Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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The Wasco City Council Tuesday night approved a new Police Activities League coordinator position to establish and manage the program, as well as oversee the development, execution and delivery of youth programming and initiatives. "This person will assist with all police department grants, particularly those focused on youth, and manage the day-to-day operations of the PAL building, including the calendar, property maintenance and facility use," Assistant City Manager Maria Lara explained....
Grace Community Church offers an engaging weekly program, "Kid Zone," on Wednesday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. The program features a meal, games, singing and a Bible story, all free for kids in transitional kindergarten through 5th grade. Judy Bocker, who helps run the program, said, "We love being active with the kids and keeping them busy playing hockey, spending time on the playground, and enjoying the hula hoop, basketball and relays." The church has organized Kid Zone for the past six years....
St. John the Evangelist Parish is gearing up to host its 2024 Harvest Festival on Sunday, Oct. 20. The annual event has become a staple in the community, offering a festive gathering for families and friends to enjoy. Organized by Councilmember Gilberto Reyna, who has served as event chairman since 2015, the festival has been a significant fundraiser for the church for more than two decades. "It is an opportunity to come together, and it's a fun afternoon for everyone," Reyna said. The festival...
This Nov. 5, the Wasco community will have the opportunity to vote on Measure D, a bond that would bring significant changes to the Wasco Union High School District. The measure has garnered support from many educators and residents. "School safety is one of the primary focuses of this bond measure," Wasco Union High School District Superintendent Kevin Tallon explained. "There are various areas that are unsafe when it comes to temperature and ventilation due to a lack of air conditioning. The...
The Shafter Rotary Club will host a Ghost Tour on Sunday, Oct. 27, offering a fresh take on local legends and stories never before shared. This unique event, designed for a 21-and-over crowd, promises to blend spooky tales with a touch of humor, ensuring an entertaining experience. Blake Goehring, a Rotarian of 18 years and one of the event's tour guides, brings a special flair to the role. Having previously worked at Disneyland's Jungle Cruise in Anaheim, he developed a love for leading...
Second in a series of profiles of Shafter City Council candidates running for three open seats on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Other articles can be found on The ShafterPress.com. Gilbert Alvarado has served Shafter for almost two decades as a city councilman, including one term as mayor. He hopes to be re-elected to the council to see the city continue to thrive and to play a role in that process. As a committed public servant, he has demonstrated a passion for public service and wishes to continue the wor...
Shafter will be expanding the Police Department's drone capabilities in the near future after a vote by the City Council Tuesday night. The council approved the department's Drone Program after a presentation from Sergeant Storm Kincade, the certified drone pilot for the Shafter police, to do the presentation for the council on the program. Kincade said that the department has purchased a DJ Mavik 3T drone, which is a multiuse drone that will benefit the safety of police and the public....
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.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, call 661-292-5100 or email [email protected]. Deadline is 4 p.m. Thursday prior to publication. Updates will be on TheShafterPress.com and WascoTrib.com. ANNOUNCEMENTS Ground-breaking ceremony – Shafter Recreation and Park District having a celebratory ground-breaking ceremony for the new C...
Oct. 7 Elyssa Santillano, 26, was arrested in the 2000 block of Highway 46 for battery on a peace officer, battery on a person and obstructing or resisting a peace officer. She was booked into the Lerdo Justice Facility. Steven Andrew Martinez, 21, was arrested in the 1900 block of Shamrock Court for second-degree burglary, carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, vehicle theft, obstructing or resisting a peace officer, disorderly conduct, possession of burglary tools, and on a misdemeanor bench warrant. He was booked into the Lerdo Justice...
October is Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, and the Shafter Woman's Club is raising awareness through its "White Ribbon" campaign. These ribbons, displayed around Shafter, symbolize the city's support for eliminating domestic violence against all individuals. The club is dedicated to shedding light on domestic abuse, promoting advocacy, and fostering support for survivors. Barbara Gladden, the club's recording secretary, has led this project for five years. "We put white ribbons...
The Shafter High Generals football team improved to 2-0 in SSL play with a rout of Delano High 41-13 on Friday night in Delano. The Generals started a little slowly, with one touchdown in the first quarter, with quarterback Maryion Sloan getting a 42-yard touchdown run to make the score 7-0. Shafter extended the lead in the second quarter, getting another touchdown run from Sloan to go up 14-0. The Generals' defense, which put up a shutout last week against Taft, allowed the Tigers to score...
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its Super Students for the week. 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 in the front row from right are school counselor Lisa Hill, Briseis Raya (5th grade), Victoria Bautista (4th grade), Anthony Ramirez (3rd grade), Raul Alvarez (2nd grade), Myriam C....
The Wasco Union High School Class of 1974 gathered on Saturday to celebrate their milestone 50th reunion. Classmates traveled from as far as Florida, Texas, Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Arizona to reconnect with old friends, relive memories from the past and catch up on the last five decades of each other's lives. For Jann Hill, it was a special opportunity to see John Herrick. "We were close friends in high school, and he was in my wedding. The last time I saw him was 40 years ago. He went up...
The annual Blaine Willard Memorial Car Show, held on Saturday and presented by the Wasco Elks Lodge #2419, drew a record crowd of car enthusiasts. The event was a tribute to Blaine Willard, who served the lodge and the community for many years. The large turnout demonstrated just how much Blaine was admired, with attendees coming from near and far to honor his memory. Linda Ballengee thought it was a great show. Her husband, Mark Ballengee, brought his 1933 Victory, and she liked seeing the...
Irma Ceja is a Chicana artist and muralist. She paints anime characters on tote bags, clothing, and shoes, which she sells online, at pop-ups, special events and galleries. Her artwork often depicts females, such as the Virgin Mary and other feminine influences. She is currently working on a large scale, colorful mosaic mural commissioned by the Urbanist Collective, representing the rich agricultural community of Delano. "I love that my art can be used to help beautify a community and unite...
Strata Credit Union will celebrate Día de los Muertos with a member appreciation event, on Friday, Nov. 1, at their Wasco branch. The gathering will include activities such as face painting, pastries, exciting raffles and giveaways, including a chance to take home a limited-edition tumbler. "We established the Día de los Muertos Member Appreciation Event to celebrate and honor both past and present family members, embodying the rich cultural traditions that resonate deeply within our c...
James Osborne is originally from Nashville, Tenn., and came to Shafter in 2019. Along with his wife, Cur'Neisha, he runs a nonprofit called Villagers Inc., which serves underprivileged youth by offering educational study trips, life skills training, leadership development, and food and home resources to the parents. Osborne is running for one of three seats to be filled on the Shafter City Council, against incumbents Mayor Chad Givens, Gilberto Alvarado and Pete Espinoza, and Rafael Zamudio....
The Shafter community came together Tuesday evening to celebrate National Night Out, an event designed to foster stronger connections between law enforcement agencies and residents. Hosted by the Shafter Lions Club and the Shafter Police Department, the gathering offered a chance for community members to interact with officers in a relaxed, friendly setting, with the goal of promoting trust and collaboration. "It was a team effort between me and the Lions Club," Councilmember Gilbert Alvarado,...
An emergency was averted by the Wonderful Aviation team at Meadows Field on Friday when a pilot on a King Air 90 flight from Henderson, Nev., to Monterey Bay, became unconscious. A student pilot found herself flying the aircraft alone for the first time. Wonderful Aviation's pilots played a crucial role in guiding the student pilot – who had zero experience - through the crisis, helping her safely land the plane in Bakersfield. Chief Pilot Nick McLean said it was a matter of being in the r...
The Young Adults Theater of Shafter will perform "Drop Dead Disco," a captivating murder mystery dinner with audience participation that showcases the ttalent of its actors. The event will raise funds for the Shafter Children's Summer Theater and Young Adults Theater of Shafter productions, said Joshua Cooley, the show's director. The evening promises to be packed with entertainment, with dinner and desserts served while a sibling trio gains ownership of a discotheque. Mysteriously, one of the...
Karl F. Clemens Elementary School announced its Super Students for the week of Oct. 7. Criteria for selection were 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 Principal Anabel Garrison, Alexander J. Hernandez (5th grade), Anthony Beltran (4th grade), Isaiah Matamoros (3rd grade), Julian Hernandez (2nd grade), Ariel Vasquez...
A main provider of wireless service in the city will get a substantial lease reduction on its use of the Wasco water tower after a vote by the City Council. The council also agreed to a marketing partnership with the Tribune at their meeting Tuesday night. The council agreed to revise the city’s communications site lease agreement with unWired Broadband. The lease involves Wasco's historic water tower at the northeast corner of 8th Street and E Street. Since 2009, Wasco has had multiple lease agreements with unWired, which have been updated o...
Wasco's Measure X sales taxes are expected to provide substantial funding for the Police Department, street lighting and an animal shelter in the coming year. At a Sales Tax Oversight Committee meeting on Thursday, the panel reviewed the status Measure X activity and plans for the future Finance Director Isarel Perez-Hernandez delivered a presentation showcasing the financial health of the funding, explaining 2023-24 activity. The report showed a beginning balance of $6.39 million, revenues of...
Seven Wasco High School FFA students were honored as recipients of the Friends of the Fair Scholarship during the Parade of Champions at the 2024 Kern County Fair on Sept. 22. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, involvement in the local agricultural industry and community service, and reflect the high academic standards upheld at Wasco High School. The students' achievements also highlight the exceptional caliber of Wasco's FFA program participants. The scholarship winne...
