Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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This week our District 4 staff had the pleasure to visit three facilities in Kern County that are trying to address our local homelessness problem. Homelessness is on everyone’s mind these days as the problem seems so intractable but the good news is that work is being done to correct this. The three facilities we visited were the M St. Navigation Center, the Brundage Lane Navigation Center, and the Recycling Lives facility. All of these are relatively new and are part of the community strategy to combat homelessness and g...
To the Editor: There are few things that keep me awake at night, but the recent decision by our City Council to move all trash pickup to the curb is one. The many years I served on the City Council, being a Rotarian, I tried to base decisions on the Rotary 4-Way Test. 1) Is it the truth? Impacted citizens in our community were not involved in the process to determine the final, best and most economic location for our trash service pickup. We were told the three-bin individual home pickup is state mandated. That part was true,...
You know that moment in the movies... someone who's terrified of heights must climb out on a ledge or jump between two high buildings. And they look down and the fear that overwhelms them almost makes them lose their grip and fall. We live in uncertain, scary times and the last thing we need to do is look down. If you look down... at your problems and your worries for too long, you'll soon be depressed and afraid to go on. If you look down... at your cell phone or tablet and...
I was so sad recently to hear of the passing of Pastor Jim Neal, of the First Southern Baptist Church, who passed away in late February. Pastor Neal was one of the first pastors I talked to when we were reviving the Pastors Corner section of the Shafter Press. Neal and Pastor Pat Coyle were the stalwarts in the city, never hesitating in sending in a piece when needed, which a lot of the time was pretty often. Pastor Neal sent in so many articles that inspired, touched, and...
You know that moment in the movies... someone who's terrified of heights must climb out on a ledge or jump between two high buildings. And they look down and the fear that overwhelms them almost makes them lose their grip and fall. We live in uncertain, scary times and the last thing we need to do is look down. If you look down... at your problems and your worries for too long, you'll soon be depressed and afraid to go on. If you look down... at your cell phone or tablet and...
As a child in Sunday school when the teacher said quote a Bible verse and you will get a candy bar every student quoted John 11:35 Jesus wept. Every time Jesus wept it was connected with the effects or consequences of sin. No wonder he was known as the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Jesus stood over Lazarus and he wept. The strongest manhood has its roots in tender feeling. The ancient Stoics would conceal and hide their tears, but not Jesus. As he wept over...
Next Tuesday, March 8, at 7 p.m., the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Crime Prevention Specialist Lorie Meza will be presenting at the Old Courthouse Building in Wasco, 810 8th St. She will be discussing community oriented policing to members of the community. I will be joining her to speak at this event. District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer has been invited as well. Representatives from the Sheriff’s and the District Attorney’s Office will be there to speak. With the recent shooting in Wasco, on Feb. 16, and the uptick in serio...
Have you ever had an argument? Most of us have. It may have been with your kids, a co-worker or your spouse. It is unfortunate that arguments have become a way of life. There are actually people living around us who can’t communicate unless they elevate the volume of their voice. They have to be heard no matter what, so they talk over everybody. If we are to be honest with ourselves, is anything really ever solved or accomplished by arguing, except maybe in a courtroom. I h...
The story of the Old Testament patriarch Joseph is one of the most dramatic in the Bible. With a couple of interruptions this story runs in Genesis from chapter 37 to the end of the book (chapter 50). During that time, Joseph's brothers first planned to kill him and then decided to sell him into slavery instead. Once in Egypt he was imprisoned as a result of a false accusation. A prisoner whom he helps forgets all about him for a long time. Joseph's story for a very long time...
Kern County has many jewels, places and things for which we can be proud. Two of them are the Buena Vista Aquatic Recreation Area (BVARA) and Kern River Parkway Bike Trail. Back in 2013, when I was a new Supervisor, BVARA was in District 4 as was much of the bike trail. It seemed appropriate to try to connect them and to enhance both assets. So I discussed this with the Public Works Department, they started the conversation with the other stakeholders, most notably the Kern Council of Governments (KernCog), and just like...
If you are a pastor in the Shafter/Wasco area and would like to contribute to our weekly column, email [email protected] or call 661-292-5100. to get added to our list of pastors.It’s now been almost two years since the threat of contagion and illness changed almost every aspect of our lives. It trapped us for weeks on end in our homes, eliminated the simplest gestures of love, friendship and solidarity — from smiles to handshakes and hugs to high-fives, and lef...
I attended the grand re-opening of our little jewel of a library on Jan. 18 and I am so proud of this town, and of the people who made this happen. I won’t try to name all those folks who are responsible, certain they’ll be found in other coverage of the event. The city of Shafter, in partnership with Bakersfield College, now supports this municipal institution, the Shafter Library and Learning Center, first of its kind in Kern County. It took vision and leadership, and the determination of concerned people here and in Bak...
On the way out to church the other day the old song “What a friend we have in Jesus” played on the radio. I began to sing along with the man on the radio. When the song was over I thought, Jesus you are my friend. In John 15:15 Jesus said I have called you friends… Some friends can let you down, but Jesus is a friend that will never let you down. You are always on his mind and he cares for you like no other person. Jesus is my friend, he took my sins away. 1st John 1:9 says...
I’ve been putting off retiring for over a year; however, now it is time for me to say goodbye. I’ve come full circle since my first job out of Cal State Bakersfield as I was the editor for the Wasco Tribune beginning in November 2005. Fred West was the mayor with council members Tilo Cortez, Larry Pearson, Danny Espitia and Cheryl Wegman. Gary Bray was the superintendent of the WUESD. I believe Elizabeth McCray was superintendent of the WUHSD at the time. In 2006 I left Was...
I am saddened to see the demolition of the Wasco Amtrak station. I was the editor when the Wasco Amtrak station held its ribbon cutting ceremony, and I remember how proud City Manager Larry Pennell and Mayor Fred West were. Larry Pearson, Tilo Cortez, Danny Espitia and Cheryl Wegman were on the council at that time. I remember local dignitaries attending the ribbon cutting because we were very proud of the new facility and wanted to have a celebration. The building was brand...
Whenever I think of the month of July I tend to think of the word "freedom" due to the July 4th holiday (fireworks too). We certainly enjoy and hopefully appreciate the many freedoms we have in the United States, not just on July 4th, but I'm sure throughout the year. The Bible speaks of freedom too, but not so much in the political sense as we recognize with our holiday. The freedom found in Jesus is in many ways much deeper and more freeing. For example, the Bible tells us that through faith in Jesus: • We are free from t...
Is it safe to say that for the past year and a half we have been on an emotional rollercoaster? A year and a half ago we had never heard the word covid before. Since then it has changed lives around the world. Just like everything else in our lives it seems that there are at least two sides to this problem. We as a society can’t seem to come to a consensus on the correct plan of action. Do we wear masks or not wear masks? Do we open restaurants or leave them closed? Do we a...
Last year, state and local governments nationwide encountered a once-in- a-generation global pandemic. Our community remained resilient, and the Kern County Department of Public Health ensured combating the virus was a top priority with the successful implementation of the state’s vaccination schedule and outreach to our most vulnerable communities susceptible to covid-19. In March of 2020, the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund provided Kern County the ability to invest relief dollars in a fiscally responsible way that k...
Time is a present. As King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, KJV). The book of James, states, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14, ESV). Time is the most valuable commodity we possess, yet we do not own time. The time th...
Farmworker Institute of Education and Leadership Development enjoyed participating in the Wasco C.A.R.E event this past Friday and wanted to pass this on to share a little more about our organization. As we strive to develop a replacement workforce to continue supporting California's economy, the Farmworkers Institute of Education and Leadership Development is committed to uplifting the economic prospects of our underserved populations in poor, minority communities. Whether...
Encourage – To give someone courage, hope or confidence. Discourage – To deprive courage, dishearten, or be disapproving. Life, itself, will discourage us at times. People will discourage us at times. We, ourselves, will discourage ourselves at times. Many years ago, there was a young lawyer who suffered such deep depression that his friends thought it was wise to keep all knives and razors from him. During this time, he wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. If wh...
One of the most rewarding experiences of serving as Fourth District supervisor is working with young adults that share an idealism and belief that no limits can stop what they can accomplish. I was reminded of this when I met with some of the youth leaders at Transitional Youth Mobilizing for Change, a local nonprofit that creates opportunities for young people 16-24 years of age to identify and take on issues of concern in their community. Back in the fall of 2019, these youth were inspired to do a “ball drive” for Sun...
Let me start by saying that the Christian life in the greatest life there is. It is so much better than my old life. I praise God that He rescued me from a life of hopelessness and misery. You gain by being a Christian, and you lose by not being one. Let’s look at somethings you lose by not being a Christian. You lose peace. There will be a continual uneasiness in man’s soul until he finds peace with God. Romans 5:1 therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God...
How can one live in peace in a hostile world? 1 Peter 3:10-12: For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” The genuine Christian life is difficult because when Jesus enters your life you...
Have you ever had a problem so big only God could fix it? You may be going through a storm right now and you see no way out. All of us have storms in our lives. You are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or headed into the storm. You are in good company. The 12 disciples faced a storm only Jesus could rescue them from. Matthew 14:22-24 “Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him across the lake. He stayed there to send the people h...
