Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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It has been over five months since Acting Chief Randy Milligan stepped up to run the Shafter Police Department, with Chief Kevin Zimmerman away from the department.. The force has been operating "business as usual," according to Milligan, with everyone stepping in and doing their part. When asked three months ago about the change and some public concerns over the loss of employees with the launching of Wasco's new Police Department, Milligan said that the city had hired new officers, as well as...
The Shafter Cinco de Mayo Festival kicks off on Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. with a parade downtown, presided over by Grand Marshal Diana Burnett. Burnett retired last year from the Shafter Police Department, ending her career with the rank of assistant police chief. Burnett said that she has always loved this festival and is honored and humbled. “I am so thankful for the committee and the community of Shafter for this honor,” Burnett said . Filled with colorful dancers, classic cars, floats and...
Resondo Tellez, 27, of Wasco, appeared in court last Thursday morning on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia. Tellez was arrested on March 22, when he was found by Kern County sheriff’s deputies with a severed limb that was taken from the scene of a fatal train accident. Deputies had been dispatched to the scene of a fatal pedestrian train collision. The victim was killed at the scene and had her leg severed at the accident. Allegedly, Tellez took the leg from the scene. In video f...
A vehicle collided with a freight train on Sunday night, resulting in three fatalities. Mckinley Jordan Toliver, 19, was the driver, according to a CHP report.. According to a report from the California Highway Patrol, the incident occurred on Sunday at approximately 3:03 a.m. Bakersfield CHP area units responded to Kimberlina Road east of State Route 43 for a crash involving a vehicle versus train. The report stated that Toliver was traveling in a Honda westbound on Kimberlina Road, east of...
The students at Sequoia Elementary School learned up close and personal information about solar eclipses when they had a chance to don special glasses and learn the workings of the event. Sequoia staff, including Janae Morris, Angela Hernandez and Assistant Principal Tonia Aguilera, were on hand to answer students questions as they watched the eclipse together. Also last week, students were busy working on STEM-related projects as they move forward in their advanced learning. Students used Verti...
The Ventura Circus was in town over the weekend, giving the young, and the young at hear,t a few hours of family entertainment. The circus is a dying breed, with the number of circuses in the nation dwindling. The Ventura Circus had a variety of acrobats, clowns, jugglers and illusionists, as well as a motorcycle "ride of doom." The company was in Shafter at Mannel Park beginning on Friday, setting up their big-top tent, and performing three shows on Saturday and Sunday. Over 100 people attended...
St. John de Evangelist Catholic Parish will host a festive Cinco de Mayo celebration on Sunday, May 5. There will be authentic Mexican cuisine, traditional live music and singers, an Azteca danza group and games for the kids. It will be an opportunity for family and friends to gather and enjoy an afternoon of cultural unity and celebration. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican victory over the French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The Mexican people fought the French under the...
In a landmark event for the city, the new Wasco Police Department launched on Thursday, April 18, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting and handing off of the police services building key, marking the end of the Kern County Sheriff's public safety responsibilities to Wasco. It was a monumental event long anticipated by the community, bringing much excitement and hope for the future. It milestone was at 11 a.m. "That was when we started transferring the 911 responsibilities from the sheriff's...
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its weekly Super Students. Criteria for selection were based on significant math improvement, showing kindness to all friends, respect and hard work, following class procedures, helping other students understand new concepts and improving learning English. Front row, from left, are Sofia Sandoval (transitional kindergarten) and Angel Ramirez (1st grade); back row, from left, are Principal Anabel Garrison, Camila Medina (5th grade), Teresa Mendez (2nd...
It was an afternoon made for animal lovers at the "Don't Shop, Adopt" Free Adoption Friday event hosted by the City of Wasco Animal Control department last week. Lucky four-legged friends found a new home, while new owners found a new member of the family. Osvaldo Alfaro came early. "I wanted to get a little one. His name is Rocky. Mariana [Montes] from the shelter said he loves kisses and is affectionate. My kids are going to love him. I'm excited for them to see him. They don't even know I...
The City of Shafter has been working on improving its parks and streets, having several improvement projects in process. One of these is the Stringham Park Improvement Project, which is in full swing. A new bus stop has been installed, replacing the stop that was located at the corner of Central Avenue and James Street. The new site is intended to alleviate the traffic at that intersection, and also will be easier for riders to navigate the area. Included in the project are new trees at the...
A string of vehicle break-ins has prompted the Shafter Police Department to advise residents to be extra vigilant in protecting their cars and property. According to Lt. Joshua Stephens, several residents in the Gossamer Grove area had their vehicles broken into, with the actual vehicle thefts thwarted. It wasn’t just random vehicles, either, with Kias and Hyundais being the targets of choice. It is not known why these were targeted, especially since the make of choice in recent years has been H...
The Shafter City Council denied a resolution on Tuesday to hire a crimes analyst that would be stationed in the Shafter Police Department. According to Acting Chief Randy Milligan, the analyst would identify crime patterns, trends and hot spots using data analysis techniques. This person would also research and evaluate data related to criminal activity and calls for service. Crime prevention and problem-solving would also be a part of the position. "The function of the position would include...
The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim of a fatal accident on Lerdo Highway on Friday, April 12. At around 2:05 a.m., 51-year-old Tabass Zebadee Grandison-Mendoza, of Shafter, reportedly was driving in a sedan that struck a tree on East Lerdo Highway. Grandison-Mendoza was traveling westbound on East Lerdo Highway, just north of Cherry Avenue, when the accident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Lerdo Highway was closed for several hours as the road was cleaned u...
The 15th Street Park re-opened on Saturday with a celebratory ceremony. With the new upgrades and the partnership with the news Police Department and community partners, it has become a welcoming and inviting magnet for neighborhood families. "The park has a new play structure, sitting area, picnic tables, trash receptacles, and, of course, new art throughout the entire park," said Wasco Recreation and Parks District Manager Chris Serna. She said residents can now engage in fun activities in the...
Jovita Valentina Sanchez was a remarkable woman who graced this world for 101 years. She had a profound impact on the lives of those who loved her and was a pillar of strength for her family and friends. She was born on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 1923, in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, and peacefully passed on March 29, 2024. She came to the United States at age 5, first to Famoso and then to McFarland, where she was raised. At 14, she married Ray R. Sanchez and moved to Wasco. She was married to Ray...
The city plans to make the Veteran Salute Banner Program more accessible after Councilmember Vincent Martinez brought to the City Council's attention that the current cost of the banners might be prohibitive to some veterans in the community. "The city supports our veterans, and we want to honor them in the best way possible," Councilmember Martinez told his colleagues Tuesday night at their regular meeting. The banner program celebrates honorably discharged veterans and presently serving...
Last week, Director of Programs Sunni Dobbs briefed the Wasco Union High School District board on the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act. California voters approved Proposition 28 in 2022, The measure required the state to establish a new ongoing program supporting arts instruction in schools beginning in 2023-24, with three years to spend the first annual apportionment (2025-2026 school year). Public schools (K-12) receive funding every July, equal to...
Wasco High School hosted a Community Fair and Pop-Up on Friday. Representatives from various universities, junior colleges, law enforcement, military branches, small businesses, trade schools and other industries were on hand to provide information and inspire individuals to explore career and educational possibilities or just shop, eat and enjoy the live music of the WHS High Groove Steelers. Valerie Sheldon is an outreach admissions coordinator for California Aeronautical University, based in...
Wasco Animal Control will host its "Don't Shop, Adopt" Free Adoption Friday event on April 19. It will be an opportunity to take home a furry friend that will make a special addition to your family. Animal Control Officer Rigoberto Figueroa said the criteria for potential adopters is simple. "As of now, we only require identification, such as a driver's license." He added that it will be first-come-first-serve. "Once the decision to adopt is made, we will make a copy of the adopter's ID and...
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its weekly Super Students. Criteria for selection were based on significant math improvement, showing kindness to all friends, respect and hard work, following class procedures, helping other students understand new concepts and improving learning English. From left are Vice Principal Angela Devin, Damian Garcia (5th grade), Allyson Quintana (1st grade), Mariano Antonio (4th grade), Iker Rojo (3rd grade), Israel Andres (kindergarten). Not pictured are...
Luke came into the Wasco Animal Shelter as a stray. He is approximately a 1-2 year-old male husky mix. He is great with staff and other dogs. It is unknown if Luke is house/crate trained at the time. Dogs are not tested with children, and his behavior towards children is unknown. Luke is available for adoption on Friday, April 19. Everyone is welcome to adopt from our facility, and we like to give everyone the same opportunity to adopt. Adopters can be from out of town and/or local. We do not...
Shafter High students put on formal best and had a night to remember on Saturday night, as they celebrated their prom, dancing to some of their favorite music. A DJ provided the tunes, a mixture of dance, Tejano and contemporary music, something for everyone. Students danced with their dates, by themselves, and in big groups, keeping the dance floor busy the entire night. One group who were having a blast were friends Riley Griffin, Marcus Rivas, Adrian Lomeli, Briley Clendeman and Arilia...
Shafter High students from Bronwynn Bowman’s freshmen English class were recently assigned the task of writing an Irish poem/reflection about their favorite “happy place.” “The kids wrote about places they love, and places that they find peace, a chill place,” Bowman explained. Two students decided to write about the city of Shafter as their happy place. Luna Quiroz wrote about the beautiful things that can be seen in Shafter, once you look under the rusty buildings and withering grass: I...
The Cinco de Mayo Festival has become one of the most popular events of the year in Shafter, complete with a parade and numerous activities downtown and at Mannel Park. The festival kicks off on Saturday, May 4, with the parade, which will be presided over by the Grand Marshal for this year's event, Diana Burnett. Burnett retired last year from the Shafter Police Department, ending her career with the rank of assistant police chief. Burnett said that she has always loved this festival and is...
