Grape crop grows in 2010

The California Table Grape Commission reported Thursday that in 2010 the industry shipped 98.3 million boxes (about 20-pound boxes) of fresh grapes from California.

Proposed rule to improve railroad safety

The Federal Railroad Administration proposed a rule Thursday that would make it easier for the public to report unsafe conditions at highway-rail grade crossings.

Foster Farms seeks perfect chicken recipe

Foster Farms seeks perfect chicken recipe

EAGLE COURT OF HONOR

An Eagle Court of Honor was held for Patrick Thomas O'Connor, son of Tom and Agnes O'Connor of Turlock, on Nov. 29, 2010. Patrick is a 16-year-old junior at Turlock High School. He joined the Cub Scouts in 2000 and received the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouts, in 2005. In 2007, he was chosen by the troop to become eligible for membership in the Order of the Arrow.

Irrigation season pushed back due to rain

Due to changing weather conditions the start of irrigation season for Turlock Irrigation District customers has been pushed back seven days, from Thursday to March 17, the district announced at its annual pre-season growers meeting Wednesday night.

More county residents out of work

The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County continued its steady climb upward as the latest figures from the Economic Development Department indicate nearly 1 in 5 people in the county is among the ranks of the unemployed.

Flu cases on the rise

With the death of two women in Stanislaus County attributed to influenza and the ranks of the sickened increasing, the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency is actively encouraging people to get vaccinated.

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.

Rabbits and cavies take over fairgrounds at annual show

More than 1,200 rabbits and several hundred cavies were on display at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds last weekend during the California State Rabbit & Cavy Breeders Association Show.

48-inch allotment, no cap for 2011 irrigation season

A wet winter will mean a wet summer for local farmers.

Group raises concerns over Central Valley ground water contamination

Food and Water Watch, a non-profit safe water and food advocacy group with offices in San Francisco, issued a 25-page report last week that raised safety concerns about the Central Valley's ground water supply and a possible lack of oversight from the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB).

Teen birth rates down statewide, up in Valley

A new report from the California Department of Public Health shows teen birth rates have reached a record low for the state, while remaining higher than average in the San Joaquin Valley.

Water Board to fund ag quality improvement projects

Valley farmers will soon have access to more than $8 million in grant money for agricultural water quality improvement projects. The grant funding comes from the State Water Resources Control Board through Proposition 84, a bond approved by voters in 2006.

COMMUNITY: DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

First Step Dental held their 12th Annual Field Trip Day on Friday. The Turlock dental office hosted the field trip as part of Children Dental Health Month. First Step hosted six local elementary schools and taught the importance of brushing and flossing, nutrition and a fun introduction of the dentist chair.

Hutton House: Providing a safe haven for runaway teens

Hutton House has been a safe haven for runaway and homeless teens in Stanislaus County since 1976. Youth ages 13 to 17 who need a temporary place to stay during a crisis situation can live at the Modesto shelter for up to two weeks. Hutton House also offers day and drop-in services, and between the residential and non-residential programs they serve around 800 clients per year.

Local woman wins Boy Scout Honor Award

The Boy Scouts of America is known to be one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based organizations for young boys over the course of a century, and has helped build education and humility through their participants by combining hand-on activities with responsibility. And though the Boy Scouts of America is about helping to form the next generation of young men, it is often the women who play an active role in ...

Almonds voted top nut in state

Almond Board representatives recently announced the results of an online contest in which KGO radio broadcast proclaimed almonds as the winner of the nut category in the State of California. California is the country's leading producer of tree nuts, and has produced nearly 27 million tons of nuts in 2012 alone, increasing its production by 4 percent since 2011. According to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center, nearly 90 percent of each year's nut ...

Glitz: Boutique fashion at affordable prices

Name of business: Glitz Fine Clothing Type of business: Clothing store Location: 306 E. Main St. Contact info: 664-9737 Hours of operation: Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. History of business: When Lisa Espinola bought Glitz from a family member in 2011, her goal was to change the way people shop - without having to spend an arm ...

Road Work Report

Caltrans has construction and closures planned for the following areas this week:

Turlock readies for mosquito season

As spring turns to summer, members of the Turlock community are being told to gear up for mosquito season. As of last week, the Turlock Mosquito Abatement District has observed increased activity in adult mosquitoes near the Turlock community. Though mosquito season has just begun, District officials are wary of the current activity following last year's devastating outbreak, which soared across Stanislaus County, reaching record infection levels, according to the Centers for ...

Marine unit delivers burgers, smiles to Japanese orphans

NAGOMI ORPHANAGE, OKINAWA, Japan - As part of the Marine Corps' force in readiness for the Asia-Pacific region, the Marines and Sailors of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, are expected to be ready for anything. For this occasion, they were ready to play. Twenty-one service members and a few family members donated part of their Saturday to play with local orphans and provide an American-style barbecue on Saturday. For a variety ...

Remote race to benefit victims of Boston bombings

Tracy Crane has organized memorial races, uniting the heavy-hearted in a common cause. She also completed 100 miles in February to commemorate the 100th month of her daughter's diagnosis with diabetes, raising money and awareness with each footfall. When life gets tough and overwhelming, Crane, a certified run coach and burgeoning race coordinator, does what she knows best. She runs. Not away from the problem, but directly at it. "Fortunately I have a way of ...

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 ...

Drug take back on Saturday

The Turlock Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration will host a drug drop off event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, as part of National Take Back Day. Individuals can drop off potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs at the Turlock Police Department, located at 900 N. Palm St. The service is free and anonymous, and no questions will be asked. Last September, Americans turned in 244 tons of ...

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 ...

Premo’s proposal: Pit salmon welfare against land-based endangered species

Ever since the State Water Resources Control Board weighed a proposal that would negatively impact the region's water supply, agriculture operations and economy, members of the Central Valley have rallied together to protect the precious resource. According to the SWRCB's Substitute Environmental Document, the proposal attempts to take 35 percent of unimpaired flows along the Merced, Tuolumne and Stanislaus Rivers from Feb. 1 to June 30 annually in order to benefit endangered fish ...

Fair jobs event draws hundreds

County unemployment continues to fall

The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County continued to make strides for the better as the jobless rate fell again, according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department. The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County for March came in at 14.6 percent, down from a revised rate of 14.9 percent in February and below the year-ago estimate of 16.6 percent. This is the second month in a row that the county has ...

THE FIRE LANE

The Turlock Fire Department responded to a total of 458 incidents during the month of March. These included a total of 303 emergency medical service calls. Turlock Fire responded to 25 motor vehicle accidents, and 19 commercial/residential fire alarms. There were a total of 22 fire type calls: two building fires, one vehicle fire, five grass/ rubbish fires, one arcing shorted electrical, four unauthorized burnings, three Dumpster fires, two cooking fires, one authorized control burn, ...

TID launches irrigation user webpage

It isn't easy maintaining over 250 miles of gravity-fed canals and laterals, but the Turlock Irrigation District refuses to shy away from assisting nearly 5,000 customers or their assets. Instead, they are creating an easier method for irrigation customers to pose concerns, ask questions, or view their current regulations. In an effort to offer better communicative services with its customers, TID has launched a new irrigation water user information website. The site officially ...