was driving under the influence. Upon investigating, the officers found a loaded assault rifle and ammunition in the vehicle. After the traffic stop, deputies served a search...
Everyone who has lived in Shafter for any length of time knows about the man who had a real train on his property. Kids growing up would marvel at the machine as it chugged along through his orchard. Merrill Lehman passed away recently, leaving a large footprint in the history of Shafter. Lehman graduated from Delano High School and went to Fresno State University, where he studied agronomy. Armed with his degree, Lehman worked as an agronomist for the USDA Cotton Research Station for decades....
For fans of "The Man in Black," a treat is coming to Shafter on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m., when James Garner and his band, The Tennessee Three, will be bringing a tribute show to Shafter's Ford Theater. Garner has been performing his tribute to Johnny Cash for the past 15 years. In the many positive reviews of the show, it is said that Garner and his band faithfully recreate the "boom-chick-a-boom" sound that was pioneered by artists such as Cash, Luther Perkins and Marshal Grant in the...
This year's Christmas at the Shafter Depot Museum's tree competition theme was the Recipes of Christmas. We asked that each entry share their special Christmas recipes or the spirit of the season that embodies the "recipe" in their mind for that perfect Christmas. While all the trees were wonderfully done, our visitors ultimately decided on the winners through votes for their favorites! The 1st Place tree was called "Our Recipe is Joy," decorated by the Shafter Community Bible Study. The idea...
It has been a few years since the city of Shafter has been the site of the Colours Festival, which had been an annual event for a few years before that. The event, which started out very small, had grown to draw attendees and artists throughout the county and beyond, drawing nationally renowned artists to some of the events. Well, I just loved attending the events at the festival, from the art gallery, the coffee house music, the Shafter Symphony – all of the events were great. I don’t thi...
Golden Oak Elementary students returned from Christmas break with renewed enthusiasm and eager to learn. The school began the new quarter by recognizing scholars who excelled in achievement and attendance for the second quarter. They had 176 students in the 3rd through 6th grades who earned Honor Roll for the second quarter. Honor Roll is achieved by earning a 3.0 or higher GPA for the quarter. Those students who earned a 4.0 or higher were named to the Principal's Honor Roll. Those students...
Vincent R. Martinez is the new mayor of Wasco. He brings experience, enthusiasm and a willingness to work as a team. Together with the council, he hopes to empower residents and provide them with a better quality of life. "I am excited to take on the role. The city is in a good position to make many positive changes. I'm looking forward to helping guide the city in the direction we have been going through in the last few years." He has two years of council experience and has served on the Wasco...
At the regular City Council ouncil meeting on Tuesday, a resolution was passed approving the water and sewer rates adjustments. The new rates will become effective on Feb. 1. A public hearing was held to allow residents to express their thoughts on the rate adjustments. Before that, notices were mailed to customers, informing them that they could submit protest letters. The protest letters were tabulated, but it wasn't the majority of customers, which is required to withhold power of the...
As activities restart and businesses reopen, we will try to update readers on the status of events and activities throughout the area. Please contact Erica Soriano with additions and changes at [email protected] or call 661-292-5100 by Monday at 4 p.m. for that week’s paper. ONGOING Book bags – The Shafter Library and Learning Center have book bags (10 books in each) that can be checked out. The bags includes books mostly for the kids, but who says that adults can't enjoy them, too? Red bags for the holiday and orange bags with Hal...
Here's this week's challenge, courtesy of the Shafter Historical Society. If you know the location, circumstances, exact or rough date and/or people in the photo, send your educated (or semieducated) guess to The Press, 455 Kern St., Suite E, Shafter, CA 93263, or e-mail it to [email protected]. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: Steve Rodriguez' parents, Juan and Margarita Rodriguez, in 1930...
Jan. 8 Luis Ojeda Jr., 25, of Shafter, was arrested on an outside agency warrant. Juan Jose Flores, 47, of Shafter, was arrested in the 100 block of Stone Avenue on an outside agency warrant. Esteban Lara Jr., 36, of Shafter, was arrested in the 100 block of Munzer Street for giving false identification, light required during dark and bicycle, not using right edge of roadway and stop required. Reynaldo Catalan Villalobos, 33, of Shafter, was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon prohibited class/unlawful possession and impersonation of...
If you've ever watched a TV show or movie involving the military, you've probably heard the phrase "carry on" used a few times. The phrase apparently came from the British Navy several hundred of years ago, where it was given as a direction to keep going on the same course and not change. Over the years, it's been adapted in many settings to say essentially the same thing to a group of people. When I think of the beginning of a New Year, I sometimes wonder what the Lord might say to us? Although the phrase "carry on" isn't found in the Bible...
Paula J. Johnson, 79, of Bakersfield, passed away Jan. 11, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Cesar E. Martinez, 64, of McFarland, passed away Jan. 10, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Edgar Perez, 31, of Wasco, passed away Jan. 9, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Georgia Levern Hylton, [87, of Bakersfield, passed away Jan. 4, in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter....
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its weekly Super Students for the week of Jan. 9. The criteria for selection included significant math improvement, showing kindness to all friends, respect and hard work, following class procedures, helping other students understand new concepts and improving learning English. Front row, from left: Denilson Paz (2nd grade), Erika Torres (1st grade) and Nadia Salem (kindergarten) Middle row, from left: Hector Quevedo (5th), Alex Martinez (4th) and...
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Palm Avenue Middle School hosted the 40th annual Wasco Union Elementary School District Science Fair for kindergarten to 8th grade students. There were 235 projects presented based on scientific questions students created themselves. In the morning, the projects were displayed and presented to a judging panel of volunteers made up of district employees, community members and teachers, including retired staff. Students were divided into various judging groups based on age. They were each allowed...
The Wasco Union Elementary School District has a Migrant Education Program with the mission to empower students that come from migrant farmworker families. For families following the different crop seasons, their children's education is often interrupted, putting them at risk of falling behind significantly. The program aims to help students improve and maintain their academics. Flor Martinez is a migrant resource teacher and said she is a product of the program. Most of the staff is, too. She...
There is a new bakery in town that will surely delight your taste buds. Vane's Cakes and Bakery opened last November with rave reviews. Husband and wife team Wences Flores and Vanely Uribe are the owners. It is a family affair, with uncles and nephews lending a hand to attend to the busy clientele. Their specialty is preparing one-of-a-kind cakes for all occasions, including weddings, baptisms, birthdays and quinceaneras in various flavors such as chocolate, carrot and banana. "We are most...
The Boy Scouts of America is among the nation's foremost youth programs for character development and values-based leadership training. It prepares kids for for adulthood and beyond. The program is over 110 years old, and since its inception in 1910, more than 130 million boys and girls have participated, with over 35 million adult volunteers who have helped carry out the BSA's mission. The organization serves youth from the ages of 5 to 17. They use the outdoors as a classroom and host many...
On the heels of its successful winter recital, Planet Dance Studio has begun preparations for its upcoming summer gala on June 17 at the Shafter High School Auditorium. The theme this year is the "Wild, Wild, West," where the dancers will perform to music from the biggest country stars, from current to legendary. It will be a take on all things country with original costumes. Almost 100 dancers are expected to showcase the talents that they will have cultivated over many months of practice,...
Westside Family Fellowship will benefit from a generous grant awarded by the Wonderful Company to fund their free farmer's market for another year. This will help thousands of local families with the fresh produce and food essentials that are distributed to them every month. CAPK of Kern is also an important partner as they donate canned and dried foods. They also offer heavily discounted rates for the purchase of meats. "When we get here at 5:30 am, cars are already lined up. We know this is...
The Kern County Library Wasco Branch has an exciting lineup of free fun activities for January and February for young and old. The fun begins on Jan. 23, with an adult project program where participants will use their imagination to make placemats. Registration is required, and one can sign up by emailing [email protected] or calling 661-758-2114. On the 30th, they will host a family craft event to design coffee mugs beginning at 4 p.m. Also, on the 30th, there will be a STEAM (Science,...
