Serving the community since 1970
Serving the community since 1970
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Captain Randy Milligan, who has been acting chief of the Shafter Police Department for the past year, has been named to permanently head the force. A pinning ceremony will take place Dec. 7, an email invitation said Friday. Milligan, a 26-year veteran of the force, replaces Kevin Zimmermann, who resigned on Wednesday following a long disability leave. The city agreen to pay Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months and pay out his accrued vacation...
Kern County is requesting letters of interest for proposed projects or activities at the Shafter Cotton Research Station - a California Historical Landmark. On Tuesday, Nov. 12, the Kern County Property Management Department held an open house with most of the buildings at the station open for inspection. The station was built in 1922 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop the state's cotton industry. In a tour of the facility last week, Jim Damian, chief economic development officer...
The PRIDE Pantry at Shafter High School is calling on the community to join its annual community re-stock drive-through drop-off and school-wide Thanksgiving collection drive to help gather essential supplies for students and families in need. On Thursday, Nov. 21, the school will host a drive-thru drop-off event from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the front of the school. You will also be able to utilize boxes placed around town. This is a chance to make a direct impact by donating much-needed items...
Get ready for a magical evening on Friday, Dec. 6, when the Shafter Christmas Parade and Festival brings snow to Mannel Park, thanks to the Lions Club. The festivities will kick off at 4:30 p.m., offering a feast for the senses with a diverse range of dishes. From Mexican favorites to Korean delights, there will be something for every craving. Sip on specialty drinks such as hot chocolate, champurrado (a warm, thick Mexican chocolate beverage) and freshly brewed coffee, or indulge in sweet...
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Santa Claus will make a special early appearance in the area, accompanied by Mrs. Santa Claus. "I personally know Santa, and I'm able to get him to fly in from the North Pole to Minter Field Air Museum and deliver stuffed animals to all children, compliments of PetSmart Ming Avenue," Chairman Ronald Pierce said. Santa will arrive at 11 a.m. The museum, at 401 Vultee Ave., will be open for the public to tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum also will observe Pearl Harbor...
In a story about the Minter Field Air Museum Wins ‘N’ Wheels event on Page 1 in last week’s paper, a picture caption was misplaced. The man in the picture was Ronald Pierce, chairman of the museum. We regret the error....
The Shafter City Council on Tuesday night interviewed candidates for three open seats on the Shafter Planning Commission Board – Armando Camacho, Mariah Campos, Zachary Fain, John Sanchez, Joseph Simmons and Fortino Valdivia. The council is to decide on the three successful candidates at their next meeting. Camacho is a Shafter business owner who has made a career in the accounting field, and has been a member of the 746 Sports Foundation and the Shafter Lions Club. Campos is a 2024 high s...
Gilberto Abarca Soltero Melany Aguilar Magana Scarlett Aguirre Everardo Alvarez Rogelio Aragon Salazar Marlene Ayon Aleah Barajas Rodriguez Avany Caballero Carmendee Camacho Darely Carranza Sanchez Devin Chamblee Sara Contreras Ramirez Dominic Espinoza Ellen Esquivel Ruben Flores Edith Flores Ramos Edith Flores Ramos Miley Flores Uribe Roger Garcia Nathaniel Garrido Miguel Herrera Lopez Johnathan Jaime Lucero Lopez Acevedo Joddany Munoz Susana Munoz Francisco Navarro Estrella Osornio Mia Osuna...
The Shafter Mennonite Brethren Church sponsored their eighth annual Wrestling Invitational on Saturday, drawing an all-time record for the event. Pastor Pat Coyle, director of the tournament, commented, "This was the biggest we have ever had, by far." Coyle said that there were over 150 wrestlers competing and spectators that filled the gymnasium, with an overflow crowd. "I have never seen this many kids here before," said Manny Hernandez, whose son was competing for the second year. "This is a...
The Wasco Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture is on its way, with Tilo Cortez, co-owner of California Home Pros, leading the effort. Inspired by his previous experience on the City Council and recognizing a void in the community that a local chamber could fill, Cortez said last week, "I felt that I am the right person to get it started because I am familiar with the needs of the business community as well as the city's regulatory requirements. I believe I can be a good liaison between those...
The City of Shafter will pay Chief of Police Kevin Zimmermann a $245,203 12-month severance settlement, provide COBRA benefits for 12 months and pay out his accrued vacation in exchange for his resignation, which was effective Nov. 20. This agreement was announced in a statement read by City Attorney Marco Martinez after a closed session in the middles of Tuesday night's City Council meeting. Martinez stated that all terms are pursuant to Chief Zimmermann's employment agreement. In return, the c...
Wasco High head football coach Chad Martinez resigned on Friday, saying in his resignation letter he "was informed the program needed new direction." The leadership shift seemed to be a surprise to most everyone, including the coach, who said in resignation letter posted on the Wasco High Football page on Facebook that "he fully intended on returning and had begun preparations for the 2025 season." He said in the letter that did not want to "stand in the way of progress," and wished whoever the...
Incumbents appear to be the winners in most local races, with enough partial results of the Nov. 5 election to make calls ahead of the 30-day deadline for final results. Kern County, as well as Shafter and Wasco, bucked the state and followed the winner in voting for President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. Rep. David Valadeo took a close contest from perennial opponent Rudy Salas, in a district seen as critical for Republicans to hold. Dr. Jasmeet Bains held a healthy lead to return to the Assembly. In local races, Pete...
Sean Medley, a Wasco High School alumnus of the Class of 2013, was inducted into the Wasco Union High School Athletic Hall of Fame last month, a honor following a remarkable athletic career. Sean's high school years were filled with accomplishments in both wrestling and football, where he excelled and left a lasting impact. Originally from Los Angeles, Sean moved to Wasco after his father started working in Bakersfield quite often and he had a cousin in Wasco. Then, they met the Johnson family...
The Teresa Burke Elementary School Student Council hosted its 10th annual Veterans Day program, honoring all who have served our great nation. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps members attended, creating a memorable morning for the school's 503 students as they gathered to show their gratitude and respect. Drew Raney, one of the Student Council advisors, was the master of ceremonies, with his father, Michael Raney, a trumpeter with 34 years of experience in the Bakersfield Symphony...
The City of Wasco unveiled the Veterans Memorial Park with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony, honoring the courage, dedication and patriotism of those who have served and continue to serve our nation. This event also marked downtown improvements, showcasing a revitalization of the city center. Councilmember Gilberto Reyna thanked Caltrans for awarding the city a $5 million Clean California Local Grant, which funded the park's construction and the downtown beautification efforts. "This...
The City of Wasco, Wasco Police Department and other law enforcement agencies from across the area are inviting residents to celebrate National Night Out and enjoy a fun evening with local safety officials. Featuring free hot dogs (while supplies last), food vendors, music, emergency vehicles on display, demonstrations, and engaging programs and activities, the event aims to promote strong relationships between residents and law enforcement and strengthen neighborhood spirit. Its goal is to...
The Wasco Rotary Club held its annual Fall Festival fundraiser last week at the Wasco Elks Lodge, featuring a steak dinner, silent auction, 50/50 drawing and a reverse raffle with a $5,000 grand prize. The last five ticket holders, Greg Lane, Itze Rodriguez, Kenneth Newman, Ross Shafer and Clara Acosta, each received $1,000 after choosing to split the pot. US Bank Manager Rodriguez shared, "It's exciting. Especially tonight when the energy in here was so special. I'm going to take out my team...
The 8th Annual Jesse Acebedo Memorial Golf Tournament took place on Saturday, with 34 teams gathering to celebrate the life of Jesse Acebedo, who dedicated much of his life to serving in law enforcement, empowering Wasco youth and actively contributing to the community. Proceeds from the event benefited the Wasco Community Scholarship Association. Jesse's sons, Keith, Ben, and Jeff created the memorial golf tournament as a tribute to him. Ben shared, "When we first started, it was just my brothe...
Shafter Teen Challenge is a free, one-year residential, faith-based program for men ages 18 and older who suffer from any addiction. The goal is to transform lives, offering hope and a brighter future. Greg Hill, a Shafter native, has been a kitchen manager and teacher advisor for five years. He is a testament to the impact Teen Challenge can have on an individual. "I'm a product of the program," he said in an interview last week. "In 2017, I came here broken and homeless. I had a rough...
Minter Field Air Museum hosted its 7th Annual Wings 'N' Wheels event on Saturday, showcasing a variety of aircraft, tractors and custom vehicles. The event featured vendors, a beer garden, raffles and a wide selection of food, offering a fun-filled day for families and enthusiasts of airplanes and cars. Thousands of spectators attended the museum's biggest fundraiser of the year, admiring nearly 75 private aircraft from across California and almost 200 custom cars, motorcycles and trucks on...
The Friends of the Shafter Library have launched the Book Bench project to inspire a love of reading across the community. This initiative combines art and literacy by placing benches designed to look like books, each painted with unique artwork, throughout town, promoting their mission to make literacy accessible and valued by all while beautifying public spaces with creative designs. Modeled after a public art installation by the Bakersfield Museum of Art, the project began with its first...
Kern County Public Works hosted a bulky waste collection event on Saturday in Shafter. Residents could drive in and drop off their unwanted residential bulky waste for free. More than three tons of waste were collected, with 43 people dropping off items, most of which were appliances. (Photo courtesy of Kern County Public Works)...
It was a night of community and fellowship at the Kiwanis Club of Shafter Foundation Fall Scholarship Dinner, dedicated to raising funds for Shafter High School students. The event featured a lively reverse raffle, drawing guests together to support the mission of empowering local youth in their pursuit of education. The club's biggest fundraiser collected $10,000. Club President Phillip Jimenez, now in his second term, expressed his enthusiasm about the dinner's success: "We sold all our...
The Shafter Woman's Club will host its annual fundraiser, A Holiday to Remember, on Wednesday, Nov.20. Tickets are $28, including a Chicken Cordova lunch and a door prize ticket. This year, attendees can explore a special vintage ornament sale. Over the years, the Shafter Woman's Club has gathered handmade ornaments crafted by past members. Each unique ornament, priced at $2, carries a tag with the maker's name and donation year. "Come pick up a piece of history!" invites Kathy Gamboa. A $5...