Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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As the city bid adieu to outgoing City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez, Scott Hurlbert was sworn in Thursday, July 1. Hurlbert was sworn in Thursday evening and was joined by his family, who were all delighted to meet the city officials attending the evening reception. Hurlbert has many years of city government experience as well as running his own company. He is experienced in negotiating with the California Rail Builders (High Speed Rail) and welcomes the challenges facing...
Sadie is a puppy at 9 months old. She came in as a stray and will be available June 24. Sadie is a medium-sized, red/chestnut/orange/tan Shephard mix who will bring lots of joy into your home. She is great with staff and other dogs and has been tested with both small and large breeds. Dogs are not tested with children or cats. If she is reclaimed before her availability date on June 24, she will be removed from PetFinder immediately. If this is your dog, contact the Wasco...
Public Works Director Biridiana Bishop will be leaving Wasco and relocating to Webster City, Iowa to be assistant city manager. Bishop will be working under Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez, who is leaving Wasco as city manager to go to Webster City. Bishop said she has submitted her resignation letter and will continue with the city until Aug. 13. Bishop was promoted to Public Works director in 2019. The Public Works director position will not be filled until the next mid-year...
The new 2021 Wasco Reserve baseball players will be at Sam Lynn Ball Park in Bakersfield on June 10 at 10 a.m. for their first official practice. Manager Nic Ray has been busy assembling the team, and it's down to the last minute when some players drop out and new ones are added to the roster. Chase Stacy A new player this year is Chase Stacy. He was born in Los Angeles and currently lives in Victorville. Stacy was homeschooled and began his interest in baseball at 10 years...
Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a $15 million grand cash prize split between 10 vaccinated Californians. Newsom wants the economy to safely reopen on June 15. He is proposing a multi-faceted initiative about the value of vaccinations for all Californians, especially those in communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Newsom is also planning on $50,000 Friday cash prizes for 30 vaccinated Californians and $100 million in $50 cards for the next 2 million new fully vaccinated...
New Generation Church on Central Avenue passed out 500 barbecue chicken meals on Monday evening. Church volunteers assisted in the food preparation, served up the take-home boxes and spread good will to everyone who drove up or walked up to the church entrance. Pastor Frank Sanchez and Marcus Ballard were greeting attendees and chatting with guests as they picked up their meal. One of the younger volunteer high school freshman Izabella Heredia said this was the first event...
Two vendor popup events were held in Wasco over this past weekend, offering a variety of items for residents. With the temperature in the low 100s, masks disappeared quickly as attendees visited booths and declared their vaccination status. Saturday's event began promptly at 10 a.m. on F Street, across from Del Norte Bakery. Vendor booths were set up throughout the lot with a variety of items for sale such as clothing, hair bows, metal works, food and hats to ward off the hot...
Superintendent of the Wasco Union Elementary School District Kelly Richers said that the district looks good financially for the next two years; however, "It's 2022-23 that the district may run into problems." At the Tuesday, June 8 board meeting, Richers reported that the governor has not presented his budget yet, so the district is unsure of how much it will receive. Financial Officer Karen Evans presented a report on the proposed 2021-22 budget. "The next two years the...
Students, staff and family from Thomas Jefferson and Palm Avenue middle schools joined together to celebrate the eighth grade class. This is the second year that the Wasco Union Elementary School District has had to utilize covid-19 protocol to hold its annual graduation ceremony. Everyone was required to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing. There was no formal gathering after the ceremony due to the pandemic. The ceremony includes an introductory by Palm Avenue...
While there was nothing officially planned for the Wasco Cemetery on Memorial Day, the Shafter/Wasco VFW Post 6742 continued its tradition of decorating and greeting guests. Gravesites were decorated with small flags that had been placed on each grave by cemetery Grounds Supervisor Denny Carender and grounds employees. Due to the pandemic, the cemetery district decided that there would not be a ceremony at the Wasco Cemetery. Wasco VFW members Camilo Vasquez, James Madrone,...
Wasco Independent High School seniors gathered Friday on the football field to celebrate commencement, marking the end of an unusual year. The ceremony opened with the National Anthem sung by Polly Hughes, Desie Claffy and Stephanie Wymer. Principal Rusvel Prado told the attendees he was proud to be hosting his first graduation ceremony at Wasco Independence High School. "This has been an extraordinary class due to an extreme year," Prado said. "What you have done is...
There were nearly 300 graduates at the Wasco High School graduation ceremony on Friday, marking the end of their academic careers in Wasco. Student greetings and messages of thanks were relayed through speakers to the attendees at the beginning of the ceremony and the graduation officially began with the singing of the National Anthem by Polly Hughes, Dessie Claffy and Stephanie Wymer. Superintendent Robert Cobb and Director of Special Programs Kevin Tallon presented special a...
Former Shafter City Manager Scott Hurlbert will be taking on a new set of challenges when he becomes Wasco's chief operating executive next month. The Wasco City Council voted Tuesday night to hire Hurlbert as the new city manager, replacing City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez, who resigned last month. Hrlbert was immediately named assistant city manager, to work with Ortiz-Hernandez in the transition. Hurlbert was the city manager for the City of Shafter from March 2014 to...
Former Shafter City Manager Scott Hurlbert will be taking on a new set of challenges when he becomes Wasco's chief operating executive next month. The Wasco City Council voted Tuesday night to hire Hurlbert as the new city manager, replacing City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez, who resigned last month. Hrlbert was immediately named assistant city manager, to work with Ortiz-Hernandez in the transition. Hurlbert was the city manager for the City of Shafter from March 2014 to...
Distance learning will not be an option for students this fall in the Wasco Union High School District. Superintendent Rob Cobb outlined a number of changes for the 2021-22 school year in a letter to parents and students last week. Cobb said all students will return to campus for full, five school days a week. Independent study will be offered on a limited basis when necessary. He explained schools are considered to be safe places because it has shown to be a low rate of...
The 12 candidates vying for 2021 Rose Queen have been named. As the pageant committee begins the long process of preparing the young ladies for the Sept. 9 Miss Wasco/Rose Queen pageant, talent tryouts have been taking place. Sponsors for each candidate have not been announced yet. “The girls have been working hard to prepare their individual talent performance for the talent portion of the pageant,” Pageant Committee members stated. The committee expects a live, in-...
Rose Queen and 2019 Wasco High graduate Victoria Bernal utilized the Wonderful Ag College Program while in high school, shaving off two years of undergraduate work. Now Bernal is attending Azusa Pacific University and will graduate this fall. Bernal is majoring in cinematic arts and said her experience entering a four-year university as a junior was no different than entering as a freshman. "I had the same opportunities to mingle, attend first-year student events and make...
Wasco FFA held its Friends and Family Awards program recently, honoring its students and welcoming in a new officer board. Due to Covid, the event took place on the Wasco High football field. Mr. Farao, Mrs. Morales and Ms. Shew were dressed in their red carpet best. FFA members dressed in the official FFA uniform could be seen on stage and in the crowd. This year's celebration marked 90 years of the Wasco FFA members' success and was memorable to the over 400 guests that...
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in the month of May. It was formerly known as Decoration Day and remembers all men and women who have died in military service for the United States. Memorial Day is also celebrated at cemeteries throughout the country with flag raising and the reading of names of military personnel who have died in the line of duty. The Wasco Cemetery will be holding a drive-thru Memorial Day event on Monday, May 28. Everyone is invited to join...
Wasco High School held its annual Winners' Circle for graduating seniors who were recognized by receiving awards and scholarships for their achievements. Students will be featured in the the coming weeks' editions of the Wasco Tribune....
The Wasco City Council called for a special meeting May 13 with one agenda item; city manager. The meeting was closed session and once the council reconvened, the city attorney announced there was no reportable action. There has been no word on a selection process for a new city manager. Prior to Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez’ hiring in 2018, the city used an interim city manager, Larry Pennell. After Ortiz-Hernandez had been with the city for one year, his contract was renegotiated for an additional two-year extension beyond the or...
A Wasco family held a candlelight vigil to honor their recently deceased father on May 12. On Friday, April 30, Wasco Donuts to Go owner Lon Mam, 64, was driving to Hanford to visit an uncle. A 29-year-old unidentified man driver from Tulare sped into Mam's lane and the vehicles collided. Both drivers died at the scene. The Mam family set up a GoFundMe to help toward the cost of funeral expenses and they organized a candlelight vigil to honor their father by inviting the...
Wasco High School will return to classes in-person this fall on Aug. 12 for only in-person instruction, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Tallon said. Currently students attend in-person instruction part time Tuesdays through Fridays for three periods a day. Students attend in-person in the mornings and the others attend distance learning in the afternoon. "The number of students that continued with distance learning is 1,160 while 598 are in attendance," Tallon reported. Tallon...
The county is slightly rising in covid-19 cases and is backsliding on its progress to reach the yellow tier, Kern County Public Health Director Brynn Carrigan said. After restaurants and movie theaters have reopened, there has been a surge in the number of cases and hospitalizations. “As of Monday, May 10, there were 28 people hospitalized and 9 are in the ICU,” Carrigan said. While Gov. Gavin Newsom is planning California’s reopening plan, Kern County remains conservative in...
Rose Queen and 2019 Wasco High graduate Victoria Bernal utilized the Wonderful Ag College Program while in high school, shaving off two years of undergraduate work. Now Bernal is attending Azusa Pacific University and will graduate this fall. Bernal is majoring in cinematic arts and said her experience entering a four-year university as a junior was no different than entering as a freshman. "I had the same opportunities to mingle, attend first-year student events and make...
