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Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Nov 30, 1939
Page
1
Superior oil company reports completion of Smith No. 1 in the Shafter field with 3,000 barrels of 38 degree oil and 4,000,000 cubic feet of gas daily potential. Burner No. 2 spud north and east of Smith No. 1. Fink No. 2 reached 8,187 feet.
Taft hosts a county education meeting with 20 plus schools represented. Speakers include Eugene Ford Shafter David Laird Kern county office Robert Wright Taft E J Cuthbertson Taft John W Eckhardt coordinator. Committees will study enrollment and report in February.
A coat of light tan paint is being applied at the Forestry building on Santa Fe way this week with exterior trimming in brown and green. A new sidewalk is also being completed in front of the structure.
Mike Janzen of Shafter was called a standout by sports writers as Bakersfield junior college completed its season with a 14 to 0 victory over Modesto junior college at Modesto.
The Farm Bureau annual membership drive is underway in Shafter and across Kern county. Al Eckmann heads local efforts as the drive runs from Monday to Saturday. The campaign aims to boost farmer membership to enable participation in local centers and county state and national bureaus while promoting cooperation on mutual farming interests. The Farm Home department supports a program for farm women and the group seeks to advance agricultural research policy legislation farm credit and rural medical care issues.
Funeral services were held Monday for Lester Bell age 12 of Shafter at the Doughty Calhoun O'Meara chapel Bakersfield with Rev. Alfred T. Chandler officiating. Interment followed in Greenlawn cemetery. He died Friday at Huntington Memorial hospital Pasadena after illness since September and schooling interruptions. He is survived by his parents a brother Leland grandparents and many relatives. Pallbearers included A J Zimmerman Glenn O Nay Joe Henderson and others.
Enrollment at Shafter High School rose to 358 students this week, per a notice from Principal P. P. Jones. Fourteen new students enrolled, with several others kept out on work permits.
The California Taxpayers Association estimates Kern County population at 140,000 for 1940, suggesting broader regional growth and tax base implications for the county government and services.
Union Oil completed a 52 34 well in the Shafter field during Thanksgiving week, reaching 3 260 feet depth Tuesday. The 52 34 lies in Section 34 28 25 near the 41 34, with a second project 21 34 drilling past 5 100 feet, and both Union and Superior plan further activity in the field.
Ernest Panero was named to the Shafter Rotary board to fill a vacancy from Bob Zenk resignation and H J Harder was appointed associate secretary to assist Al Chandler. Panero will supervise attendance as the club aims for a 100 percent record. The board also discussed a Rotary sign at city entrances with Dr L H McGrane named to study it. At noon luncheon, a program by local high school students featured Kelly Grant whistling Norma Neufeld accordion Glenn Bender violin. Birthday cake was presented to Rotarian F E Manuel as the club’s oldest member. W H Hitchcock made the presentation. The group approved $25 for a children’s Christmas party fund raised by the Shafter Business Men’s Association. Guests included H B Foster and A F Geib, with Bill Bender chairing the day. Ira Unruh was the day’s chairman.
Farrand No. 1 in Section 12 29-25 reached 3940 feet on Tuesday morning. The well is drilled by General Petroleum in the hot area between the Shafter and Greeley fields. Rumor suggests G P may move north into the interfield district next.
Four men involved in a short change scheme received jail terms and fines in the city court of Judge F. E. Manuel. Richard Monroe Turner, 46, got two months in the county road camp with two months suspended for two years. Louis Knatcher, 31, Marcus Dewey Moore, 40, and Joseph Earl Murray, 51, were fined 10 and given 60 day jail terms suspended for two years with stay-out-of-district conditions.
Principal Eugene Ford announced the term’s peak enrollment with 386 students attending this week as night school braces for closure on December 14. A potential February second period depends on adult interest, while a first aid course with 46 students continues for seven weeks.
The Shafter Kiwanis club met at Cafe Neuman for a noon luncheon to hear Herb Schirmer report on ticket sales and Bill White with Miss Audrey O Northup, the show director, spoke about production progress. Several short skits from the Frantic Follies were presented for Bakersfield Kiwanians visiting the meeting.
Shafter high school hosts the California Scholarship Federation tenth district semi annual meet with about 16 schools and 100 delegates. General chair Miss Hattie Mecham oversees arrangements including food, decorations, and entertainment while sessions occur at the new high school gym. Speakers include Robert J. Wright on Education and World Peace and topics cover war, crime prevention, vocational education, radio and film in education, and college prep. Head advisor Marie C. Lorenzo of McFarland and Lloyd C. Pack advise the Shafter chapter.
The service station at the Camp West Lowe truck depot on Walker Street is being rebuilt after a recent fire. Insurance covered part of the loss.
State police hunt two bandits who robbed the N and K service station Sunday morning of about 23 dollars in cash 15 gallons of gasoline and two quarts of oil. A 1938 blue sedan used by the robbers was found later in Ventura county and the escape route traced along Lerdo road Blackwell's corner and the Ventura cutoff. No arrests reported despite multiple leads and a heavy local investigation.
Shafter Volunteer Fire department members debated buying a car or truck to be rebuilt into a unit for slickers boots lights and equipment. Neuman was named to investigate further. A report on the December 18 dance noted tickets were not all turned in for a definite earnings total.
Most Richland teachers spent Thanksgiving visiting relatives in former communities and returned to work last Monday. Mrs Margaret Sete remains ill in a Bakersfield hospital.
State Railroad Commission engineers surveyed Lerdo road and Shafter highway crossings with Santa Fe officials to decide on wigwag signal installation. Local businessmen backed the inquiry citing traffic hazards, especially during potato season and after new streamliners. If a signal recommendation is made and ignored, residents may file a formal complaint.
Dress rehearsal completed at the Shafter high school gym for the Kiwanis charity show Frantic Follies to be staged tonight and tomorrow at 8. Cast includes Bill White Harlow Johnson Laurence Baughman Merwin Hunt Noel Roberts and others. Audry Northup directs with Norma Neufeld Merwin Olson handling specialty numbers and a Virginia Reel. Proceeds split 50 50 up to 300 with after expenses to Kiwanis for charity work.
Local gins in Shafter produced 1 129 bales this week, lifting the season total to 11 859 bales. Camp West Lowe reached 4 179, D O Moore 3 950, and Shafter Wasco Gin 3 730 bales, suggesting the season in the Shafter district is over 80 percent complete. A P A Schmidt report from the census bureau shows Kern county harvest of 79 456 bales before November 14, vs 54 414 bales in 1938 on the same date.
Shafter Public Utility District directors meet with farmers, shed operators, and health officials to draft ordinances on water conservation, waste types allowed in sewers, and timing of shutoffs. They seek to keep potato shed dumps clean and restrict dehydrators, aiming to prevent overloading the disposal plant during the potato rush.
The new emergency room school units on the Shafter school grounds are progressing rapidly. One building is completed and a second should be finished in about ten days. Growing enrollment makes the additional classrooms urgent. The project is by Vannatta of Shafter.
Shafter members of the Wasco lodge plan to attend a social in Wasco this evening. The event is to be held jointly with the Rebekahs and refreshments will be served.
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