Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched "Operation Return to Sender" last week in the Bakersfield area, including Wasco, sending a wave of fear among immigrants and farm workers. "They are terrorizing our communities, as among those targeted during random stops and raids have been essential workers who help sustain our food system," said Irene De Barraicua, director of policy and communications for Líderes Campesinas, a farm worker support organization. The operation took place over three da...
Kyle Wedel has been named Wasco High School's head varsity football coach. He has been the team's assistant coach for the last two years and assistant varsity baseball coach for the previous four years. He will also take on the role of head varsity baseball coach this year, taking over from his father.. Wedel, a lifelong resident of Wasco, graduated from WHS in 2013, where he played both baseball and football and was part of the 2012 Valley Championship football team. As head football coach, he...
Walmart held a grand opening for its fuel station on Highway 46 last Thursday with a festive ribbon-cutting celebration featuring the Wasco High School cheer team and marching band. Walmart also awarded $500 grants to the Wasco Police Department, Wasco High School and the Wasco Fire Department, along with a $1,000 grant presented to the Lauren Small Children's Center at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital. Gilberto Reyna, council member and former mayor of Wasco, thanked Walmart for bringing this new...
The Wasco Community Scholarship Association application period for the 2025-2026 academic year is officially open. Wasco Union High School graduating seniors and alumni can now apply for scholarships to help fund their educational pursuits. Applications must be postmarked by March 3. For nearly 60 years, WCSA has been dedicated to empowering WUHS graduates to achieve their goals through education and life. Since its inception in 1965, the association has awarded over a million dollars in...
Gov. Gavin Newsom visited Shafter last week for a ceremony marking the groundbreaking of the California High-Speed Rail Authority Railhead Project. The railhead will serve as a freight yard where materials are received and track-laying work is staged, representing the initial step before the tracks are laid. The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate the substantial completion of Construction Package 4 (CP 4), the southernmost stretch of the initial operating line of the high-speed...
Phillip Jimenez joined the Shafter Recreation and Parks District in 2014, starting as a program coordinator and working his way up to district manager. A former collegiate athlete, he exemplifies the dedication of a public servant who left his hometown only to return and make a lasting impact on the lives of countless youth, adults and seniors in the community. After graduating from Shafter High School, Jimenez attended Southern Utah University on a football scholarship. He then transferred to...
Lorena Castillo is a Shafter-based artist who works with acrylics on large-scale surfaces and canvases. "Art breaks barriers and brings people together," she said in an interview last week. "It helps people share and learn about their culture and traditions. Art builds bridges between individuals and communities, bringing human connection." She is originally from Watsonville and moved to Shafter with her two children in 2018 to be with her mother after her father passed away. Over the past six...
A common thread runs through discussions of Wasco's housing stock: a need for more housing beyond low-income residences. And it seems like the core issue is much like others in the region: a lack of water. Resident Sukie Martinez emphasizes the community's struggle to retain families like hers. Real estate expert Tilo Cortez points out that builders primarily focus on entry-level homes, often overlooking the demand for larger, move-up houses. This stagnation in development is compounded by a...
U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched "Operation Return to Sender" last week in the Bakersfield area, including Wasco, sending a wave of fear among immigrants and farm workers. "They are terrorizing our communities, as among those targeted during random stops and raids have been essential workers who help sustain our food system," said Irene De Barraicua, director of policy and communications for Líderes Campesinas, a farm worker support organization. The operation took place over three da...
Luke and Jasmin Malone met at the age of 15 at Wasco High School and have two daughters, Hailie, 12, and Andy, 7. This year, they will celebrate 12 years of marriage. Together, they own Malone's Photography and share a passion for the art form. Jasmin had always loved photography, and five years ago, Luke bought her her first camera. "I'm impatient and tried learning it but let it go. Two years ago, he picked it up, and that's where it all began. He's always had an eye for it," Jasmin said in...
Dr. Kelly Foster Blanton served as Kern County's 18th Superintendent of Schools. Born on January 12, 1937, he passed away at 87 on Dec. 17. A dedicated educator, his work had a lasting impact on education in Kern County and beyond. Raised in Buttonwillow and Wasco, Blanton's life and career were profoundly shaped by his early experiences in the area. Blanton lived in farm labor camps and picked cotton alongside his family. Despite the challenges his family faced, his love for learning set him...
Wasco Elks Lodge 2419 is gearing up for its Leading Knight and Secretary Challenge Dinner, benefiting the “Purple Pig,” on Friday, Jan. 24. This event is a major fundraiser for the California-Hawaii Elks Association, which supports a wide range of programs for disabled individuals, children, veterans and youth. "The Purple Pig is one of our club's most prominent charities because most of the funds raised go to support significant projects in our community,” said Erik Brown, the event chair...
Part of a continuing series highlighting local leaders, including members of the Wasco Recreation and Parks District board. Other stories can be found on WascoTrib.com. Oscar Luna is in his second year serving on the Parks and Recreation board, bringing to the role his experience as the assistant superintendent of the Wasco Union Elementary School District since July 2022. He also has nearly 15 years of experience in school administration. In addition, he has served as the president of the...
In March 2023, the City of Wasco received a $288,000 grant from UC Davis to partner with the SNIP Bus to expand the city's spay/neuter capacity. The partnership allows the SNIP Bus to hold free spay/neuter clinics monthly for three years, completing an estimated 1,800 surgeries. "Last year, we treated 210 dogs and 171 cats for a total of 381 animals, saving residents approximately $300 a piece per surgery," Public Works Director Luis Villa explained. The Spay Neuter Imperative Project is a...
Colours: A Celebration of the Arts has been a tradition in the city for over 10 years, bringing creativity and inspiration to Shafter. This festival has become a cornerstone for showcasing artistic expression that uplifts and inspires. At the heart of the event lies its guiding mission statement: "It is our desire to help other people discover, create and enjoy transformed art. Transformed art is art that reflects what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute and worthy of praise....
The Kiwanis Club of Shafter held a special luncheon on Dec. 11 to honor local students selected as Terrific Kids for demonstrating exceptional responsibility in the classroom. Teachers nominated the students whose achievements were celebrated alongside their families and community members. Guests enjoyed lunch, and each student received a certificate, pencil, bumper sticker and t-shirt in recognition of their efforts. "We love acknowledging people who are responsible at all ages, but...
Here are second-half highlights of Wasco's year. Last week's first-half review can be seen on WascoTrib.com. July The second half of the year began with the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Central Avenue Park. The new park, designed to be a vibrant hub for families and visitors, offers a variety of recreational activities and green spaces. Semitropic Elementary School welcomed a new addition to its leadership team with the appointment of Dr. Wendy Castañeda-Leal as...
Catrina's Mexican Grill celebrated its 10th anniversary on Dec. 17, and owner Marcela Bojorquez couldn't be prouder of this milestone. In 2014, she and her husband, Cesar Marquez, pursued their American dream by starting the business, trusting that with hard work and dedication, they could persevere. They immigrated from Mexico 28 years ago and met in Bakersfield in 2007. Marcela is a Spanish professor, and Cesar had always wanted to open a restaurant because his family owned restaurants in...
Rene Gutierrez is a rig welder who works in the oil fields and makes custom gates. Last year, he lent his welding talents to the Wasco Downtown Beautification Project. "After this job, I transformed myself into an artist. I never saw myself as one until Art Sherwyn gave me the assignment. He showed me the design picture, and I brought it to life." He built a 19-foot steel archway inspired by camera lenses and squares symbolizing camera bodies. The varying sizes and shapes of the rings and...
The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the 18-year-old driver from Wasco involved in a fatal crash on Kimberlina Road on Dec. 7. Luis Jesus Rios was killed after his vehicle collided with a piece of farm equipment. The incident occurred about 7:30 a.m. when Rios was driving a GMC Sierra pickup truck eastbound on Kimberlina Road near Root Avenue. Despite the dense fog that reduced visibility, Rios was traveling at an unsafe speed, according to the California Highway Patrol. At the same t...
The Shafter Kiwanis Club honored Barbara Gladden with the 2024 Community Service Award last month in appreciation of her nearly 50 years of dedicated community service. A Shafter native, Barbara is a selfless servant who works not for recognition but out of a genuine passion for helping others, club members said during the ceremony. Her deep commitment to making Shafter a better place for families and a special community for everyone to call home is truly inspiring. Arlie Smith, a longtime...
Gary Rodriguez joined the Shafter Recreation and Park District board in 2008 and considers one of his greatest accomplishments to be overseeing the process of acquiring state grant funding for the new Wonderful Sports Complex. "A big thank you to the other board members who played a significant part in making that process a success, including Phillip Jimenez and his staff, as well as our grant writer and consultant, Gilbert Garcia," he said in an interview last week. Rodriguez is enthusiastic ab...
Mariyon Sloan, a junior at Shafter High School who has played football since he was 4 years old, participated in the U.S. Army Bowl National Combine in Frisco, Texas, from Dec. 19 to 21. "It was a great experience meeting the top 160 high school juniors from across the nation, showcasing my talent and competing against everyone else," he said. At the combine, football players were tested on their 40-yard dash, pro shuttle, broad jump and L-drill, and competed one-on-one. Offensive and defensive...
This was another year of activity in Wasco, and was full of highlights. Here are some of the top stories for the first half of 2024. The second half will be covered next week. January The year kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wasco Downtown Rehabilitation Project, funded by a $5 million grant. The initiative aimed to revitalize the downtown area with green spaces and public art installations. Alex Garcia assumed the role of mayor for the third time after previously serving in...
The North Kern Chapter of Líderes Campesinas hosted CampesinXmas at the Wasco Woman's Club on Friday, featuring a traditional Mexican posada. Over 250 toys were distributed, bikes and gift cards were raffled, and members of the organization prepared a homemade birria dinner. "It was a packed house, and the room was full of joy," Líderes Campesinas Executive Director Suguet Lopez said. "We were blessed to have had the support of all our sponsors, and we are so happy we could share this special ti...