By Ed Martin, Editor
Assembly Member Rudy Salas joins Kings Lions Club members and others at the annual "Stuff the Bus" event Saturday at the Lemoore Kmart.
Assembly Member Rudy Salas joins Kings Lions Club members and others at the annual "Stuff the Bus" event Saturday at the Lemoore Kmart.

One could easily assume that California State Assembly Member Rudy Salas is a proud son of Lemoore. Certainly, residents couldn’t go wrong insisting that he’s one of them. After all, the third-term assemblyman, who hails from Bakersfield, seems to spend an inordinate amount of time in Kings County.

Truthfully, the nomadic and popular politician, whose district spreads from south Kern County to all of Kings County, is a visible presence in most of his district’s communities, spending so much time on the road that one wonders when the guy can get a solid eight hours of shuteye.

Just this past Saturday (Aug. 5) Salas was in Lemoore again, for the annual “Stuff the Bus” event his office coordinates with the Kings Lions Club where residents and businesses come out to donate supplies local students need to succeed. The Saturday morning school supply drive came complete with backpacks, pencils, notebooks, and a myriad of school items to support Lemoore’s local kids.

There was even a real school bus parked next to the Lemoore Kmart, courtesy of the Lemoore High School District. Salas and the Lions were accepting school supplies in front of the local Kmart from 9 a.m. to noon.

“It’s important for us to be out in the community. We know that there’s a need,” said Salas. These ‘Stuff the Bus” events are fantastic because it’s an opportunity for all our local organizations to get involved. We have the Kings Lions in Lemoore out today to help local kids, and all the stuff that’s being donated and done today is for our kids. We want to make sure that they have good tools to succeed in school, and we’re just trying to do our best to help all of our kids.”

In addition to a healthy contingent of Lions, Lemoore Councilmember Dave Brown and Mayor Ray Madrigal stopped by to help. It turns out Madrigal is a Lions Club member – in good standing.

 “Rudy Salas is here all the time for us,” said Madrigal.  “I work with him at the city on various issues, and he’s very supportive of all the things we do. He is in Lemoore quite a bit. He takes his time to be here at these kinds of important events so that the community can see we’re working together trying to get supplies for the kids. “We have to partner because there are so many wants and needs out there. You have to partner to make these things valuable and important.”

In keeping with his whirlwind schedule, Salas continues to canvass the district. He has scheduled similar events in Armona and Hanford on Monday, Aug. 7. At the Armona event, kids can get a free haircut (Cuts of Kindness) from Katcha Fade Barbershop. Over 700 backpacks were expected to be given away at the various locations.  Katcha Fad Barbershop is located at 10701-10711 14th Ave. in Armona.

Monday’s event in Hanford is scheduled for the Lincoln Plaza Apartments, at 804 S. Harris Street from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.asmdc.org/salas or call (559) 585-7170.