28 Dec 1948
Page 1
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Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Dec 28, 1948
Page
1
Paul Newell reflects on Christmas to New Year days as a season of inventory and renewal. He urges Americans to cherish opportunities, maintain hope, and keep the American spirit alive to inspire a world facing defeatism.
An open house tonight marks the dedication of the Kew Shafter Rotary and Kiwanis Boy Scout Building on California Street near Walker Avenue. Doors open at 7:30 with ceremony at 8, featuring the turnover of the building to Scout troops and brief remarks.
Shafter and Oildale 20-30 clubs held a joint installation at Crystal Inn Bakersfield with Greg Malory officiating as deputy district 5 governor Santa Claus John Masters presented gifts to about 80 members and spouses Gifts were color coded green for men red for women Officers installed include Shafter Ed DeMello president and Bill Henne president of Oildale with their respective officers The groups plan to meet again next Wednesday evening and in the new year at the first meeting for the 20 30 fans.
Jack Veach age 20 of Smiths Corner and Joe Chapman age 22 of Bakersfield were bound over to the superior court for trial on a morals offense after a December 16 preliminary hearing in Sixth Township court. The alleged offense occurred early December 5 near Minter Field against a 17 year old girl. The mother filed charges and the pair were arrested the same evening with investigation by Bill Dolan of the District Attorney’s office and local police assisting. Judge Bhewart Magee presided.
A 15 year old Shafter high student Retha Faye Tolbert died in a motorcycle car collision north of Shafter on Santa Fe Way. The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. when Tolbert and Roland Canniday attempted a U turn and collided with Clifton Willingham’s northbound 1936 Ford sedan. Willingham braked and veered left to avoid the bike, but could not prevent the crash and was later unable to avoid the motorcycle as it spun out toward an oncoming car driven by Ira Crosby.
Weekend arrests for intoxication lead to multiple fines and suspended jail terms issued by Judge Frank G. Shaw. Names include Colon Williams 39 Loronzo Corronjio 25 Clay E. Smith 36 Ernest L. Jones 45 and others with fines ranging from 20 to 360 dollars and suspensions up to 300 days.
A group of Shafter residents raised over 50 dollars for John Lamb, a well known 90 plus neighbor. Lamb thanked donors Clarence Neuman Bob Stubblefield Tip Henderson D L Hathaway Robert Neuman Jacob Schnidt Dean Voth Peter Koehn Marshall Unruh Ensie Warren Dick Moore Jack Crawford Jerry Unruh Bob Rodgers J B Mann G B Clark Ben Miller Cleve Skaggs Jack Bellows Jack Thompson Bill Bradley H H N and C W Hitchcock Nikkel C W Hitchcock and M Poznoff through a public note in the Press with wishes for a Happy New Year.
A hectic weekend saw 22 fires reported across the area. Six fire companies fought a $10,000 blaze at the Wasco Farm Labor camp while another incident involved 84 bales of cotton at Bakersfield.
Funeral services for Retha Tolbert are scheduled at 2:30 p m at the Baptist church 220 Kern Street with Rev Sam Wilcoxon officiating. Burial will be in Shafter Cemetery with Flickinger Mortuary handling arrangements. Tolbert’s death follows a traffic collision that injured others including Canniday and Elton Willingham’s family. Tolbert was born October 13 1933 in Oklahoma.
A historic dust storm hit the San Joaquin Valley centered on Shafter, reducing visibility to under 50 feet and lasting several hours. Winds from 25 to 50 mph toppled trees and walls, halted traffic on Highway 99, and forced detours on Highway 466 as power outages and dust-filled streets plagued residents.
The 1948 California cotton crop is about 90 percent harvested with an estimated 900000 plus bales. Labor supply and weather were favorable, says Edward F. Hayes of the Farm Placement Service. About 65000 pickers remain employed.
Two local men Austin W. Duncan 24 and Thomas R. Upton 23 were jailed after nine Smiths Corner burglaries early Thursday morning. Authorities say $300 cash and a pistol were taken from nine businesses two miles west of Shafter. Deputy Finley Osborne and Constable Blake Witcher arrested Upton at the scene and Duncan on Edison Highway. partial cash recovery reported. Both await preliminary hearing in 6th Township Justice Court and likely binding to Superior Court this week.
Governor Warren urges drivers to heed red and green signals as holiday traffic risks rise. He warns that 95 Californians could die this week and over New Year unless motorists exercise extra care and curb careless actions.
The Kern County Tuberculosis Association reports $29 658 68 raised in the Christmas Seal Sale, 65 percent of the $45 000 goal needed for the 1949 tuberculosis prevention program. The group offers free chest X rays for residents over 12 and cites grateful letters praising the service. Mrs H C Gardner urges yearly X rays for peace of mind about children’s health.
Employees of the S. A. Camp Companies received holiday bonuses totaling more than 17000. The payments covered all seven S. A. Camp Guns, gin help, Canelo Motel, and the Camp farming and cattle operations, marking one of Kern County’s largest firm bonuses.
Harold Farr of Holy Com pany in the 23rd Infantry Regiment finished basic training at Fort Lewis Washington after entering from the reception center. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Virgil Farr and prior to service worked for a local mason attending Shafter High School.
The Shafter unit of the Kern County Fire Department joined Wasco and other north Kern trucks to battle flames at the Wasco Farm Labor housing center Sunday. Seventeen families were burned out in the blaze.
At Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno on New Year’s Day the Raisin Bowl will feature a landmark half time show. Fourteen San Joaquin Valley bands including Reedley Fresno Junior College Tulare and Clovis participate in a California Centennial themed program. Occident al College of Los Angeles faces Colorado Aggies in the game.
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