New health center “vital” to local wellness

As debate rages in Washington, D.C., - and locally - over President Barack Obama's healthcare reform efforts, dignitaries from around the region turned out for the opening of Turlock's second Golden Valley Health Center, lauding the center's role in supporting the wellbeing of Stanislaus County residents.

Downtown aims to incubate new business

The Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association is in the final stages of launching a business incubator to help kick-off the bridal shopping destination branding campaign for downtown.

Fair sees record number of attendees

The animal stalls are empty, the midway rides are gone, and the food vendors have packed up and moved on. The Stanislaus County fair's 10 day run ended on Aug. 9, and plans are already in motion for the 2010 fair. The 2009 Stanislaus County Fair drew a bigger crowd than the fairgrounds has seen in 15 years. Over 227,200 visitors attended the fair, according to Stanislaus County Fair officials. The fair saw its highest ...

Odor prompts courthouse evacuation

The Stanislaus County Superior courthouse had to be cleared Tuesday morning for what was thought to be a gas leak.

Local animal group hopes drivers will support furry friends through the DMV

Friends for Sophia's Dog Park, a local off-leash dog park advocacy group, is hoping pet and animal lovers across the state will express their support on their cars.

H1N1 claims life of Stanislaus County man

A second confirmed fatality from the H1N1 virus was recorded in Stanislaus County, according to county health officials.

Candidates set for November elections

As the clock struck 4 p.m. on Friday, the candidate filing deadline for the Nov. 3 Consolidated District Election drew to a close and the fields were set for the upcoming elections.

Salvation Army cupboards are bare

Usually, the shelves of the food pantry at the Turlock Salvation Army are filled with food. Sometimes there is so much over-flow that Major Debi Shrum has to find someplace to store it all. This August, however, the shelves are almost bare.

Long-time downtown travel agency says farewell

Another downtown Turlock business will be closing its doors soon. Ingie's travel, which opened in 1960 as Ingie's Hair Fashions, will be closing in the next few weeks. Unlike many Turlock businesses, however, Ingie's Travel has secured new jobs for most of its current employees.

COMMUNITY: NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

The Turlock police and fire departments along with McGruff the Crime Dog and Moonshine the Bloodhound were out visiting neighborhoods across Turlock as part of the National Night Out campaign.

Journal reporter spends a day cooking at the fair

As I'm standing over a hot griddle, grease popping and searing my arms, sweat running down my forehead, I begin to think that being here may be a mistake.

Energy commission looks at TID’s new power plant plans

The Turlock Irrigation District began the long regulatory path towards improving Turlock's electrical system on July 30 when the California Energy Commission conducted an informational hearing on the Almond 2 Power Plant Project and a bus tour of the proposed site.

COMMUNITY: FUN AT THE PARK

The Turlock Family Resource center hosted a "Day at the Park" event on Wednesday at Columbia Park. The center gave out free hot dogs, ice cream, and information. The center offers prenatal and postnatal support programs taught in both English and Spanish, parenting education classes, and child development screenings to children under age 6. The center can also connect families with resources they may need to keep children happy and healthy.

Fairgoers have Renewable Fun on first day

The 2009 Stanislaus County Fair kicked off Friday night, and with a new year comes a new theme: Renewable Fun.

COMMUNITY: PETS ON THE GO

The Friends of Turlock Animals Shelter unveiled their new mobile animal adoption unit at Wal-Mart on Tuesday. The trailer cost a little over $35,000 and is equipped with heating, air conditioning, running water and septic. There are 22 cages in the trailer, and an area where potential adopters can bond with the animal. The trailer will be on display for all 10 days of the Stanislaus County Fair, but there will not be live animals in the cages.

Growers could pay even more for water

An irrigation water price increase for Turlock Irrigation District growers may be steeper than previously proposed. In dry years, tier 3 water – representing acre-inches 30-42 – could jump from an initially proposed $15 to as much as $20 per acre-foot, with water above 42 inches potentially rising from $20 to $25 acre-foot. The increased prices were proposed by Director Joe Alamo, to offset the district's increasing costs to rent groundwater pumps ...

Biggest Loser Turlock offers weekly weigh-ins, big pay off

Kristin Cooley was tired of looking at herself in the mirror. The wife and mother of two young children had dropped off in her fitness routine and did not like the results. She remembered what it felt like to be physically fit and the former college soccer player decided it was time to do something about it. "There comes a point where you have to look at what you're doing and give up ...

New low-income complex underway, finally

Turlock broke ground on a long-anticipated low-income housing development Wednesday – a development which almost didn't happen. Avena Bella, a $19 million, 80-unit low-income housing development, will be constructed on 4.3 acres at 500 W. Linwood Ave., near Cunningham Elementary School. EAH Housing of San Rafael will operate the development; the group currently manages low-income housing in 45 communities, serving 20,000 residents. "It's a wonderful opportunity for Turlock," said Mayor John Lazar. ...

HAM fills gap in daytime homeless services

Turlock's new daytime homeless center has been an unmitigated success in its first month, but its operators are already looking ahead to a future of more services. Since the center's Feb. 27 opening, the Turlock Gospel Mission's Homeless Assistance Ministry has served more than 1,000 guests, but a proposed comprehensive, year-round shelter could help many more. "This is kind of a stepping stone for us," said John Riedel, a caseworker at the ...

Golden State Boulevard construction upcoming

The City of Turlock will resurface Golden State Boulevard from Crane Street to the southern Turlock city limits in the coming month. The work will repair pavement, broken curb, gutter, and sidewalk, as well as install ADA-compliant access ramps and improving drainage at the southeast corner of Golden State Boulevard and Marshall Street. Construction will kick off April 9, and is expected to run through June 11. Some lane closures will occur, ...

Fraternity hosts children’s fair at Columbia Park today

Columbia Park will be transformed into a children's health fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. The fifth annual NAKLand, hosted by the California State University, Stanislaus chapter of the Nu Alpha Kappa fraternity, promises to bring bounce houses, prizes, food, and fun to the park at no cost. It's a boon for impoverished youth living nearby, according to Nu Alpha Kappa member German Lopez. "We target the low-income side of ...

Cold weather shelter closes for season, leaving many on the streets

The 38 men who have grown accustomed to a warm bed, clean pillows and hot dinner at the We Care cold weather shelter in Turlock will now have to find warmth elsewhere. The We Care shelter, which normally operates December through March, is closing its doors on Sunday for the season. Shelter administrators had hoped to keep the program open longer this year, but adequate funding was not found. "It's unfortunate that ...

Turlock woman’s volunteer work lauded by county commission

CDFA Secretary Karen Ross addresses concerns of local farmers

The California Dairy Campaign opened their new Turlock office with a bang on Wednesday. Forty local farmers and Turlock residents welcomed California Department of Forestry and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross at the pubic event. Ross emphasized the importance of improving trade relations and the high demand of dairy products. Local farmers were most concerned with the significant difference of production costs and profit. "We need to work on pricing issues due ...

Motorcycle crash claims Denair man’s life

A 54-year-old Denair motorcyclist was killed early Sunday in a solo crash along Highway 99. The deceased was identified by the Stanislaus County Coroner's Office as David Tarone. The fatal crash occurred around 1 a.m. Sunday on the southbound highway, just north of Taylor Road. According to the California Highway Patrol, Tarone was traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane when his 2002 Kawasaki motorcycle began to ...

Distinguished Young Women honors local girls

Distinguished Young Women of Turlock, previously the Junior Miss pageant, named its 2012 winners: Nicole Larson and Stefanie Velasquez. Distinguished Young Women of Turlock is a local preface to a national scholarship program for girls who are at the junior level of high school. In addition to college scholarships, those who participate in the program ...

In Service

Marine Corps Pfc. Enrique Ceja Gaspar, son of Veronica Gaspar of Delhi, recently graduated from the Basic Water Support Technician Course while assigned as a student at Marine Corps Engineer School, Camp Lejeune, N. C. Ceja Gaspar and fellow students received instruction in subjects such as maintenance management, plumbing, military water supply and field sanitation. Upon completion of the course, graduates are qualified to perform tasks expected of a basic water support technician. ...

VACANCIES ON CDFA AVOCADO, FEED INSPECTION COMMITTEES

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has vacancies on two committees which make recommendations to CDFA Secretary Karen Ross on issues related to avocado and feed inspection programs. These positions are vital to help oversee associated inspection programs that ensure quality standards within the marketplace.

Quilts offer heart-felt ‘thank you’ to veterans

It's always hard to find the perfect thank you gift. But the task becomes doubly hard when thanking veterans – those brave Americans who fight for the freedoms of men and women they will never meet. For three years, Gail Belmont and teams of volunteers have offered a lasting, useful gift to those soldiers: custom-made, patriotic quilts. "It really is a thank you for your service to your community, and your sacrifices ...

TID prepares for new volumetric irrigation pricing

Most Turlock Irrigation District growers will pay more for irrigation water in 2013, as the district will be required by state law to adopt a by-volume pricing schedule. District directors discussed the new price schedule for the first time Tuesday, legislated as part of a November 2009 comprehensive water package signed by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. That bill package was intended to improve water supply and restore aquatic ecosystems statewide. Much of the ...