Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Shafter has a new economic development director, and he is ready to take Shafter into a bright future. Fernando Guerra comes to the city after more than two decades working in the economic development field in some of the largest markets in the world. Guerra has worked for the Los Angeles Economic Development Agency, as well as a city agency in New York City and a stint in Chicago. Guerra is a graduate of USC and received his masters in economics and international business...
With the launch of the new Wasco Police Department, the men and women in uniform leading the force are passionate and committed to protecting and serving the community. Police Officer Anthony Cook is one of them. "We are here to protect you, to serve you and we are here to provide the services that you asked us for," he said in an interview this week. Cook thinks that adaptability is the most important quality for a police officer to possess. "Laws are always changing,...
Wasconian Shirley Huffman celebrated her 100th birthday on June 23, surrounded by friends and family. She has witnessed many significant milestones over the century of her life. "The things she has noticed the most is the mode of transportation changing and how it has evolved," Daughter Cynthia Huffman said. "The way cars and airplanes have changed, and the fact that we actually made it to the moon." Her family came from Ohio, and is one of eight children. Her grandfather...
The Shafter Theater put on its production of "Matilda" last weekend and drew large crowds for every performance. The play was directed by Lauren Givens and Chad Givens, director of the Shafter Theater. This is the first production for the company, which is a nonprofit that, according to Givens, is faith-based and is working to entertain the city in a positive way. The cast was headed by 8-year-old Esttella Marie Loaiza, a veteran of three shows so far in her career. Loaiza...
The city has come to a labor agreement with the Wasco Police Officers Association for the next two years, including 4% wage increases this year and in 2025. The agreement also includes bilingual pay, POST certificate, education, and other pay incentives, along with details on holiday pay. In addition to the WPOA-covered employees, the same benefit provisions are extended to Police Department employees outside the bargaining unit who are not on an employment contract. The...
On Saturday, the Wasco Recreation and Park District's Red, White and Boom Fireworks Festival, celebrating the Fourth of July, was a day of patriotic fun and community spirit. An engaging line-up of activities and a grand finale lit up the sky. The evening started with a flag ceremony led by Boy Scouts Troop 950, which set the tone for the event and reminded everyone of the holiday's significance. Next followed the bike parade, in which entrants adorned their bikes, trikes,...
The Shafter Animal Shelter has a unique situation when it comes to city animal shelters – they have a shortage of adoptable dogs at the site. In the past six months, the shelter has not put any pets available for adoption on their website. This is due to the rescue partners that the city deals with, accounting for all of their available dogs. There are some cats available, however, as they are not rescued. Recently, the shelter had a dozen dogs in the shelter, but all but o...
Shafter lost another icon this week when Frank Russell, Inc. closed its doors on Tuesday. Opened in 1939, the shop has been serving the community, meeting fabricating and steel needs for almost 85 years. Owner and operator Andy Russell said that it was time to do it, and said that he will miss his loyal customers. "It was a family decision. I just decided that it was the right time. I am 73 years old and am ready to spend more time with family." Andy's father, Frank Russell,...
The city of Shafter has been busy this quarter improving the park system and roads in and around Shafter, continuing the beautification of the city. Thanks to a couple of grants and allocated funds in the projected budget, the city has completed the Stringham Park improvement project, needing just some finishing touches. "We just have to put in a few trees, and the project will be completed," said Public Works Director Michael James. "The trees are from the trees that we...
With the 4th of July right around the corner, Wasco Police Department Chief of Police Charles Fivecoat shared tips and information on how to keep safe this holiday when using fireworks and warned that the use of illegal fireworks can cause severe injury and can result in heavy fines or jail time. "The fireworks that are illegal and nonsafe are more dangerous to use than the ones that are sold legitimately; couple that with people having weekend parties and alcohol is...
Local teacher Candie Springer may be going to trial after a plea deal could not be reached at a status hearing earlier this month. Springer faces a felony charge and a misdemeanor of allowing an unlicensed person to drive. She refused to accept a deal that would have her plead guilty to the felony charge, her attorney, David Torres, said outside Bakersfield Municipal Court on Friday. Judge Michael G. Bush confirmed a preliminary hearing will take place July 16. Last year,...
Residents with older cars can trade them in for free electric models under a state program to reduce air emissions. AB617 was passed a few years ago, requiring the state of California to reduce emissions in the air. The city of Shafter was selected as two of the state's disadvantaged areas, because of studies finding citizens' overall health below the norm and the quality of the air. A steering committee was formed and through meetings and discussions, a plan was created to...
Aera Energy and Strata Credit Union have partnered to sponsor 380 Wasco elementary school students to attend Camp KEEP, a weeklong environmental education program in San Luis Obispo. Camp KEEP, run by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools Office, provides hands-on learning experiences for students to explore and appreciate the natural world. Through interactive activities, students gain a deeper understanding of environmental science, ecology and conservation. "Our...
Dr. Zach Ellis has 14 years of experience in education, seven of those in Wasco as a teacher at Palm Avenue when it was an elementary school, assistant principal and principal later as a middle school, assistant principal at Thomas Jefferson Middle School, summer school principal at John L. Prueitt Elementary and currently as principal of Teresa Burke Elementary. He will soon become a principal for the Rosedale Union School District, and colleagues who worked with him and...
A Shafter man was arrested on Friday for stealing mail from mail boxes in the Gossamer Grove community. A police officer on patrol arrested 31-year-old William Nigro when he stopped him at approximately 3 a.m. during patrol checks in the area of Community Drive and Flowertree Drive. The officer made the stop on the Honda Accord for a vehicle code violation. Nigro was found to be driving on a suspended license and had an expired registration. According to Acting Police Chief...
The Shafter Ford Theater was host to a jungle full of fun last week, as the Shafter Community Vacation Bible School took place on the site, bringing together kids from churches from all over town to have a big event. With attendance dwindling in separate programs in Shafter, and with the different churches sometimes competing at the same time for the same kids, it was decided by a few of the churches to pool resources and create one big Vacation Bible School. This idea took...
Pictures accompanying last week’s story on a SHS history trip to the east coast were taken by Kendall Marshall. The credit was inadvertently left off the caption....
The Wasco Recreation and Parks District will host 'The Red, White & Boom Fireworks Festival' on Saturday, June 29. This event will bring families and friends together to celebrate the country's independence at Barker Park, enjoying food, vendors, activities, music and a substantial fireworks show. The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. with a flag ceremony, a patriotic tribute led by Boy Scouts Troop 950, and a bike parade in partnership with Wasco Toys for Tigers. Residents can...
Shafter will be celebrating Independence Day on Wednesday, July 3, with their annual July 3rd fireworks event at Shafter High School, utilizing the ball fields on campus and making for a full festival, with food, games, inflatables and music before the main event. The event draws people from all over Kern County, with one of the only fireworks shows in the county, and also holding it on the third, instead of the fourth. This came about years ago when the city was able to...
Shafter's newest family community theater group will present its first production, ``Matilda the Musical,'' this Friday and Saturday, June 28-29, at 7 p.m. There will be an early show Sunday, June 30, at 5 p.m. All shows will be performed at the Fred Starrh Shafter High School Performing Arts Theater. The new nonprofit Shafter Theater is comprised of community members, and is headed by Chad Givens, with daughter Lauren Givens assisting. According to their Instagram bio they...
The Shafter High Generals football team has been making history, from the first Valley Championship in over 70 years to playing in Shafter's first State Championship game. For a change of pace, Coach Jerald Pierucci, some staff and 22 players set out on a cross-country trip to see some of the country's earliest history. The group have been saving and fundraising for the past two years, with each player responsible for their own bill for the trip. The group started in Boston...
The Shafter Recreation Department executed a "Park Takeover" last week, invading Shafter's Community Park at Gossamer Grove and turning it into a place of fun and games. According to Shafter Recreation District Manager Phillip Jimenez, the Park Takeovers will take place all summer long, bringing a lot of activities to a different park in Shafter each week. The event takes place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. At Community Park, there were a lot of activities to...
Shafter held its first First Friday event of the year on June 14, filling downtown with plenty for the entire family to do. Started last year, the First Friday events are put on to draw people to the downtown area of Shafter, as well as giving families in town a place to go on a Friday night, without having to go out of town to spend their dollars. The event had numerous food vendors, including Semper Fries, barbecue and homemade baked goods, as well as agua fresca and other...
On the heels of Shafter's first First Friday event of the year, the city held its first Farmer's Market of the year last Saturday. The event drew more than double the crowd from last, estimated at 200, with options from fresh vegetables to honey and snacks and seasonings. There also was prepared food available, giving the crowd a variety of snacks and drinks. One of the vendors was local celebrity Jenny Holtermann, also known as Almond Girl Jenny. Also for sale was a variety...
Christmas came a day early for the youth of Shafter, presented with toys from the Toys for Tots organization, thanks to the support of the community. "The Shafter Lions Club used their nonprofit status to get the Toys for Tots organization here, and we secured the building," said Shafter Councilman Gilbert Alvarado, who is also a Lion. The giveaway event was held on Christmas Eve at the Shafter Veterans Hall. Every child who attended received at least two toys to take home,...
