Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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In a time when families are facing challenges when it comes to keeping active, the Shafter Recreation Department has been helping keep residents fit and healthy. With the department having to shelve the majority of their sports programs due to the pandemic, District Manager Philip Jimenez and his staff have come up with a variety of programs. In addition to having virtual exercise classes for seniors, the department is now holding three different clinics throughout the month, inviting residents...
Amazon announced recently that they will open a distribution center in Shafter, making it the second facility to open in Kern County. Amazon opened a facility iu Bakersfield last year. The new facility is expected to launch later this year. The facility will be over one million square feet and will have associates packing and shipping items to customers throughout the region. Items will include everything from apparel to accessories and footwear. It will mean around 1,000 jobs, both full-time...
For two weeks, the city saw its rate of new cases of the coronavirus decrease. Shafter had 130 new cases last week, bringing the total cases for Shafter to 3,305. Of those, there have been 1,223 cases confirmed as recovered. Churches in town have returned to indoor worship services after a ruling by the courts said the restrictions put on churches in California are unconstitutional, giving the places of worship the right to conduct indoor services for those parishioners wanting to attend...
Grimmway Academy of Shafter has been conducting classes for over 100 days now, with a mix of in-person instruction in cohorts, and distance learning. According to Grimmway Academies’ CEO Casey Yeazel, it is important for the students to be able to be together at school, with safety precautions in place, a plan that was approved by the board and implemented by their staff. Grimmway Academy of Shafter has had its doors open to students since last fall, with complete grade levels attending i...
The City Council presented the Key to the City to reigning Distinguished Young Woman of Shafter Shelbee Ramos. Ramos recently competed in the state level competition and won a special award at the event. Ramos won a $2,000 scholarship for her title of Shafter's DYW, along with an additional scholarship for winning a phase during the event. Also recognized by the council were First Runner-up Alicia Pompa, Second Runner-up Santana DelaRosa, Lilian Jaime, who won the Talent portion of the event,...
When residents are hungry for a couple of donuts, many flock to Shafter Donut, which has been in the city for over two decades. Owner Kim Ten is proud to call Shafter home. Manager Yinhkann Yen said that they love the people of Shafter and have so many regulars that make the trip to Shafter Donuts a "daily ritual." With their wide selection of donuts, from glazed and cake donuts to jelly filled donuts, maple bars and twists, the shop is not just a place for a donut. Their breakfast sandwiches...
The Minter Field Air Museum has been putting the history of Shafter aviation on display for decades and the facility continues to expand. The museum houses a collection of artifacts and photographs of the men and women who were stationed at the base, in addition to the history of other conflicts including the United States military. The museum is one of the few facilities in the nation that has a working Link Trainer. This machine recreates the experience of flying a plane and was used on the...
The High Speed Rail recognized a total number of 5,000 workers on the project to date and celebrated that number by placing a banner in Wasco at Jackson and Highway 43. In August 2008, the California Assembly approved the measure known as 1A to create a High Speed Rail system to run from San Francisco to San Diego. However, in February 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom scaled back the project to run from Merced to Bakersfield. Meanwhile, the HSR continues to hire workers and request additional funding in...
Wasco High School is the first school in the area to hold an athletic event. On Thursday, Feb. 11 the school hosted its first cross country meet against Bakersfield Christian High School and again on Friday, Feb. 12, it hosted Garces High School. Wasco Coach Omar Garcia was happy to be out on the field with his athletes. He shares coaching duties with coaches Leo Sanchez and Rafael Gonzalez. Twenty-five athletes competed on Thursday. Everyone wore a mask for protection against the virus, even...
It's been almost a year since the country closed down due to the pandemic and with it, events like the Rose Queen pageant, Wasco Festival, Christmas parade and other events were canceled or operated virtually. The Rose Queen pageant for 2021 is still on. [There is] "still no update on Rose Queen. I will get back to you as soon as we have everything finalized," said Activities Coordinator Hailey Coyle. "We know we will be able to do it, we are still just working out the details." Traditionally,...
Feb. 7 Traon Jamel Jones, 37, of Shafter, was arrested for obstruction of a public officer. James Edward Gonzalez, 22, of Shafter, was arrested for disorderly conduct: alcohol. Feb. 8 Alejandra Yasenia Astorga, 26, of Shafter, was arrested possession controlled substance, obstruction public officer, disorderly conduct: under the influence, on a misdemeanor bench warrant and for prohibited in park/curfew. Feb. 10 Nathan Quinonez, 24, of Shafter, was arrested for under the influence of a controlled substance. Feb. 11 Zane Alan Billings, 34, of...
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 esoriano@TheShafterPress.com or call 661-292-5100 by Monday at 4 p.m. for that week’s paper. Ongoing Bengals Tryouts -- Bengals Football Tryouts will be Week 1: March 10, 11 and 12 from 5:30-7 p.m. and Week 2: March 17, 18 and 19 at Westside Park (across from the skate park). Athletes must live in the Wasco School District and turn 7 years old/cannot t...
Janice McCormick loved having her family around her. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved Jesus with all her heart and shared His love with everyone she came into contact with. She loved going on "girl" trips to the beach and mountains. She loved to shop -- she could outshop anyone half her age. It was her hobby and sport. But most important was her love for God and the relationship she had with Him. She was the family matriarch, spiritual advisor and best friend....
Jesus "Moose" Torres, 51, passed away on Feb. 5, 2021 at his home in Wasco. Jesus was born on Jan. 19, 1970 in Nuevo Chupicuaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, to Nicolas and Maria Torres. Jesus grew up in Shafter, where he attended Shafter High School, Class of '88. More recently, Jesus was continuing his education by attending Bakersfield College where he was set to graduate with honors and receive his associates degree in industrial technology. Moose worked for the Housing Authority of Kern County, wher...
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, 406 Central Ave., Shafter 93263, or e-mail it to mysteryphoto@The ShafterPress.com. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: Pat Cates, Linda Shoemakers, Anne Jacobus, Marty Laverty, Lee Page and Glenna Schroeter cheer from a bus in 1966-67....
The rate of infection of covid-19 has slowed compared to a week ago. In the last week, 140 new covid-19 cases were confirmed for a total of 5,189 cases since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of recovered cases on Feb. 16 is 1,480 up from 1,447 from the week of Feb. 11, which means that there were 33 newly recovered cases within the past week. The number of presumed recovered has increased from 1,553 to 1,878 or 325 presumed recovered since Feb. 11. In Shafter, the city had 77 new cases...
The Reserve will be back in Wasco for a summer team, Director of the Pecos Baseball League Andrew said, but not under Coach Bill Moore. "We will return to Wasco for the 2021 season assuming California will allow spectators at games," Dunn said. "We'll name a manager in April and the season is scheduled to start June 1." Long-time manager and coach, Moore said that he is retiring for health reasons. He hopes to be able to coach a summer college team closer to his home in Arizona. During last...
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Julia Escalante passed away on Feb. 21, 2021 in Shafter, after a brief illness at 92. She was born in Lone Star in Fresno County, to Juan and Maria Araiza, on April 6, 1928. Julia’s father worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. As fate would have it, this railroad led Julia and her family to Shafter, where they settled and made a home. After her mother's unexpected passing, she helped raise her brothers and sisters, even though she was still a young girl h...
Linda Kay Foster, 76, of Shafter, passed away Feb. 9. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Gary Spear McDowell, 80, of Bakersfield, passed away Feb. 9 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. James McNew, 72, of Bakersfield, passed away Feb. 9 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Joe Luis Hinojosa, 70, of Wasco, passed away Feb. 13 in. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Michelle Hernandez Flores, 25, of Wasco, passed away Feb. 12 in Wasco. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Emilio Figueroa, 84, of Bakersfield, passed away Feb. 15 in Bakersfield. Peters...
1 years ago: Feb. 16, 2011 Shafter High Track and Field star Lacie Rasley attended Boise State on a scholarship. She was known for her skills in the shotput and discus. 20 years ago: Feb. 21, 2001 Shafter scientist Dr. Michael R. McGuire received an award from the Agriculture Research Service. The award was for developing the formula that kills fruit flies and other insects. 30 years ago: Feb. 20, 1991 The Shafter High varsity soccer team won the 1991 South Sequoia League. A few of the team...
Alopecia areata, better known as "Alopecia" is an autoimmune condition causing hair loss on the head, face, body and scalp. The severity of cases varies from person to person and as of today there is unfortuntatly no cure. It affects as many as 6.8 million people in the United states. One of those people happens to be Wasco native, and friend to many Alexis Sabala. When long time family friends of Sabala, engaged couple Eddie Velasquez and Erica Alvarado, heard of Alexis' bravery while dealing...
The Kern County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing 14 year old from Bakersfield. Caidance Williams was born Oct. 15, 2006. She is 5'4" and weighs 150 pounds. She is white, has hazel eyes and scars on her left cheek and right index finger. Williams was last seen on Jan. 20. It is unknown what she was wearing. If anyone has any information regarding her whereabouts, they are asked to contact deputies at 661- 861-3110 or the Secret Witness Line at...
Janet Grimes Reed, 88, of Bakersfield, passed away on Feb. 5, 2021. She was dedicated to her family and helping the family business be successful. Born in Taft to Dawson Grimes and Stella Sparks, she lived her entire life in Kern County, residing in the communities of Taft, Arvin and Bakersfield. Early in life, Jan met and fell in love with the love of her life, Frank Wallace “Wally” Reed. They were married for 72 years until his passing in 2020. Jan joined the Reed family business shortly aft...
Billy Dean Woolly, 83 of Bakersfield, died Feb. 13, 2021. He was born the son of Johnie and Eula Mae Woolly in Erick, Oklahoma, on April 4, 1937. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Vernon and Lonnie Woolly. He graduated Wasco High School and attended Pasadena Nazarene College. Bill was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Above all things, he loved and supported his family. Bill married the love of his life, Earlynne Frances Miller on Friday, May 13, 1960. Their enduring devotion lasted over 60...
