Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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One hundred Shafter residents who signed up received turkeys and other Thanksgiving ingredients last week as part of a giveaway, Thankful Thursday, sponsored by the City of Shafter, along with local businesses and civic groups. The drive-thru, at the West Complex parking lot, saw a lot of smiles in preparation for the holiday. (Photos courtesy of Jessica Pena)...
The Wonderful Company recently hosted a visioning workshop, inviting Shafter community members to give design input on its planned Lerdo Residential Project. "The project is meant to provide affordable housing options for young families wanting to build their lives in a safe and welcoming community like Shafter. I hope people will feel like they belong and are proud to live in Shafter, just as I have these past 40 years," explained John Guinn, executive vice resident and chief operating officer...
The Shafter High Generals host in the Division IV Valley Championship game Friday night against Coalinga. They won their semifinal 31-22 last Friday against the Immanuel Eagles. Details on page 7....
It was a celebration of local law enforcement at Wasco's National Night Out last week, as agencies from Wasco, Shafter, Avenal, McFarland, Arvin, the Kern County Probation Department and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation joined together in a show of unity with residents. The newly renovated downtown along 7th Street and the plaza in Wasco provided the setting for the festive block party. The event featured a variety of attractions, including food vendors, free hot dogs...
The Shafter Press and Wasco Tribune encourage local organizations to let the public know about coming events and activities through this column. Drop off or mail items at the office, 455 Kern St., Suite E, in Shafter, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Friday, call 661-292-5100 or email [email protected]. Deadline is 1 p.m. Thursday prior to publication. Updates will be on TheShafterPress.com and WascoTrib.com. ANNOUNCEMENTS Fall donations – Consider donating to SHS Pride Pantry this Thanksgiving season. Suggested items to donate include n...
Wasco Cub Scouts Pack 950, serving children from kindergarten through 5th grade, and the BSA Scouting Boys and Girls Troops 950, for 6th grade through age 17, are at risk of closing due to low membership. Destini Mello, committee chairman for Pack 950 and a former scoutmaster, explained the challenge: ""Membership is being affected by low numbers. We are down to six Cub Scouts, five boy troops, and no girl troops. At our highest, we had about 40 Cub Scouts and 20 in each of the boy and girl...
Terese Burke Elementary School is where the Running 4 the House event began 15 years ago, and it was still going strong last weekend at the school. This event was developed by PE teacher Jill Rodriguez, Principal Brad Maberry and Scarlet Sabin from the Ronald McDonald Organization. Each year staff and students raise donations for the Ronald McDonald House in Bakersfield then enjoy a fun day of running laps, sack races, dancing and prizes to celebrate their hard work. Last year, the event raised...
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its Super Students for the week of Nov. 18. 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. Pictured, from left, are Principal Anabel Garrison, Neveah Aparicio (5th grade), Angie Nava (2nd grade), Miguel Negrete-Castillo (kindergarten), Claudio Canseco (4th grade), Jorge...
A recent WalletHub report ranked Wasco as the third worst small city in America, but community leaders are offering a much more positive outlook, highlighting the unique qualities that make Wasco special and the strides in public safety achieved by the new Wasco Police Department. Community Development Director Keri Cobb said she doesn't dwell on these types of reviews. "They can be informative in terms of concrete numbers and things we might need to work on, but ultimately, the folks at...
A car was towed from a two-car accident at Santa Fe Way and Cherry Avenue last week. No one was hurt in the Wednesday morning mishap, according to the Shafter Police Department. (The Shafter Press | Diane Givens)...
The City of Shafter will pay Chief of Police Kevin Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months, and pay out his accrued vacation in exchange for his resignation, effective Nov. 20. This agreement was announced in a statement read by City Attorney Marco Martinez during the closed session of the Tuesday, November 19, city council meeting. Martinez stated that all terms are pursuant to Chief Zimmermann's employment agreement. In return, the chief...
The PRIDE Pantry at Shafter High School is calling on the community to join its annual community re-stock drive-through drop-off and school-wide Thanksgiving collection drive to help gather essential supplies for students and families in need. On Thursday, Nov. 21, the school will host a drive-thru drop-off event from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the front of the school. You will also be able to utilize boxes placed around town. This is a chance to make a direct impact by donating much-needed items...
Captain Randy Milligan, who has been acting chief of the Shafter Police Department for the past year, has been named to permanently head the force. A pinning ceremony will take place Dec. 7, an email invitation said Friday. Milligan, a 26-year veteran of the force, replaces Kevin Zimmermann, who resigned on Wednesday following a long disability leave. The city agreen to pay Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months and pay out his accrued vacation...
Get ready for a magical evening on Friday, Dec. 6, when the Shafter Christmas Parade and Festival brings snow to Mannel Park, thanks to the Lions Club. The festivities will kick off at 4:30 p.m., offering a feast for the senses with a diverse range of dishes. From Mexican favorites to Korean delights, there will be something for every craving. Sip on specialty drinks such as hot chocolate, champurrado (a warm, thick Mexican chocolate beverage) and freshly brewed coffee, or indulge in sweet...
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Santa Claus will make a special early appearance in the area, accompanied by Mrs. Santa Claus. "I personally know Santa, and I'm able to get him to fly in from the North Pole to Minter Field Air Museum and deliver stuffed animals to all children, compliments of PetSmart Ming Avenue," Chairman Ronald Pierce said. Santa will arrive at 11 a.m. The museum, at 401 Vultee Ave., will be open for the public to tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum also will observe Pearl Harbor...
Kern County is requesting letters of interest for proposed projects or activities at the Shafter Cotton Research Station - a California Historical Landmark. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Kern County Property Management Department held an open house with most of the buildings at the station open for inspection. The station was built in 1922 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop the state's cotton industry. In a tour of the facility last week, Jim Damian, chief economic development officer...
The 2024 Wasco High School Valley Champion cheer and Tiger wrestling teams, along with the JV and sophomore Bengals football teams, will be this year's Honored Guests and Tree Lighters at the Kindness Shines Wasco Christmas Festival Saturday, Dec. 7, marking the event's inaugural year at the newly opened Wasco Downtown Plaza on 7th Street. "We are so excited to announce that the Wasco Christmas Festival is moving back downtown!" Orange Heart Foundation President Traci Mills-Clendenen said....
In a story about the Minter Field Air Museum Wins ‘N’ Wheels event on Page 1 in last week’s paper, a picture caption was misplaced. The man in the picture was Ronald Pierce, chairman of the museum. We regret the error....
The Shafter City Council on Tuesday night interviewed candidates for three open seats on the Shafter Planning Commission Board – Armando Camacho, Mariah Campos, Zachary Fain, John Sanchez, Joseph Simmons and Fortino Valdivia. The council is to decide on the three successful candidates at their next meeting. Camacho is a Shafter business owner who has made a career in the accounting field, and has been a member of the 746 Sports Foundation and the Shafter Lions Club. Campos is a 2024 high s...
Gilberto Abarca Soltero Melany Aguilar Magana Scarlett Aguirre Everardo Alvarez Rogelio Aragon Salazar Marlene Ayon Aleah Barajas Rodriguez Avany Caballero Carmendee Camacho Darely Carranza Sanchez Devin Chamblee Sara Contreras Ramirez Dominic Espinoza Ellen Esquivel Ruben Flores Edith Flores Ramos Edith Flores Ramos Miley Flores Uribe Roger Garcia Nathaniel Garrido Miguel Herrera Lopez Johnathan Jaime Lucero Lopez Acevedo Joddany Munoz Susana Munoz Francisco Navarro Estrella Osornio Mia Osuna...
The Wasco City Council will fund an expanded Veteran's Banner Program for family and friends to honor their veterans through a personalized banner flown on downtown light posts during portions of the year. The $5,000 approved at Tuesday night's meeting will be used to create, repair and replace damaged banners, covering the cost of new banners for friends and family facing a financial barrier. The city has recently installed a video screen at the new Veteran's Memorial at 7th Street & F Street....
A Wasco man received a prison sentence of over eight years for a DUI-related crash in July 2022 that killed a 1-year-old infant and left five others injured in Shafter, according to Kern County Superior Court records. The crash occurred on July 23, 2022, at approximately 4:30 p.m., when Irving Rodriguez-Barraza was driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck eastbound on Burbank Street with a passenger. According to the California Highway Patrol, Rodriguez-Barraza ran a stop sign at the intersection of...
Almost 20 vendors gathered for the annual Wasco Woman's Club Pop-Up & Craft Fair on Saturday, with food and drinks sold by the club. The Orange Heart Foundation provided face painting for the children, and all the money raised from the event will go back to the community. "Thank you to all those that came to support us," Co-President Petra Rueda said. Pictured are OHF co-founder Orquidea Ocampo, Wasco Woman's Club Co-President Petra Rueda and OHF co-founder Traci Mills-Clende...
The Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church sponsored their eighth annual Wrestling Invitational on Saturday, drawing an all-time record for the event. Pastor Pat Coyle, director of the tournament, commented, "This was the biggest we have ever had, by far." Coyle said that there were over 150 wrestlers competing and spectators that filled the gymnasium, with an overflow crowd. "I have never seen this many kids here before," said Manny Hernandez, whose son was competing for the second year. "This is a...
Shafter Teen Challenge is a free, one-year residential, faith-based program for men ages 18 and older who suffer from any addiction. The goal is to transform lives, offering hope and a brighter future. Greg Hill, a Shafter native, has been a kitchen manager and teacher advisor for five years. He is a testament to the impact Teen Challenge can have on an individual. "I'm a product of the program," he said in an interview last week. "In 2017, I came here broken and homeless. I had a rough...
