Dangerous crossings in Hilmar

During a recent Hilmar Municipal Advisory Council meeting, Isabel Cabral-Johnson, Hilmar Unified School District superintendent, updated council members about her concern for a potentially dangerous out-of-order set of lighted crosswalks in front of Elim Elementary School and Hilmar High School.

Turlock schools climb up education ladder, still work to do

The Turlock Unified School District is showing serious signs of improvement, but lots of work remains to be done.

EDUCATION: GOIN’ COUNTRY

Walnut Elementary Education Center students, danced, sang and played the fiddle - among other things - on Friday during the "Walnut Goes Country" talent show. A total of 175 students auditioned for the show.

TUSD Board of Trustees to receive update on energy program, budget process

The Turlock Unified School District Board of Trustees will consider approval of numerous noteworthy items at Tuesday's board meeting. The board is scheduled to hear an update regarding the TUSD Energy Conservation Program and schools that received the "Energy Star Label" award from the federal government.

Poll says most voters will support K-12 education with tax extension

A poll of 2,000 residents released yesterday by the Public Policy Institute of California, an independent research institution, indicates the majority of California voters would "pay higher taxes to maintain funding for K-12 education."

Area students get training in biotech at THS

Did you know that you can transform e-coli bacteria by injecting DNA extracted from a jelly fish that will create a florescent protein, which could then create insulin for use by a human diabetic? If you didn't know that (or even have a clue what protein exactly is) you can rest assured that a group of about 30 students from area high schools do know.

TUSD Budget Advisory Committee in quandary

Members of the Turlock Unified School District Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) were left speechless and clearly in shock numerous times during a disconcerting budget meeting Monday evening at Turlock High.

Serpa takes reins of backcountry horseman

Former Turlock resident Dennis M. Serpa was recently elected as president of the Backcountry Horseman of California (BCHC).

Can Tree gearing up for season of giving

As the season of giving arrives in the coming weeks the Turlock Christmas Can Tree Project begins its quest to help feed thousands of needy area citizens over the holidays. Can Tree is part of a three pronged approach to fighting hunger during the holidays, which includes the Salvation Army and Turlock Together. Since 1982 local realtor groups volunteer their time and talents to hold annual fundraising efforts to raise money for ...

2012 fair kicks off with a mob

Crane Park residents cry foul on proposed bocce ball court

Crane Park resident Dan Palmquist says living across the street from Turlock's most-used recreation area is like coming home after a hard week of work to see and hear a party that lasts all weekend, every weekend - only he is never invited to it. Another recreational amenity, a proposed bocce ball court, he says, would only make that on-going party bigger. The City of Turlock Parks and Recreation Commission voted to oppose ...

UC Merced continues commitment to increase first-generation college students

When the University of California, Merced campus opened in 2005 it was supposed to be the beginning of a new era of access to higher educational opportunities for San Joaquin Valley students. In 1995, the University of California Board of Regents specifically selected Merced because it was in the heart of the state's largest and most populous region without its own UC campus - which hindered opportunities for residents and left a need for ...

Turlock, Hilmar receive Cal Trans grant to improve pedestrian safety around schools

The State of California Department of Transportation announced that Turlock will be receiving a nearly $320,000 grant through the Safe Routes to School Program for pedestrian safety construction in front of Turlock Junior High. Funding is part of a $48.5 million statewide effort of 139 projects aimed at increasing safety and helping to reduce the number of injuries and fatalities among children in grades K-12 who walk and bicycle to school. City ...

Livingston celebrates

The Livingston 4th of July Celebration kicked off on Friday, extending the Valley's Independence Day festivities. The event continues Saturday from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. On Sunday, the Livingston Sweet Potato Festival returns for the first time in 15 years. Visitors can expect everything from sweet potato pie to fries from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday's events will feature the carnival, more talent show acts, a car show, live bands including ...

All things dairy

Dairy parents steaming over fair changes

Tempers are flaring among some 4-H and FFA dairy parents over what they say is a major scheduling debacle by the Stanislaus County Fair. For nearly four decades the county fair has held dairy cow judging, showings and sales from the first day the fair opens to the public to the last. But this year the fair changed the schedule and the vast majority of at least 300 dairy cows will only be ...

Horsing around at the county fair

Hundreds of 4-H and FFA youth put their skills to the test Tuesday at the Showmanship and Western horse competitions held at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. Tuesday's competitions were just two of the events held during this week's pre-fair horse events. "Horse shows are a great part of Fair," said Laura Moore, exhibits manager. "We hope everyone comes out to see the spectacular events." Pre-fair horse events continue Wednesday with 4-H/FFA ...

Turlock Sikh Temple holds first parade

The world comes to Turlock

This summer more than 200 young adult Catholics from around the globe will converge on Turlock for the 2012 Young Adult Teams Of Our Lady International Meeting, which will be held at California State University, Stanislaus in July. YATOL is an international young adult Catholic movement built on the principle of youth serving youth, which began in1975 in France and is now headquartered in Seville, Spain. YATOL is for young adults who are ...

Turlock dad, daughter recovering well after kidney transplant

This Father's Day Turlock resident Les Crutcher will receive the greatest gift he could ever receive - a simple day with his family. On May 1, Les donated one of his kidneys to his 5-year-old daughter Isabella, who had suffered from acute kidney failure after she ingested the E. coli bacteria strain, resulting in a kidney infection. Les and Isabella recovered at a remarkable speed, and ...

City permit required for all garage sales

Before putting out one box of knick-knacks or rack of clothing onto their front yard on Tuesday, the Cotton family obtained a permit from the City of Turlock to hold a small garage sale. The Cotton family was one of only about a dozen homes that obtained the mandatory $15 permit for that particular day. While the Cottons followed the city ordinance pertaining to yard sales, not all do. In just a mile radius ...

Hilmar graduates its centennial class

Hilmar High School celebrated its 100th commencement Thursday night at McSweeney Field. After the last high school diploma was handed out a massive fireworks display lit up the night sky as a flashing "Class of 2012 100 Years" sign made the night's event one to remember.

KTL educator retires after 40 years

When Keyes to Learning Principal Lee Ann Stangl launched one of the state's first charter schools in 1995 there was a lot of resistance to the idea, but she remained steadfast to her belief that parents and students wanted a choice in education - something that was not readily available at the time. Choice in education is now at the forefront in national news and Stangl was diligently working behind the scenes in the ...