Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Gilbert Alvarado, Chad Givens and Pete Espinoza won seats on the City Council after the count was completed. Newcomer Espinoza was the top candidate with over 20% of the vote with incumbents Givens and Alvarado coming in second and third. This is after the Kern County Elections Office announced the official final results for the local races. Kris Lawrence, who was in the third spot after election night, saw that lead disappear as the counting continued and Alvarado overtook Lawrence and Givens...
The Shafter City Council tabled a discussion in how the way the Mayor of Shafter is selected. Currently, the selection of mayor is done by a majority vote. Mayor Gilbert Alvarado proposed this should be done on a rotating basis instead of by a majority vote. He cited that other cities in the county select their mayor in a similar manner, with the council members taking a turn to serve as mayor. Councilmember Manuel Garcia agreed with proposing a discussion to change the procedure. Councilmember...
Incumbent Mayor Tilo Cortez won by one vote over City Council candidate Eddie Saldana in the District 4 race. For most of the race, Cortez has led. As of Nov. 25, both were tied at 434 votes until Cortez took a one point lead on Nov. 29, when the county declared the voting complete. In District 2, Vince Martinez will be the newest City Council member with 414 votes against the next candidate, William David Ward, who received 376 votes. The votes will be certified on Thursday, Dec. 3 according to...
Beginning on Jan. 1, Assistant Superintendent Rob Cobb will officially become superintendent. Current Wasco Union High School District Superintendent Laurie Albrecht is retiring at the end of this year. Cobb was born in Paradise, a small town in northern California. He was raised near a mountain community close to Paradise called Magalia. It wasn't until the sixth grade that his family moved to Fresno. "The premature passing of my mother caused us to move multiple times," Cobb said. He attended...
This holiday season has been difficult for many families dealing not only with the pandemic, but with job loss, businesses closing, and social distancing restrictions. During these times, the community has risen to the challenge to help support neighbors and unite the city. Facing a Thanksgiving that was void of the usual holiday events, residents had to find ways to celebrate the holiday. An example of Thanksgiving spirit was the event held at the Shafter Recreation Department in which 100...
Nov. 23 Emmanuel Torres, 34, of Shafter, was arrested for disorderly conduct: under the influence. Nov. 24 Jorge Luis Barrios, 27, of Shafter, was arrested on a misdemeanor bench warrant. Nov. 25 Richard Shane Castilleja, 36, of Shafter, was arrested for disorderly conduct: under the influence. Nov. 26 Vincent Earl Ince, 26, of Shafter, was arrested for driving without a license and on a misdemeanor bench warrant. Nov. 27 Alma Estela Gonzalez, 46, of Shafter, was arrested for false ID to specific public officer, on a felony bench warrant and...
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: 1994 Shafter Christmas decorating in Tommy Alvidrez' photo....
Ongoing Warm clothing drive — District 4 Supervisor David Couch is collecting blankets, coats, gloves, hats, scarves and socks. Donations will benefit families in District 4. To schedule an in-person pickup, call 661- 868-3680. Utility bills — The City of Wasco reminds residents that the city’s official website is the only authorized avenue to pay your utility bill online. Covid-19 testing — There will be free covid-19 testing at the Wasco Library, 1102 7th St., Wasco. If you have insurance, they will be billed. Appointments can be made at...
2 years ago: Dec. 12, 1999 Two Shafter High graduates, Jason Ghilarducci and Ryan Kroeker, played in the Bakersfield College Renegades football team championship against City College of San Francisco. 30 years ago: Dec. 5, 1990 The Shafter Library celebrated its 25th year in its building. It was newly reconstructed in 1966. 40 years ago: Dec. 10, 1980 A few of Shafter High MEChA Club members donated their time to prep the Shafter Depot for painting. Among the members that put in the work were...
The Minter Field Air Museum will be hosting a special visitor on Saturday, Dec. 5 as Santa Claus will be touching down at 11 a.m. to visit with local families and hand out some presents for the children. The museum hosts this event every year, giving the kids a chance to see Santa and receive a gift from him and his helpers. Unfortunately this year, due to the safety guidelines in place, it will be a drive-by event. Families can park at the museum lot as Santa touches down. They will stay in...
The city introduced a new program for new and existing businesses. The Business Expansion, Attraction, and Retention Economic Incentive Program helps businesses put down roots in Shafter. For existing businesses who wish to expand, the program is able to assist them in this endeavor. According to Bob Meadows, economic development director, “This program has two main goals to accomplish, with incentives for businesses who call Shafter home.” The goals that drive BEAR are geared toward making Shafter a desirable place to do business. “We want...
Distance learning has been bad for some students, teacher Eddie Crane said. Distance learning has allowed teachers to observe which students are lazy by not turning in their work, Crane said. “Distance learning has just confirmed to teachers the students or parents who don’t care.” The school district has been working to adapt itself to the restrictions, but it has not been easy, Superintendent Kelly Richers said. The students that were allowed to return to campus under the red tier conti...
There has been an increase in crime in 2020 over 2019, said Sgt. Pete Martinez to the Wasco City Council. Citing statistics from Wasco, Bakersfield and Kern County overall, Martinez said that violent crimes such as aggravated assault and homicides have increased since 2019. He said that in 2019, there were 36 aggravated assaults and through Oct. 31 of this year, there have been 45 incidents with two months left to report. “During 2019 in Kern County there were 95 homicides and in 2020, there hav...
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Jose Herrera, 61, of Arvin, passed away Nov. 25 in Arvin. Peters Funeral Home Arvin. Joyce Wolf, 76, of Bakersfield, passed away Nov. 23 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home Shafter. Celeste Turner, 20, of Delano, passed away Nov.9 in Wasco. Basham-Lara Funeral Care Shafter. Eunice Horn, 79, of Shafter, passed away Nov. 28. Peters Funeral Home Shafter. Virginia Nava, 43, of Wasco, passed away Nov. 28 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home Wasco. Doyle Gallagher, 82, of Bakersfield, passed away Nov. 30 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home...
Here comes the bride, all dressed and white … Congratulations to Santiago and Kristy! At their wedding, I told them, “You’ve actually made my year!” It really was a very beautiful day. In the midst of hate and chaos, their wedding demonstrated a beautiful love and sense of order that I believe God was well pleased. While things may crumble all around us, the love of God still builds and rises in the midst. Many people will remember all of the negativity and ugliness of 2020. However, Santiag...
Everyone in Sunni Dobbs' family bleeds "orange and black" and now Dobbs is the school's principal. Both Dobbs and her husband and their two daughters are graduates of Wasco High School. Dobbs graduated in 1994, her father in 1969 and her mother in 1972 and daughter, Allie, graduated in 2017 and youngest daughter, Raegan, in 2019. "My dad instilled in me from a very young age that we bleed 'orange and black,'" Dobbs said. Dobbs was raised in Wasco and loves the small-town pride that comes along...
The number of covid-19 cases continues to rise in Wasco and Shafter, much like those of the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the numbers have surged to their highest level since the pandemic began in the spring. Prior to the Thanksgiving weekend holiday, Newsom said that he was considering leveling a curfew on California residents due to the pandemic. As of Monday, Nov. 30, no curfew has been instilled. Also on Monday, Newsom mentioned that he might issue stay-at-home orders once again...
