Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Jennifer Chavez, 25, of Shafter passed away Oct 12, in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Maria Salinas, 72, of Wasco passed away Oct 25, in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Beatrice Paola Aldaco, 28, of Wasco passed away Oct 26, in Delano. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Jesus C. Villarreal, 71, of Shafter passed away Oct 22, in Shafter. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter. Michael Wilson, 69, of Shafter passed away Oct 26, in Bakersfield. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Henry Gentry, 81,...
Authorities responded to the report of a downed aircraft in Shafter on Wednesday at approximately 12:45 p.m. Off of Driver Road and Lerdo Highway, officers located a downed aircraft in the middle of an empty field. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the site. It was not immediately known what type of aircraft it was or the condition of the pilot....
On Oct. 26, 2021, Francisco "Rudy" Avila went home to the Lord at the age of 69. Rudy was born on Sept. 21, 1952, in Patterson, Calif., to Francisco and Librada Avila. He joined the Navy in 1970 and while in the service began his life-long career in human resources. On Aug. 27, 1983, he married Yvonne Barreto Avila. Together they raised three children, Jacob, Matthew, and Leah. He became a believer in Jesus Christ in 1987 and would read his Bible and pray for others daily....
Keith Dwayne Howard, of Posey, lost his battle to cancer on Oct. 26, 2021, at the age of 67. Keith was born and raised in Wasco and graduated from Wasco High School in 1972. During his senior year of high school, he met his wife of 47 years, Donna, while at Pismo Beach on a family vacation. He tried to push her off the pier into the red tide water, and the rest was history. In 1973, he joined the US Air Force, and that is where he met his "one good best friend," Richard...
Robert John Thullen, 84, of Shafter, died October 17, 2021, after suffering a stroke two months earlier. Bob was born in Chicago, Ill., on May 1, 1937, to John and Lennea Thullen. His only sibling, Philip, was born five years later. While growing up in Chicago, Bob worked for a neighborhood market and for American Can Company. He often shared stories about what it was like to grow up during World War II. Bob graduated from Fenger High School in Chicago and attended Thornton...
On Oct. 27, 2021, Adam Lee Bruce, loving son, brother, uncle and friend to many, passed away at age 47 due to complications of covid-19. Adam was born July 22, 1971, in Bakersfield to Perry Bruce and Shirley Moreno. He loved his church, Westside Family Fellowship in Wasco. He loved being a helper at the church and would volunteer to help anyway he could. Most of all he loved teaching others about Christ. Adam is survived by his mother, father, and sister, Amee; grandmother...
In the 94th battle between the Shafter Generals and the Wasco Tigers, Wasco used a hurry-up offense that eventually battered the injury-riddled Generals into submission with a 46-20 win. The game was a hard-fought one that saw the Generals stay in the game up to the very end, battling their way back each time they fell behind. Shafter spotted the Tigers a 16-0 lead just minutes into the game. Wasco scored on their first drive of the game on a 9 yard run, followed by the...
Many families began arriving at Barker Park on Oct. 28 well before 6 p.m. when the park's Trunk or Treat was officially to begin. A multitude of kids with parents snaked around Poplar all the way to Poso by the time the event officially started. "We ran out of candy by 7 p.m." Wasco Woman's Club member Jill Drescher said. "There were so many people at the park." Sgt. Peter Martinez was there because this was an event he had previously signed up for before he left the Wasco Sub...
City Council meetings will again be held by Zoom. The City Council unanimously passed the following action regarding meeting protocol to hold all council meetings, until further notice, by teleconference (Zoom) pursuant to Assembly Bill 361 and a Government Code Section because there is a proclaimed state of emergency in the state and city and local officials recommended measures to promote social distancing as required. "This will be reviewed and renewed on a monthly basis,"...
Chris Serna needs no introduction to the residents of Wasco because she's been employed by the Recreation and Parks District for the past 18 years. Now she is the new district manager. Even though she is a Shafter resident, she has been employed in Wasco for the past 30 years. Serna was previously the Wasco Recreation and Parks District secretary and knows the ins and outs of the department. During rival game time, she roots for both teams as she shares a love for her adopted...
Palm Avenue Middle School completed its third annual chess tournament. There were 16 participants ranging from sixth to eighth grade. Students wore masks and practiced sanitation and safe distance practices to insure the safety of all contestants. "Many of the students had been practicing for competition like this before," instructor Marcus Ballard said. "I've never seen a competition like this before as all of the participants had the ability to win the entire tournament."...
Clemens Elementary School announced their Special Students of the Week for the week ending Oct. 29. In third grade, teacher Belinda Martinez, front row, named Jesus Jimenez who worked hard on manners, Damian Mata who was always being kind to others and Victoria Bautista who is an all-around great student. In the middle row from left, Angela Gonzalez was recognized as being a role model student, Maria Mendoza was recognized for being helpful and kind to those around her and...
Shafter High School recently named their Generals of the Month students. These students exhibited an outstanding performance in the classroom, as well as possessing traits that make being a General so special. According to Principal Russell Shipley, these students were recognized for good grades, as well as being good people inside and outside of the classroom. Generals of the Month receive a certificate, as well as a bumper sticker, and are announced during the presentation...
If you are 65 years or older and fully vaccinated, you qualify for a booster shot, the Center for Disease Control announced. If you are over 18 and have underlying medical conditions, live in a long-term care facility or live in a high-risk setting, you are also eligible to receive the booster shot. Booster shots are now available for the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. You can get a booster shot at least 6 months after you complete your second dose of the...
A Shafter man has been working hard to make sure that World War II veterans are remembered in a special way. The Kern County World War II Memorial will be built in Bakersfield at Jastro Park, at the site of the outdoor theater arena. Ed Gaede, a Shafter High graduate, is the director of the committee that is heading up the memorial effort. Gaede has been involved in local veterans' causes for years on the committee that operates the Portrait of a Warrior museum in downtown...
Here's this week's challenge, courtesy of the Shafter Historical Society. If you know the location, circumstances, exact or rough date and/or people in the photo, send your educated (or semieducated) guess to The Press, 455 Kern St., Suite E, Shafter, CA 93263, or e-mail it to [email protected]. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: The photo showed the Shafter Fire Department in the late 1960s....
Oct. 23 Salvador Esparza Aguilar, 34, of Shafter, was arrested on the 400 block of Olson for battery: non cohabit spouse and willful cruelty to child. Chelsea Pena, 27, of Shafter, was arrested on the 1100 block of Minter Ave. on an outside agency warrant. Oct. 25 Mario Mercado Valenzuela, 36, of Shafter, was arrested on the 300 block of S. Schnaidt for possession of narcotic controlled substance and under the influence of controlled substance. Oct. 26 Adela Flores, 24, of Shafter, was arrested on the 400 block E. Euclid for...
As activities restart and businesses reopen, we will try to update readers on the status of events and activities throughout the area. Please contact Erica Soriano with additions and changes at [email protected] or call 661-292-5100 by Monday at 4 p.m. for that week’s paper. Ongoing Shafter: CAPK- Head Start and State Preschool is accepting applications at the Shafter EHS Center. Located at 459 E. Euclid. Documents needed to complete application: Birth Cert., income and immunizations record. (661)746-8240 S...
The Minter Field Air Museum will be holding their annual Wings 'n Wheels event this year, after a one year hiatus due to health and safety concerns last year. The event is the major fundraiser of the year for the museum. "We rely on this event for a big portion of our monies throughout the year," said President Ronald Pierce. "We are so excited to be able to bring this event back to the people. It is going to be bigger and better than ever." The event will open its gates on...
The City Council approved a resolution to accept American Refuse as its franchise hauler to service the city and its trash collection. The contract begins in March 2022. The city needed to sign a contract with a hauler because of a state mandated order that all residents have a three cart system for trash collection. Public Works Director Michael James said the public will be notified about the new requirements that will be taking place. Information will be sent to residents...
The Shafter/Wasco Rivalry, one of the oldest and fiercest in the county, resumed last week as the schools went head-to-head on the football field Friday. Wasco won this year, 46-20. Before the game, students held rallies to build school spirit. The rivalry was on hiatus last year because of the health and safety restrictions, but the rivalry picked up without missing a beat this year. The Generals had different Dress Up Days during the week, including one day in which they...
When the game clock read 0:00 at the end of the 4th quarter, the (9-0, 6-0) Wasco Tigers were crowned the 2021 South Sequoia League Champions. Led by Coach Chad Martinez, a courageous coaching staff, and a Wing T running game, solid defensive strategies, and a host on seniors, the Tigers accomplished that feat in a win over the (5-5, 4-2) Shafter Generals, 46-20. "The game plan was to start fast and beat them up running the ball," Martinez said. "It feels real good to be...
