This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 20 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Jul 26, 1951
Page
1
Chamber secretary Ernest Hofman reports decentralization trends and labor capacity in Shafter. Area offers unskilled labor potential with rising female participation and wartime skilled training. Wage scales range from 70 cents to $1 per hour for unskilled, $1.57 for construction, with higher pay for skilled workers.
The Shafter Kern County Fair community exhibit committee adopts the American Way as its theme for a county wide display and float. Mrs. Robert Bernitz of Taft won the theme contest. Committee members include Hemingson, Gacde, Becker, Wilson and Unruh. Unruh leads Young Farmers to collect crops. backyard Shafter gardeners are urged to enter fruit and vegetables for the county fair under agriculture and horticulture. Ed Freeman chairs the effort and hopes for strong competition among communities.
A Shafter area farmer, John Devincenzo, suffered serious injuries from a fall from a tree while pruning last Saturday night. Authorities reported the accident at the scene.
The article explains that many cotton farmers depend on gins to ease financial and processing burdens. It notes two main financial aspects: financing seed for planting and selling the cotton, with gins reducing the number of required transactions for growers.
The Richland Aquatic Center prepares for the annual Swim Carnival on August 9 at 8 pm featuring about 60 students finishing summer instruction. Certificates will be given to beginners to juniors life saving class participants. The event includes exhibitions and a possible Bakersfield clown act with a focus on local youths. Roy Farrell is due back August 5 after attending summer school at San Jose State College.
Pfc. Vernon Unruh son of Mr and Mrs William Unruh Scaroni Avenue wounded by mortar shell in Korea on June 17 reported in not too serious condition at Camp Pendleton Hospital. He flew back to Pendleton July 11 after initial overseas treatment. Inducted Aug 4 1950, he served with the fifth and first Marines divisions. A Shafter High School graduate, he worked on local ranches before enlisting.
Shafter Chamber of Commerce reports traffic danger at the Highway 99 and Lerdo Highway intersection. E T Scott of Fresno district engineer says a survey by the state division of highways will address the issue.
The Shafter Wasco Ginning Company Inc expands to three gins by harvest with a new plant on Centil Valley Highway and the Garrison City site already acquired. Spike Spivey notes Lummus equipment, with 697 acres farmed, base count 8609 in 1950, and seed turnover to certified growers. Officers include F. W. Handel president, J. B. Sill vice president, W. Lachenmaier secretary. Thurston Anderson and Drennen Hofman assist.
Fragmentary note suggests a contract may include a must clause and references financing by a banking establishment. Continued on page 6.
The Shafter Merchants defeated Lamont 2–0 to secure a firm second place in the Kern County League. They prepare for weekend games against Arvin at Sam Lynn Park Saturday and Wasco on Monday. Earlier wins include a 19–0 shutout of Kern Lake Red Sox. Tucker earned the win as 11 players saw action.
Cecil W. Hendricks, 36, farm laborer from South Shafter, received a year in jail after pleading guilty to two drunken driving offenses. His license had already been suspended for prior DUI, with no option to pay a fine. Judge E. K. Grant handed down the sentence after a justice court encounter.
A. F. Geib of the Kern Mosquito Abatement District warns Shafter area residents of a looming large mosquito invasion tied to higher cotton acreage. He says the district aims to control pests by tracing them to their source and destroying larvae rather than spraying at random, emphasizing prevention over elimination.
Kern county reports a total 1950-51 state fund receipt of $13,253,027.60. Elementary schools get $4,500,257.83, high schools $1,029,741.68, and junior colleges $138,550, with broader social welfare and health allocations listed including aid for the aged, the blind, and needy children.
Crews began work this week on a deeper Maple well after water supply concerns from a level depletion. The project aims for at least 300 feet depth and will reuse the present pump with a more powerful motor once attached.
Three major construction jobs coordinated by the Shafter City Council and Chamber of Commerce are in progress this week. They include Lerdo highway resurfacing between Shafter and Highway 99, Shafter avenue repairs from Five Points to Ash street, and installation of a 24 inch pipe under the Santa Fe tracks.
Jack M Hill, Shafter High School principal for six years, will head the new North-of-the-River High School. Grant W Jensen of McFarland High will replace him in Shafter. The moves follow a district plan and hinge on the fall 1952 opening. Hill will spend a year in Bakersfield assisting with staff, curriculum, and supplies for the new school and will also serve part time as counselor at Bakersfield High School.
Ten year old Douglas Toews alerted his family when a 18 inch rattlesnake loomed near their car in the yard at Grange and Scaroni avenues. The serpent, spotted after a Pot O Gold event in Shafter, was shot in the head and buried by the Toews family. Another rattlesnake was killed nearby while irrigation occurred.
Richland Public hearing on a proposed 885741 dollar budget for the district next year will be Aug 7. Superintendent Bruce Crawford notes a 380000 increase for expenditures due to building and payroll growth. Wage allocation rises to 299021 from 256179, the first change since 1949. Hearing 7:30 pm in the superintendent's office.
Shafter Junior League schedules a playoff series to decide the championship between Reed Bell and Rio Bravo. Edward Schacht, recreation adviser, announced playoff dates August 1 2 3 with games at the Primary diamond and Rio Bravo.
The Shafter Lions Club plans a joint meeting with 20 to 30 members and officers this week. A coordinated session is set for next Wednesday to discuss year start plans and club activities.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.