Disaster assistance available for small businesses

Small, non-farm businesses in San Joaquin County and the neighboring counties of Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Sacramento and Stanislaus are now eligible to apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U. S. Small Business Administration. "These loans offset economic losses because of reduced revenues caused by freezing temperatures that occurred in San Joaquin <span ...

County bus agency to hold public meeting about fare increases

The Stanislaus County Public Works Transit Division, administrators for the county's intercity bus system, Stanislaus Regional Transit or StaRT, will be holding a series of public information meetings to discuss a proposed fare increase to be effective Aug. 1.

Water group looks to build synergy

Local agencies are banding together to form a regional water management group in Stanislaus County &ndash; one of California's only populated areas not to have such a group &ndash; in hopes of obtaining millions in state water funds for local projects.

Egg farmers ask to join JS West in lawsuit

The Association of California Egg Farmers (ACEF), an industry association that represents 70 percent of California's egg farmers, filed an application to join JS West, a Modesto-based egg farming company, in a lawsuit against the State of California and the Humane Society of the United States.

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.

Hashimoto takes helm at TID

After a six-month, international search for a new Turlock Irrigation District general manager, the Board of Directors decided the best candidate already had the job.

HEALTH: CPR SATURDAY

The American Red Cross held their 28th annual CPR Saturday this weekend, and the Stanislaus County office offered two-year certification classes for only $10. One certification location was California State University, Stanislaus, where Red Cross volunteers, including Turlock City Council member Amy Bublak, taught three-hour classes on CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED.) More than 150 people attended the Turlock classes, where they received two-year certifications in CPR ...

Local juniors win scholarships

The Distinguished Young Women of Turlock competition was held Saturday at the Turlock Community Auditorium and two local teens won top honors. Ashley Gomez was named North Turlock's Distinguished Young Woman of 2011 and Madison Patino won South Turlock's Distinguished Young Woman title.

Pedretti Field draws tourism dollars

Turlock will host a major softball tournament in August 2012, and the economic benefits for the town could be significant.

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.

Gas prices on the rise

California gasoline prices have risen by 32 cents per gallon in the last 14 days and 15.5 cents per gallon in the past week alone, averaging $3.87 per gallon &ndash; 82.8 cents higher than a year ago &ndash; according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Turlockers campaign for cancer screenings

Three Turlock community leaders have partnered with Emanuel Medical Center to encourage people to get colorectal screenings.

New fire chief sworn in

Tim Lohman officially became Turlock's newest fire chief during a ceremony at the City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Turlock Fire Department Fire Call Summary

Turlock Fire Department Fire Call Summary

County fair announces changes to livestock rules

The Stanislaus County Fair announced changes to livestock rules for the 2011 fair.

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 ...

Road Work Report

Main Street, between Golden State Boulevard and Palm Street, will be closed for the Taste of Turlock FEASTival from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Caltrans has construction and closures planned for the following areas this week: &bull; The center lanes on Highway 99 from the Taylor Road exit to Hatch Road will alternately close from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday. &bull; The northbound and southbound on and off ramps ...

Backstage Dance moves to new digs

Name of business: Backstage Academy of Dance Type of business: Dance studio Location: 957 East Monte Vista Avenue, Turlock Contact info: 667-8511 Hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. History of business: Turlock Resident Kristi Garcia has been dancing for decades, and her dance school, Backstage Academy ...

Girl Scouts go GREEN

An estimated 130 Girl Scouts from the Turlock area met at Donnelly Park on Sunday for the Forever Green Campaign. The girls from different troops learned about environmental conservation by rotating through five activity stations that included micro litter cleanup and the planting of rosemary. "It's exciting to have Girl Scouts doing something in the community other than selling cookies," Kelly Fox said. "It's wonderful that they got the opportunity to be leaders ...

Hilmar native and 'Glee' actress to promote anti-bullying book at safety fair

"Glee" actress Dot-Marie Jones knows what it's like to be tormented and bullied as a kid. The Hilmar native, who plays Coach Beiste on the hit musical series, will lend a helping hand to a new children's book that aims to prevent bullying at the GDI Insurance Agency's third annual Community Safety Saturday on May 18 at the Hilmar Cheese Company. "Just Like You," written by Robert Kroupa, is a book about Henry, ...

A bit of Turlock in the Capitol Dome

No one can represent patriotism quite like Turlock native and CEO of LOCK-N-STITCH, Inc. Gary Reed. Reed, born on the 4th of July, also shares an affinity for cast iron; a feature which designer Thomas Jefferson and architect Thomas U. Walter found necessary in building the U.S. Capitol's Dome. Since its final construction from 1855 to 1866, the cast iron Dome has cracked over time due to exposure to freezing temperatures, strain, and ...

Locals reach out to Boston loved ones

As explosions turned a jovial celebration at Monday's Boston Marathon into a tragedy, local residents frantically reached out to teammates and loved ones in the Boston area to inquire about their safety. The bombs - kitchen pressure cookers packed with explosives, nails and other lethal shrapnel, according to the FBI - detonated near the finish line of the marathon about two hours after the winners crossed the line on Monday. The explosions killed ...