Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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The Cinco de Mayo Festival is making its return to the streets of Shafter this Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. with a downtown parade. The celebration has grown every year, with festivities happening all over the country, with parades, reenactments and food and music. The origins of the special day goes back to the year 1862. In an clear example of an underdog, the outnumbered forces under Ignacio Zaragoz took on and defeated the mighty French forces on May 5 of that year. The French Army was...
The City of Shafter will celebrate this Cinco de Mayo holiday with its traditional festival, which returns after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic virus. Deanna Rodriguez-Root and her committee has put together a festival that promises to be bigger and better than anything they have put together before. This year, the Grand Marshal for the festivities is Shafter native Manuel Garcia. The day will begin with a colorful and entertaining parade through downtown Shafter. The parade will...
Johnny Sisneros has been on State Street for a few years now, serving the residents of Shafter, as well as a big customer base scattered over Kern County. Sisneros opened his shop a few years after making his start at the Phat Boys Barber Shop in Wasco. Johnny was toiling at a 9-5 job in the sun, working hard and not really liking what he was doing. He then decided to take his talent of cutting people's hair and see if he could make a living doing it. Sisneros said that he grew up as the oldest...
The City Council approved a 5-year solid waste rate adjustment schedule for property owners and tenants totalling 62%. The monthly increases for services for both residential and commercial will become effective on July 1. "No one looks forward to increasing costs to our residents. The increases are attributable to rising costs [equipment, labor, fuel], flat rates for over five years, and primarily the effects of legislation from Sacramento," said City Manager Scott Hurlbert. "The other members...
The City Council approved a 5-year solid waste rate adjustment schedule for property owners and tenants totalling 62%. The monthly increases for services for both residential and commercial will become effective on July 1. "No one looks forward to increasing costs to our residents. The increases are attributable to rising costs [equipment, labor, fuel], flat rates for over five years, and primarily the effects of legislation from Sacramento," said City Manager Scott Hurlbert. "The other members...
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 Friday at 4 p.m. for that week’s paper. ONGOING Wasco Branch Library is in partnership with NO Kid Hungry and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools in offering free meals and space to do homework. Mondays and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 661-758-2114 for i...
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:...
April 18 Jose Reyes Soto, 39, of Shafter, was arrested in the 100 block of East Lerdo Highway for obstruction of a public officer and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. April 22 Chelsea Pena, 27, Shafter, was arrested on Central Valley Highway for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, trespassing: railroad and possession of a blank check/etc. to defraud. Martin Prieto Serna, 30, of Shafter, was arrested on East Lerdo Highway for DUI: alcohol. April 24 Dagoberto Rodriguez Jr., 31,...
Melvin Rogers was born to Charles and Anna Ruth Rogers on Nov. 6, 1933 in Bakersfield. Melvin passed away at the age of 88, peacefully, on April 5, 2022, in Bakersfield. He attended elementary, middle and high school in Wasco. He was a star track athlete, running the high hurdles for Wasco High School. Melvin started his family with his first wife, Earline Johnson, in 1951. In 1961, he married his life-long partner, Aljewel Ellison. He supported his family by working as a truck driver for the Kn...
Has anybody noticed the price of gas lately? I realized that I am now paying close to double what I used to pay to fill my gas tank. Have you been to the grocery store lately? Have you seen the price of bacon? I know we are all feeling the pinch of higher prices on everything we need to survive. As far as I know, we are not being chargeD to breathe the air, but I hear plans may be in the works to change that (just kidding, kind of). Regardless of how you and I are being affected, this is by no...
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its weekly Super Students. Criteria for selection includes significant improvement in math, showing kindness to all friends, respect, hard work, following class procedures, helping other students understand new concepts, and improving learning English. Front row, from left: Adam Barboza (kindergarden), Brandon Garcia (1st grade), Emily Pelayo (2nd), Jayden Valdez (3rd), Nicholas Raya (4th), Carolina Pacheco (5th) Back row, from left: Principal Mr....
Guadalupe Sedano Fonseca, 69, of Lamont, passed away April 16, in Lamont. Peters Funeral Home, Arvin. Luis Aguilar, 53, of Wasco, passed away April 15, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Adrian Reyna, 47, of Wasco, passed away April 17, in San Luis Obispo. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Arcadia Catherine Rodriguez, 82, of Shafter, passed away April 20, in Wasco. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Jose de Jesus Chavez Valenzuela, 74, of Wasco passed away April 16, in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Tammy Mayo, 62,...
Charles David Rekosh was born to Ruth and Nate Rekosh. He was their only child. born and raised in Milford, Conn., then Florida, and finally California and the China Lake Naval Base located in Ridgecrest. While growing up on the base, he grew his love for playing all sports, but especially basketball and tennis. He also played saxophone in the band, and also was drum major until he lost that spot after tossing his marching baton backwards over the goal post and hitting the trombone player....
Due to the amount of overwhelming grief, we have taken some time to ourselves as a family. We apologize for not announcing the passing of Hector Mario Moreno Sr. Hector Mario Navarro Moreno Sr. had just turned 57 when he took his last breath and went peacefully to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Dec. 24, 2021, at home surrounded by the love of his life and children. Maribel and Hector shared 32 years of marriage. Hector was born in Hualahuises, Linares, Nuevo Leon on Dec. 21, 1964,...
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Lynnda Martin, of American Refuse in Wasco, said that that the firm decided to try a giveaway event for Earth Day, not knowing what kind of response they would receive. Well, she got her answer with a steady flow of vehicles loading up buckets, barrels and trailers with free compost. "We decided to try it to celebrate Earth Day, and the response was great," Martin said. The compost came from the Mount Vernon recycling plant. Martin said that the majority of the organic waste collected at the...
A family-owned business, Nayarit Restaurant has been serving up mouthwatering Mexican cuisine since 2020. "We have been operating now for two years and have enjoyed getting to know the Wasco community," says owner Oscar Cejas. "It is our pleasure to provide a comfortable and delicious dining experience." Cejas' wife and daughter are part of the management team. Before Nayarit, they owned a Mexican restaurant in Delano for several years. "We have tremendous know-how in the industry," said Cejas....
A rose garden was planted in Barker Park to beautify the City of Wasco. It was the hard work of many. Sharon Nicol led the team in creating an enchanting space for the community to enjoy, with generous donations and volunteers bringing the rose garden project to life. The Wasco High Future Farmers of America, the local Boy Scouts troop and the Wonderful Academy, to name a few, lent a helpful hand. "We began work on the rose garden in October. Nancy Waterhouse played an essential role in the...
Finding a trusty and reliable mechanic can be a challenge. Luckily for those looking for value and expertise, H & A Automotive is here to serve with a full range of services and 100% guaranteed work. "We are loyal, and our goal is to take care of our customers in the right way," said owner Jose Robledo in a recent interview. They offer a wide selection of services, including rebuilding engines, transmission replacements, brakes and complete exhaust overhauls. "We are the only radiator shop left...
The Shafter Animal Shelter is open for adoptions and is encouraging residents to come out and meet their possible future members of the family. Meet their very boisterous boy Jeff, a black and brown Belgian malinois guessed to be just under a year old. Since coming to the shelter with his brother, Jeff has been observed to do well around other dogs of the same size. Jeff knows how to sit and loves stuffed toys. He loves to play and can be mouthy, tending to put his teeth on your body, but not...
It was a sad day recently when the city of Shafter, especially the community at Shafter High, saw the passing of Charles Rekosh. Rekosh was an invaluable part of the history of Shafter High, contributing to the rich tradition of the school. Rekosh began his career at SHS in 1974. Charlie and his wife decided that they would like to raise their kids in a small-town environment, so he transferred to Shafter High. Rekosh taught, coached, counseled. He eventually would serve as dean of students,...
Assemblymember Rudy Salas is encouraged as six of his bills gained support in Assembly committees last week. Salas' bills cover a wide range of issues and are aimed at improving the lives and safety of working families throughout the Central Valley and California. The bills are focused on enhancing public safety, increasing the healthcare workforce, strengthening protections for domestic violence survivors and improving educational systems. "I am pleased that my bills have passed with strong...
Wasco High School's Last Blast prom brought students together for a night of music, dance, fashion, decorations and positive energy. It was their first prom after covid. "We missed the last two years of prom because of the pandemic. It was nice to return and adapt back to some normalcy," said WHS Activities Coordinator Hailey Coyle. Guests brought their best fashion. There was lots of sparkle and color, and students expressed themselves uniquely with their individual styles. "Everyone looked...
The Wasco Union Elementary School District Color Guard is a combination of Thomas Jefferson and Palm Avenue Middle School students. The group competed in the Pep & Pageantry Arts Association of Central California competition in Bakersfield. After the first few competitions, the judges moved them up to compete in the high school regional novice division. They competed against several high school groups from the surrounding Kern County areas. At the PPAACC finals, the WUESD Color Guard beat out...
Several times recently we’ve dedicated Couch’s Corner to programs designed to help the homeless and disadvantaged in our community. This week, I thought we’d provide an update on one of those programs, Laborers of the Harvest. In the past few months, LOTH has been awarded three grants and is implementing a first of its kind program that I hope we can replicate throughout the county. The key grant, as far as I’m concerned, is the one that uses state job skills training funds as funneled through one of our county departments, Employer Trainin...
