Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Jensen Boyt, a Shafter High senior, will be attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It has been over a little over 20 years since a Shafter High School student had been nominated to one of the nation's military academies. The last student was Eli Espericueta, who graduated from West Point in 2000. Boyt was originally nominated by Congressman TJ Cox and went through the process of applying to local congressmen, interviews and applications. He received the call from Congressman David V...
The Shafter High Generals proved on Friday night that they are able to step up and win even when they are not at the top of their game. Against the Lions of Mira Monte, the Generals' offense started off slowly, misfiring more than their three previous games. Shafter found a way to step up their game and win with a score of 43-6. Led by quarterback Tyson Dozier, the Generals opened the scoring with a keeper by Dozier of 10 yards. This was after a 65-yard run was called back on a holding call....
One of the area's largest shopping events will pop up on E. Lerdo Highway Saturday. The Tin Cup, at 1101 E. Lerdo Highway, is hosting a pop-up shopping day from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over 40 vendors are expected to have booths there with a variety of products including homemade goods, jewelry, clothes, soaps and lotions. Included in the event will be some businesses previously featured in the Shafter Press such as Adrianna Pompa of Pompa's Small Shop, which sells homemade soaps, scrubs, bath salts...
City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez presented his resignation to the City Council Tuesday night. He is expected to begin duties as city manager of Webster City, Iowa -- a city of about 8,500 where is he held the same post from 2016 to 2018 -- at the end of July, according to a press release posted by that city. Wasco city officials would not comment on the resignation, but aside from an email from Mayor Alex Garcia, it was obvious they were surprised coming out of the executive session where it...
Residents can learn about funding available to improve air quality during a virtual town hall meeting on April 30. The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. and will discuss funding for residents and businesses. With the passage of AB 617, a steering committee was formed in the city that created a plan of how to improve the air quality in Shafter. The result has been a variety of programs that will benefit the community as well as helping reduce emissions. The meeting will inform the public about the programs and future funding opportunities...
The city's 2005 Junior Miss Julie Strauss is part of the first cryptocurrency company to go public on the stock market. Strauss, a 2006 graduate of Shafter High School, is a member of the CoinBase team in the San Francisco Bay area. Her team marked a milestone last Wednesday as their photos flashed on the Times Square Nasdaq Jumbotron. Strauss is the Global Head of Enterprise Risk and Controls of the company. CoinBase operates a cryptocurrency exchange platform and their stock was made...
The City Council, along with American Refuse's Lynnda Martin, recently presented a Recycling Award to Don Pepe's Bar and Grill. Martin said that the local business has been working with American Refuse in reducing their waste that ends up at the local landfill. "This restaurant has been proactive, beginning to reduce their waste and make the transition to producing a large majority of organic waste even before the start of the Assembly Bill that is making it mandatory for businesses to reduce...
The city was recently awarded an Urban Greening Grant for $2.2 million for the Central Avenue Neighborhood Park, City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez told the City Council Tuesday night. Ortiz-Hernandez reported that the Natural Resources Agency announced $28 million was funded in the Urban Greening Program grants. The grant provides funding for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide multiple benefits including expanding access to parks and green spaces in underserved areas...
Shafter Animal Control will be holding a low-cost spay and neuter clinic on Saturday, April 24 and Sunday, April 25 at 18849 Shafter Ave. The procedure will cost $25 for any residents in the 93263 area code in the city. This price includes a Rabies and Parvo vaccination. Proof of residency will be required to participate in the event. No food can be given to your animal the morning of the surgery. There will also be licensing available at check out, in addition to $20 microchips. Last year’s l...
The spirit at Wasco High School was on full display for the drive-thru Freshman Launch on April 19. Freshman Launch was a display of school unity, ongoing spirit and a lot of orange. The buildings were filled with spirited signage welcoming everyone to the event. Offices were also marked by large signs on building doors. Vehicles entered the campus on Palm Avenue and drove through the campus. At the beginning of the route, each vehicle was given a freshman packet that included rules and regulati...
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 Covid-19 testing — There will be free covid-19 testing Wednesdays and Sundays at the Wasco Library, 1102 7th St., Wasco. If you have insurance, they will be billed. Appointments can be made at lhi.care/covidtesting or call 888-634-1123. Donde? Bib...
April 15 Andrew Lester Avalos, 22, of Shafter, was arrested on the 100 block of W. Lerdo for disorderly conduct: alcohol. Jose Antonio Chavez, 36, of Shafter, was arrested on the 300 block of Karla St. for vandalism more than $400, disorderly conduct: alcohol and on a misdemeanor bench warrant. Donald Ray Gaither, 69, of Shafter, was arrested on the 300 Walnut Ave. for battery on a person. April 16 Juan Loza Humberto, 24, of Shafter, was arrested on the 500 block of Shafter Ave. for controlled substance paraphernalia, false if to specific publi...
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: From left, Bob Linnenbrink, Tom Schroeter, Bob Rinker and Roland Grisham stand with the 1965 Sportsmanship Bell....
Click on the PDF to see this week's Classified Ads....
In a recent article regarding vandalism at the Green Hotel, Roy Shaffner was misidentified as the president of the Shafter Historical Society. Shaffner is the president of the Green Hotel Restoration Foundation. Helen Gaede is the president of the Shafter Historical Society. In last week’s edition on page 10, a photo from the Wasco Woman’s Club Rummage Sale was missing a name. It should read Judy Bocker, Petra Rueda, Brenda Greenfield and Marta Poe....
Our loving mother, Patsy (Pat) Jean Criswell-Hammett, 84, slipped peacefully into the arms of her loving Lord Jesus the morning of April 15. Patsy Jean was born on May 25, 1936 in Calumet, Okla., to Ival and Jewel Hunt. Her family moved to California in 1946 and settled in Taft, where she graduated from Taft College. It was in Taft that she would meet the love of her life, Gerald Criswell. They were married for 39 years until his death in 1994. Pat found happiness again and married Dan Hammett....
John Gordon Drescher was born Aug. 11, 1954 in Wasco. He passed away Aug. 30, 2020 at home surrounded by his family. He was survived by his wife Janet, daughter Melissa, son Marshall, granddaughter Cassie, father Gordon (Jill), sister Cherith Merson (James), nieces Desiree Brandon (Brad), Noelle Wilbanks, nephews Ross Merson (Kelly), Oliver Merson, Benjamin Merson (Linda) father in law Hughey Young (Adele), sister in law Norma Luna (Danny), brother in law Terry Young, niece Angie Guiles (Tim), nephews Mike Luna (Kristie), David Luna (JoHanna),...
Jose Carmen Zamudio Rodriguez, 62, of Shafter, passed away April 13 in Los Angeles. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Terry L. Navarrete, 54, of Wasco, passed away April 8 in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Patricia Matthews, 83, of Shafter, passed away April 17 in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. James Carlile, 73, of Bakersfield, passed away April 16 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Arvin. Wanda Jessee Sanchez, 58, of Shafter, passed away April 16 in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Dick Garriott, 72, of...
Chase, a red and white Siberian husky, is still a puppy at 8 months old with big blue eyes. He may get bigger than he is since he is not full grown. Chase came to the Shafter Animal Shelter as a stray and has adjusted well. He has passed his SAFER dog evaluations and would be a great candidate for some training classes where he can learn basic commands and tricks. We would not recommend him around cats. The Siberian Husky is an intelligent dog that can get bored easily if not challenged or...
Phoenix came in as an owner-surrender. He was adopted not long ago and was brought back after new owners claimed to be allergic to him. He is approximately a 6-year-old, male Siberian husky. Phoenix is great toward staff and other dogs, but he has not been tested with small and large dogs. At the time it is unknown if Phoenix is house/crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children and cats. He is available for adoption/rescue. His Petfinder bio is up to date. Everyone is welcome to adopt from...
Taco Bell celebrated its recent renovation by giving away hundreds of free tacos for local residents. On Saturday, April 17, Wasco's Taco Bell gave away free crunchy tacos to the first 200 customers of the day at its drive-thru window. The lobby was closed to customers. Construction workers are finishing up the interior remodeling. The construction crew was painting the inside and working on the redesigned interior counter and seating area, which will off free WiFi to customers. The new...
Wasco Union Elementary School District Superintendent Kelly Richers provided an update for the upcoming summer school session and start of the fall semester. "The students will be taking the Renaissance Learning STAR test for English Language Arts and mathematics, and they will be taking the state science test in 5th and 8th grade – the CA Science Test," Richers said. He also stated that there will only be one summer school session in June and summer school for the month of July has been c...
Three people were killed on Tuesday night as a result of a collision at the intersection of Fresno Avenue and Central Valley Highway. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the Shafter Police Department responded to a report of an accident at the intersection. There were two vehicles involved. Shafter Police Department's Lionel Lopez said a 2007 Chrysler Aspen was traveling west on Fresno Avenue approaching Central Valley Highway. Meanwhile, a 2009 BMW 328i was traveling south on Central Valley Highway...
The Miss Wasco/Rose Queen pageant will continue this year on Thursday, Sept. 9. Activities Coordinator Hailey Coyle said there are 12 pageant candidates preparing for their talent tryouts. She also said that a bonding trip this summer is in the forecast, but everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that it happens. The girls' names and sponsors will be published as soon as that information becomes available....
The city is taking bids for asbestos abatement at the former farm labor administration building in preparation for it to become a larger animal shelter. “The new shelter will have a minimum of 40 kennels,” said Public Works Director Birdiana Bishop. “There will also be a cattery available.” The current animal shelter on 7th Street will be left vacant when the final move takes place, which most likely won’t be for another year or so, according to Bishop. “The asbestos abatement will be going out to bid,” Bishop said. She also said the current a...
