Large haul of marijuana found in Hilmar

Investigators with the Merced County Sheriff's Department confiscated more than 2,500 pounds of marijuana in Hilmar on Friday. The seizure was made possible after a month long investigation into three residences on American Avenue in Hilmar. The investigation was initiated after an anonymous tip was received about a potential marijuana grow operating in the neighborhood, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Delray Shelton. At three homes investigators found 2,518 pounds of finished marijuana product, ...

Local dairywoman donates $1 million to UC Merced

When it comes to educational opportunities, Turlock native Margo Souza believes that it is better to give than to receive. The 74-year-old former president and CEO of Turlock's Circle H Dairy Ranch Inc. donated $1 million to UC Merced in an effort to create leadership initiatives for Merced's diverse student population. In April, the school pledged to establish the Margo F. Souza Leadership Center within UC Merced's Office of Student Life. The ...

TUSD prepares for shift in classroom instruction

As public schools across the country transition to the new Common Core Standards, which will change the way math and reading are taught nationwide, the Turlock Unified School District is already adopting the approach by building a foundation for a better tomorrow for its students. On Tuesday, the TUSD trustees were presented an overview of the district's Common Core Transition and Implementation Plan, changing the way students will learn in the classroom. CCS ...

Rotary tables bocce ball courts

For over a year the Turlock Noon Rotary Club has been trying to build two bocce courts in a city park, but everywhere they turned, Rotary members were met with more opposition than well wishes from Turlock citizens. The Rotary has been working closely with city officials to appease everyone's demands for the donation of the bocce ball courts, but to no avail. The proposed layout was 65 feet long and 29 ...

Joke turned fundraiser benefits kids fighting cancer

The breeze tickling the trees around Henry and Vivian Soares' home Monday afternoon carried with it the scent of a freshly picked harvest with a faint edge of newly turned soil. Wooden crates were stacked high outside their garage with strips of vibrant green fava beans peeking through the slats. Inside the garage were about 60 people busying themselves with shelling mounds of pods piled up on the tables. Moving between them ...

'Critically dry year' for irrigation

California is not technically in a drought, yet; but low snowpack and a dry spring is not looking good for local growers. The state's recent findings have the winter snowpack at 17 percent of normal, according to Chief Surveyor for the Department of Water Resources Frank Gehrke. This is a problem as the state heavily depends on melted snow to replenish reservoirs throughout the summertime. According to the state findings, 2013 has ...

Donna Marie Chavez

Donna Salazar-Chavez, 60, of Turlock, passed away at Stanford Medical Center after an extended illness. Donna was born in Los Angeles to Donald and Lupe Salazar. She was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her husband Henry Chavez, mother Lupe Salazar; children: Carlos Cordero Jr. of Turlock, Lenny Cordero of LA, Donnia Sarah (Ricky) Madrigal of Turlock, Frankie Costellanos of Atwater, and Isaac Chavez of Turlock; nine grandchildren, one great –grandchild, ...

Blood, sweat and cheers

Bulldogs take down Atwater for 24th win

The Turlock High baseball team extended its lengthy winning streak to an amazing 24 games after defeating Atwater on Friday at home 3-1. The Bulldogs are 3-0 against the Falcons this year and continue their undefeated streak in the Central California Conference at 14 (24-1 overall, 14-0 CCC). "Well the kids (Atwater) came out to play, but our pitching has been carrying us," Turlock head coach Mark de la Motte said. "Honestly, we ...

Hawks clip Eagles in baseball season finale

The season is over for Turlock Christian and Delhi High baseball teams. The Monte Vista Avenue rivals met at Pedretti Field on Thursday for their last game of the season and played through seven innings under the Valley sun. After a near TC comeback, Delhi held on for a 5-3 victory to complete a season sweep over its Southern Athletic League rival. "With the transition year and the rebuilding, from where we started ...

Hilmar soccer wins 2nd straight TVL title

Back to back. That's what the girls at Hilmar High are chanting after winning this season's Trans Valley League Championship on Wednesday. With a 2-1 defeat of Ripon High, the Yellowjackets cemented their place as TVL title holders and officially opened the gates for another trip into the post-season. "It's a pretty good feeling to pull it off," Hilmar head coach Louie Bettencourt said. "They deserved it; they worked hard. I'm very happy ...

Decade of Champions

The Turlock High boys golf team won its 10th straight Central California Conference title on Monday at the league finals at Pheasant Run with a score of 415. "'A crazy year'; I tell the kids that it's bigger than us, but I want to continue that tradition," Turlock head coach Jason Boswell said. "You know these kids work hard in the offseason; they play a lot of competition tournaments and they are constantly ...

Pitman topples Merced

The Pitman High baseball team defeated Merced High at home on Friday, 7-6, after a sacrifice fly from Brent Gonsalves drove in Alex Sniezek from third in the bottom of the seventh. Starting pitcher Jordan Gonzalez threw for 6 2/3 innings and allowed only two runs on three hits, six walks, and struck out 10 before being relieved by Derek Finney. The Pride (14-11-1 overall, 8-6 CCC) were up 5-2 in the seventh ...

Delhi softball ends season with close loss

The Delhi softball team ended its regular season falling to Le Grand on Friday with a score of 2-3. After committing two errors for the game, the Hawks offense that produced 10 hits on the day, was unable to capitalize for the win. Le Grand scored the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to end its regular season on a win. Seven of the Hawks' nine starters accumulated ...

Pitman's Sondeno qualifies for All-American at diving trials

Turlock and Pitman High's boys and girls competed in the section diving trials at Johansen on Thursday and Friday, with two moving on into today's finals. Pitman's Natasha Sondeno led all girls in first place and will be going into today's finals as she scored a 407.6, an All American qualifying time. Turlock girls' Alex Schoeffling placed sixth, and will move on to the finals. Jewel Gafca missed the cut as she placed ...

Garcia gets redemption at nationals

After his bittersweet fifth-place showing at last month's CIF State Championships, it looked like Turlock High wrestler Fabian Garcia could no longer wrestle. His voice was low, his head was down. He couldn't hide his sadness and dissatisfaction in his post-match interviews.

Saavedra survives, becomes national champ

For his trip to Ohio, Pitman High freshman Emilio Saavedra carried with him more than just his clothes and wrestling gear. Metaphorically speaking, he had a giant monkey on his back.

Clearing the air

In order for Alycia Wagner to describe the initial feeling she had during her first time pole vaulting, the Cal State Stanislaus senior traveled back to her childhood, when life seemed to be a little bit more carefree.

TC student-athlete receives scholarship award

Cheyenne Perry, a four-year volleyball and softball player at Turlock Christian High, has been awarded scholarship money as one of 49 winners of the A. Dale Lacky/CSEA Scholarships for outstanding performances in athletics, community service and academics during high school.

University drama production chosen for national festival

The California State University, Stanislaus staging of "Debris," an unflinching drama dealing with the consequences of lifelong abuse, has been selected for a performance in the national spotlight.

New CEO for Merced court

The new Chief Executive Officer of Merced County Superior Court is Linda Romero Soles, a former Turlock resident.

Suspect flees, copper recovered

The Merced County Sheriff's Department is searching for the man who tried to steal copper wiring from a Ballico farm.

Rape Aggression defense class

The Turlock Police Department and Stanislaus State University Police are providing Rape Aggression Defense training to women in Turlock. The training is offered at no cost to the public. The 12-hour course is broken up into two sessions over a period of two weeks.

Pipe band takes first

The Turlock Police and Fire Pipe Band won first place at the recently held Bakersfield Highland Games Band competition.

Collisions injure one on highway

A chain-reaction of crashes on Highway 99 in Turlock injured one and slowed traffic down for a short time Tuesday afternoon.

General Electric and the death of American outrage

If there was a funeral notice, I missed it. No obituary appeared in any of my daily papers. But make no mistake about it: In the spring of 2011 in the United States of America, our collective sense of moral outrage must now be officially dead.

McDonald’s to hire 50,000 in single day

Now all those people who say "I'll flip burgers if it comes down to it," can put their money where their mouth is. McDonald's is hiring 50,000 new full and part-time people during a national hiring event on April 19.

Keep Your Home California program expanded to allow more homeowners to qualify

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) expanded eligibility criteria for several of the Keep Your Home California programs, making them available to a larger number of families at risk of losing their home.

Local business gives teachers money through grant program

Two years ago GDI president Grant Davis started the "Adopt-A-Teacher" grant program. But in two years Davis said he has only received a grand total of two requests for funds.

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.