Fun run helps feed hungry area families

Nutrition naturally would be necessary for a group of more than a hundred runners planning to cover just over 3.1 miles.

BMX park work day

After a rainy winter, it's almost time to shape up Turlock's BMX Bike Park.

Heart Health Month: Know your risk; get healthy; learn CPR

Gilbert Mora has always led an active life. He rides his bike every chance he gets, practices martial arts and, at 71 years of age, still goes to work five days a week.

Bees-iest time of the year

In the coming weeks millions of honey bees will be hard at work in Turlock area almond orchards, that is if Mother Nature cooperates with sunshine and mild temperatures. Earlier this month a week-long warm streak got some varieties of almond trees beginning to bloom, only to be halted again by a winter storm.

County island residents look at lighting tax

A dark county island in the heart of Turlock, rife with crime and safety issues, could soon be home to a new system of streetlights.

Relay for Life teams get a head start on fundraising

Turlock Relay for Life teams won't be walking for a cure until April, but fundraising for the event is in full swing. Teams are independently fundraising for the walk and Lisa Vorse, 2011 Relay chairperson, said the total fundraising goal is $200,000 this year.

USDA Farm Forecast predicts strong 2011

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted the nation's net farm income will increase by about 20 percent in 2011.

Photographers capture precious memories in midst of sorrow

One of the most miraculous events on earth is the creation and birth of a human life. Nearly everyone has pictures or video of when their children were born and those precious moments are celebrated with wonder, happiness and hope for the future.

More Californians could be eligible for health insurance under reform, study finds

An estimated 4.7 million uninsured Californians will become eligible for insurance coverage when health care reform expansion laws take effect in 2014, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health

Foreclosures effect downtown owners’ association funding

Since its inception in 2003, the Turlock Downtown Property Owner's Association has facilitated programs geared toward revitalizing and improving the downtown area that have helped bring in new businesses and customers. But, with an uncertain economic future on the horizon, property and business owners alike will have to consider if they can continue to fund the association that has helped them grow.

Community discusses return of Hughson Chamber of Commerce, Fruit and Nut Festival

In 2008 the Hughson Chamber of Commerce held their last Fruit and Nut Festival, and shortly after they shut their doors. The chamber has been completely inactive since that time.

Freeway crash injures Turlock woman

A Turlock woman was seriously injured in a multiple vehicle collision on Highway 99 in Ceres on Thursday afternoon.

Celebrating Indian dance, culture

A kaleidoscope of color and movement filled the Main Stage Theatre at California State University, Stanislaus on Saturday during the Indian Student Association's (ISA) Culture Show.

TID to pay over $38,000 for damaged train

It was a train wreck of a happy ending for the Turlock Irrigation District on Tuesday.

A new face for Henry

The day after his eighth birthday, Henry Johnson was in surgery. This was not just the latest of a lifetime of reconstructive facial surgery, but a surgery that would give him a whole new face.

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: • 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. • 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 ...