Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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Officers from the Shafter Police Department arrested three felons on drugs and weapons charges that began as a simple traffic stop. According to Acting Chief Randy Mulligan, the officers were conducting a proactive patrol on the 300 block of East Lerdo Highway, officers observed an equipment violation and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle was occupied by three people, all of whom, later discovered, were all felons. The suspects were later identified as Cinthia Rizo, 40, of Bakersfield, and...
The Minter Field Air Museum held a celebration on Saturday night, commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Gossamer Condor historic flight in Shafter. Gossamer Condor was the first human-powered aircraft in the world, reaching speeds of 38 miles per hour in flight. The event started coming together late last year. Museum Board Chairman Ronald Pierce was contacted by Jean Peters, whose father had taken video of the historic test flight and wondered if Pierce and the museum might be interested...
Kern County Public Works is accepting bids for a new park in Shafter, according to a statement from Public Works Director Joshua Champlin. The park will be the first such project in the La Colonia area of Shafter, formerly known as the Mexican Colony. The area is steeped in tradition, with residents going back generations. For years, residents have been wanting improvements or revitalization done in the southern part of Shafter. Thanks to funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, $330,000 was...
The Shafter Library and Learning Center had a busy summer program, including their Summer Reading Challenge and a variety of activities keeping children busy. Now that school is in session, the center is not slowing down, still offering programs for all ages. For the little ones, they are offering a KinderPrep program that is aimed to prepare Shafter's pre-K kids for their educational careers. KinderPrep helps prepare 4.5-6-year-old old for their first in-person school year. Pre-K helps younger...
The Shafter High Generals opened their home schedule with a rout of the Arvin Bears, 56-13, last Thursday night.The victory was a costly one, though, as the team lost the services of their starting quarterback for the majority of the season. Ezekiel Osborn, the junior signal-caller for the Generals, was injured during the game. Osborn didn't miss a single play and finished the game apparently okay. But, after the game, an examination determined that Osborn had broken his clavicle. He will have...
The Shafter High Generals football team began their 2025 journey with a win against the Exeter Monarchs on Friday night. Shafter showed that they can win when they are not at their best, beating Exeter 22-14. Led by Head Coach Jerald Pierucci, the Generals, who came into the game as the top-ranked team in the Central Section Division IV, did just enough to top the Monarchs, who came into the game as the fourth-ranked team in the division. The Generals offense didn't get going in the first half...
The Shafter City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to appoint a business growth leader as city manager. Fresno economic director Lance Lippincott was not present at the meeting, but it was reported that he was watching the meeting via Zoom. Current City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez announced that he would be retiring when his contract expires in March 2025. The council interviewed candidates and selected Lippincott. According to the council report, Lippincott was selected because of his...
A new North Shafter Parkis finally expected to break ground early in 2025, according to the city. The project was originally approved in 2021. According to Public Works Department Director Michael James, the design phase of the park has been completed, and the city will be accepting bids as early as this fall, planning for a groundbreaking toward the first of 2025. The 4-acre park, at Highway 43 and Fresno Avenue, will offer a variety of amenities, including a playground, a multiuse court,...
James Garner brought his "Tribute to Johnny Cash" show to the Shafter Ford Theater for three shows last weekend that packed the house for each performance. Garner performed in Shafter for one show last year, also a sellout. The show features Garner as the Man in Black, complete with the clothes, demeanor and the unmistakable voice of the Country Music Hall of Famer. Garner and his band played Cash's most popular songs, such as "Ring of Fire," A Boy Named Sue" and "Walk the Line." He also...
The Shafter High Generals football team began their quest for a championship on Thursday night, scrimmaging against a tough Golden Valley team. Shafter, which has the majority of their offense and defense back from last season, looked like they were further into the season than the first outing. Head Coach Jerald Pierucci and company impressed the large home crowd, making a positive start to the season. With each team running 10 plays at a time on offense, the Generals showed that they are just...
The students in the Richland School District received a big helping hand when it comes to preparing for this school year. Last week, students were given free backpacks, paper, pencils and other school supplies that will get them ready for the fall session, beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Thanks to the support from the Shafter Lions Club, as well as members of the Shafter community, all of the children who were at the Golden Oak event received a backpack. On Saturday, Aug. 3, the Lions Club...
Shafter is continuing its efforts to improve the city's roadways, utilizing a variety of funds that have been made available through different grants from the state of California. The city announced that they would be working on a list of roads starting this week, and warned the public to expect delays wherever the work is. Sand sealing work began early this week, beginning with Poplar Avenue between between Fresno Avenue and Central Valley Highway. On Tuesday, it was Poplar Avenue between...
The Wasco Tigers football team caught fire at the right time last year, battling their way to the State Championship game for the first time in school history. They were 6-2 in the SSL, but turned up their performance in the playoffs, culminating with a 7-6 win in the Regional Championship. The Tigers showed more versatility in their offense last year, with Coach Chad Martinez's squad airing the ball out when it needed to, making their running game that much more effective. With the departure...
The Shafter High Generals football team is on a mission. This mission was prematurely aborted last year with a controversial loss in the semifinals of the Valley Championship. Coach Jerald Pierucci and his team are now looking to finish the job that they started almost three years ago. With a host of players returning from last year's team, Shafter is highly ranked, including by MaxPreps.com. There, they are ranked #14 in the Central Section, including Division I teams such as Frontier and...
The Shafter City Council voted to approve a buyout option for the employment contract between the City of Shafter and its City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who began with the city in 2020, has a contract that expires in March 2025. Gonzalez has announced to the council that he plans to retire at the end of his contract. Gonzalez also said that he would be willing to accept a buyout of his current contract if the city finds a replacement before the expiration of his contract. In the terms...
Shafter held its First Friday event on Friday, Aug. 2, in downtown Shafter, drawing a crowd for an evening of fun. The event is a continuing series of events that the city started last year to great success. The brainchild of Mayor Chad Givens, the latest in the series had good food, music, games for the kids and a lot of vendors displaying a variety of items. There was jewelry, clothing and information booths, as well as organizations promoting an array of services. The Shafter Recreation...
Tin Cup of Shafter recently celebrated seven years in business with an event that included vendors, raffles, live music, coffees and drinks. Manager Shakira Willis said that she was pleasantly surprised with the response on Thursday. "I wondered what kind of crowd there would be because of the event being in the morning during the week, but it has been really great." Willis and her staff were busy selling their signature sandwiches and drinks, giving customers raffle tickets. They gave away...
The Shafter Lions Club, along with their partners and sponsors, held a Stuff the Bus event on Saturday, collecting a busload of school supplies for the students of Shafter. Gilbert Alvarado of the Shafter Lions Club said that it was thanks to the support of the entire community that the event was a success. In addition to the Shafter Lions Club, the Shafter Family Resource Center and Kern County Child Support Services, as well as Acelerados Off Road, were on hand to help with the event. Members...
Salvation Training Ground ended their fourth season with a third place basketball team in the West Coast Nationals tournament, held in Las Vegas. Head Coach Fabian Jimenez said that he is very proud of the girls for representing Shafter in such a great way. The team competed against top teams from Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, as well as some of California's best. Shafter teams had competed in the Regionals in Anaheim, moving on to the Jam On It West Coast Nationals, where the girls 12U...
Belton Banks, who has spent over 30 years serving the community of Shafter, has announced that he will be retiring from the District 1 Cemetery Board at the end of his current term. Banks has served on the board for the last eight years. In addition to the cemetery board, Banks has served on numerous boards and committees, as well as being involved in several clubs and organizations. Belton Banks was raised in Shafter. He had a 32-year career in elementary and secondary education in Shafter...
On Sunday morning, Shafter Mayor Chad Givens, along with his wife, Vanessa, were installed as the new pastors of the Canyon Hills Shafter Church. Formerly the First Assembly of God Church of Shafter, the church was taken over by Canyon Hills a couple of years ago. Canyon Hills has campuses throughout Kern County and elsewhere. Givens said that he has been certified by both the Pentecostal Church of God and Assembly of God Church for a few years. Givens was part of the Jesus Saves International...
The Shafter Summer Children's Theater cast a spell on audiences this past weekend, performing "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella" at Shafter's Ford Theater. The group spent two months preparing for the challenging production, filled with songs, dancing and acting. The production featured the character of Cinderella, played by Rori Acres. Acres was at times shy and reserved, as well as always kind and gracious. For comic relief, look no further than the hilarious Evil Stepmother and her quirky...
Edwin Sanchez, who was involved in a fiery crash in Shafter in August 2023, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter in connection with a deadly crash last year in Shafter and has been sentenced to probation and community service. On the afternoon of Aug. 14, Sanchez drove a Ford Excursion west on West Lerdo Highway approaching Driver Road, according to a court filing. The Ford collided with an Infiniti Q50 in the intersection. Both vehicles caught fire. The...
The Shafter Animal Control will be holding a Low Cost Vaccine Clinic for Shafter dogs and cats on Saturday, Aug. 3, from 7 to 10 a.m. Shafter residents are eligible to participate in the clinic, but an appointment is recommended for the event. The cost is $15 and includes FVRCP vaccine for cats, rabies vaccines for dogs and cats, and DHPP vaccine for dogs. Free licensing also will be available for pets for one year with the special. There are dogs and cats in town who need to get up to date on...
