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Articles from the December 12, 2019 edition


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  • UPDATED: Now that's a sale!

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 16, 2019

    Editor's note: Due to a production error, the story on Shafter Christmas Store than ran in last week's paper was a repeat of last year's report. The correct story follows, along with the appropriately captioned pictures. For a lot of people, Christmas time is full of excitement, but for some the time is very stressful and is full of doubt, wondering if they will be able to give their children a nice Christmas this year. On Saturday Dec. 7, the Shafter Veterans Hall was turned...

  • Mystery History - Dec. 12, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 16, 2019

    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, 406 Central Ave., Shafter 93263, or e-mail it to mysteryphoto@The ShafterPress.com. Winners will be revealed here next week. LAST WEEK: The 1963 Shafter Potato and Cotton Festival Shafter Fire Department Fire Truck Parade entry....

  • OBITUARY: Walter Bergen

    Updated Dec 16, 2019

    Walter Bergen was greatly loved and respected as a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. The oldest child of Pete and Ada Bergen, Walter was born in a small house on Sullivan Road west of Enos Lane. He attended Rio Bravo School, Shafter High and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Walter married Judith Nelson in 1953. They were blessed with four sons. Walter started his career working for the Hollister family in Lompoc and retired as a sales manager for BW Implemen...

  • Making a difference, one person at a time

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 16, 2019

    There are many in our county who think that too many people in Kern County are being forgotten about, especially when it comes census time. This year’s Point in Time Count that will take place is one opportunity to correct this and make sure everyone in Kern County is recognized. The Kern County Board of Supervisors, including 4th District Supervisor David Couch, are calling for as many as 500 volunteers to help with the count this year. There was an increase in the number o...

  • Shafter FFA excels at competition

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    On Nov. 20, 48 Shafter FFA students traveled to Independence High School to compete in the FFA Opening and Closing Speech Contest. One of the largest speech contests in the South Valley Section, over 400 members on teams from 10 schools were present to compete. FFA members participate by reciting the FFA opening and closing ceremonies. The purpose of the speech teams is not only to teach students valuable public speaking skills, but also to encourage them to increase their...

  • Young Adult Theater debuts

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    For over two decades, the children of Shafter have been the beneficiaries of the Shafter Children's Summer Theater, led by creator Cris Starrh and a large staff of volunteers. The community of Shafter has also been a beneficiary, having been treated to a variety of entertaining performances over the years. For quite a while now, Starrh has been toying with the idea of forming a theater group for the young adults of Shafter and the surrounding areas. With the return of her...

  • Santa touching down at Minter Field Saturday

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Minter Field Airport will play host this Saturday to one of the busiest people around this time of year, as Santa is expected to touch down at around 11 a.m. near the main hangar at Minter Field. Organized by the Minter Field Air Museum and sponsored by Petsmart, the event will give the local children a chance to meet St. Nick and tell him their Christmas wishes. Opting to rest his mighty team of reindeer, with their international whirlwind looming later this month, Santa...

  • Maple's Kidsgiving at shelter

    Toni DeRosa, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Students from Maple Elementary School recently gave a large amount of food to the four-legged residents of the Shafter Animal Shelter. In September, students from Maple attended a leadership conference at Bakersfield College with over 700 students from 100 different schools in Kern County. The students spent the day learning about student leadership, focusing specifically on ways that could give back to their respective communities. A Kern Kidsgiving Day was created for Dec....

  • Death Notices - Dec. 12, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 14, 2019

    Walter Bergen, 86, of Shafter, passed away Dec. 5 in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Margarita Chacon Tena, 83, of Shafter, passed away Dec. 8 in Shafter. Peters Funeral Home, Shafter. Roman Reyes Lopez, 62, of Shafter, passed away Dec. 8 in Bakersfield. Basham & Lara Funeral Care, Shafter....

  • Pastor's Corner - Dec. 12, 2019

    Jim Neal, First Southern Baptist Church, Shafter|Updated Dec 13, 2019

    “…forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…” --Philippians 3:13, 14 George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.” Wouldn’t life be easier to “swallow” if we could just remember these words? I often wonder why we worry so much about making mistakes -- sometimes so much so that it paralyzes our creativity and even dulls ou...

  • Mary Louise Vazquez

    Updated Dec 13, 2019

    Mary Louise Vazquez was born in Shafter on July 7, 1927, to parents Pastor Vazquez and Maria Torres Vazquez. She spent her whole life in Shafter and was one of the eldest residents in the Mexican Colony. Mary Louise enjoyed traveling with her sister, Helen, and they eventually lived together in their senior years. Mary Louise was known by many as "Licha." Licha loved gardening and would often cultivate and arrange floral arrangements for St. Therese Catholic Church. Aside...

  • Classified Ads - Dec. 12, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 13, 2019

    #1 YARD SALE SHAFTER #1 YARD SALE WASCO #2 AUTO/MOTORCYCLES FOR SALE -- 2005 Chrysler 300, $2,000. Clean tags, non-op. NEW parts, custom rims, etc. Call 661-340-1544. Got an older car, boat or RV? Do the humane thing. Donate it to the Humane Society. Call 844-335-2616 (Cal-SCAN) DONATE YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR BOAT TO HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND. Free 1-day vacation. Tax deductible, Free towing, All paperwork taken care of. Call 844-491-2884 (Cal- SCAN) #3 CAMPER/RV #4 MISC. FOR RENT #5 MISC. FOR SALE OXYGEN -- Anytime. Anywhere! No...

  • Arrest Report - Dec. 12, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 13, 2019

    Dec. 5 Salomon Quiroz, 28, of Shafter, was arrested for driving without a license, hit and run, property damage and DUI. Roque Lopez Chavez, 68, of Shafter, was arrested on the corner of Poplar and West Los Angeles for trespassing, possession of controlled substance and selling, driving with suspended license and DUI. Dec. 6 Juan Jose Flores, 44, of Shafter, was arrested in the 400 block of Olson Avenue for possessing controlled substance paraphernalia and on an outside agency warrant. Dec. 7 Roel Alanis, 30, of Shafter, was...

  • Community Calendar - Dec. 12, 2019

    The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 13, 2019

    ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW: Elks’ New Year’s Eve Party — Open to the public at 16694 Wasco Ave., Wasco. Doors open at 5 p.m. Call Annie for tickets and more information, 661-203-7328. NEW: Libraries closed — All Kern County libraries will be closed Dec. 24 through Jan. 1, 2020. NEW: MOFA -- Mexican American Opportunity Foundation of Bakersfield is a vocational training at no cost. Career enhancement classes, externship, computers, typing and GED. Call for more information, 661-336-6821 or email MAOF.org. Christmas at the Depot ...

  • 'Lights, camera, Christmas!'

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 13, 2019

    The Shafter Depot Museum is playing host to a variety of decorated trees in their annual Christmas Tree Contest, with all of the trees on display for the month of December. Cookies and refreshments are given out free of charge while you peruse the museum. The theme for this year's contest is "Lights, Camera, Christmas," with entrants encouraged to decorate their tree in a Christmas movie theme. There are a variety of movies represented this year, from a couple of trees...

  • City lights up for holidays

    Jamie Stewart, The Shafter Press|Updated Dec 13, 2019

    The Christmas holidays were kicked off on Monday night with the 3rd Annual Tree Lighting and Sing held at the downtown square in Shafter. To begin the season of cheer, a large tree, full of bright ornaments and decorations, was lit up for the first time in front of a crowd downtown. Most came wrapped up in warm clothing, prepared to celebrate in the cool weather. The event had plenty of music, as the crowd was entertained by the Grimmway School choir and sang with the Distingu...