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Conflict of interest cited by Caltrans audit
A conflict of interest was identified during a recent audit of the pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements and landscape improvements around multiple schools. Officials from the California...
Former WHS grad goes from picking cotton to celebrated coach
A 1955 Wasco High School graduate, Ned Permenter, was a three-sport athlete all four years while he attended high school, and sports have been a constant throughout his life. He even has a stadium nam...
WHS Superintendent Lori Albrecht retiring this December
The first time Lori Albrecht heard the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance" was when she walked along the sideline in the processional as superintendent at Wasco High School. "Turning to greet Mr. Tallon...
Help coming for those affected by virus
Residents struggling to pay their rent or mortgage now can apply for assistance. The program, sponsored by the Bakersfield Homeless Collaborative, Community Action Partnership, and the Housing...
Shafter man killed in crash on Burbank
A Shafter man was killed after a crash on Burbank Avenue Monday morning. The Shafter Police Department responded to a call involving an accident at approximately 7 a.m. on Monday. A driver of a gray...
Council candidate looking to make a difference
There are three seats on the City Council open this November and the race to fill them involves the three current members whose terms are expiring and three new candidates. Last week, we met...
Shafter welcomes new administrative services director
Bryce Atkins has been hired by the city as the new administrative services director. Atkins began working for Shafter in July and was previously with the City of Gilroy. He has been working in city government for 14 years. Atkins has experience as...
More local residents getting flu shots
With the covid-19 virus still in the forefront of residents’ minds, flu season is arriving, threatening to make this season one of the worst in recent memory. Kern County Public Health Department officials are urging residents to get their flu...
Death Notices - Sept. 24, 2020
Trinidad Lopez, 75, of Delano, passed away Sept. 22 in Delano. Services pending. Arnoldo Macias Sr., 61, of Shafter, passed away Sept. 15 in San Diego. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Ruben Reyna Fernandez, 41, of Shafter, passed away Sept. 19 in...
Shafter creating a Wall of Dreams
A blank space on a building will become a Wall of Dreams after a few students in Shafter wanted to help beautify it. Advisors Melissa Bergen and Katie Wiebe, from the nonprofit organization Listen To...
Race underway for Richland School Board seat
There are three seats on the Richland School Board up for grabs in November, with only one of the areas having two candidates in the race. Current Board of Trustees members Cain Maldonado and Tammy...
City Council candidates vie for open seats
Four candidates from District 2 and two from District 4 will be vying for seats on the City Council this year. In District 2, there is small business owner Vincent Martinez, Claims Specialist...
Isabella Garcia named 2020 Rose Queen
Isabella Garcia was crowned the 2020 Rose Queen/Miss Wasco Thursday evening during a stunning and historic pageant. Tailored to meet the covid-19 restrictions placed on indoor gatherings, the pageant...
Speeding concerns council members
Near the end of the City Council meeting, council member Gilberto Reyna commented on how concerned he is with the speeding of vehicles on Central Avenue. “It angers me,” Reyna said. “Drivers...
Virus cases still on the rise
The number of new cases of the coronavirus are still on the rise, despite an effort to have residents wear face masks when downtown or shopping. The City of Shafter and a group of community members...
Meet the candidate: Kris Lawrence
In a series that begins this week, we will be featuring the candidates running for the three open City Council seats this year. The candidates who are running are current council members Gilbert Alvar...
Richland making plans for a return to school for some students
The Richland School Board was given a presentation for a Return to School plan that will see the return of small groups of students to each school, called cohorts. The plan, which is still in the...
Blood Drive helps patients in need
The City of Shafter teamed up with Shafter High School and Houchin Blood Bank to hold a Blood Drive at Mannel Park on Sept. 10. The drive was geared toward students, but was open to adults as well. The turnout was great and lives were helped with the...
Rose Queen virtual pageant today
Covid-19 has changed the landscape of community activities such as fundraisers, meetings and the traditional Rose Queen pageant, which takes place the first Thursday after Labor Day. This week, the pageant is today, Thursday, Sept. 10. However,...
2019 Rose Queen says farewell
It has been the most memorable year any girl could dream of. The people, the places and moments that were made are forever cherished as the new pageant comes closer and closer every day as Queen. Now,...
WUESD to distance learn through December
Wasco Unified Elementary School District Superintendent Kelly Richers said distance learning has been successfully implemented, with the district at 92% attendance. Richers said some special education and English language learner students have been...
WUESD staff receive supportive letter from superintendent
Kelly Richers, superintendent of the Wasco Union Elementary School District, sent a statement to all staff at the district expressing his gratitude and support for everything that staff has done to...
Community Coalition provides updates
The second virtual Wasco Community Coalition meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 2, took place online with various groups reporting on their recent activities: 1. Keri Cobb from the City’s planning department updated attendees on the city’s procedures....
City offers grant opportunity
Wasco is now accepting applications for the Small Business Covid-19 Relief Grant Program. The program aims to alleviate the impact of the virus on small businesses and their employees. The city has committed up to $150,000 in one-time funds to...
Shafter sees 10% spike in new covid cases
Shafter saw 47 new cases of covid-19 in the last week, which is an increase of about 10 percent over the week before. With most of the businesses in town following the safety precautions set by the Ke...
