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The City Council appointed Michael Lynch to replace Council Member Teofilo (Tilo) Cortez for the unfilled term of office through Nov. 8 "I appreciate the chance to fill this spot and will do my very best to make the position honorable as I set out to serve the city," Lynch said during the meeting Tuesday night. Lynch, a private investigator, retired police officer and fire chaplain, is a longtime Wasco resident. He fills the position left open with the retirement of Cortez in December. City...
The city has proclaimed February as Safe Surrender month. The campaign has helped the safe surrender of 90 babies in Kern County. The Safely Surrender Baby Law responds to the situation of newborn infant deaths due to abandonment in unsafe locations. First signed into law in January 2001, the Safely Surrendered Baby Law became permanent in January 2006. The law's intent is to save the lives of newborn infants at risk of abandonment by encouraging parents or persons with lawful custody to safely...
A 33-year-old Shafter man was killed when he was struck by a vehicle last week. The driver fled the scene, police reported. Jesus Eusebio Sanchez, 33, of Shafter, was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking in the road on Shafter Avenue between Riverside and Elizabeth streets at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The driver fled the scene after the collision, Shafter Police reported. The incident is currently under investigation by the Shafter Police Department. Anyone who may have witnessed...
Minter Field is celebrating its 80th year since being dedicated with an event on Feb. 5. On Saturday Feb. 7, 2942, the Air Field at Minter Field was dedicated to Hugh Minter, with the base being the focal point of the war effort in Kern County back in the early 1940s. Minter Field was one of the busiest training bases in the country, with a good portion of the pilots being used in the conflicts training on Minter Field soil and in the skies above Shafter. The celebration will be held on...
The City Council has announced a protest hearing will be held in April regarding changes in rates and fees for solid waste. After the city OK’d the agreement with American Refuse for the collection of solid waste in Shafter, the council also announced the fee changes. Residents will be paying a little over $10 a month more in the new collection system. This increase takes into consideration the change from the one cart system to each household having three carts to be collected. There will be a regular trash cart, a green waste and organic w...
A Shafter woman was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in the death of her newborn baby. After 25 years, she will be eligible for parole. If she is denied parole, she could be incarcerated for the rest of her life. Elvira Farias was found guilty of murdering her newborn baby boy in 2015. Originally, Farias was found incompetent to stand trial, with a stint in an institution following the finding. A judge last year found Farias was competent to stand trial. After the conviction, a trial on...
Richland School District students recently celebrated their reading success, being on the Honor Roll and perfect attendance. At Golden Oak, third-grade students were treated to a Lexile Party. Lexile is a way of measuring reading growth. Students who showed progress were treated to a party that included board games. Reading and following directions, using critical thinking skills, and cooperating with their peers are just a few of the skills required. At Richland Junior High, those Trojans who w...
Toni DeRosa. the long-time writer and editor for the Wasco Tribune, was celebrated Tuesday night at the City Council meeting for her contributions empowering and bringing critical information to the community. A certificate of recognition from the City of Wasco was proudly presented by Mayor Gilberto Reyna to DeRosa, acknowledging her outstanding achievements in journalism while with the Tribune. "Thank you for your many years of dedicated service to the city of Wasco," he told her. Mayor Pro...
Dennis Campbell stated that he always wanted to be an attorney; however, he took another path after a serious automobile accident that led him to founding Campbell Chiropractic. "I saw a chiropractor at my doctor's suggestion, and fortunately it was someone who was able to help me," he said. "I changed my career to become a chiropractor so I could help others like I was helped." Campbell is from Coos Bay, Oregon, and he graduated from Portland State University followed by four years at Western...
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 Wasco Elks Golf Tournament — The 2022 Wasco Elks Golf Tournament is on April 23. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and it is four-man teams. The tournament will be at the North Kern Golf Course, 17412 Quality Road, Bakersfield. Call Sergio at 661...
JAN. 22 Ronald Lee Owens, 54, of Shafter, was arrested on 300 E Lerdo Hwy for controlled substance paraphernalia and on an outside agency warrant. Luis Angel Garza Jasso, 37, of Shafter, was arrested on Mannel Ave. and Walker St. for disorderly conduct. JAN. 23 Mariana Ortega, 21, of Shafter, was arrested on the 100 Block of W. Orange for disorderly conduct. Shawn Aika Berbano, 28, was arrested on the 5900 Block of Zerker Rd. for DUI alcohol, DUI alcohol/ 0.08 percent, stop required, basic speed law and proof of financial responsibility. JAN....
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 mysteryphoto@The ShafterPress.com. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: The photo was of Joe O'Brien Stables in 1969....
Readers of the Wasco Tribune will notice a new byline beginning this week. Veronica Jacuinde has been a contributing writer for Stanislaus Connections Magazine, a publication in her native Modesto. There, she covered community leaders, nonprofit organizations, special events and other matters related to the city. "We're looking forward to Veronica's arrival, and taking advantage of her reporting and writing skills," said Publisher Michael Schroeder. "She has great experience, and she's a very...
Shafter Depot Museum curator Stan Wilson, an avid historian, will be presenting a lecture on the Life and Time of General Shafter at the Learning Center on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The Shafter Learning Center has presentations on a different history lecture each month. Wilson is a knowledgeable lecturer who has entertained and informed the community on a variety of different subjects in past years, from the history of Shafter told in postcards, to the role that the city played in the...
One person died Wednesday morning after a head-on collision on Highway 46, the California Highway Patrol reported. Officers responded to a crash Wednesday morning at approximately 6:15 a.m. According to CHP officials, a vehicle collided head-on with a semi-truck on Highway 46, just east of Wasco, prompting the closure of Highway 46 east of Root Avenue. Officials said a Lexus was traveling east at a high rate of speed when the driver tried to pass in the westbound lane, colliding head-on with a...
I attended the grand re-opening of our little jewel of a library on Jan. 18 and I am so proud of this town, and of the people who made this happen. I won’t try to name all those folks who are responsible, certain they’ll be found in other coverage of the event. The city of Shafter, in partnership with Bakersfield College, now supports this municipal institution, the Shafter Library and Learning Center, first of its kind in Kern County. It took vision and leadership, and the determination of concerned people here and in Bakersfield to ach...
I’ve been putting off retiring for over a year; however, now it is time for me to say goodbye. I’ve come full circle since my first job out of Cal State Bakersfield as I was the editor for the Wasco Tribune beginning in November 2005. Fred West was the mayor with council members Tilo Cortez, Larry Pearson, Danny Espitia and Cheryl Wegman. Gary Bray was the superintendent of the WUESD. I believe Elizabeth McCray was superintendent of the WUHSD at the time. In 2006 I left Wasco for Tehachapi for...
Zachary Ellis, formerly vice principal, has been names princiapl of Palm Avenue Middle School. Sandra Bailey was also promoted from dean of students to vice principal. After Palm Avenue Middle School’s principal Oscar Luna was promoted to a district position, the school needed a new principal. Ellis is originally from Orland, California where his family has owned a large ranch since the 1860s. “We are family of farmers,” Ellis said. “A Sacramento newspaper did a story on our family ranch o...
Thomas Jefferson Middle School selects six students each month to represent the school as Cougars of the Month. They are selected based on their grades, behavior and overall participation and attitude during their time in school. These students will be rewarded with a prize from the school and a voucher from Catrina's Mexican Grill in Wasco. 6th grade Cougars of the Month Yareli Vidales has been selected as one of the sixth-grade Cougars of the Month. She was selected because she keeps up with...
The following students were chosen as Students of the Week for Karl Clemens Elementary School. Top row from left, Jasmine Estrada, Principal Sam Torres and Juan Sanchez. Front row from left, Kelly Rivera, German Jarquin, Ivan Antonio and Joshua Sanchez....
On Thursday, Jan. 28, Palm Avenue Principal Zachary Ellis and Vice Principal Sandra Bailey presented students with the Principal's List for those students who earned a 4.0 or higher. Also students that made Honor Roll were also recognized....
On the way out to church the other day the old song “What a friend we have in Jesus” played on the radio. I began to sing along with the man on the radio. When the song was over I thought, Jesus you are my friend. In John 15:15 Jesus said I have called you friends… Some friends can let you down, but Jesus is a friend that will never let you down. You are always on his mind and he cares for you like no other person. Jesus is my friend, he took my sins away. 1st John 1:9 says if we confess our s...
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