Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Wasco has seen a series of violent gang-related shootings that have taken place this month. Citizens are concerned about their safety. The latest occurred on Oct. 24th when deputies responded to the 1200 block of Iris Street for a victim of a shooting where they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. "This month's incidents of gang-related violence have spread fear within our community. The City of Wasco, the Kern County Sheriff's Department, the City Council, and I, as...
TOP OF THE RESULTS: Mayor Cathy Prout was re-elected to her council seat by a wide margin, and Gustavo Olvera Jr. won over incumbent Cesar Lopez and challenger Rafael Zamudio. Lopez lost his seat by 30 votes. City of Shafter Councilmember - Vote For 2 Completed Precincts: 13 of 13 VOTE COUNT PERCENTAGE CATHY L. PROUT 540 35.29% GUSTAVO OLVERA, JR 374 24.44% CESAR LOPEZ 344 22.48% RAFAEL S ZAMUDIO 272 17.78% Shafter-Wasco Irrigation Director, Division 5 - Vote For 1 Completed Precincts: 5 of 5 VOTE COUNT PERCENTAGE DAVID BLOEMHOF III 241 55.92%...
With all of the violence that has taken place in recent weeks in northern Kern County, including Delano, McFarland and Wasco, Shafter has not borne the brunt of the violent assaults. Shafter Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann said that this is in large part to a philosophy that was taken by the City of Shafter almost 20 years ago, in which they decided that the safety of the city was going to be made a priority. Zimmermann said there is virtually no activity in recent years from the one gang – which...
The Kern Mosquito Vector Control held a media event recently and stated that the end of mosquito season is not quite here yet, with the cooling trend keeping the populations up, according to our Terry Knight, public information officer for Kern Mosquito Vector Control. "We still need to keep our guard up against these pests, but the season is expected to end around the end of October." Kern County has used a new weapon this year in its fight against the pests, especially the newest mosquito on...
Richland kindergartners had an opportunity last week to get a personal look at the world of agriculture when they took a field trip to the ag farm at Shafter High School. This was a lot of the students' first time riding on a bus, which made it even more exciting for them. At Shafter High, they were met by high school students, many of them Golden Oak alumni, to tour the farm. The students were shown several cows and sheep at the farm, as well as pumpkins. They also learned a lot about how agric...
Shafter High School recognized a group of students recently to be named the Generals of the Month for October. These students were nominated by teachers and administrators for their performance in and out of the classroom. Those students were awarded with a certificate and a special lunch. Those students are Adal Gonzalez, Lisette Reyes Ambriz, Emily Torres Morales, Jennifer Martinez Valdez, Adrian Olivo, Santiago Garcia, Yessica Gil, Giada Rodriguez, Ashley Arredondo, Fabian Denogean, Jose...
The Shafter Kiddie Kollege hosted a Harvest Festival and Open House on Thursday night, welcoming its students and their families, as well as the community. The event gave anyone interested in having their children become a part of the SKK family to check the facility out. The event was full of food, games and activities for the kids and plenty of information for the adults in the group. Food was served at no charge by Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church members and a host of volunteers. Games...
City council elections will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Five districts make up the City of Wasco, and three are up for election. In District One, Mayor Gilberto Reyna is running unopposed. He has public service experience and a deep passion for advocating for policies that empower the residents. “Since 2015, I have served as an appointed and elected member on the City Council,” he said. Reyna has been a resident of Wasco for 39 years. Throughout this time, he has had many active roles in loca...
A Candidates Forum was held on Thursday night, with the candidates for the open seats on the Wasco Elementary and Wasco High School Districts' Board of Trustees. Each candidate was invited to speak about his or her goals for the district, what issues they consider important, and how they would make a difference if they were elected. In the Wasco Elementary School Board race, there are four candidates vying for the three spots that are open. Those seats are currently held by Cheryl Wiegman-Craig,...
ANNOUNCEMENTS The Big Game – Wasco vs. Shafter football at Wasco High School, Friday, Nov. 28. Junior varsity kickoff at 5 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m. NEW: Harvest Fest – Including hot dogs and popcorn, cakewalk, games and fellowship. Free admission. Monday, Oct. 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Griffith Avenue Baptist Church, 408 Griffith Ave, Wasco. NEW: Halloween events – Shafter’s Safe Halloween Community Events: Thursday, Oct. 27, Shafter Lions Club Fall Party & Trunk or Treat at Veterans Hall parking lot, 309 California Ave., 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31...
Oct. 17 Elizabeth Vidales, 36, of Shafter, was arrested at Poso and North Shafter on a bench warrant/failure to appear on misdemeanor charge. Ignacio Briseno Ramirez, 42, of Shafter, was arrested on North Shafter and Munzer Avenue for driving with a suspended license. Julisa Eliza Cobian, 23, of Shafter, was arrested on South Shafter Avenue and Richland Avenue on a bench warrant/failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge, for false personation of another, giving false ID and riding a bicycle on the wrong side of roadway. Oct. 18 Andrew Ruben...
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: Steve McGraw is in the first row, second from the right, in the 1950s....
The Wasco Rotary Club held its 2022 Reverse Drawing Dinner last Thursday. Guests enjoyed a steak dinner, drinks, auction items and the chance to win $5,000. Club member Martin Lonza served as the master of ceremonies and helped draw the names for the reverse raffle. "I think it was another successful event," he said. "It's always fun to call people's names." "We have a strong group of supporters that continually contribute and, in turn, help us make the community better through their donations...
MV Autoworks Collision Center opened in 2004. Over the years, the company has earned a reputation for quality work and attention to detail. Owner Jesus Luna manages the business, along with his large team including five technicians. "I have employees to look after,: he said "I am helping to feed their family like they are helping me." Luna graduated in 2006 with a degree in criminal justice from Cal State Bakersfield. While he was in school, he opened up his shop. "I was already up and running,...
The Wasco Recreation and Parks District has opened up registration for their youth basketball league for ages 3 to 14. The deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 2. The season starts on Feb. 4 and runs until March 25. Through a partnership with Thomas Jefferson Middle School, the team members will play on Saturdays at the school gym. The players will also practice there. Program coordinator Juan Bernal said that players will learn the fundamentals of basketball, teamwork, sportsmanship and interacting...
The Houchin Community Blood Bank bus, in partnership with the Knights of Columbus, made its way back to Wasco. Regular and new donors came to support the initiative to save lives. The bus comes every eight weeks to address the nationwide shortage of blood needed for surgeries, accidents, premature babies, transplants, burn victims and cancer patients, to name a few. Most of the donations made in Wasco stay local. On average, these events draw about 28 donors, which saves 84 lives, according to...
The Shafter Generals lost to the Thunderbirds of Kennedy High on Senior Night, 29-14. With a team that does not boast a lot of seniors this year, the lack of older players showed on Friday night, as the team suffered several mental breakdowns and were manhandled at the line of scrimmage for the majority of the game. Kennedy took a 7-0 lead after a drive that ended with a touchdown pass, after the Generals' defense had forced the Thunderbirds into a 3rd and long situation. This would be a...
The Wasco High Tigers recorded their third loss of the SSL season when they lost to the Taft Wildcats 31-20, in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score indicates. The Wildcats raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first half. Tiger quarterback David Manzo and his offense never did get on track on the night, giving up the ball on two straight possessions, handing the Wildcats too many opportunities. They lost one drive to a fumble and the next was on an interception. Taft enjoyed starting their d...
Over these past several years I've enjoyed being part of a "Zoom Cohort," comprised of pastors across the country. These groups are organized by our US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, and in the past, I've even had the privilege of leading one of them! One of the cohorts I was recently in spent time reading and discussing a book together by Eugene Peterson, "Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work." It's an interesting study of various Old Testament books and how they relate to pastoral ministry. One of our discussions revolved around...
Julie Ann O'Brien Thullen, a long-time Shafter resident, passed away on Nov.r 3, 2022, at the age of 82. Julie was born in Billings, Mont., on March 15, 1940, the first of five children. She lived in Butte, Mont., most of her early life, except for three years when the family lived in Monterey, while Julie's father served in the Army Dental Corps at Fort Ord. Julie graduated from Butte High School in 1958. She attended Montana State University, where she met Robert Thullen, and they were...
Patsy Kelly went to meet her Lord on October 25, 2022, surrounded by family who loved her so much. There was a viewing on Nov. 1, and she was laid to rest at the Shafter Cemetery on Nov. 2. Patsy was born on Aug. 14, 1941, in Boonesville, Ark., to Johnny Mae Milam and W.D. Milam. They moved to Shafter when Patsy was a small girl. Patsy grew up in the North Camp homes, beginning in the large tent homes, eventually going into the regular houses in the labor camp. Patsy loved sports, especially sof...
Rosemary McGowen Lomeli, of Shafter, died October 22, 2022, in Bakersfield, after a brave, hard-fought battle with cancer. Rosie, 74, was born on Dec. 31, 1947, to Royce and Opal McGowen in Little Rock, Ark. In 1952, the family moved to Shafter, where she lived until recently, when she moved to Bakersfield to be closer to family. She always considered Shafter home. Rosie was one of the first women to work for Shell Oil in the 1980s and ultimately pursued a career as a real estate agent and...
Marjorie Robertson was born on May 3, 1928, in Licking, Mo., and passed away on Sept, 15, 2022, in Maple Falls, Wash., at the age of 94. Marjorie moved from Missouri to California after marrying Lloyd A Robertson in 1946, and eventually settled in Shafter. She enjoyed working several years for Charles West at Mira Mesa Farms, where she was proud to be recognized as the first woman to buy and sell cotton in the state of California. She later managed the accounts for decades at LA Robertson...
Patsy Nadine Kelly, 81, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 25, in Shafter. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Heriberto Zarraga Loarca, 40, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 19, in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Maria Ramirez, 93, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 17, in Bakersfield. Viewing Thursday, Oct. 27, at 9 a.m.; funeral service 10 a.m. at Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Graveside following services at 11 a.m., Shafter Cemetery....
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