Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Former Shafter City Manager Scott Hurlbert will be taking on a new set of challenges when he becomes Wasco's chief operating executive next month. The Wasco City Council voted Tuesday night to hire Hurlbert as the new city manager, replacing City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez, who resigned last month. Hrlbert was immediately named assistant city manager, to work with Ortiz-Hernandez in the transition. Hurlbert was the city manager for the City of Shafter from March 2014 to August 2019, when he...
Although the normal Memorial Day ceremonies at the Shafter Cemetery were canceled, many came out to honor the fallen heroes. AMVETS of Shafter was also on hand from 7 a.m. to noon with a display of soldier silhouettes set up by the Veterans Memorial at the center of the property. There was also someone who played "Taps" every half hour. As in years past, all of the veterans' graves were decorated with American Flags. Several families set up canopies around their loved ones' graves, sharing...
While there was nothing officially planned for the Wasco Cemetery on Memorial Day, the Shafter/Wasco VFW Post 6742 continued its tradition of decorating and greeting guests. Gravesites were decorated with small flags that had been placed on each grave by cemetery Grounds Supervisor Denny Carender and grounds employees. Due to the pandemic, the cemetery district decided that there would not be a ceremony at the Wasco Cemetery. Wasco VFW members Camilo Vasquez, James Madrone, Tony Stout and...
The Lavender Garden, located between Bakersfield and the Central Coast, will be hosting its First Annual Lavender Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 12 and 13. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The event is for the entire family with a variety of vendors, food, a petting zoo, train ride and live music, said Anna Valdivia of the Lavender Garden. The festival will include the crowning of the Lavender Festival Queen, Jr. Queen, and Princess on...
About a year and a half ago, just before the pandemic hit the county, staff at Shafter High discovered a disturbing trend. Teachers were coming to administration and counselors with concerns about some of their students. They said that there were students that were not coming to class on a regular basis, and there were also students who seemed to be struggling in class, as well as out of class. One teacher mentioned that a student was not coming to class because she didn't have enough clothes...
Students at the Freewill Baptist Christian Academy celebrated Friday as they received their awards in person. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade were honored with a variety of awards, including a Bible Pin, Superintendent's Pin, and many others that recognized the efforts of the student this past year. Valedictorian for the year was Parker Russell, who is also the son of Assistant Principal Toni Russell. It was a bittersweet moment when Russell introduced her son and told the...
Shirley Bell passed away peacefully on May 26, 2021 at Hoffman House in Bakersfield. She was born in Long Beach on Sept. 21, 1928, to Harvey Allen (Dutch) and Rosella (Rose) Thomas. She spent her childhood in various parts of California, including Wasco, and finally moved to Shafter. She was a 1946 graduate of Shafter High School. While in school, she worked at her parent's gas station, Thomas Chevron, in downtown Shafter. After school, she would ride her horse, Penny, to work at the station....
The city of Wasco lost a pillar of the community on Thursday, June 3, 2021, when Gilbert Garland, 80, also known as Dad, Pop, Gil, Junior, GG, Mr.G, Mr.Garland, Corn Pops, and Coach, went to be with the Lord. Gilbert was born in Garland, Oklahoma on Sept. 17, 1940. Gilbert moved to Wasco in the fall of 1942 where he lived the rest of his life. He attended Wasco Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Junior High, and Wasco High School. During high school he participated in football, basketball, and track....
Tony Sanchez, 64, of Bakersfield, passed away on May 13, 2021, in Shafter. He was preceeded in death by Alex Sanchez. Tony was born on Jan. 30, 1957, to Lupe and Toribio Sanchez. He attended grade school through high school in Wasco. As a teen, his favorite subject was wood shop, there he developed a love for building things. Even as an adult, he still enjoyed wood carving and wood joinery. Tony was a jack of all trades; he could build or fix anything, and he did so with enjoyment! His other...
Ruth was born May 6, 1933, to Houston and Hattie Tiner in Lula, Okla., and passed away May 28, 2021, at home in Shafter. Ruth is survived by her husband of 27 years, Thomas Watson; her son, Roger (Debbie) Longcrier and daughter, Elaine Longcrier-Martin; stepsons Steve, Mark, Roy and David (Lisa) Watson; as well as a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ruth is also survived by brothers Perry (Loretta) Tiner and George (Phyllis) Tiner. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of 42...
The city of Wasco lost a pillar of the community on Thursday, June 3, 2021, when Gilbert Garland, 80, also known as Dad, Pop, Gil, Junior, GG, Mr.G, Mr.Garland, Corn Pops, and Coach, went to be with the Lord. Gilbert was born in Garland, Oklahoma on Sept. 17, 1940. Gilbert moved to Wasco in the fall of 1942 where he lived the rest of his life. He attended Wasco Elementary, Thomas Jefferson Junior High, and Wasco High School. During high school he participated in football, basketball, and track....
Carlos Zamora Silva, 89, passed away peacefully at Delano Regional Hospital on May 26, 2021. Born on Nov. 13, 1931, in Michoacán, Mexico, he was the son of the late Jesus Zamora and Librada Silva. He married at the age of 33 and welcomed five children with his wife, Maria Zamora. He was an agricultural farm worker who worked tirelessly for his family. At times his work took him to different states, such as Michigan and Arizona, picking celery and planting rose bushes. Carlos established...
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 Summer food service program — Lost Hills Wonderful Park is sponsoring a Summer Food Service Program. Free meals will be provided to all children who are 18 years of age and younger at 14688 Lost Hills Road, Lost Hills, starting July 19 through July 30....
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: The picture showed potato sheds in 1965....
May 24 Samantha Nicole Luna, 36, of Shafter, was arrested on the 31700 block of Merced Ave. for disorderly conduct: under the influence of drug. May 25 Guadalupe Munoz Jr., 29, of Shafter, was arrested on Hillman St. and Rodriguez Ave. for possession of ammunition by prohibited person, possession of controlled substance and both plates required on vehicle. Tajanee Darrelisha Gardner, 27, of Shafter, was arrested on Zachary Ave. and Express Ave. for driving with a suspended license and stop required. Salvador Coronado Angulo, 28, of Shafter,...
The City Council voted Tuesday to disband the Shafter Branch of the Kern County Library from the county structure, creating a municipal library run by the city in partnership with Bakersfield College, after the county ended talks to reopen the library. In April, an ad hoc committee was created, consisting of Mayor Pro-Tem Chad Givens and council member Gilbert Alvarado, to explore options to keep the Shafter Library open past the current agreement with the Kern County Library system, which...
Richland Junior High students enjoyed their final day of being Trojans on Saturday, as they became Shafter High Generals at their commencement. After being relegated to having a drive-thru graduation in 2020, the class of 2021 was able to walk across the stage and have their family and friends in attendance. With the Shafter High football stadium going under a major renovation, the graduation was held on the campus of Richland Junior High. "It was down to the wire, but if at all possible, we...
There were nearly 300 graduates at the Wasco High School graduation ceremony on Friday, marking the end of their academic careers in Wasco. Student greetings and messages of thanks were relayed through speakers to the attendees at the beginning of the ceremony and the graduation officially began with the singing of the National Anthem by Polly Hughes, Dessie Claffy and Stephanie Wymer. Superintendent Robert Cobb and Director of Special Programs Kevin Tallon presented special awards to the Golden...
Wasco Independent High School seniors gathered Friday on the football field to celebrate commencement, marking the end of an unusual year. The ceremony opened with the National Anthem sung by Polly Hughes, Desie Claffy and Stephanie Wymer. Principal Rusvel Prado told the attendees he was proud to be hosting his first graduation ceremony at Wasco Independence High School. "This has been an extraordinary class due to an extreme year," Prado said. "What you have done is remarkable. The class of...
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Students, staff and family from Thomas Jefferson and Palm Avenue middle schools joined together to celebrate the eighth grade class. This is the second year that the Wasco Union Elementary School District has had to utilize covid-19 protocol to hold its annual graduation ceremony. Everyone was required to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing. There was no formal gathering after the ceremony due to the pandemic. The ceremony includes an introductory by Palm Avenue Assistant Principal...
Victoria ``Vicky’’ Figueroa, 25, of Wasco passed away May 26, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Shirley Bell, 92, of Shafter, passed away May 26, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Carlos Zamora Silva, 89, of Wasco, passed away May 26, in Delano. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Verda Watson, 88, of Shafter, passed away May 28, in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Richard D. Richards, 55, of Wasco, passed away May 278, in Wasco. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco....
Our Mom, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend peacefully passed away at the home of her daughter Mary. Due to her devout Catholic faith, we are comforted that she is now with our Lord Jesus Christ in his Heavenly Kingdom. Mom shared this deep faith with her children and her spouse. Mom was born in Stockton in 1926 to Spanish Basque immigrants Sebastian Urzanqui, Eugui, Navarra Spain and Lucia Badaya, Abadiano, Viscaya Spain. She was most proud of her heritage and shared it with her...
