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This month's Community Breakfast helped update Wasco residents about the schools, city business and services in town. Community Development Director Keri Cobb opened the Feb. 2 virtual meeting with hopes that future meetings can be held in person. She expected the February meeting to be able to do so; however, with the Omicron threat, city staff has taken a hard hit on illnesses. Cobb reported the city has closed its doors again to the public; however, the city is able to...
Classified employees of the Wasco Union Elementary School District are asking for a multi-year agreement with paid insurance, an over 5% salary raise for cost of living, and a 7% raise off the schedule from the Elementary and Secondary School Emengency Relief Fund and adding two columns to each pay level. President of the Classified Union (CSEA) Oralia Garza brought the proposal before the Board of Trustees during a meeting on Feb. 8. "Teachers want pretty much the same thing,...
Aero came into the Wasco Animal Shelter as a stray. He is approximately 1 year old and is a medium coat Terrier mix. He has only been tested with small dogs. At the time it is unknown if Aero is house or crate trained. Dogs are not tested with children and cats. He will be available for adoption on Feb. 7. If this is your dog, contact the shelter right away. Everyone is welcome to adopt from the facility. Adopters can be from out of town and/or local. The shelter does not plac...
On Thursday, Jan. 28, Palm Avenue Principal Zachary Ellis and Vice Principal Sandra Bailey presented students with the Principal's List for those students who earned a 4.0 or higher. Also students that made Honor Roll were also recognized....
The following students were chosen as Students of the Week for Karl Clemens Elementary School. Top row from left, Jasmine Estrada, Principal Sam Torres and Juan Sanchez. Front row from left, Kelly Rivera, German Jarquin, Ivan Antonio and Joshua Sanchez....
Thomas Jefferson Middle School selects six students each month to represent the school as Cougars of the Month. They are selected based on their grades, behavior and overall participation and attitude during their time in school. These students will be rewarded with a prize from the school and a voucher from Catrina's Mexican Grill in Wasco. 6th grade Cougars of the Month Yareli Vidales has been selected as one of the sixth-grade Cougars of the Month. She was selected because...
Zachary Ellis, formerly vice principal, has been names princiapl of Palm Avenue Middle School. Sandra Bailey was also promoted from dean of students to vice principal. After Palm Avenue Middle School’s principal Oscar Luna was promoted to a district position, the school needed a new principal. Ellis is originally from Orland, California where his family has owned a large ranch since the 1860s. “We are family of farmers,” Ellis said. “A Sacramento newspaper did a story on our...
I’ve been putting off retiring for over a year; however, now it is time for me to say goodbye. I’ve come full circle since my first job out of Cal State Bakersfield as I was the editor for the Wasco Tribune beginning in November 2005. Fred West was the mayor with council members Tilo Cortez, Larry Pearson, Danny Espitia and Cheryl Wegman. Gary Bray was the superintendent of the WUESD. I believe Elizabeth McCray was superintendent of the WUHSD at the time. In 2006 I left Was...
One person died Wednesday morning after a head-on collision on Highway 46, the California Highway Patrol reported. Officers responded to a crash Wednesday morning at approximately 6:15 a.m. According to CHP officials, a vehicle collided head-on with a semi-truck on Highway 46, just east of Wasco, prompting the closure of Highway 46 east of Root Avenue. Officials said a Lexus was traveling east at a high rate of speed when the driver tried to pass in the westbound lane,...
Dennis Campbell stated that he always wanted to be an attorney; however, he took another path after a serious automobile accident that led him to founding Campbell Chiropractic. "I saw a chiropractor at my doctor's suggestion, and fortunately it was someone who was able to help me," he said. "I changed my career to become a chiropractor so I could help others like I was helped." Campbell is from Coos Bay, Oregon, and he graduated from Portland State University followed by...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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 c...
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...
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...
While continuing to deal with the restrictions covid-19 placed on everyone, July began with a bang as the annual fireworks show was held at the ball park. The Orange Heart Foundation and the Recreation and Parks District coordinated efforts together to provide the city with fireworks lighting up the sky. The reopening of the pool at Barker Park marked the beginning of summer in 2021. The pool had been closed in 2020 due to the pandemic. The virus refused to take a break. Near...
There were over 1,100 new covid-19 cases in Kern County this week, Kern County Public Health’s Michelle Corson reported. This brings the total confirmed cases to date to 175,585 in the county. There are no new deaths in the county being reported on Tuesday and a total of 1,936 covid-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic. On Jan. 4 Shafter had 4,902 infected and on Jan. 11 Shafter had 5,087 infected. On Jan. 4 Wasco had 7,173 infected and on Jan. 11 Wasco had 7,659 i...
Lost Hills School District sent five runners to the AAU Cross Country National Championship on December 4, 2021. Natali Gregory, Maria Ballesteros, Emmanuel Bustamante, Joshua Chavez and Jesus Diaz went to Charlotte, North Carolina. "These Scholar runners were joined with a team that was constructed of over 20 Kern County runners that were headed as the Kern County All Stars Cross Country team," Lost Hills Principal Veronica Sanchez-Gregory said. "Overall, it is expected that...
Thomas Jefferson Middle School selects six students each month to represent the school as Cougars of the Month. They are selected based on their grades, behavior, and overall participation and attitude during their time in school. These students will be rewarded with a certificate, a prize from the school, and a voucher from Catrina's Mexican Grill. The following students have been selected by their teachers for the month of December. 6th Grade Cougars of the Month Miley...
A 26-year-old Wasco man died after a crash north of the city on Tuesday, Dec. 14. His identity has not yet been confirmed. The California Highway Patrol responded to a crash in the area of Palm Avenue and Taussig Avenue, north of the Wasco-Kern Airport. Highway Patrol said a sedan was traveling north on Palm Avenue and a pickup truck driven by Cale Austin Rogers, 35, of Wasco, was traveling southbound. The driver of the sedan veered onto the right shoulder and then over...
A special City Council meeting was called on Tuesday, Dec. 14 to discuss the selection of a candidate to fill Tilo Cortez’s seat after his resignation. City Manager Scott Hurlbert opened discussion on the selection process of a council member to replace Cortez who is stepping down at the Dec. 21 meeting. “The city will be going through the appointment process rather than hold a special election, which is costly,” Hurlbert said. In other council business, Hurlbert stated a fiv...
Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared everyone in the state must wear a mask indoors whether working for a private or public company. The governor made the announcement Wednesday, Dec. 15. Newsome stated that masks must be worn indoors in all public places from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15, 2022. This is regardless of vaccine status. Before a large-venue event, such as concerts, shows and sporting events, attendees need to show proof of vaccination and a negative antigen test the day before...
A special City Council meeting was called on Tuesday, Dec. 14 to discuss the selection of a candidate to fill Tilo Cortez’s seat after his resignation. City Manager Scott Hurlbert opened discussion on the selection process of a council member to replace Cortez who is stepping down at the Dec. 21 meeting. “The city will be going through the appointment process rather than hold a special election, which is costly,” Hurlbert said. In other council business, Hurlbert stated a fiv...