Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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The City Council passed an ordinance that will make it illegal to possess any catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle unless the possessor has valid documentation or other proof to verify that they are in lawful possession of the converter. The ordinance addresses the dramatic increase in the theft of catalytic converters from last year. The Kern County Sheriff's Office reported 27 stolen catalytic converters in 2021, with another 27 reported just past the six-month mark of this...
Wasco Elks Lodge #2419 will present its annual car show and cornhole tournament on Saturday, Oct. 1. Since 2017, the free event will be in memory of long-time Elks Lodge member Blaine Willard. "It will be a fun day for all ages to enjoy," said Leading Knight Jerry Bozarth, who has been a member since 1978. There will be food, arts and crafts vendors, raffle prizes, a silent auction, a beer garden, a bloody Mary bar and music by DJ Boom Dog to add energy to the festivities. Almost 500 people atte...
Since 2002, Wasco Toys for Tigers has brought holiday cheer to children and their families. They give out almost 750 toys yearly and provide food baskets to those in need. But that's not all they do. "Our goal is to spread holiday cheer for as many kids as possible," said Treasurer Pat Ketcherside. "Every family deserves to have a special Christmas. It is a special time of the year, and we try to make that happen." Children up to 12 receive a toy appropriate for their age. The program spends...
For the Miss Wasco Rose Queen pageant trip this year, contestants participated in a three-day visit to Disneyland Park and Disneyland's California Adventure. On their first day, they enjoyed the hotel pool, swam and went on the waterslides. After, they attended a special dinner courtesy of a generous donation by Mike and Sunni Dobbs. The evening concluded with games where the girls got to know each other better. It was a night full of surprises and fun for them. They spent the second day of the...
The City Council recognized Captain Jeff Bell of the Shafter Police Department for his 23 years of service Tuesday evening. Bell retired recently, starting a new chapter in his life and career. Bell began with the city 23 years ago, after serving as a law enforcement officer in the Los Angeles County area, where he was involved in tactical teams during the Rodney King riots and the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Bell became the first Shafter police officer to attend the FBI Academy. He also...
A team of Shafter girls traveled to San Diego over the weekend to compete in the California State Games, coming back with a State Championship in the Girls 11 and under Basketball Division. The team, Salvation Training Ground, was coached by Fabian Jimenez and Mike Watts, have played together for the past three years, with a couple of the team members coached by Jimenez since they were 4 and 5 years old. The season begins in late March, with the season culminating in the middle of July. The...
The Shafter Children's Summer Theater will be bringing their production of "Seussical" to the Shafter Ford Theater July 29-31, with performances beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. on Sunday. This year's production, a smash hit on Broadway,is based on the works of Theodore Geissl, Dr. Seuss. The story brings back popular Seuss characters, including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, and JoJo, a little Who child. Other characters include Gertrude McFuzz and Lazy Mayzie....
Due to staffing issues, last week’s paper was a bit top-heavy with Wasco news. We endeavor to provide a balanced report between the two communities we serve, and this week you’ll see more Shafter news. You can expect this to be the case week after week.. We appreciate your loyalty and your commitment to The Shafter Press and Wasco Tribune. --Michael Schroeder, Publisher...
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 esoriano@TheShafterPress.com or call 661-292-5100 by Monday at 4 p.m. for that week’s paper. ANNOUNCEMENTS Backpack giveaway – Tabernacle of Praise Church of God Backpack Giveaway Sunday,. July 24, starting at 11:15 a.m., while supplies last. 812 9th St., Wasco. ONGOING No Kid Hungry, free meals: Served Monday-Friday. Breakfast 7:45 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Lun...
July 11 Jesus Herrera Estrada, 25, of Shafter, was arrested near the intersection of F Street and 12th Street for misdemeanor driving with a suspended license. He was cited and released at the scene. Guadalupe Jose Ramos, 41, of Wasco, was arrested near the intersection of Birch Avenue and Poso Avenue for felony unlawful possession of tear gas, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and on misdemeanor bench warrants. He was booked into the Kern County Jail. July 12 Jose Osvaldo Robledo Aceves, 20, of Wasco, was arrested near the...
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: In 1949, a senior play recital at Wasco High School auditorium. The woman in white is Irene Brown Skeels....
The city and its trash collection vendor, American Refuse, held two workshops over the weekend geared to inform residents and answer questions about the upcoming change in trash collection schedules and procedures. With the enforcement of new state requirements to reduce organic waste, the city has contracted with American Refuse to take over residential solid waste collection. "Essentially, the city of Shafter is out of the trash collection business," said Public Works Michael James at a recent...
The new restaurant in town, Tacos La Villa, has enjoyed a great start, with lines in the drive-thru and a brisk business in the store, making their first couple of months a success. Owner Danny Nunez has brought unique fare to the city. "We are truly blessed for the opportunity to bring our authentic brand of Mexican food to Shafter," Nunez said this week. Begun in 1993, Tacos La Villa has grown to include nine locations in Bakersfield, and growing. Reviewers have noted that the food at the...
There has been a trend in the last 10 or 15 years of Little Libraries dotting the landscape, making books available for those who may not be able to get to the library, or don't have the means to buy books of their own. Little Libraries are abundant in Shafter, with numerous street corners housing a collection of books, inviting anyone who wants something to read to take a book and either replace it with another book, or return the book when you are finished. The libraries in Shafter have...
Even though school is out for the summer, that does not mean that learning is put on the back burner. The Shafter Learning Center is in full swing, offering a variety of classes that will keep kids learning as well as having fun throughout the summer. The classes run for one week, with a total of seven sessions running through July 29. The Learning Center has classes for all age groups, ranging from Pre-K students through those in the eighth grade. Pre-K students have the option of taking...
The Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church held their annual Summer Wrestling Camp this week, teaching campers how to build a solid foundation, on the mat and off. Pastor Pat Coyle, a former competitive wrestler, led the kids in a variety of drills, exercises and practice sessions, giving them the knowledge of basic techniques wrapped in encouraging words. The theme for this year's camp was "Solid as Stone," referring to God's counsel in Isaiah 28:16, [BEGIN ITAL]"See, I lay a foundation stone. It...
The members of the Shafter fire station lost a compatriot from Fire Station 23 in Fellows when it was announced that Fire Captain Brian Falk passed away suddenly on Thursday July 14. Department team members were in a procession that escorted Falk from Fellows into Bakersfield to Kern Medical Center. The procession included a helicopter, as well as engines from all over Kern County. Falk leaves behind a wife and two young sons. The processional is a tradition with fallen firefighters. "When you a...
Cafe 101 is a beloved restaurant in Wasco. Before that, it was Perkos, and owner Fidel Alfaro worked there for 23 years. He started as a dishwasher, then cook and later transitioned to manager with a small ownership stake. In 2012, he became the sole owner. The family restaurant serves American and Mexican cuisine. Their specialty is breakfast. "We make pancakes, waffles, steak and eggs, French toast and all types of omelettes," said Alfaro. Their produce and ingredients are all sourced...
The Wasco High School varsity softball team was recognized as part of The Bakersfield Californian's 2022 BVarsity All-Area Softball Team. Sonia Wedel was named coach of the year, while freshman Cedes Saldana was selected as the pitcher of the year. "For a small team to achieve these awards from among all of the teams in the county, it is a great achievement," said Coach Wedel. "Usually, they go to bigger schools." Wedel has played the sport her whole life. "I was raised playing and have always...
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 29, at Peters Funeral Home Chapel in Wasco for Yvonne (Nonny), age 85, who passed away July 14, 2022, in Danville. Pastor Martin Blanton will officiate, and an interment ceremony will follow at Wasco Memorial Park. Nonny is widely remembered as the beautiful high school girlfriend and then wife of Kelly Blanton. Her dark hair and eyes, high cheek bones and movie star smile contrasted against her red-headed, freckle-faced husband. She...
Judith Lynne ("Judy") Schroeder-Moar, 60, died in Portland, Ore., after a brief illness. Born in Bakersfield to Karen Clarkin Schroeder and Clarence ("Sam") Schroeder, Judy grew up in Shafter. She attended Richland Elementary and Junior High and participated in Blue Birds and recreational softball and swimming. In 1980, she graduated from Shafter High School, where she majored in F-U-N. Like her mother before her, Judy never met a stranger. Her wit and zest for life drew countless friends and...
Paula Harmon was born on June 20, 1938, to Ira and Bessie Thompson. She was married to Ron Harmon in 1955. They later moved to Shafter in 1969, where they raised their three children, Lonnie, DeEdra and Rodney. Paula was a great homemaker who loved to bake and do embroidery any chance she got. She was Nana to everyone, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Paula was preceded in death by her husband, Ron, in 2008; her oldest son, Lonnie, in 2022; and her two brothers and her...
Michael Arthur Woods, 72, of Bakersfield, passed away July 5, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Paula Faye Harmon, 84, of Shafter, passed away July 11, in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Anabella Tapia Estrada, 54, of Shafter, passed away July 12, in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Manuel Esparza Villapando, 68, of Wasco, passed away July 12, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco....
Your Valley Builder celebrated the grand opening of phase one of their Wasco housing development, Palmas del Sol. There was music, tacos, raffles and face painting for the families that came to see their newly built homes. "It was a great turnout, and we sold out all 54 homes in this phase one. Now we are promoting the sale of our homes in phases two and three," said Sales Manager Claudia Sandoval, a 23-year veteran of the company. All the homes in the development phases are located off of...
Although a big chunk of the book of Genesis is devoted to Abraham's life, there is a great deal we don't know. For instance, 13 years go by between the end of Chapter 16 and the first verse of Chapter 17. The history in the Bible leaves out a lot. There must be a principle of selection, a way of determining what was significant in Abraham's life for later readers. One suggestion, made by the late Noel Weeks in his book Gateway to the Old Testament, is that Genesis is highlighting the promises made to Abraham, but also how many of the...
