Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Sgt. Moises Martinez, a member of the Shafter Police Department for over 20 years, was found dead in his home Wednesday morning. A police presence was confirmed at a home on 206 Sunny Meadow Drive in Oildale at 7:26 a.m. Present were vehicles from the Kern County Fire Department, the county Coroner's Office, Kern County Sheriff's Department and the Shafter Police Department. Details on Martinez's cause of death were not released. Martinez began work with the Shafter Police...
The Shafter City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to appoint a business growth leader as city manager. Fresno economic director Lance Lippincott was not present at the meeting, but it was reported that he was watching the meeting via Zoom. Current City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez announced that he would be retiring when his contract expires in March 2025. The council interviewed candidates and selected Lippincott. According to the council report, Lippincott was...
The Wasco City Council appointed certified candidates, incumbents Vincent R. Martinez and Eddie Saldaña, along with Miguel A. Raya, as City Council members for Districts 2, 4, and 5, respectively. This decision resulted in the cancellation of the Nov. 5, 2024 election. The resolution followed that Martinez and Saldaña faced no challengers, and Raya was the only nominee for his district. Prior to Tuesday night's meeting, City Manager Scott Hurlbert said, "Tonight, the c...
Axzay Villarreal is a celebrated artist from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, who created the hand-crafted mosaic "Deep Roots/ Raices Profundas," featured in the Downtown Beautification Project. Her murals are vibrant canvases that convey rich historical narratives, and this piece reflects her interpretation of Wasco's heritage. The foreground of the intricate 9 foot by 7 foot mosaic, crafted from mosaic tile and glass, shows Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain, and La Catrina, the...
Meet the first six contestants vying for the 2025 Miss Wasco Rose Queen title. Each young woman brings her own unique blend of charm, talent and dedication to the competition. Discover more about these standout candidates and their journey toward becoming the next Rose Queen. Jacqueline Reyes is sponsored by Westside Family Fellowship. Her parents, Pedro and Janette Reyes, and her escort, Israel Paniagua, have been by her side throughout this experience. Jacqueline dreams of...
The Wasco Elk Ladies will present "Stop and Smell the Roses" on Friday, Sept. 6, featuring an honorary guest reception. This event will honor Grand Marshals Helen and James Medrano, Mike and Chris McCurdy, the Honorary Grand Marshals organization Wasco Knights of Columbus, the 2025 Miss Wasco Rose Queen and her court, as well as local artists. "We sincerely hope the community will join us in honoring these remarkable individuals while enjoying the Elk Ladies' cherished...
The criminal investigation into former mayor Alex Garcia has been suspended, according to a statement issued Friday by the Bakersfield Police Department. Sergeant Eric Celedon, the department's public information officer, said in the statement, "A case number was generated for this incident, but neither involved party contacted us after we reached out. This has left us unable to proceed with any type of investigation. As of now, the case is closed." This came after Detective...
James Garner brought his "Tribute to Johnny Cash" show to the Shafter Ford Theater for three shows last weekend that packed the house for each performance. Garner performed in Shafter for one show last year, also a sellout. The show features Garner as the Man in Black, complete with the clothes, demeanor and the unmistakable voice of the Country Music Hall of Famer. Garner and his band played Cash's most popular songs, such as "Ring of Fire," A Boy Named Sue" and "Walk the...
Due to an editing error, part of the location of a planned roundabout was inadvertently truncated in an Aug. 8 story . The new construction will be at 7th Standard Road and Highway 43....
Excitement is building for the Wasco Rose Festival Parade on Saturday, Sept.7, starting at 10 a.m. There's still time to participate-applications are being accepted for parade participants. "My goal this year is to make this the biggest parade we've ever had," says Christi Johnson, a member of the Rose Festival Group. "Currently, we have 25 entries with 450 participants, including Planet Dance Studio, the City of Wasco, the Rose Queens, local golf carts, Wasco Glass, Kern...
Miss Wasco Rose Queen Pageant contestants kicked off the season with a bonding trip to Disneyland. (Photo by Daisy Asensio)....
On Aug. 14, a special City Council meeting was held for the city clerk to certify that incumbents Vincent R. Martinez, representing District 2, and Eddie Saldaña, representing District 4, had no challengers in the scheduled Nov. 5 elections. The certification also noted that only one candidate, Miguel A. Raya, had been nominated to run for the District 5 seat. The nomination period for the general elections ended on Aug. 9, and only the incumbents filed papers to run in the...
A new North Shafter Parkis finally expected to break ground early in 2025, according to the city. The project was originally approved in 2021. According to Public Works Department Director Michael James, the design phase of the park has been completed, and the city will be accepting bids as early as this fall, planning for a groundbreaking toward the first of 2025. The 4-acre park, at Highway 43 and Fresno Avenue, will offer a variety of amenities, including a playground, a...
The Shafter City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to appoint an business growth leader as city manager. Fresno economic economic director Lance Lippincott was not present at the meeting, but it was reported that he was watching the meeting via Zoom. Current City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez announced that he would be retiring when his contract expires in March 2025. The council interviewed candidates and selected Lippincott. According to the council report, Lippincott...
The students in the Richland School District received a big helping hand when it comes to preparing for this school year. Last week, students were given free backpacks, paper, pencils and other school supplies that will get them ready for the fall session, beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Thanks to the support from the Shafter Lions Club, as well as members of the Shafter community, all of the children who were at the Golden Oak event received a backpack. On Saturday, Aug. 3,...
Looking for a forever home for this adorable, friendly and lovable pup. Spike, a 2-year-old male shepherd mix, came into the Wasco Animal Shelter as a stray and is super cute nd incredibly fun to play with. He's great with staff and other dogs, though we're unsure if he's house/crate trained or how he behaves with children. Spike will be available for adoption on Friday, Aug. 9, and the best part? Adoption fees are waived! Could you be the one to give him the loving home he...
Shafter is continuing its efforts to improve the city's roadways, utilizing a variety of funds that have been made available through different grants from the state of California. The city announced that they would be working on a list of roads starting this week, and warned the public to expect delays wherever the work is. Sand sealing work began early this week, beginning with Poplar Avenue between between Fresno Avenue and Central Valley Highway. On Tuesday, it was Poplar...
Sun World International LLC, a global leader in the fruit industry with significant operations in Wasco, has announced the acquisition of Biogold Group, a renowned South Africa-based global fruit variety rights manager. This strategic alignment brings together two industry powerhouses, combining Sun World's expertise in table grapes and stone fruit with Biogold's leadership in citrus and mango genetics. For over 50 years, Sun World's Center for Innovation in Wasco has been at...
The start of a new school year is always filled with anticipation, and this year was no exception for the Wasco Union Elementary School District. With a focus on success, the district is set to make this school year one to remember. Superintendent Brad Maberry shared that the district currently has approximately 3,450 students enrolled, reflecting a small increase of about 20 students compared to the first week of last school year. Despite this increase, he noted that the...
The first day of school for the Wasco Union High School District was marked by excitement, anticipation and a sense of renewal as students returned to campuses across the district. The atmosphere at both Wasco High School and Wasco Independence High School was filled with energy as students, teachers and staff began a new academic year. At Wasco High School, the day began early with a special event organized by the senior class. The Senior Sunrise, held at 6 a.m., brought...
The Grand Marshals and Honorary Grand Marshals organization for the Rose Festival every year are examples of selfless servants in the Wasco community. This year, they are James and Helen Medrano, Mike and Chris McCurdy and the Wasco Knights of Columbus. "For my husband, his first words were, "What did I do?" and mine were just like, wow. I was surprised and caught off guard, and even to be thought of and nominated is just amazing," said Helen Medrano. "It's one of the...
As the highly anticipated annual Rose Festival approaches, set to take place the weekend following Labor Day, excitement is building throughout Wasco. This community event, themed "Small Town, Big Ideas," promises a weekend of vibrant activities for all ages. There's something for everyone to enjoy! Here is the schedule for this year's Rose Festival – "Small Town – Big Ideas": Thursday, Sept. 5 --Miss Wasco Rose Queen Pageant, Wasco Union High School Auditorium, 6 p.m. Fri...
The Shafter City Council voted to approve a buyout option for the employment contract between the City of Shafter and its City Manager Gabriel Gonzalez. Gonzalez, who began with the city in 2020, has a contract that expires in March 2025. Gonzalez has announced to the council that he plans to retire at the end of his contract. Gonzalez also said that he would be willing to accept a buyout of his current contract if the city finds a replacement before the expiration of his...
Shafter held its First Friday event on Friday, Aug. 2, in downtown Shafter, drawing a crowd for an evening of fun. The event is a continuing series of events that the city started last year to great success. The brainchild of Mayor Chad Givens, the latest in the series had good food, music, games for the kids and a lot of vendors displaying a variety of items. There was jewelry, clothing and information booths, as well as organizations promoting an array of services. The...
Christmas came a day early for the youth of Shafter, presented with toys from the Toys for Tots organization, thanks to the support of the community. "The Shafter Lions Club used their nonprofit status to get the Toys for Tots organization here, and we secured the building," said Shafter Councilman Gilbert Alvarado, who is also a Lion. The giveaway event was held on Christmas Eve at the Shafter Veterans Hall. Every child who attended received at least two toys to take home,...
