Swarm surprises downtown workers

Rosemary Hughes is used to dealing with bees. A large jasmine bush located just outside of her downtown office building is a popular place for bees to congregate come warm weather. On Tuesday, however, the flying visitors were more than just a temporary nuisance.

Turlock girl tests her memory as ‘Brainsurge’ contestant

Denair Middle School student Lauryn Johnson was thrilled to slide down a slime-filled tunnel and land in a pit of foam. While the Turlock teen isn't particularly a fan of getting dirty, she is a fan of the Nickelodeon television show "Brainsurge."

Poisson d’avril

Hopefully, everyone reading this column successfully made it through another April Fool's Day. It is difficult for me to have any serious conversation on the first day of April because I'm always worried that I will be made a fool in the end.

Turlocker earns accolades for community service

When a crisis occurs and community members and law enforcement personnel are involved in traumatic situations they often need the emotional support of someone trained in mental health first aid and stress management. That is where Al Opdyke comes in.

Road angels

Every week Turlockers Beverly Whitort and Wil Marshall pick up cancer patients around the county and drive them to their treatment appointments. They not only offer a ride, but also a friendly ear to people who are going through extremely tough times. For four to five hours a week, Whitort and Marshall put aside their own worries and become traveling angels spending their time and gas money to help ...

Spring storms cause tree damage; sunny skies on their way

A spring storm ripped through the Central Valley this week, downing trees and causing temporary flooding in city streets.

Putting work in perspective

The tragic death of Costa Mesa city worker Huy Pham after jumping from atop the City Hall building last week - hours after receiving a layoff notice - should serve as a wakeup call. In these depressing economic times, everyone needs to remember that our jobs are not who we are. That might seem like a simple concept, but it isn't. Our culture is centered on ambition and "The ...

Small business owners reporting brighter 2011 than expected

In an economy where double-digit unemployment rates have become the norm and there are widespread housing foreclosures, many California businesses have had to shutter their doors until the climate improves. There are, however, those businesses that are not only weathering the storm but also seeing a brighter year ahead.

Local business makes community service a priority

Every year Lancaster Painting donates labor and supplies to a family or nonprofit organization in need. They have done multiple projects for both the Stanislaus County Society for Handicapped Children and Adults and Westside Ministries.

Japan quake shakes local man

A Central Valley man feels "good to be alive" today after witnessing firsthand the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that rocked Japan at 9:46 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Thursday.

It’s not my fault

The hearings that will determine whether eight current and former Bell city leaders will stand trial for misappropriating more than $5 million is a prime example of the "not my fault" mentality that has become commonplace in America today.

Let the market dictate smoking policy

I have a confession to make: I used to be a smoker.

AG asks federal court to restore same-sex marriage now

On Tuesday, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris asked the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to dismiss its order prohibiting same-sex marriages in California until an appeal of Proposition 8 is resolved.

Turlock Chamber CEO named 26th Assembly District Woman of the Year

Many in Turlock have benefitted from the work Sharon Silva has done promoting the businesses and organizations that help Turlock prosper. As the chief executive officer of the Turlock Chamber of Commerce, Silva has long been a proponent of everything Turlock.

Temporarily homeless: Nu Alpha Kappa raises awareness, collects donations

Many college students find it difficult to wake up and get to class in the morning, but for the past week members of California State University, Stanislaus' fraternity Nu Alpha Kappa have welcomed the opportunity to get out of the cold.

Visiting Clan connect with local kids

The Mizuno Tournament of Champions, hosted by Cal State Stanislaus through Sunday, offers collegiate softball programs the opportunity to compete with 26 teams from across the state and region in a three-day event. As Turlock welcomed these athletes to its fields, hotels and restaurants, at least one team reached out to the local community. The members of the Simon Fraser softball team from Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada made a special visit to ...

Grateful patient delivers nurse's childhood memento

The saying 'it's a small world' has new meaning for Turlock resident Michele James. From the moment James saw Gene Owens on the Memorial Medical Center cardiac care unit, where she works as a nurse, there was a connection. The Ceres resident bears a startling resemblance to James' father, who died when she was 18. "I pulled up a picture of my dad on my phone and we started a discussion of ...

AB12 making a difference for foster youth

When Nick Smith turned 18 he wasn't ready to live on his own. Unlike most young adults, however, Smith did not have a family able to offer a bridge of financial and emotional support to ease his transition into adulthood. Smith was a foster youth and lived in a group home with five other boys and constant adult supervision. In the past, Smith may have become one of the 65 percent of former ...

Vander Veen named MNC group publisher

Ciara Henderson & Zachary Damas

Ciara and Zachary's love story began with a friendly game of bowling. The two met when they and a group of mutual friends got together to bowl. At one point in the evening pictures were taken and Ciara and Zachary were pushed together. "I literally sat on his lap and didn't even know him," Ciara said about their first meeting. Zachary asked Ciara to send him a copy of the picture - ...

Victorian parade, egg hunts set for holiday weekend

Those looking for treasure in Gold Rush country are sure to find it this weekend, as Columbia State Park hosts its annual Victorian Easter Parade and Egg Hunt. The historic state park that features a Gold Rush-era business district with preserved shops, restaurants and hotels will host a Victorian Easter celebration on Sunday. "Two to three thousand come to the park on Easter every year," said Columbia Chamber of Commerce President Gary ...

Economic two-step is getting old fast

On the front page of Wednesday's paper, there was a story about an open house at a new business in town and right next to it was a report on the number of unemployed in the county, which increased to 15.6 in the month of January. Along with the not-so-great news of increased unemployment, was the announcement that Post is closing its Modesto plant and laying off 140 workers. Sometimes it feels like ...

Complaining about roads second nature to Turlockers

Legacy of support for Emanuel comes to an end

The community of Turlock has long had a reputation for generosity. This can be seen in its annual support of nonprofit organizations that feed the homeless, provide toys for children at Christmas and social services for all in need. And for the past 15 years, one of the largest philanthropic endeavors undertaken by the residents of Turlock and its surrounding communities has been Legacy Circle. Through Legacy Circle fundraising efforts, the community raised ...

Yahoo's return to the Industrial Revolution

In January, the Journal relaunched its Women in Business publication after a four-year hiatus. When the advertising department first suggested bringing back this section, I was a little hesitant. Most of the women I know who hold leadership positions in their respective careers consider themselves professionals. Not women professionals. And all of the women interviewed for this year's special publication voiced the same opinion; gender was not a factor in their daily professional ...

Turlock is open for business

From Blue Diamond -a new 88-acre almond processing plant being built in the regional industrial park on the west end of town -to the extremely popular Dust Bowl Brewery Tap Room, serving up Turlock-crafted beers and pub food to scores of visitors in the heart of downtown, new growth and expansion is blooming in Turlock. Over the past year, businesses large and small have chosen to open up shop in Turlock - or ...

Tenet buys Emanuel Medical Center

Emanuel Medical Center will become part of Tenet Healthcare, it was announced Thursday, as the organizations came to a definitive agreement after months of negotiations. Tenet is an investor-owned hospital operator that runs 49 hospitals nationwide including Doctors Medical Center in Modesto and Doctors Hospital in Manteca. "This is a way we can insure we have healthcare in our community," said Jennifer Larson, chair of Emanuel Medical Center's Board of Directors. "It's a ...

Turlock entrepreneur named finalist in business challenge

Turlocker Stephen Rodenburg will be one of 18 finalists competing for more than $24,000 in cash and business services in the 2013 San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge on Feb. 27. Rodenburg and his portable baseball batting training aid will be up against entrepreneurs from San Joaquin, Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties in front of a panel of judges and audience members in an "American Idol" style business plan competition. "I'm excited and humbled ...

Turlock Family Network facing closure, again

In the seven months since the Turlock Family Network reopened its doors, the nonprofit parenting resource has helped 55 families find the support and training needed to develop healthy and loving families. Those families may soon lose this support due to a lack of funding. "Between donations from individuals, businesses, and the monthly pledges from all of our board members we are not able to stay open past the end of the month ...

6 Bulldogs, 3 Pride to compete in Div. I semi-finals

Both Turlock and Pitman have eight wrestlers competing in day two of the Sac-Joaquin Section Divisional Tournament, held at Pitman High today. Six Bulldogs and three Pride grapplers are headed into the semi-finals; not too bad, but for Turlock coach Mike Contreras it could have been better. "It was a pretty tough tournament for our guys," he said after day one. Turlock entered Friday's tournament fresh off its eighth league championship in ...