Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
Sorted by date Results 1 - 21 of 21
The city has been going in "the wrong direction" for the last 13 years in fixing its crumbling water infrastructure, and it will have to spend millions – likely $30 million plus -- to fix it, City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez told the City Council Tuesday night. A study more than a decade ago made it clear the city needed to move to replace its aging water wells, and add storage for millions of gallons in order to protect the system from spikes in usage. This was merely to keep up with c...
Shafter and Wasco are among nine communities facing a spike of up to 200% in the cost of services provided by the Kern County Fire Department. Ryan Alsop, the chief administrative officer for the KCFD, said the department has been undercharging the cities it serves for years. “This is about getting full cost recovery for the services we are providing,” he said. The department has been unable to buy new equipment, he said. “After conducting a study, it was apparent that we were not getting the f...
Despite digital road signs that implore residents to “Wear a Mask” and “Stop the Spread,” the number of people testing positive continues to rise and some officials are concerned by the amount of people who are not wearing face coverings. The number of covid-19 cases grew by 200 in Shafter, with 803 confirmed cases compared to 602 last week. In Wasco, there are 847 reported cases, an increase of 219 from last week. The Kern County Health Department says those figures might not mean that 200 peo...
Classes for Wasco High School and Wasco Independent High School will start with distance learning only on Aug. 12. Robert Cobb, assistant superintendent of the Wasco Union High School District, announced last week that the beginning of school was not what the district envisioned when it had almost completed preparations for the new school year; however, plans had to change with the increase in covid-19 cases in Kern County. The district realized that their original goal of allowing students a couple of days of in-person class will not be...
Submissions are now open for the Wonderful Community grants program offering funding during time of critical need. The Wonderful Company, dedicated to harvesting health around the world, has established a new $1 million relief fund to support nonprofit organizations and schools in California's Central Valley, including as Wasco, Shafter, Delano, Firebaugh, Avenal, Sanger, Mendota and Del Rey. The company said funding will go to organizations and schools in these communities that have been...
AUG. 2 Rogelio Barajas, of Shafter, was arrested for obstruction of a public officer, trespassing and controlled substance paraphernalia. Mariana Ortega, 20, of Shafter, was arrested on a misdemeanor bench warrant. AUG. 1 Leo John Barboza Jr., was arrested for inflicting corporal injury on spouse, willful cruelty to child and damaging/destroying wireless device. JULY 31 Lynn Monte Harrelson, 62, was arrested for DUI. Carlos Fimbres, of Shafter, was arrested for contempt to disobey court order, vandalism less than $400. JULY 30 Allen Ray...
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 NEW: Utility bill payments -- The City of Wasco reminds residents that the official city website at wasco.com is the only authorized avenue to pay utility bills online. NEW: Coronavirus testing -- FREE Covid-19 testing is available; insurance will b...
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, 406 Central Ave., Shafter 93263, or e-mail it to mysteryphoto@WascoTrib.com. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: As Fred Mocker and Carolyn Crowder point out the new lines of the Dodge Royal Lancer, Elbert Enns, Jack Groves, Treva Smith and Joanne Gilmer wait for...
Neste, the world's largest producer of renewable diesel, has opened four new locations. One of the stations, operated by Jeffries Brothers Petroleum, is in Shafter, two are in Wasco and one is in Buttonwillow. The Shafter location is next to the Tin Cup off of Beech Avenue. In Wasco, the two stations are on Highway 46, one of them within the city limits at the Tiger Mart station. Kristine Janata, account executive at rbb Communications, which represents Neste, says the move is in part due to a...
Denny's has been a staple on Highway 46 for over 10 years and draws hungry travelers from Highway 5 headed both north and south. And outdoor diners have been stepping up to the plate. "Our most-popular meal is the Grand Slam Slugger," general manager Christine Sanchez said. Sanchez has been with Denny's for 15 years. A Bakersfield resident, she started out as a hostess and dishwasher at the Denny's on Buck Owens Boulevard and has been in Wasco for one and one-half years. She says her job is vari...
A group of Shafter residents has helped the campaign to reopen the Shafter branch of the Kern County Libraries, which received countywide attention recently as it attracted news cameras and a front page story in the Bakersfield Californian. With the recent budget cuts, it seemed unlikely that many of the branches of the countywide system would reopen. But with an adjustment to the budget, it appears they will open a couple more libraries in addition to the eight that are open and offering...
On July30, more than a dozen Shafter residents wearing blue and holding signs gathered outside the Tin Cup to recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Back in 2011, President Barack Obama signed a proclamation dedicating a day to fight the issues of slavery and human trafficking. Richland Board of Trustees member Melissa Dewitt led a Shafter contingency that joined many other groups around the nation calling for the end of human trafficking. "This is an important issue that affects so many...
Most everyone will agree that these are turbulent and uncertain times that we live in. 2nd Timothy 3:1 calls it perilous times, or hard, difficult, grievous, and fierce times. Many people are fearful and uncertain at this time. We wonder who we should listen to for guidance in this time of adversity. Jesus Christ gave us the answer when he said have faith in God. Hold on to God! Psalm 56:3 says what time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. Biblical faith is when we place our trust in the Lord. In these uncertain times hold on to God. God or his...
Bruce A. Hall, 64, of Bakersfield, passed away July 28 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home,Shafter. Lynden Dale Allen, 61, of Shafter, passed away July 5. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Miranda Ricarda, 89, of Shafter, passed away July 29 in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home Shafter. Mateo Valladares, 1, of Shafter, passed away July 28 in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Teresa Rios Vasquez, 83, of Wasco, passed away Aug 2 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Wasco. Jovita Vega, 77, of McFarland, passed away Aug 3 in McFarland....
Caudie F. Brown, age 82, of Shafter, passed away on July 29, 2020. She is now resting with her husband, Bill, and her son, Richard. Caudie’s faith was strong, and no doubt she is enjoying the company of so many that have gone before. Caudie was born Feb. 8, 1938, in Oklahoma. She raised her four children in Shafter. She loved to do art work, from painting to yard sculptures, and was an avid reader. She was a loving wife, mother, sister and friend. She never shied away from hard work, working w...
#1 YARD SALE SHAFTER GARAGE SALE --189 Pine St., Shafter. Saturday, Aug. 8, 6:30-11:30 a.m. Little bit of everything. #1 YARD SALE WASCO #2 AUTO/MOTORCYCLES FOR SALE 2005 Chrysler 300, $1,800. Clean tags, non-op. new parts, custom rims, needs work etc. Call 661-340-1544. #3 CAMPER/RV #4 MISC. FOR RENT #5 MISC. FOR SALE ENJOY 100% guaranteed, delivered-to-the door Omaha Steaks! Get 4 FREE burgers. Order The Griller Bundle -- only $79.99. 1-877-882-4248. Use Code 63281PAM or OmahaSteaks.com/family06 (Cal-SCAN) ATTENTION: OXYGEN USERS! The new...
Due to the pandemic, children are missing out on fundamental activities such as in-person classroom teaching, organized physical education, after-school activities, and sports. New board members of the Wasco Recreation and Parks District are trying to come up with different ways in which kids can participate in activities with all the covid-19 regulations in place. The district is also excited to have a majority of women on the board this year. "It's unusual to have more women than men." board...
Palm Avenue Middle School Principal Oscar Luna and vice principal Zachary Ellis were available Tuesday and Wednesday to help staff hand out school supplies to every student for the fall quarter, which begins Aug. 10 and should end in early October. “The district has been putting these packets together for over a week,” Ellis said. The packets include forms for emergency contacts, an agreement to accept the Chromebook, a handbook that describes the school policies, and log-in information so att...
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and fly fisherman, Gordy Skeels (Pops), is now fly fishing quality waters every day in heaven. Gordon Syron Skeels, of Wasco, passed away peacefully at his home with family by his side on July 8, 2020. Gordon was born in Bakersfield on May 2, 1933, to Gordon (Samuel) Wallace Skeels and Hazel Ann Steinoff Skeels. Gordon and his older sister, Sammy, grew up in Wasco. By way of their mother, they were 4th generation descendants of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Indians and Gordon’s outdoor Native American t...
Johnette Kay Long, known to all as Kay or Sis, was born on Sept. 1, 1942, in Emporia, Kansas, to Robert and Grace Alice Cottenmyre. She was one of nine children: Robert "Bobby" E. Cottenmyre, Harold "Tony" L. Cottenmyre, Michael Cottenmyre, Linda S. Shirley, Billie E. Cottenmyre, Catherine A. Flood, Deborah J. Jameson and John M. Cottenmyre. Kay began working at S&S Cafe starting at the age of 14. Just prior to marrying the love of her life, Artie Dean Long, on Nov. 19, 1966, she was a shift...
