Nursing home residents displaced after sparks fly

Thirty nursing home residents were evacuated and more than 50 emergency personnel responded to the Bel-Air Lodge Friday afternoon because of sparking electrical lines.

TID stops TANC in tracks

The Turlock Irrigation District - and the Modesto Irrigation District - announced plans Tuesday to cease their participation in the Transmission Agency of Northern California's $1.5 billion plan to install 600 miles of high-voltage electricity transmission lines stretching from Lassen County to Turlock.

Bike Park moving forward; additional funding needed

Dominick Rufo came up with the idea of constructing a BMX bike park in Turlock when he was 14 years old. Rufo, now almost 17, saw his plan approved by Turlock City Council in February. The park, however, will not be built until $10,000 of private funding has been secured for the project.

Gas prices fall in wake of economic woes

Lately, drivers pulling up to a gas station to fill their tank don't know what prices they will find at the pump. Gas prices that were nearing the $3 mark just last month, are now closer to $2.50.

HOPE OF AMERICA

The Kiwanis Club of Turlock recently presented Hope of America awards to students in grades 5-9 at eight local schools.

First Presbyterian celebrates 100 years

The past 100 years have seen Turlock grow from a small agricultural community to a city with almost 70,000 residents. Those same 100 years have seen Turlock churches evolve from small outposts that farmers traveled to from miles away by horse and buggy, to large campuses with modern video and audio equipment. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the dedication that Turlock residents show to their places of worship and spiritual development.

COMMUNITY: OUTREACH IN TROUBLE

"What do you want to do with all of that yogurt? We're using it right?" Lydio Banana asked. "So long as we can keep it somewhere," JoLynn DiGrazia answered.

AGRICULTURE: TRIPLE THE JOY

Jim Vieira said that in nearly 50 years of dairy farming, he has never seen three calves of the same gender born to one cow at the same time. But that's what happened on Tuesday when a 6-year-old dairy cow on Vieira's dairy gave birth to three healthy heifers.

County confirms first H1N1 death

The first death in Stanislaus County from the H1N1 virus was confirmed on Monday. According to the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, a 21-year-old county woman with pre-existing medical conditions died on July 1 while hospitalized with severe pneumonia. "Tests later revealed that this was a complication of infection with the H1N1 virus," said Stanislaus County Public Health Officer Dr. John Walker. The public health department also reported an increase in the number of confirmed ...

Patriotism on parade

Mother Nature showed her American spirit Saturday, allowing a cool breeze to blow through Turlock making the Downtown Fourth of July Parade a pleasant experience for participants and spectators alike.

TID solar incentive program updated

The Turlock Irrigation District Board of Directors adopted a revised solar energy incentive policy on Tuesday, which makes the cash for kilowatts program a bit more difficult to qualify for while rewarding those whose systems produce more energy.

4th of July Road Closures

The following downtown streets will be closed today from 6 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. as part of the scheduled 4th of July parade route:

Planning approves private dorms

The Turlock City Planning Commission unanimously passed two resolutions on Thursday that will allow Campus Crest LCC to move forward with their plan to construct a 10-building private dorm facility across from California State University, Stanislaus.

The unlikely officers

Right at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, Maureen Lowliss found herself living an extraordinary life as she neared age 50, even if she likes to downplay it.

SMUD tanks TANC

The Sacramento Municipal Utility District, once the largest supporter of the Transmission Agency of Northern California's $1.5 billion plan to install 600 miles of high-voltage electricity transmission lines stretching from Lassen County to Turlock, announced Wednesday they intend to withdraw from the TANC Transmission Project.

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 ...