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Articles from the September 5, 2019 edition


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  • 4 more officers for SPD

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    The Shafter City Council Tuesday added four new officers in the Shafter Police Department by a unanimous vote on Tuesday night. Chief Kevin Zimmermann had looked for authorization to hire the officers "to better serve the community." "These are excellent additions to a department that has already been lauded throughout the county recently," Interim City Manager James Zervis said. Shafter was reported as the safest community in Kern County by BackgroundCheck.com, a human resources website. The...

  • New stadium for Generals

    Sep 5, 2019

    The Shafter Generals will be calling a new stadium home starting in the fall of 2021 as a result of a $7 million rebuild of their current stadium site. Principal Russell Shipley said that the dream began when he was appointed principal of Shafter High. There were talks of a new stadium with new bleachers, press box and concession stand. This dream grew into the state-of-the-art stadium to be completed for the 2021 season. The project will include new bleachers on the home and visitor sides of...

  • Martinez retiring after 45 years at Richland

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    Richland Chevrolet is saying goodbye to one of its most senior executives as Santos Martinez is parking his career in the garage after almost 45 years of serving the community. Martinez, originally from Brownsville, Texas, moved to Wasco after his stint in the Marine Corps. Martinez served in the U.S. Marines and had a tour in Vietnam in 1969. During his stint, Martinez received a Commendation Medal from the Navy for his contributions to numerous battles in which he fought to protect his troops...

  • App offers inside look at crimefighting

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    For those interested in how Shafter is fighting crime on a daily basis, there is a valuable tool that can give residents a peek into what is going on in their city, even their neighborhood. At the urging of Chief of Police Kevin Zimmermann, the Shafter Police Department added a functional tool for the Shafter community to access crime activities and other police-related data in an effort to continue the Police Department's transparency and accountability efforts. The department utilizes a...

  • Community Calendar- Sept. 5, 2019

    Sep 5, 2019

    ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW: Garden class -- Edible School Yard Course for 3rd and 4th graders Fridays 9/6, 13, 27 and 10/4 at the Shafter Learning Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m. NEW: Volunteer training -- Optimal Hospice is hosting a new volunteer orientation training Thursday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1675 Chester Ave., Suite 401, Bakersfield. Call 661-716-4000 or email mkapitza@optimalcares.com. A light lunch will be provided. NEW: Wasco Shafter Elks car show -- Blaine Willard Memorial Car Show Saturday, Oct. 5, at 16694 Wasco Ave. Show 10 a.m....

  • Arrest Report - Sept. 5, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    Aug. 28 Osbaldo Ezequiel Ochoa Esquivel, 25, of Shafter, was arrested for DUI in the 200 block of West Lerdo Highway. Aug. 29 Ignacio Briseno Ramierz, 38, of Shafter, was arrested for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and on a misdemeanor bench warrant. Jesus Martinez, 38, of Shafter, was arrested for possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, obstruction of public officer and possession of open container in public. Aug. 30 Matthew Lee Parker, 42, of Bakersfield, was arrested for disorderly conduct: alcohol. Elias Estrada...

  • Classified Ads - Sept. 5, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    #1 YARD SALE SHAFTER Multi-Yard Sale: 721 S. Grant St. Sat. 9/7, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Various commercial lawn & garden equipment. True Cut lawn mower, weed eaters, etc. Trees and shrubs, and of lots clothing. WASCO Big Yard Sale: Sat. 9/7. 1017 Cedar Ave., Wasco. 7:30 a.m. to ?. Tools, dressers, collectibles and lots of misc. Yard Sale: Sat. 9/7 1106 Cedar Ave. Wasco 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Baby clothing, women’s clothing, kitchenware & misc. 2 Family Yard Sale: Fri. 9/6 & Sat. 9/7 from 6 a.m.- ?. 501 Woodside Dr. Wasco. Furniture, clothes & lots of m...

  • Mystery History - Sept. 5, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    This week's challenge, courtesy of the Shafter Historical Society. Send your educated (or semieducated) guess to [BEGIN ITAL]The Press,[END ITAL] 406 Central Ave., Shafter 93263, or e-mail it to mysteryphoto@TheShafterPress.com. Winners will be revealed here next week, along with the facts behind this photo and a new one to challenge you. LAST WEEK: The original Kattenhorn covered wagon, used in May of 1963 for the Potato & Cotton Festival Parade. Top, from feft, Wimpy Bender, H.W. "Pat" Kelly,...

  • OBITUARY: Harold "Hal" Arthur Onsum

    Sep 5, 2019

    Harold "Hal" Arthur Onsum, 62, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away on Aug. 27, 2019, in his home after battling cancer. He was born in Bellingham, Wash., to Keith and Betty Onsum. He was a devoted Christian and loved studying the Bible. He mentored many people. After graduating in 1974 from Hoover High School in Fresno, he served in the Air National Guard and Air Force from November 1975 to November 1987. Hal moved to Shafter and started his law enforcement career at the Wasco Police Department...

  • Death Notices - Sept. 5, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    Alberto Pelayo Arechiga, 58, of Shafter, passed away in Wasco Aug. 23. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Rebecca Cortez, 24, of Shafter Shafter passed away in Bakersfield Aug. 29. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Jesus Munoz, 71, of Shafter passed away in Dinuba. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter....

  • Pastor's Corner - Sept. 5, 2019

    Pastor Fernando Segura, Canyon Hills Church|Sep 5, 2019

    Do you find it difficult to find peace in a chaotic world? At the rhythm that our world is spinning it is difficult to pump the brakes and simply breathe. I know that I have been there various times in my life. Peace is listed as a virtue of the fruit of the Spirit because God knew that we would face chaotic times. As the Holy Spirit does His perfect work in us, we can rest assured that we can find ourselves in tribulation but yet be at peace in our soul. Unless we don't find peace internally,...

  • Couch's Corner - Sept. 5, 2019

    David Couch, Supervisor|Sep 5, 2019

    The Board of Supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2019-20 budget last week. In addition, we also adopted a resolution declaring the end of the County of Kern’s fiscal emergency. By the end of this fiscal year – June 30, 2020 -- the county will have addressed the structural deficit in the General Fund that occurred with the large drop in the price of oil in 2016 which, in turn, resulted in a large decrease in the property tax from oil-producing properties. Progress has also been made in addressing and mitigating the deficit in the Fire Fund. Tha...

  • Generals rally comes up short

    Jamie Stewart, Wasco Tribune|Sep 5, 2019

    The Shafter High Generals lost a regular season game for the first time in over a year as a rally against the Scots of Highland High came up just short, 22-16. The Generals spotted the Scots a big lead midway through the second quarter as the Generals offense just could not get anything going in the first half. The Scots opened the scoring on their second possession. The General defense stopped the Scots on their first drive, forcing them to punt. But, the Generals gave the ball right back to...

  • Shafter High Football 2019

    The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    Friday Aug. 23 Mira Monte T W, 37-22 Friday Aug. 30 Highland H L, 22-16 Friday Sept. 6 North H 7:30 Friday Sept. 13 Atascadero T 3:00 Friday Sept. 20 Chavez T 7:30 Friday Sept. 27 Taft T 7:30 Friday Oct. 4 McFarland H-Homecoming 7:30 Friday Oct. 11 Arvin H 7:30 Friday Oct. 25 Kennedy T 7:30 Friday Nov. 1 Wasco H 5:00...

  • Focus on Local Business - Sept. 5, 2019

    Toni DeRosa, The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    Wayne Montgomery didn't always want to go into the insurance business. He already had a successful psychology practice in Bakersfield during the 1970s, while Sally was a homemaker raising their kids. In all started with an insurance company's expansion plan. "In 1977 Travelers Insurance wanted to establish 100 insurance businesses in California," Wayne said. Delbert Bowles was attending a seminar at California State University, Bakersfield, where two representatives from Travelers gave a...

  • Generals outshined by Stars

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Sep 5, 2019

    The Shafter Generals dropped to 1-2 after a tough loss to Bakersfield's North High Stars 27-13, going below .500 for the first time in two years. The young Generals fought just as hard against themselves as they did against the Stars. Shafter had numerous mental mistakes and miscues, resulting in bad field position and stalled drives. Sophomore quarterback Tyson Dozhier continued his struggles to lead the Generals to sustained drives. Dozhier ended the game 8-24 passing, throwing for 121 yards,...

  • Terry Neil Lee

    Sep 5, 2019

    Terry was born in Bakersfield on Aug. 18, 1954, to Frank and Mary Etta (Stewart) Lee. He was the youngest of nine children, with four brothers and four sisters. Terry was a baby when his father Frank passed away; he was raised by his widowed mother, Etta, in McFarland. They didn't have a lot of money, but there was plenty of love. Terry would tell stories of mayonnaise sandwiches and Yankee dimes, which was a kiss from his mother, when he asked for money. He was employed by Delano Growers for...