After Election Day blues

The day after an election can be difficult for many. Of course, there are those candidates whose hard work, sincerity and perseverance didn't pay off and they now have to deal with the reality of losing a race for office. Many candidates are social people and failing in such a public manner must be hard. Everyone knows you didn't get the job - tough break.

New homebuyers get help from re-instated assistance program

Those looking to buy a new home now have an additional incentive as the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) has re-instated one of its down payment assistance programs.

HALLOWEEN: HOLIDAY FUN

Despite the rain and wind, costumed children of all ages got an early start on their Halloween fun at the Turlock Downtown Trick-or-Treat event on Saturday.

The unfriendly skies

Air travel has always been a part of my life. The moment my Indiana-born dad met my California-born mother and fell in love, my flying destiny was sealed.

Haunted hotel

When Peggy Mosley bought the Groveland Hotel in 1990 she was not aware of the hotel's paranormal history. It didn't take long, however, for her to realize that something out of the ordinary was happening in the Sierra foothills building.

Hospital hauntings

The Journal accompanied American Paranormal Investigations during their trip to the Sierra Building in October 2008. The following is the story published about that investigation.

Paranormal investigation heats up at Mercantile

The Journal accompanied American Paranormal Investigations on their trip to the Turlock Mercantile in September 2008. The following is the story published about that investigation.

Feeding the hungry

Neil and Ophell McBride and Lucy Okuye are egg salad experts. For the past nine years, the three Turlockers have volunteered their amateur culinary talents to making enough egg salad to fill 700 sandwiches every Tuesday. The sandwiches are then distributed to hungry people across the county through the United Samaritans Foundation Daily Bread ministry.

Superintendent asks county residents to ‘Choose Civility’

Last spring Stanislaus County Superintendent of Schools Tom Changnon received numerous phone calls from school district administrators asking him to come speak at their local public meetings about the budgetary process. While attending these meetings, the superintendent noticed an alarming trend.

Organization looks to keep children warm during winter months

Although recent temperatures felt more like summer than fall, Westside Ministries is preparing for the cold, wet weather that is sure to eventually come to the Valley with their "Coats 4 Kids" program.

Last chance to hear from your City Council candidates

Back when our country was young, political candidates relied on their friends to spread the word about their accomplishments and suitability to hold office. In fact, historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote that candidates "were supposed to play coy, obeying a call to service from their country, saving their energies for the task of government. Electioneering was done by newspapers, pamphlets, and occasional public meetings." <p style="margin: 0in 0in ...

Stanislaus students raise breast cancer awareness through week of events

Students at California State University, Stanislaus are embracing the color pink - and breast cancer awareness - this week as part of their Pinktoberfest.

The whole story of courage

You hear stories of courage every day. A man survives cancer and goes on to climb Mount Everest. A woman born without legs opens her own business and becomes an inspirational speaker. A child becomes badly burned in a house fire and, despite the pain, is cheerful and full of hope.

Fisher Nut faces retaliation charges

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit on Friday accusing Modesto almond processor Fisher Nut Company of violating federal law by retaliating against Latina employees who participated in filing a discrimination claim.

Explosion, fire destroys barn

An explosion followed by a fire burned a historic barn in the 5200 block of Tully Road, between Taylor and Barnhart roads, to the ground Friday afternoon.

Lemonade Day sweet success

The weather was perfect for selling lemonade on Saturday, and helping local youth understand the importance of giving back while learning business principles. Among the dozens of young entrepreneurs who set up shop at locations around Turlock and the county for National Lemonade Day on Saturday, were Samantha Robison and Norah Frank. Frank and Robison, both first graders at Medeiros Elementary School, offered traditional lemonade and berry-flavored at their booth at Paramount ...

Cultural diversity brings us together

I've said it before, and I'm going to say it again. Turlock needs to bring back its cultural festivals. Cultural diversity is one of the Valley's greatest strengths, and it should be celebrated whenever possible. I've lived in Turlock for over 14 years now, and I'm still learning about the many cultural backgrounds of area residents. On Saturday, I joined the Sons of Norway for their annual Syttende Mai (May 17) celebration in ...

COMMUNITY: SYTTENDE MAI

The Garborg and Solheim lodges of the Sons of Norway held their annual Syttende Mai (May 17) celebration on Saturday at Donnelly Park in honor of the Norwegian Constitution Day. The two Central Valley lodges marked the National Day by flying the Norwegian flag, eating traditional dishes like lefse (a flatbread made of potato, cream and flour) and playing kubb. "Kubb is an old viking game that goes back 1,000 years. It's ...

Turlockers 'Fill the Boot' for Kindness

Turlock Firefighters Local 2434 held its annual Random Acts of Kindness Fill the Boot fundraiser on Saturday and was able to raise almost $16,000 for local charities. Turlock firefighters voluntarily stood out on the corners of Monte Vista Crossings asking citizens to fill their boots with donations. Firefighters were able to raise $836 alone from people emptying the change trays in their cars. This year's total amount donated is an increase of almost $2,000 ...

More water coming to TID growers

Doomsday scenarios were bantered about at Tuesday's Turlock Irrigation District Board of Directors meeting, with the economic repercussions of this season's failed crops pitted against the impact of having no water at all for future irrigation years. In an effort to balance the immediate needs of farmers with prudent drought planning, the TID directors voted to increase the cap on irrigation water from 30 inches to 34 inches. The increase is still 14 ...

KIWANIANS GIVE BACK

The Children's Crisis Center will be able to continue to serve at-risk kids in the Turlock area thanks in part to a donation from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock. On Thursday, Kiwanians presented a check for $2,000 to Children's Crisis Center Executive Director Colleen Garcia. The crisis center is just one of the many organizations that the Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock supports. The club provides college scholarships, donates to high school ...

Festival of Trees to continue through new EMC Health, Inc.

As the sale of Emanuel Medical Center to Tenet Healthcare proceeds through the regulatory approval process, the Turlock hospital's faith-based service to the community will continue through two new organizations. EMC Health, Inc., a faith-based nonprofit affiliated with the Covenant Church, will be the successor organization to Emanuel Medical Center. The new organization will take care of the hospital's business obligations after the sale to Tenet and assume management of Jessica's House. <p ...

Welcome to Turlock

Playing host is nothing new for Turlock. The town welcomes thousands of athletes and fans to its fields and diamonds each year; sees over 200,000 visitors to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds; and is the site of Christmas and Fourth of July family traditions for thousands of parade attendees. Turlock recently saw new-found fame as San Francisco 49er fans and Colin Kaepernick supporters flocked to the QB's hometown for a truly unique NFC Championship ...

Water wall captures iconic pose of 49ers QB

When San Francisco 49ers quarterback and hometown hero Colin Kaepernick kissed his bicep after a touchdown run during the team's NFC Championship season, he started a Niner Nation sensation called "Kaepernicking." Although football season is over, Kaepernick's iconic pose is still inspiring fans. One of those fans is local designer T. Michael Alcordo, also known as "Kimo." "I'm a 49er fan; I was challenged to do a 49er water wall," Alcordo said. ...

FEASTIVAL OF FUN

The 8th Annual Taste of Turlock FEASTival brought local eateries, live entertainment and kids activities together for downtown fun on Saturday.

Homeless shelters close for season

Warmer weather has finally arrived in the Valley - just in time for those who now have no option left but to sleep on the streets. The Turlock Gospel Mission's winter relief ministry for women and children and the We Care cold weather shelter for men both closed for the season last week. TGM's winter relief gave shelter to 1,580 (99 individual women and children) over its five month season from mid-November to ...

Turlock prepares to feel the love

A Valley-wide demonstration of love is set for Saturday as hundreds of volunteers will take to their city streets and neighborhoods to clean, paint, rebuild and repair. The second annual Love Turlock event is expected to draw at least 1,200 volunteers, said organizer Craig Brooks. While volunteers will be working on projects for a few nonprofit organizations, the focus this year is on helping individuals and families. "We want people connecting with ...

Keep the discourse coming with public art

I admit it; I'm a fan of Califia. Since 2005, when the 14-foot fountain statue was placed at the corner of Main and Market streets in downtown Turlock, it has evoked many a passionate opinion - mostly negative. But I , for one, am a supporter of the mythical Amazon queen that is supposed to symbolize this area's connection to the soil and its agricultural vitality. On my daily drive to work, the ...

ONE DAY OF SERVICE

MedicAlert remains at forefront of health information

Turlock teen Linda Collins' near fatal allergic reaction to a doctor-administered tetanus antitoxin in 1953 - and her family's desire to prevent a similar medical emergency in the future - revolutionized the health information field. The story of how Turlock physician Marion Collins and his wife, Chrissie Collins, designed the first Medic Alert emblem and bracelet for their daughter, and then created an international foundation to provide emergency medical information services for all ...