Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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The city of Shafter had an eventful year this past 2022, full of positive accomplishments, as well as some losses and challenges. There were a first for Shafter High School, with its very first football team that played for a State Championship. Shafter also saw a new member join the City Council, while also keeping an old friend, with Mayor Cathy Prout retaining her seat on the council. Here's a sampling of the highs and the lows that were the year of 2022. Next week will cover the second...
The Shafter Kiwanis Club held their annual Food Basket Giveaway earlier this month, blessing 75 families with food baskets for the holidays. The club partnered with Shafter Healthy Start, which identified the families in need this holiday season. According to Ben Wilson, who was in charge of the event, each family received boxes of canned goods, as well as miscellaneous items, such as boxes of pasta and cereal. The baskets were filled with donations from the community. Food drives were held at...
The Shafter Kiwanis Club hosted the Shafter Generals football team and its coaches at a recent meeting. The team was treated to lunch and the players, in turn, shared some of their experiences throughout the season. Coach Jerald Pierucci talked to the members about the season, such as what it took for the players to prepare for the season and how they came together as a team to make that amazing run in the playoffs. The team also presented the club with a football, which had written Valley...
The 2022 year started on a high note, with the Wonderful Company awarding $1.2 million in grants to 32 nonprofit organizations in the Central Valley. In Wasco, the Kern County Library received a grant to provide residents with books, resources and literacy programs. In addition, money was allocated to convert a sprinter van into a library on wheels for outreach events. Also, in January, the City Council began preparations for redistricting due to the 2020 census. At a special meeting, City...
As the citizens of Wasco applaud moving forward with a police department, the leader chosen to bring this to fruition, Charlie Fivecoat, is passionate about empowering the community through a sense of security and trust. "I am very excited to re-establish a police department for the citizens of Wasco. Law enforcement has always been my calling, and having the city's trust to build a police department from the ground up is truly a once in a career opportunity." It will be a large undertaking...
ONGOING NEW: The Shafter Library and Learning Center have book bags (10 books in each bag) that can be checked out. The bags will include books mostly for the kids but who says that adults can’t enjoy them also! We have red bags for this holiday and orange bags with Halloween books. Our blue bags include books to improve reading skills, on all subjects and some picture books. We also have bilingual book bags. Please come to the library and request them. NEW: The Shafter Library and Learning Center: Registration for Spring Classes will start a...
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: A KCLC Lot Auction in Shafter at Central Valley Highway and Central Avenue in approximately 1914....
Dec. 18 Mario Noe Medina, 32, of Shafter, was arrested at Sunset Avenue and Central Valley Highway for driving with a suspended license and driving an unregistered vehicle. Dec. 19 Enrique Duran Jr., 39, of Shafter, was arrested on West Los Angeles for driving with a suspended license. Jorge Celio Duran, 45, of Shafter, was arrested at East Lerdo and Pacific Avenue on an outside agency warrant. Karll Lopez, 23, of Shafter, was arrested in the 100 block of West Lerdo Highway for using /under the influence of a controlled substance. Dec. 20...
Campesinxs a Campesinos, in collaboration with the United Farm Workers union, sponsored a fresh fruit and vegetable food drive to benefit the farmworkers in Wasco and nearby communities. The project's founder, Carmen Obeso, has a special connection with the farmworkers, as she is one, too. "Like many others, I work picking strawberries. We hosted this event on the weekend because we all work during the week." She said that during covid, the food drives were held on a weekday or early morning, ma...
The Wasco High School AG Prep Leadership Club hosted a food drive to benefit those in the community affected by food insecurity. The students practiced hard work, responsibility and caring for others. These values are key to the APLC. The president of the club, Emily Moldenhauer, said the experience was an opportunity to take action and advocate for your beliefs. "For me, it gives me a sense of joy." Club members also receive school credit, which makes them more competitive when applying for...
The Wasco Recreation and Parks District hosted a "Light up Wasco" event where guests were treated to a tour of the best Christmas-themed, decorated homes. Santa made a special appearance, and there was gingerbread, life-size characters, hot chocolate and cookies. A Dial-a-Ride bus transported families around Wasco, where they had a chance to view and vote on their favorite homes, which were colorfully lit with lights and adorned with Christmas characters like Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Sa...
LifeHouse Church hosted a toy giveaway and helped make Christmas special for the little ones in Wasco. Over 200 toys were distributed. "Our goal next year is to give away 500 toys and be able to reach more children and their families," Pastor Manuel Cantu said. The best part for him was seeing the kids walk away with big smiles. "You could feel the joy in their hearts." He said he wants to make it a tradition and that an important message goes along with it. "We want to continue blessing the...
Time keeps passing. Here we are, nearly into 2023. Moving into a new year can bring renewed optimism and a sense of new beginnings. People with this outlook see opportunities and a chance to start again. Or it might bring a certain heaviness. Another year is ended, so much still hasn’t been done, and our window of opportunity is smaller than it was. The Bible embraces both of those perspectives. In the Old Testament, the Passover festival commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egypt started a new way of counting years (Exodus 12:2). Each new...
Nellie "Juanita" McCaslin, 86, passed away on Dec. 23, 2022, at her home with her husband of 67 years by her side. Juanita was born on Dec. 1, 1936, in Belzoni, Miss., to Opal and Mark Hanson Sr. Juanita was the eldest of her three siblings: her brother, Mark Jr., and her two sisters, Jo Ann and Edna Mae. In 1952, at the age of 15, Juanita and her family moved to California. Juanita went on to meet Billy Wayne McCaslin at Minter Field in 1954 after a softball game. Juanita and Billy got married...
Virginia A. Nixon was born July 21, 1928, in Santa Rita, NM. She entered eternal life Dec. 23, 2022, in Shafter, surrounded by her loving family. She was 94 years old, the oldest of four children born to Opal D. and Jesse E. Carr. Virginia's family moved from state to state and settled in Shafter in 1944. Virginia attended Shafter High School and began attending Jesus Saves International Church (Shafter Pentecostal Church of God), where she met the love of her life, Riland Nixon. Virginia...
Stephen Fuller, 68, of Shafter, was born Sept. 6, 1954, and passed away Dec. 26, 2022. Stephen was "a man of few words," but loved by so many. His funeral arrangements are pending....
Loretta J. Rogers, 92, of Wasco, passed away Dec. 22, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Jose Campos Contreras, 74, of Seagoville, Texas, passed away Dec. 22, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter....
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Come out to the Shafter Animal Shelter and meet this adorable guy named Aladdin. Aladdin is a 1-year-old German shepherd who is looking for a loving home. He is a little shy since coming to the shelter but would love to learn about toys and long walks. Aladdin has passed all of his Safer Dog Evaluations and is ready for his forever home. He would love to have a family with an active life and a big yard for him to run around in. If you would like to meet Aladdin, come down to the shelter, 18849...
Princess came into the Wasco Animal Shelter as a stray. This husky is approximately 4 to 6 months old and is great with staff and other dogs. She is friendly, affectionate, gentle, playful, smart, quiet and dignified. At the time, it is unknown if Princess is house/crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children. Her behavior toward children is unknown. Princess will be available for adoption on Jan. 5. Everyone is welcome to adopt from our facility, and we like to give everyone the same...
Loretta June Crissman Rogers was born on Aug. 3, 1930, in Joplin, Mo., to Paul Preston Crissman and Mary Flora Crissman. She was the baby of the family, joining brothers Paul Eugene and Kenneth Harold Crissman. Loretta grew up in the 1930s, playing with the neighborhood boys and her older brothers. This undoubtedly contributed to her spunkiness, and as she explained, "I think I was their leader." Loretta's everlasting sassiness, her smile, sense of humor and kindness will always be among the...
