Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Kern County entered the red tier on Tuesday, opening the doors of more businesses and public buildings. The tiers, determined by the state and Public Department of Human Safety’s Virus Grading Scale, dictate how the county is handling the pandemic. The red tier, up from the purple tier where the county had been, means residents can now eat inside restaurants, as well as go to the gym and go inside other public buildings. Social distancing guidelines apply. During the past two weeks, the increase in new cases has slowed. The total number of p...
The Shafter Police Department has an active K-9 Unit that has been serving the city since the reinstatement of the program. The team consists of Senior Officer Kevin Green and his K-9 partner, Ecko. Ecko is a 2-year-old Belgium Malinois born in Germany. At the beginning of 2020, Chief Kevin Zimmermann presented the need for a K-9 Unit for the department to the City Council. Council members approved and the search was on for a suitable partner. Green was chosen to train with the K-9 partner, whic...
There are three seats available on the City Council being contested between six candidates including the three incumbents of those seats. Current members Manuel Garcia, Gilbert Alvarado, Chad Givens are joining newcomers Kris Lawrence, Pete Espinoza and Rafael Zamudio in the race. Council members make policy for the city, as well as create a budget for the year and make decisions regarding the financial status of the city and the infrastructure. This week we are featuring incumbent Manuel...
In recent rulings, the City Council is looking into the possibility of the Shafter Branch Library partnering with Bakersfield College to offer the community a chance to utilize the services. Since the coronavirus outbreak, all of the 24 branches of the Kern County Library system have been closed to the public, with some of the branches now able to offer curbside services, as well as online ordering. Wasco’s branch of the library system was identified as one of the branches reopening for c...
A 35-year-old Shafter man was seriously wounded after a shooting Saturday morning on the outskirts of town. Kern County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies were dispatched to the area of Poplar Avenue and Burbank Street after receiving reports of shots fired. When deputies arrived, they found the 35-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment. The injuries were considered non-life threatening. The department said that the injured man was uncooperative when providing information a...
A Shafter man was killed on Saturday when the ATV he was riding crashed into a power pole near Wasco. Jesus Manuel Luna II, 28, was riding on Wildwood Road south of Highway 46 near Wasco. California Highway Patrol officials said that at approximately 12:05 a.m. officers were sent to the area after receiving a report of a collision. When they arrived at the scene, they found a man, later identified as Luna, had suffered fatal injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The department said...
The Richland School District Food Services department has been hard at work since the pandemic forced the school buildings to close its doors. Though the students are not able to attend school in-person, they are still in need of a nutritious breakfast and lunch, which have been provided by the staff. This week, The Shafter Press is featuring the staff at Golden Oak Elementary. Led by Team Leader Jennifer Ashmore, the staff at Golden Oak serve between 650 and 715 students daily for breakfast,...
As Fourth District supervisor, I work with Kern County Animal Services on efforts to reduce the euthanasia rates in our county. Recently, KCAS announced for the first time on record, that the shelters operated by the department reached no kill status. No-kill shelters prevent the killing of animals based on arbitrary criteria such as color, age or breed. Furthermore no-kill shelters find a placement for 90% of their population. Reaching this important community achievement took unified leadership and was a personal goal of mine when you...
Swing by the Wasco Animal Shelter to meet Skelly. Skelly is a 10-year-old, male, medium black/white/cream short-coat Labrador. He came in as a stray. Skelly is not microchipped or neutered. He is great toward staff and other dogs and he has been tested with small and large-breed dogs. At this time, it is unknown if Skelly is house/crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children and cats; his behavior toward children and cats is unknown. He will be available for adoption/rescue on Oct. 21. If...
Many think the number 13 is an unlucky number, but for Kern County and Wasco residents, Tuesday, Oct. 13 was a lucky day. The county officially moved from the purple tier to the red tier, which means movie theaters, hair salons, restaurants, places of worship and gyms may resume limited indoor operations; however, the city is taking it slow this time instead of fully opening up to the public. "We are still in the process of purchasing basic protective barriers for office lobbies," City Manager...
The six City Council candidates - four from District 2 and two from District 4 - gathered Oct. 7 for a forum at Life House Church. Wasco Woman's Club member and forum moderator Jill Drescher, President Cheryl Woody and timekeeper Marlene Swan insured the event ran smoothly. Video and audio recording was provided by Richard Peters of Peters Funeral Home. There were two different sections to the forum. First District 2 candidates John Kim, Vince Martinez, Florirene Olvera and David Ward answered...
On Monday evening, Oct. 19, the Wasco Union High School District board candidates will have a forum beginning at 6 p.m. The forum will be available for attendees on Wasco Is on Facebook at that time. Even though Kern County is now in the red tier, many are playing it safe by continuing with virtual meetings. Candidates running include incumbents Joel Ackerknecht and Sharon Nicol as well as new candidate John Steward....
The Wasco Library will be opening up and providing limited service. Kern County is attempting to keep as many libraries open as possible during this pandemic. As the county moves from the purple tier to the red tier, it allows for more indoor activities. Since the county recently moved to the red tier, libraries are beginning to open their doors with some rules set in place. There is a time limit of 30 minutes per visit. All visitors to the library need to have a purpose-driven appointment such...
Oct. 11 Nicholas Medrano, 22, of Shafter, was arrested for disorderly conduct: under the influence drug. Luis Angel Perez Sanchez, 19, of Shafter, was arrested on a felony bench warrant. Oct. 10 Mayra Alejandra Peralez, 41, of Shafter, was arrested on an outside felony warrant. Oct. 9 Eleazar Reyes Leyva, 37, of Shafter, was arrested for child cruelty, inflicting injury onto child and burglary in the first degree. Oct. 8 Michell Leeann Anderson, 28, of Shafter, was arrested on an outside felony warrant. Oct. 7 Andres Fidel Gonzalez, 39, of...
NEW: Wasco Women’s Club: Meeting every second Tuesday of the Month at 1601 7th Street, Wasco. Lunch will be at 12 p.m. and meeting at 1:30 p.m. NEW: Wasco Recreation & Park Board Meetings are on every 3rd Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Hall at Barker Park in Wasco. NEW: Shafter: City of Shafter CAPK and the County of Kern “FOOD2DOOR Program.” The program delivers once a month 70lbs of food to seniors 65 and older. Call 661-498-7831 ext. 1310 to out if your eligiable for the program and enroll today! CAPK y el Condado de Kern “Prog...
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@ TheShafterPress.com. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: 1941 aerial view of East Lerdo Highway Water Tower Carnival. Photo by Bill Rodgers....
1 Years Ago: Nov. 11, 2010 The Shafter Police Department received a new device called FAST ID. It links into the California ID system within 20-25 seconds to identify a suspect by their fingerprints. 20 Years Ago: Nov. 15, 2000 G.H. Ben Grundy was honored for his 36 years of service to the Shafter community with a luncheon at the Green Hotel. Eighteen years of his service was being a chairman on the board of the Shafter/Wasco cemetery district. 30 Years Ago: Oct. 31, 1990 A few of Shafter's...
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Agnes ``Lagatha’’ Meek, 81, of Wasco, passed away Oct. 6 in Wasco. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Yolanda Gutierrez Tellez, 19, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 5 in Shafter. Basham & Lara Funeral Care Shafter. Timothy W Skaggs, 53, of Bakersfield, passed away Oct. 4. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Kenneth Merrill Cannon, 92, of Bakersfield, passed away Oct. 8 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Caroline Anne Venable, 85, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 11. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Michael L Cupps, 73, of Bakersfield, passed awa...
Wasco Union High School District board candidate Sharon Nicol was misidentified as Stacy Nichol in the Oct. 1 edition on page 3. We apologize for this error....
Adventist Health owned by Dr. Isaac Sanchez opened up a year ago at 1040 7th St. Inside the office, the waiting room chairs are now safely distanced and each patient is greeted by a receptionist behind a protected counter. After stepping through the door, each patient is also screened for a fever. Sanchez is originally from McFarland and his wife, Vanessa, is from Soledad. The two decided to move to Bakersfield, which was a compromise from rural McFarland and the much-larger Soledad community....
Special education, English learners, homeless and at-risk students could return to in-person instruction as soon as Oct. 27, reported Assistant Superintendent Rob Cobb at the Oct. 8 board meeting. Cobb said since the county moved into the red tier on Tuesday, schools must wait an additional 14 days prior to reopening for in-person instruction. "At the present time, Wasco Independent High School, Special Education, English Language, homeless and at-risk students could start school Tuesday, Oct. 2...
A man was seriously injured Saturday after a shooting in Wasco. On Oct. 10, deputies were dispatched at 9 p.m. to the 1000 block of 16th St. where a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was alert and conscious and airlifted to Kern Medical Center because his injuries were serious. The identity of the victim is unknown. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 861-3110 or Secret Witness at 322-4040....
Frosty King has been in the same family for over 35 years, and Mohamed Pazou is currently running the Wasco restaurant. The family is originally from Hanford where they owned a liquor store until they moved to Wasco. "The liquor store was sold to an uncle in Hanford," Pazou said. Pazou added that that the restaurant is closed during most legal holidays; however, they open for Christmas Day, which is one of the busiest days of the year for them. They only employ family and currently have four...
Omer Charles Adams was a beloved husband and father. Omer was born Jan. 18, 1941, in Poteau, Okla. He came to California by Greyhound bus in 1957 at 16 years old with his family, where they settled in Arvin. He met and fell immediately in love with Lydia Soto in the early 1970s. They raised six children in Lost Hills. He moved his family to Wasco in 1996, where the family grew, and they welcomed many grandchildren. Omer was a hardworking man who worked for 19 years at the Lost Hills Water...
