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Newspaper
Shafter Press
Location
Shafter, California, United States of America
Date
Oct 11, 1951
Page
1
A suspected young prowler caused widespread fear in Shafter as police and vigilant residents organized a coordinated effort to end the nuisance and restore calm.
A teenage prowler, described as light com pleted with blond crew cut, has frightened Shafter residents near Manne and Walnut streets over two weeks. Police and citizen vigilantes failed to trap him as Mayor Kirschenmann heads a five team Red Feather drive to raise 5500 for five agencies with captains named and more to come.
Kern county cotton growers are invited to a Mechanization Field Day at the US Cotton Field Station in Shafter on October 30 at 10 a.m. The program, led by George W. Ferry, showcases weed and grass control by mechanical flame and chemical methods, seed rates, plant spacings, and picking demonstrations. After the field day, a ceremony at Shafter County Park honors agronomist George J. Harrison for the Acala 442 cotton development.
The Kern Association of Congregational Churches will hold its meeting in the new Shafter church building Monday. Over 100 delegates from 11 churches are expected, with attendees from Atascadero and Paso Robles. The moderator Rev. Dr. S. Whiteneck Jr. will call the session at 10 a.m. Host pastor Gordon Baker leads, with officers Floyd Peterson and Rev. Ralph Vest among them. Speakers include Rev. Everett Ke of a religious school in Turkey and Rev. Jesse F. Perrin, Glendale pastor and Southwestern California superintendent. Miss Helen Frances Smith of New York addresses the women delegates in the afternoon and at the luncheon. Local arrangements are by Mrs. J. C. Channeson.
City council approved a new double-ledger bookkeeping plan after McGowan Brothers of Bakersfield audited the books. Clerk Frank G Shaw was authorized to set up machinery for detailed ledgers including motor vehicle fund accounts and a property inventory. Jim McGowan noted the city’s growth from a town and stressed public funds require careful records.
Fire Chief Albert Finkbeiner leads a Prevention Week in Shafter with Mayor Adolf Kirschenmann issuing a proclamation. He urges city street crews to remove leaves and debris and asks businesses and homes to inspect premises for fire hazards. Cooperation with county fire units is urged to strengthen response and prevention efforts.
Nominations for the Shafter Chamber of Commerce directors will be prepared over the next three weeks with the election set for November 16. The nominating committee will name seven candidates and members may nominate seven more from the floor. Top seven on the postcard ballot win. Current directors include P. C. Clarkin A G Mortimore William Steller Bert Ware Merton Wiedmann John Gaede Harlan P Wilson and O G Ohlsen. Installation of the new chamber president will occur after the new year.
Central Valley Highway Association directors met in Hanford to endorse extending the route from Rosedale south to meet Highway 99 below Greenfield. Supervisor John Holt proposed the cut off. a Kern County survey was requested to link with the Shafter to Rosedale segment planned this year at about 400000 dollars.
The Shafter Planning Commission approved annexing the South Labor and Edwards Tract areas to the city. The move aims to resolve water shortages after disputes between Kern County Housing Authority and Shafter Utility District. The planning group supported extending SPUD’s territory, noting the land is already within the utility district.
The Shafter City Council moved to adopt a use tax targeting amusements and liquor establishments to boost revenue. The measure, aligned with nearby Valley communities, received unanimous support though officials could not estimate potential income. City Attorney Mortimore noted the tax, already used by sixth class cities, will likely take effect after a second reading in November.
Captain Harley Martin leads Shafter High School Generals against Taft tomorrow night on the Westside gridiron. Taft, a bigger school with more reserves, poses a tough test ahead of the Exeter league opener away next week.
Coach Bledsoe builds strength and experience as Taft eyes a win over Wasco, a rival in the same league as Shafter. Captain Martin, a 240 pound left guard, leads his team in a tough matchup amid odds and a disputed previous game against Wasco.
Shafter officials faced an 11 percent proposed income tax hike from Congress. Police Chief John Reily argued officers could not afford extra tax, while Auditor Jim McCowan clarified the hike would apply to current taxes and was not yet enacted. The council delayed action pending Congress approval.
Ernie Panero, operator of two theaters, opposes a city amusement tax he says would target his venues. He argues the existing 20 percent federal tax already makes entertainment costly, and an additional local levy would be excessive.
The American Legion received city council approval to build a clubhouse on a triangular lot at Mannell and Kern streets in Shafter. Commander Claude Camp said the site would be a place Legionnaires can call their own, as they currently meet in the Veterans Memorial Hall.
Joyce McDonald tops the Shafter Press Horizon Club tally with ten new subscriptions. Donna Weitz’s team trails by two, with Mary Margaret Revell close behind at nine. The drive supports welfare work at the high school and delegates for a winter conference. Members meet Monday at 4 p.m. for a kickoff session as the contest ends noon next Saturday. The Horizon Club takes 50 percent of new subscription proceeds and 25 percent of renewals. a prize awaits the winning team.
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