Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
Sorted by date Results 1 - 23 of 23
Many think the number 13 is an unlucky number, but for Kern County and Wasco residents, Tuesday, Oct. 13 was a lucky day. The county officially moved from the purple tier to the red tier, which means movie theaters, hair salons, restaurants, places of worship and gyms may resume limited indoor operations; however, the city is taking it slow this time instead of fully opening up to the public. "We are still in the process of purchasing basic protective barriers for office lobbies," City Manager...
The Wasco Library will be opening up and providing limited service. Kern County is attempting to keep as many libraries open as possible during this pandemic. As the county moves from the purple tier to the red tier, it allows for more indoor activities. Since the county recently moved to the red tier, libraries are beginning to open their doors with some rules set in place. There is a time limit of 30 minutes per visit. All visitors to the library need to have a purpose-driven appointment such...
On Monday evening, Oct. 19, the Wasco Union High School District board candidates will have a forum beginning at 6 p.m. The forum will be available for attendees on Wasco Is on Facebook at that time. Even though Kern County is now in the red tier, many are playing it safe by continuing with virtual meetings. Candidates running include incumbents Joel Ackerknecht and Sharon Nicol as well as new candidate John Steward....
The six City Council candidates - four from District 2 and two from District 4 - gathered Oct. 7 for a forum at Life House Church. Wasco Woman's Club member and forum moderator Jill Drescher, President Cheryl Woody and timekeeper Marlene Swan insured the event ran smoothly. Video and audio recording was provided by Richard Peters of Peters Funeral Home. There were two different sections to the forum. First District 2 candidates John Kim, Vince Martinez, Florirene Olvera and David Ward answered...
Adventist Health's Wasco office, run by Dr. Isaac Sanchez, opened up a year ago at 1040 7th St. Inside the office, the waiting room chairs are now safely distanced and each patient is greeted by a receptionist behind a protected counter. After stepping through the door, each patient is also screened for a fever. Sanchez is originally from McFarland and his wife, Vanessa, is from Soledad. The two decided to move to Bakersfield, which was a compromise from rural McFarland and the much-larger...
Special education, English learners, homeless and at-risk students could return to in-person instruction as soon as Oct. 27, reported Assistant Superintendent Rob Cobb at the Oct. 8 board meeting. Cobb said since the county moved into the red tier on Tuesday, schools must wait an additional 14 days prior to reopening for in-person instruction. "At the present time, Wasco Independent High School, Special Education, English Language, homeless and at-risk students could start school Tuesday, Oct. 2...
Frosty King has been in the same family for over 35 years, and Mohamed Pazou is currently running the Wasco restaurant. The family is originally from Hanford where they owned a liquor store until they moved to Wasco. "The liquor store was sold to an uncle in Hanford," Pazou said. Pazou added that that the restaurant is closed during most legal holidays; however, they open for Christmas Day, which is one of the busiest days of the year for them. They only employ family and currently have four...
A man was seriously injured Saturday after a shooting in Wasco. On Oct. 10, deputies were dispatched at 9 p.m. to the 1000 block of 16th St. where a man was found with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was alert and conscious and airlifted to Kern Medical Center because his injuries were serious. The identity of the victim is unknown. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call 861-3110 or Secret Witness at 322-4040....
There are three seats available on the City Council being contested between six candidates including the three incumbents of those seats. Current members Manuel Garcia, Gilbert Alvarado, Chad Givens are joining newcomers Kris Lawrence, Pete Espinoza and Rafael Zamudio in the race. Council members make policy for the city, as well as create a budget for the year and make decisions regarding the financial status of the city and the infrastructure. This week we are featuring incumbent Manuel...
In recent rulings, the City Council is looking into the possibility of the Shafter Branch Library partnering with Bakersfield College to offer the community a chance to utilize the services. Since the coronavirus outbreak, all of the 24 branches of the Kern County Library system have been closed to the public, with some of the branches now able to offer curbside services, as well as online ordering. Wasco’s branch of the library system was identified as one of the branches reopening for c...
The Shafter Police Department has an active K-9 Unit that has been serving the city since the reinstatement of the program. The team consists of Senior Officer Kevin Green and his K-9 partner, Ecko. Ecko is a 2-year-old Belgium Malinois born in Germany. At the beginning of 2020, Chief Kevin Zimmermann presented the need for a K-9 Unit for the department to the City Council. Council members approved and the search was on for a suitable partner. Green was chosen to train with the K-9 partner, whic...
A 35-year-old Shafter man was seriously wounded after a shooting Saturday morning on the outskirts of town. Kern County Sheriff’s Office said that deputies were dispatched to the area of Poplar Avenue and Burbank Street after receiving reports of shots fired. When deputies arrived, they found the 35-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man was taken to Kern Medical Center for treatment. The injuries were considered non-life threatening. The department said that the injured man was uncooperative when providing information a...
A Shafter man was killed on Saturday when the ATV he was riding crashed into a power pole near Wasco. Jesus Manuel Luna II, 28, was riding on Wildwood Road south of Highway 46 near Wasco. California Highway Patrol officials said that at approximately 12:05 a.m. officers were sent to the area after receiving a report of a collision. When they arrived at the scene, they found a man, later identified as Luna, had suffered fatal injuries and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The department said...
The Richland School District Food Services department has been hard at work since the pandemic forced the school buildings to close its doors. Though the students are not able to attend school in-person, they are still in need of a nutritious breakfast and lunch, which have been provided by the staff. This week, The Shafter Press is featuring the staff at Golden Oak Elementary. Led by Team Leader Jennifer Ashmore, the staff at Golden Oak serve between 650 and 715 students daily for breakfast,...
As Fourth District supervisor, I work with Kern County Animal Services on efforts to reduce the euthanasia rates in our county. Recently, KCAS announced for the first time on record, that the shelters operated by the department reached no kill status. No-kill shelters prevent the killing of animals based on arbitrary criteria such as color, age or breed. Furthermore no-kill shelters find a placement for 90% of their population. Reaching this important community achievement took unified...
Swing by the Wasco Animal Shelter to meet Skelly. Skelly is a 10-year-old, male, medium black/white/cream short-coat Labrador. He came in as a stray. Skelly is not microchipped or neutered. He is great toward staff and other dogs and he has been tested with small and large-breed dogs. At this time, it is unknown if Skelly is house/crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children and cats; his behavior toward children and cats is unknown. He will be available for adoption/rescue on Oct. 21. If...
Oct. 5 Ricardo Lopez-Badajos, 35, of Wasco, was arrested in the 600 block of Highway 46 in Wasco for grand theft, conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into the Kern County Jail. Andres Ramirez, 23, of Wasco, was arrested in the 700 block of F Street on a misdemeanor warrant. He was cited and released at the scene. Karina Velasquez Gomez, 29, of Wasco, was arrested in the 700 block of F Street on a misdemeanor warrant. She was cited and released at the scene. Oct. 7 Mindy Moreno, 32, of Wasco, was arrested in the 70...
NEW: Wasco Women’s Club: Meeting every second Tuesday of the Month at 1601 7th Street, Wasco. Lunch will be at 12 p.m. and meeting at 1:30 p.m. NEW: Wasco Recreation & Park Board Meetings are on every 3rd Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Hall at Barker Park in Wasco. NEW: Shafter: City of Shafter CAPK and the County of Kern “FOOD2DOOR Program.” The program delivers once a month 70lbs of food to seniors 65 and older. Call 661-498-7831 ext. 1310 to out if your eligiable for the program and enroll today! CAPK y el Condado de Kern “Prog...
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 [email protected]. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: 1981 Rose Festival Grand Marshal Lucille Muir....
Click on pdf to see this week's ads....
Agnes ``Lagatha’’ Meek, 81, of Wasco, passed away Oct. 6 in Wasco. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Yolanda Gutierrez Tellez, 19, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 5 in Shafter. Basham & Lara Funeral Care Shafter. Timothy W Skaggs, 53, of Bakersfield, passed away Oct. 4. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Kenneth Merrill Cannon, 92, of Bakersfield, passed away Oct. 8 in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Caroline Anne Venable, 85, of Shafter, passed away Oct. 11. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Michael L Cupps, 73, of Bakersfield, passed awa...
Wasco Union High School District board candidate Sharon Nicol was misidentified as Stacy Nichol in the Oct. 1 edition on page 3. We apologize for this error....
The new FFA officers for the 2020-21 school year were recently announced. The students include President Makinley Wankum, Reporter Sofia Reyes, Parliamentarian Kalani Castillo, Chapter Vice President Nicholas Padilla, Member Vice President Lindsay Lee, Treasurer Gladis Castillo, Community Vice President Nicholas Gutierrez, Historian Jessica Corcuera, Sentinel Rafael Torres and Chaplain Joshua Cooley. The Wasco Ag Boosters also hosted a virtual show and livestock sale with sheep, swine and goat...
