Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Second in a series of profiles of Shafter City Council candidates running for three open seats on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Other articles can be found on The ShafterPress.com. Gilbert Alvarado has served Shafter for almost two decades as a city councilman, including one term as mayor. He hopes to be re-elected to the council to see the city continue to thrive and to play a role in that process. As a committed public servant, he has demonstrated a passion for public service and wishes to continue the...
The Shafter Rotary Club will host a Ghost Tour on Sunday, Oct. 27, offering a fresh take on local legends and stories never before shared. This unique event, designed for a 21-and-over crowd, promises to blend spooky tales with a touch of humor, ensuring an entertaining experience. Blake Goehring, a Rotarian of 18 years and one of the event's tour guides, brings a special flair to the role. Having previously worked at Disneyland's Jungle Cruise in Anaheim, he developed a love for leading...
October is Domestic Violence Awareness & Prevention Month, and the Shafter Woman's Club is raising awareness through its "White Ribbon" campaign. These ribbons, displayed around Shafter, symbolize the city's support for eliminating domestic violence against all individuals. The club is dedicated to shedding light on domestic abuse, promoting advocacy, and fostering support for survivors. Barbara Gladden, the club's recording secretary, has led this project for five years. "We put white ribbons...
Grace Community Church offers an engaging weekly program, "Kid Zone," on Wednesday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. The program features a meal, games, singing and a Bible story, all free for kids in transitional kindergarten through 5th grade. Judy Bocker, who helps run the program, said, "We love being active with the kids and keeping them busy playing hockey, spending time on the playground, and enjoying the hula hoop, basketball and relays." The church has organized Kid Zone for the past six years....
St. John the Evangelist Parish is gearing up to host its 2024 Harvest Festival on Sunday, Oct. 20. The annual event has become a staple in the community, offering a festive gathering for families and friends to enjoy. Organized by Councilmember Gilberto Reyna, who has served as event chairman since 2015, the festival has been a significant fundraiser for the church for more than two decades. "It is an opportunity to come together, and it's a fun afternoon for everyone," Reyna said. The festival...
This Nov. 5, the Wasco community will have the opportunity to vote on Measure D, a bond that would bring significant changes to the Wasco Union High School District. The measure has garnered support from many educators and residents. "School safety is one of the primary focuses of this bond measure," Wasco Union High School District Superintendent Kevin Tallon explained. "There are various areas that are unsafe when it comes to temperature and ventilation due to a lack of air conditioning. The...
James Osborne is originally from Nashville, Tenn., and came to Shafter in 2019. Along with his wife, Cur'Neisha, he runs a nonprofit called Villagers Inc., which serves underprivileged youth by offering educational study trips, life skills training, leadership development, and food and home resources to the parents. Osborne is running for one of three seats to be filled on the Shafter City Council, against incumbents Mayor Chad Givens, Gilberto Alvarado and Pete Espinoza, and Rafael Zamudio....
The Shafter community came together Tuesday evening to celebrate National Night Out, an event designed to foster stronger connections between law enforcement agencies and residents. Hosted by the Shafter Lions Club and the Shafter Police Department, the gathering offered a chance for community members to interact with officers in a relaxed, friendly setting, with the goal of promoting trust and collaboration. "It was a team effort between me and the Lions Club," Councilmember Gilbert Alvarado,...
Strata Credit Union will celebrate Día de los Muertos with a member appreciation event, on Friday, Nov. 1, at their Wasco branch. The gathering will include activities such as face painting, pastries, exciting raffles and giveaways, including a chance to take home a limited-edition tumbler. "We established the Día de los Muertos Member Appreciation Event to celebrate and honor both past and present family members, embodying the rich cultural traditions that resonate deeply within our c...
An emergency was averted by the Wonderful Aviation team at Meadows Field on Friday when a pilot on a King Air 90 flight from Henderson, Nev., to Monterey Bay, became unconscious. A student pilot found herself flying the aircraft alone for the first time. Wonderful Aviation's pilots played a crucial role in guiding the student pilot – who had zero experience - through the crisis, helping her safely land the plane in Bakersfield. Chief Pilot Nick McLean said it was a matter of being in the r...
The Young Adults Theater of Shafter will perform "Drop Dead Disco," a captivating murder mystery dinner with audience participation that showcases the ttalent of its actors. The event will raise funds for the Shafter Children's Summer Theater and Young Adults Theater of Shafter productions, said Joshua Cooley, the show's director. The evening promises to be packed with entertainment, with dinner and desserts served while a sibling trio gains ownership of a discotheque. Mysteriously, one of the...
The Wasco Union High School Class of 1974 gathered on Saturday to celebrate their milestone 50th reunion. Classmates traveled from as far as Florida, Texas, Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Arizona to reconnect with old friends, relive memories from the past and catch up on the last five decades of each other's lives. For Jann Hill, it was a special opportunity to see John Herrick. "We were close friends in high school, and he was in my wedding. The last time I saw him was 40 years ago. He went up...
The annual Blaine Willard Memorial Car Show, held on Saturday and presented by the Wasco Elks Lodge #2419, drew a record crowd of car enthusiasts. The event was a tribute to Blaine Willard, who served the lodge and the community for many years. The large turnout demonstrated just how much Blaine was admired, with attendees coming from near and far to honor his memory. Linda Ballengee thought it was a great show. Her husband, Mark Ballengee, brought his 1933 Victory, and she liked seeing the...
Irma Ceja is a Chicana artist and muralist. She paints anime characters on tote bags, clothing, and shoes, which she sells online, at pop-ups, special events and galleries. Her artwork often depicts females, such as the Virgin Mary and other feminine influences. She is currently working on a large scale, colorful mosaic mural commissioned by the Urbanist Collective, representing the rich agricultural community of Delano. "I love that my art can be used to help beautify a community and unite...
A main provider of wireless service in the city will get a substantial lease reduction on its use of the Wasco water tower after a vote by the City Council. The council also agreed to a marketing partnership with the Tribune at their meeting Tuesday night. The council agreed to revise the city’s communications site lease agreement with unWired Broadband. The lease involves Wasco's historic water tower at the northeast corner of 8th Street and E Street. Since 2009, Wasco has had multiple lease agreements with unWired, which have been updated o...
Wasco's Measure X sales taxes are expected to provide substantial funding for the Police Department, street lighting and an animal shelter in the coming year. At a Sales Tax Oversight Committee meeting on Thursday, the panel reviewed the status Measure X activity and plans for the future Finance Director Isarel Perez-Hernandez delivered a presentation showcasing the financial health of the funding, explaining 2023-24 activity. The report showed a beginning balance of $6.39 million, revenues of...
Seven Wasco High School FFA students were honored as recipients of the Friends of the Fair Scholarship during the Parade of Champions at the 2024 Kern County Fair on Sept. 22. These scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, involvement in the local agricultural industry and community service, and reflect the high academic standards upheld at Wasco High School. The students' achievements also highlight the exceptional caliber of Wasco's FFA program participants. The scholarship winne...
Westside Family Fellowship Church held its monthly farmer's market on Thursday, serving over 1,200 people and distributing 15,256 pounds of produce, bread and canned goods – and 2,100 pounds of whole chickens. A special feature of the event was a drive-thru flu clinic, sponsored by Dignity Health. The Wasco Woman's Club also participated, with members volunteering in honor of the General Federal of Woman's Clubs' National Day of Service. Jessica Manzo, a health services coordinator with D...
Community Action Partnership of Kern plays a vital role in combating food insecurity in Kern County, particularly in Wasco. Through its food bank, CAPK delivers essential food resources to those in need, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the support they require. "We have 19 different programs that serve low-income neighbors across the county. Our food bank program is one of the most front-facing programs we have because we are present in every single community in Kern County,...
Youth basketball registration is now open for boys and girls ages 7-14. The registration fee is $70, and the deadline to sign up is Sunday, Oct. 6. Tryouts will take place on either Saturday, Oct. 12, or Tuesday, Oct. 15, with games starting on Saturday, Nov. 2, and running through Saturday, Dec. 14. Games will be played at Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center, with the Palm Avenue Gym as an additional venue, pending approval. "Register now and experience the thrill of competition, teamwork, and...
On Saturday, Oct. 19, Code Compliance and its partners will come together to keep Wasco beautiful with a Community Clean-Up event at Barker Park from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event, sponsored by American Refuse, aims to collect bulky waste and prevent illegal dumping. Code Compliance Officer Sergio Gonzalez is leading the initiative. "The City of Wasco's Code Compliance has been running this program for over a decade, and each time, the amount we collect shows just how much the community needs it....
Rihanna Sanchez, the newly crowned 2024 Miss Wasco Rose Queen, is deeply rooted in her hometown. Born and raised in this close-knit community, she's always felt a strong connection to Wasco Reflecting on her upbringing, Rihanna said, "It has always been nice how close everybody is in the town. It's just really nice when we have community events, and it feels like everybody is there. I can't imagine living in a town that isn't Wasco." Growing up with three siblings, Rihanna looks up to her...
The annual Wasco Rotary Club Fall Festival, one of the community's most anticipated events, will take place on Thursday, Nov. 7, at the Wasco Elks Lodge. The festive evening promises a steak dinner, a silent auction, a reverse raffle with a grand prize of $5,000 and a 50/50 drawing. Tickets are available for a $180 donation per couple and can be purchased through any Rotary Club member. Tony Stout, a Rotary member for more than 20 years, is the chairperson of this year's event, marking his 15th...
The Wasco Branch Library, in partnership with the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, offers a program called "Supper & Snacks in the Stacks." This initiative provides free meals and snacks to children ages 2 to 18 on Mondays and Tuesdays, when the library is open. Tina Garcia, an office services technician who has worked at the library for over 40 years, expressed her excitement about the program. "This is the third year we've been offering it, and it's been successful. It started off slow...
American Pickers is returning to California this November and is seeking leads in the area to explore hidden treasures. If you or someone you know has an extraordinary item with a fascinating tale about it and is ready to sell, the production team wants to hear from you. The hit History Channel series, which has captivated viewers since its first season in 2010, follows skilled pickers as they hunt for America's most valuable antiques. The show is a documentary series that explores the fascinati...
