Serving the community since 1970
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The ex-city employee charged with annoy/child molestation told police he remembered practicing wrestling maneuvers with the girls, but didn’t touch them inappropriately, according to court documents. Matthew Maldonado, the former Shafter code enforcement officer, had also been under investigation in 2017 by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. He formerly worked in Wasco. According to court documents on that investigation, there were reports of Maldonado allegedly inappropriately touching a minor. No charges were filed against him in con...
The City Council has begun preparations for redistricting due to the 2020 Census. At a special meeting on Jan. 25, City Manager Scott Hurlbert explained that although the population in the city has not changed much, there was a shift in the districts. This is because, he said, the labor camp was relocated from one district to another and the inmate population residence before incarceration. Hurlbert explained a fiscal impact statement will be a budget amendment for the work. Because of AB 2172, the existing law requires that the Department of...
The city of Shafter, which was in danger of not having a library, held a ribbon cutting celebrating its own municipal library on Tuesday afternoon. The new library has over 75% new books including a large Spanish language section. Attendees at the ribbon cutting took tours of the space along with celebrating the opening. During the pandemic, the Kern County Library system did not intend on opening the Shafter branch again. The community then approved a partnership with Bakersfield College,...
Big Stop has expanded, adding a new deli section with a full range of food. Residents can shop for shrimp tacos, burritos, tortas, biscuits and gravy and regular fried food. LoveDeep Joshan said the addition of the kitchen setup allows them to prepare a more extensive menu. "We have had great business with the new food items, with the shrimp tacos and tortas becoming big items, along with the favorite biscuits and gravy," Joshan said. The Taquieria is open from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the crew...
Jan. 17 Gilbert Avila, 64, of Wasco, was arrested in the 300 block of Griffith Avenue for misdemeanor violation of a court order. He was booked into the Kern County Jail. Benjamin Vera Raya, 33¸of Wasco, was arrested in the 1500 block of 1st Street for misdemeanor under the influence of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Kern County Jail. Jimee Simpson, 27, of Wasco, was arrested in the 700 block of F Street on her misdemeanor bench warrants. She was booked into the Kern County Jail. Jan. 18 Christopher Aaron Regalado, 30, of Wasco,...
As activities restart and businesses reopen, we will try to update readers on the status of events and activities throughout the area. Please contact Erica Soriano with additions and changes at [email protected] or call 661-292-5100 by Monday at 4 p.m. for that week’s paper. Ongoing Wasco Branch Library is in partnership with NO Kid Hungry and the Kern County Superintendent of Schools is offering FREE meals and space to do homework. Bookkeeping Free Training Program at MAOF, “Mexican American Opportunity Foundation. 2130 Chester Ave...
Here’s this week’s challenge, courtesy of the Wasco Historical Society. If you know the location, circumstances, exact or rough date and/or people in the photo, send your educated (or semieducated) guess to the Tribune, 455 Kern St., Suite E, Shafter, CA 93263, or e-mail it to mysteryphoto@ WascoTrib.com. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: Linda Fran Newcombe posed in front of potato sacks. She worked in Wasco and put the potatoes into the sacks....
The Richland School District has begun RED, Reading Every Day, to encourage students to read more often. The Golden Oak Tigers are beginning to realize it's ok to love to read, the school district said. At Redwood Elementary, the Kindness Squad was busy as they surprised students who had birthdays in January, making them birthday treats and delivering them to their classrooms. Some students were excited to win prizes for their hard work during their Winter Intersession. The drawings included...
The Shafter Wasco Landfill will host a Household Hazardous Waste event on Saturday, Feb. 12, giving residents the opportunity to dispose of materials that are too toxic to be thrown away with regular trash. The Shafter Wasco Landfill is located at 17621 Scofield Ave. and the event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. According to Lynda Martin, of American Refuse of Wasco, the event is a great opportunity for residents to get rid of unwanted materials. Accepted items include batteries, motor oil,...
Home buyers can now choose a plot in the Skye Series of Gossamer Grove. The homes are geared toward families and couples and include the first dog park in Shafter. Homes in the series begin in the mid $400,000 range with a variety of floor plans from 2,200 square feet to 2,500 square feet. The series is home to the first ever dog park in the city. The park will be dedicated to military dogs and include a statue of one of the dogs as a focal point. For kids, the series is close to the newest park...
The task force focused on the issue of homelessness at Southgate Park on 15th Street and G Street during a meeting Jan. 25. During the meeting, discussion began with a definition of the two types of homeless. One is the homeless person due to circumstances and would most likely be willing to take advantage of services offered while the other is the homeless person who chooses to remain homeless and doesn't want any help leaving the situation. "Homelessness is a problem for everybody here,"...
The other day, I was purchasing food at a local store and couldn’t believe the amount of rudeness I received from the attendant. I was having a wonderful day and had greeted her pleasantly, with a smile. I asked myself the question, why is she being so rude to me? Did I say something wrong? Did I somehow intimidate her? Many times, in these scenarios, we respond in the following ways: Respond back, rudely. Ask, “Why are you being so rude?” Ask for another attendant. Ask for a manager. Submit a complaint However, this time, I paused. I reali...
There were 1,620 newly infected people in Wasco and Shafter reported by the Kern County Public Health Department on Tuesday, Jan. 25. This is a total increase from Jan.18 of 13,833 to a Jan. 25 total of 15,163 in one week’s time. As of Jan. 25, the federal government withdrew its requirement that workers at large companies be vaccinated or regularly tested for covid-19. The Supreme Court blocked enforcement earlier in the month. The federal agency that regulates workplace safety also said on Tuesday that it is still considering whether the v...
The Wonderful Company recently awarded $1.2 million in grants to 32 nonprofit organizations in the Central Valley. Since its inception, the Wonderful Community Grants program has donated over $4 million to 57 organizations and 165 schools in the Central Valley. In Shafter, the Community Action Partnership of Kern received a grant to distribute free, fresh produce to people in Delano, Shafter and Wasco. Also in Shafter, the Kern County Department of Human Services received a grant to increase enrollment of people in the CalFresh program in...
The Shafter High sports teams are in full swing in the winter season, with the Lady Generals basketball team being ranked in the top five in Kern County. The Shafter High Lady Generals Basketball team, coached by Shawn Pennel, have moved up the rankings and are currently No. #5 in Kern County and #9 in the Central Section among Division II teams. Led by Ariana Vega, who is averaging 12 points a game, and freshman sensation Eliyah Sanchez, who is averaging nine points a game, the Lady Generals have beat a number of teams who are much larger and...
Wasco FFA chapter hosted both job interview and prepared public speaking competitions on Jan. 22 for the South Valley Section. The FFA Job Interview Event is designed to help FFA members learn, practice and display skills that are necessary for them to find employment in the agricultural business. Prepared public speaking participants were given the task of writing and delivering a 6-8-minute speech on a relevant agriculture-related topic. These members did research on the topic of interest...
The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., named a Wasco High graduate to its Dean's List for the fall semester 2021. A total of 11,979 students enrolled during the fall 2021 term at the University of Alabama made the dean's list with academic records of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale), or the president's list with academic records of 4.0 (all A's). The UA dean's and president's lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate students or to undergraduate...
Make plans to visit the Wasco Animal Shelter to see Bluff. Bluff came in as a stray and is approximately a 2-year-old, male, bicolor German Shepherd. Bluff has been great with staff, but does not belong in a home with other dogs. He was tested with large female and male dogs. At the time it is unknown if Bluff is house or crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children and cats. Bluff is available for adoption or rescue. Everyone is welcome to adopt from the facility. Adopters can be from out...
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, for John Kadel, 76, who passed away at home on Jan. 14, 2022. John was a lifetime resident of both Shafter and Bakersfield. The celebration will begin at 1 p.m. at First Southern Baptist Church of Shafter, 250 N. Kern St....
Gene Elroy Diseth was born Jan. 28, 1937 on the family farm in Newland Township, ND. Three minutes later his "womb mate" Glen arrived. Gene attended elementary school in Newland and then attended Edmore High School where he graduated in 1955. In the fall of 1955, he enrolled at Mayville State Teacher College. After attending Mayville for one year, he taught at a rural school in German Town School District for three years before returning to college in 1959 for another year. In 1960 he taught...
Donna Lee (Boese) Penner was born on Oct. 11, 1928 to Abraham and Anna Boese in Bakersfield. She died peacefully on Jan. 15, 2022 at Carrington of Shafter assisted living center in Shafter. Donna, the youngest of Abraham and Anna's three girls, grew up in the family home on Los Angeles Avenue, just south of Shafter. Donna graduated from Shafter High School in 1946 and subsequently attended Pacific Bible Institute in Fresno. During these years Donna began dating Arthur Penner. Art and Donna were...
Betty Ann Petry was born Oct. 29, 1915 in Los Banos to Magdalena (Breunig) MacDougall and Archibald Hepburn MacDougall. She graduated from University of the Pacific in 1937 with a history degree and was a member of Epsilon Lambda Sigma sorority. Upon hearing of the Pearl Harbor bombing, Betty enlisted in the Navy and was sent to Washington DC where she was in communications. She was discharged in 1945 attaining the rank of Lieutenant JG. She married Thomas Petrie in May 1947. Being a member of...
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