Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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It has been a few years since the city of Shafter has been the site of the Colours Festival, which had been an annual event for a few years before that. The event, which started out very small, had grown to draw attendees and artists throughout the county and beyond, drawing nationally renowned artists to some of the events. Well, I just loved attending the events at the festival, from the art gallery, the coffee house music, the Shafter Symphony – all of the events were great. I don’t thi...
No date has been announced for the arraignment of a Wasco middle school counselor arrested last week on charges of sexually molesting a 14-year-old student at the school. The employee was arrested on Jan. 30 after the girl charged he had touched her “inappropriately,” according a release from Kern County Sheriff’s Office. The incident allegedly occurred in May of last year. The employee, Jose Solis, 37, of Shafter, is a counselor at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and has been with the district for five years. Solis was booked into the count...
The Shafter City Council approved the low bid of $1.4 million to start work on the Santa Fe Way Shoulder Project. This project spans from Santa Fe Way to Los Angeles Avenue to Galpin Avenue. Bids ranged from $1,4 million to $2.5 million, with the low bid presented by Birch Construction. Work is expected to begin on this project in the next two months. The council presented a proclamation for the observance of February as Safe Surrender Month in the city of Shafter. Safe Surrender was founded in...
Police arrested a man into custody after he allegedly shot another man in the head outside the Shafter Starbucks Thursday morning. At approximately 9:37 a.m., Shafter police officers responded to a call reporting a shooting in the 100 block of West Lerdo Highway. Officers already in the area heard the shots, saw a man running from the scene and detained him. Officers then found an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds to his head. Hall Ambulance responded and transported the victim to Kern...
Hitchcock's Auto Parts has been serving the community for 100 years, becoming one of the longest-running businesses in Kern County. Founded by Charles Hitchcock in 1923, the business has kept customer service at the forefront of its mission. According to owner Jesse Escobedo, this is one of the main components of the success of the business. "We treat our customers with respect and consider them family. Chuck Hitchcock always said, which was on the letterhead for a long time, that, 'Every time...
A local woman, who has spent over 35 years crocheting blankets and beanies, has used this talent to help keep locals in need warm, as well as loved. Joy Duke, or "Grandma Joy," has been donating blankets and beanies that she crochets to local organizations. This year, she donated 36 blankets to the Carrington House in Shafter, with help from the Shafter Womans Club, who delivered them. She regularly donates blankets as a part of the Shafter Woman's Club Christmas for Seniors. Duke said that she...
Romero's Closets is celebrating four years of serving the communities of Wasco, Shafter and Bakersfield. The company brings expertise and pride in its original and custom designs. Horacio and Rebeca Romero own the mobile business. They specialize in one-of-a-kind organizers, sliding mirror doors, crown and base molding, and paint and flooring to create unique closets that are adjustable to impress anyone looking for the perfect space to fit your needs and more. Before they started the business,...
Minter Field has been giving residents a peek into the rich military history of the United States, as well as the history of the role that Minter Field has played in that history. With the observance of Black History Month, Museum Director Ronald Pierce pointed out the little-known role that Minter Field played in the history of a group of black airmen that were stationed at Minter Field. Another Minter Field Air Museum member has a personal history when it comes to the role of these men. Major...
The Shafter High Generals girls wrestling team may be small in numbers, but they make up for it in determination and talent. The Lady Generals have not had enough girls to field a full team, so they haven't been on top of the scoreboard in dual matches, but the quality of their wrestlers have the rest of the Central Valley taking notice. Such was the case in their dual meet with rival Wasco Lady Tigers. Shafter may have lost the dual match, but in the four matches that were contested, the Lady G...
Fourth and 5th grade students from Redwood Elementary School participated in their Science Fair last week, showcasing their science fair projects and sharing their research and conclusions. The event is a qualifier for the County Science Fair, which includes students who have won at the school and district level. According to Superintendent Rosa Romero, the students worked hard on their projects for weeks. "We are proud of our participants for their hard work and effort in completing their...
Because the idea of a dog park within Mannel Park didn't sit well with nearby residents, the city will replace the state's contribution for the park's shade project and eliminate that component from the plan. Tuesday night, the City Council approved a budget amendment to move $75,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to the Mannel Park Shade Structure project. The project, including a dog par, was previously going to be funded by a grant from the state. But because of concerns from residents...
James Garner and the Tennessee Three appeared at the Ford Theater on Saturday night, giving residents a glimpse of the artistry of the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Garner channeled the country icon, with the look, mannerisms, and vocal style of the singer, giving the audience an amazing concert, according to several attendees. "It was outstanding. I saw Cash back in 1978 in Las Vegas, and he had Cash down completely. He even had his guitar playing style perfect," said Ralph Cordero, who was in...
One person is dead after their pickup truck collided with a train on its way to Oakland on Thursday afternoon. According to the California Highway Patrol, at approximately 4:45 p.m., an Amtrak train traveling from Bakersfield to Oakland collided with a pickup near the intersection of Madera Avenue and Poplar Avenue in Shafter. The driver of the truck was declared dead at the scene. The passengers of the train and crew were not injured. The area was closed for several hours for law enforcement...
The Shafter Kiwanis Club held their monthly Terrific Kids luncheon on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 18, recognizing outstanding students from the Richland School District. The students honored best displayed the trait that was selected as the theme for that month. This last month, the trait was "Inclusive." Students are nominated by a teacher or administrator, with that person recognizing that student for being a great example of that trait. This month, for Richland Junior High, the students...
Shafter celebrated its most historic football season in history with a downtown rally on Friday night, honoring the Shafter High Generals, who finished the season as the State Championship runner-up in Division 5. The Generals, led by Head Coach Jerald Pierucci, were honored by representatives of the city, as well as the offices of state Sen. Melissa Hurtado and Dr. Jasmeen Bains, who presented each team member with certificates. The Shafter High cheerleaders performed for the crowd before the...
Recently, a Shafter resident saw a need, asked for help and got it for the whole city. An employee of the Shafter Press, Erica Soriano, and her daughter, Chloe Hathcock, were concerned about the upcoming storms and how they could help their relatives who live in the Fresno Avenue area of Shafter prepare for the forecasted rains. Soriano called the cityys Public Works Department to inquire about the availability of sand bags for residents. She was told that the city did not supply sand bags and referred her to the Fire Department. When she...
The latest in the Shafter Library and Learning Center's ongoing series of author appearances, featuring Saida Woolf, was a standing-room-only event. Woolf is a 19-year-old writer and graphic artist from Tehachapi. She began working on her book, "Soulstream," as a sophomore in high school. She finished it during her senior year, signed a contract with graphic novel publisher Scout Comics, and then took a year off so she could promote the book. In September 2022, she began attending San Jose...
A Shafter man was arrested when a simple traffic stop turned into more serious charges when a weapon was found in the vehicle. Kern County Sheriff's deputies stopped the man, later identified as Alexis Garcia, 22, of Shafter, at the intersection of Poso Drive and F Street on Monday night. Deputies suspected that Garcia was driving under the influence. Upon investigating, the officers found a loaded assault rifle and ammunition in the vehicle. After the traffic stop, deputies served a search...
Everyone who has lived in Shafter for any length of time knows about the man who had a real train on his property. Kids growing up would marvel at the machine as it chugged along through his orchard. Merrill Lehman passed away recently, leaving a large footprint in the history of Shafter. Lehman graduated from Delano High School and went to Fresno State University, where he studied agronomy. Armed with his degree, Lehman worked as an agronomist for the USDA Cotton Research Station for decades....
For fans of "The Man in Black," a treat is coming to Shafter on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m., when James Garner and his band, The Tennessee Three, will be bringing a tribute show to Shafter's Ford Theater. Garner has been performing his tribute to Johnny Cash for the past 15 years. In the many positive reviews of the show, it is said that Garner and his band faithfully recreate the "boom-chick-a-boom" sound that was pioneered by artists such as Cash, Luther Perkins and Marshal Grant in the...
It has been a few years since the city of Shafter has been the site of the Colours Festival, which had been an annual event for a few years before that. The event, which started out very small, had grown to draw attendees and artists throughout the county and beyond, drawing nationally renowned artists to some of the events. Well, I just loved attending the events at the festival, from the art gallery, the coffee house music, the Shafter Symphony – all of the events were great. I don’t thi...
Golden Oak Elementary students returned from Christmas break with renewed enthusiasm and eager to learn. The school began the new quarter by recognizing scholars who excelled in achievement and attendance for the second quarter. They had 176 students in the 3rd through 6th grades who earned Honor Roll for the second quarter. Honor Roll is achieved by earning a 3.0 or higher GPA for the quarter. Those students who earned a 4.0 or higher were named to the Principal's Honor Roll. Those students...
There seems to be a light at the end of a long tunnel, the tunnel being the conflict that has been going between the city of Wasco and the High Speed Rail Authority. The Wasco City Council discussed an agreement that is being negotiated with the High Speed Rail Authority (HSR). In this agreement, the HSR would agree to five different agreements, each addressing a different phase of the contract. During the past decade, the HSRA and the city of Wasco have been in negotiations. Various project...
This is the second half of the 2022 Shafter year in review. The first part ran last week, and is available online at TheShafterPress.com The second half of 2022 was an eventful one in Shafter, with a historic playoff run by the Shafter Generals football team, a general election that ended with a new member on the City Council, and the return of July 3 Fireworks Show, put on by the Shafter Chamber of Commerce. New businesses opened in Shafter, too, including the first Starbucks location, as well...
The Sequoia Bears students had a very busy week before Christmas break, taking part in a number of fun activities, as well as teaming up to send the Shafter Generals off in style on their way to Orland for the State Championship game. Sequoia students worked hard making signs and posters wishing the Generals good luck as they took off for their long trip up north. The students lined the bus driveway, cheering and showing their Shafter pride with signs of encouragement. "This was a lot of fun. I...