Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Caleb Carrasco, a Shafter High senior, will ring in the new year in the United Kingdom, leading a band through downtown London as part of their New Year's Day Parade. Carrasco is excited about the opportunity and is looking forward to going overseas to continue his musical journey. Caleb began playing in the school band in the seventh grade and is proficient in the bass guitar, tuba and trombone. He is the head drum major at Shafter High, conducting the music and leading the team during their on...
The Shafter Lions Club, partnering with Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, held their annual Stuff the Bus event in Shafter on Saturday, helping the students of Richland School District to be properly prepared for the school year. "This event shows the outstanding support that the community of Shafter gives to its students," said Gilbert Alvarado, of the Shafter Lions Club. During the event, donations were accepted at the Dollar General store parking lot, with a large school bus ready to house the it...
Ronald Pierce, director of the Minter Field Air Museum, said that it is still hard to believe the museum's good fortune in the past few weeks, being awarded a $40,000 donation to help them complete a repainting of the museum and other projects. Pierce said that an article was published in the Bakersfield Californian a few weeks ago, regarding the need for volunteers and funds to help the museum. A few days later, Pierce received a call from a gentleman that said he was with a foundation that...
Second in a series of articles introducing Richland's new teachers to the community. Veronica Garcia is one of two new teachers this year at Golden Oak Elementary School. Garcia was born in Bakersfield, but she grew up in Shafter, attending Richland School District Schools and graduating from Shafter High School. Garcia worked at Golden Oak Elementary for several years as an instructional aide. She graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a degree in liberal studies. Garcia has been married to...
Fern Dargatz Sanford, a Shafter resident, is about ready to turn 100. Her daughter wrote of her life for The Shafter Press. Fern Dargatz Sanford was born on Aug. 15, 1923, at the family homestead in Anaheim. Her parents, Leo and Genevieve Dargatz, were citrus farmers, as were her grandparents, Otto Dargatz and Amelia Peters, German immigrants from Ukraine. Fern attended elementary school in Santa Ana. She learned to play the drums and the violin. The Dargatz's attended Aimee Semple McPherson's B...
Local farmer Marc McCaslin was featured on the television show American Pickers recently, showcasing his relics for the nation. McCaslin, who has a hobby of collecting antiques and fixing up old vehicles and older mechanical items, contacted the History Channel over four years ago when he found out that the Pickers team, including hosts Mike Wolfe and "Jersey Jon" Szalay, would be on the West Coast. The channel contacted him and said that they wanted to come out and check out his property. "I...
There was a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the Poso Avenue High-Speel Rail underpass that is now open to traffic. The Poso Avenue underpass is located between Highway 43 and J Street. It has four lanes and pedestrian access, taking traffic and pedestrians under the BNSF freight railroad and future high-speed rail tracks. The Poso Avenue underpass is 1,084 feet long, 67 feet wide and 21 feet below grade. The underpass is the latest structure to be opened to traffic in Kern County,...
The Charles Wedel family will lead the 2023 Wasco Rose Festival as grand marshals, and Wasco VFW Post 6742 will be the honorary grand marshals, organizers announced last week. The Orange Heart Foundation and Wasco Rose Festival committee announced the selections late last month. "We are excited to honor the late Charles Wedel and his family, as well as the VFW for their years of service to our community," Orange Heart Foundation secretary/Wasco Rose Festival group member Orquidea Ocampo said....
ANNOUNCEMENTS Waste collection – Shafter-Wasco–Kern County Public Works is hosting a household hazardous waste collection event Saturday, Aug. 12, at 17621 Scofield Ave., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Accepted materials include batteries, motor oil, paints, light bulbs, pool chemicals, automotive supplies, cleaning products and more. Recolección de Residuos – Kern County Public Works evento de cecolección de residuos peligrosos del hogar, Sábado 12 de Agosto, 17621 Scofield Ave, 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.Materiales aceptados-baterias, cceite de motor, pinturas, bombilla...
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: Lupe Arismendez in the 1940s Mexican Colony, now La Colonia....
July 29 Brandy Laray Smith, 28, was arrested in the 3000 block of Santa Fe Highway for disorderly conduct: alcohol. Aug. 1 Sierra Ashley Cravette, 22, of Shafter, was arrested in the 100 block of West Lerdo Highway on a bench warrant/failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Aug. 2 Joan Baltazar Medrano, 22, of Shafter, was arrested for robbery in the first degree. Aug. 5 Erik Solarzano, 43, of Shafter, was arrested in the 100 block of West Orange Avenue for disorderly conduct: intoxication, drug and alcohol. BUTTONWILLOW As reported by the...
The farmer's market sponsored by Westside Church takes place every fourth Thursday of the month, with the next one occurring on Aug. 24. The date was wrong in a story in last week’s paper....
At a special meeting on Tuesday, city Finance Director Isarel Perez-Hernandez provided a Measure X sales tax update indicating that the projected revenues generated for fiscal 2023-24 are estimated at $3.125 million During the general election of November 2016, the citizens of Wasco approved Measure X, a local one-cent sales tax. As a result, sales taxes increased on April 1, 2017. Historical Measure X revenue went from $2,059,432 in 2017-18 and peaked in 2021-22 at $3,333,089 For fiscal year...
Wasco Is, a popular social media platform on Facebook and Instagram whose mission is to promote all that is good in Wasco, celebrates six years online this month. Since its inception, it has grown to be a valuable resource for the community, providing news and sharing stories of success. Community activist Sharon Sharp is the founder. "I started Wasco Is because I wanted to have a place where we could share about all the good things that happen in Wasco." Between both Facebook and Instagram,...
Comida Travel in Wasco provides personalized, boutique-style advisory service to ensure one makes the best of their trip with the help of a knowledgeable and seasoned travel professional. Katie Moreno is the owner. By day she is a special assignment teacher at Wasco High School, assisting other teachers with classroom technology and state testing in the Spring. She is also the advisor of the high school's Traveling Tigers Club. She has taken students to Spain, Italy and France in this capacity....
The Wasco Elk Ladies will host "Wine and Roses Under the Stars" on Friday, Sept. 8, as part of this year's Rose Festival activities. It will be an honored guest reception as a tribute to the 2023 Grand Marshals, the late Charles Wedel and his family. Serving as Honorary Grand Marshals will be the Wasco VFW Post 6742. The Miss Wasco Rose Queen and featured artists also will be recognized. Last year was the first time the Elk Ladies presented the Wine and Roses event and was also the first organiz...
For the last month, parents have been bombarded with ads with back-to-school must-haves. Each one encourages us to start their school year off right by purchasing everything from clothes and school supplies to electronics. But getting kids off to a good start in life, as well as in school, is something that cannot be purchased and which needs to be addressed long before that panicked, last-minute trip to the store. Many have the idea that our schools are totally responsible for the education of...
Harold Eddie Westbrook, 87, passed from this life into eternal life July 15, 2023, in his Lavaca, Ark., home with his wife by his side. Ed was born July 6, 1936, in Bakersfield as the youngest of three sons of Joseph Hardy and Esther Loraine Westbrook. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Walter Winfred Westbrook and Joe Hiram Westbrook. Ed was raised in Shafter and graduated from Shafter High School in 1954. He was inducted into the US Army in 1959, and served in Munich,...
The Miss Wasco Rose Queen Pageant is set for Thursday, Sept. 7, with 15 young ladies gracing the stage for a chance to take home the title. Aleena Lopez is one of the enthusiastic and vibrant contestants. She has enjoyed the experience so far. "I love spending time with all the lovely girls that are also running and enjoy learning new things from the amazing coordinators." She said if she wins, she will feel blessed and honored to be the new queen of Wasco. "And overwhelmed in a good way....
The Shafter Recreation and Parks District's annual Summer Tennis Camp has attracted a full roster of campers eager to learn the love of the sport. Headed up by director Nelson Salinas, the camp is teaching the kids the basics of the sport, including the different strokes, as well as the other components of the game that are often overlooked. Before the campers even hit a ball on the Shafter High courts, Salinas taught them the importance of proper footwork, as well as fitness for the game. The...
Marlene Joyce Lovett, 71, of Bakersfield, passed away July 26, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Richard Garcia, 37, of Wasco, passed away Aug. 2, in Fresno. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Jamie Andriano Campos, [81, of Bakersfield, passed away July 27, in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Irene A. Perales, 84, of Shafter, passed away Aug. 2, in Shafter. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Louanna Grace Mejia, 68, of Shafter, passed away July 27, in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Perry Enos Peacock, 85, of...
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Richard Garcia, 37, peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior surrounded by his loving family on Aug. 2, 2023, at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital in Fresno. Richard was born on May 24, 1986, in Wasco. As a youth, he played Little League baseball. He graduated from Wasco High School. He was an avid basketball and football player, and his passion for the sports led him in becoming a loyal fan of the Raiders and Lakers teams all his life. In 2008, he met the love of his life, his queen,...
The Wasco High School varsity and junior varsity cross country teams are poised for another successful season. With practice underway, they are working hard to win the South Sequoia League and make it into the Valley Championship. Omar Garcia is one of three head coaches, along with Rafael Gonzalez and Leo Sanchez. He has coached both the varsity and junior varsity teams since 2015. "We're building," Garcia siad. "The boys are getting stronger every year, as more and more boys come out. Our...
