Carnegie bid $2.4 million less than expected

The proposed reconstruction of the Carnegie Arts Center now looks like it will cost less than the Turlock City Council ever imagined, as the lowest bid submitted tallied just $5.3 million, more than $2 million less than the $7.7 million in funding identified for the project in October 2007.

Youth football league investigation continues

The investigation into the embezzlement charges against two former Turlock Youth Football officials is still ongoing and police say it could be a significant time before any determination of wrongdoing, if any, is made.

TID offers cool way to save energy

Turlock Irrigation District customers with the sort of outdated heating and cooling systems that make electricity meters spin and budget-conscious homeowners cringe are now eligible for rebates that could make purchasing a new air conditioner a bit more palatable.

Former mayors get bestowed with namesake parks

Anyone who wants a park in the city of Turlock to bare their name might have to wait a while for the honor. At the Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission meeting on June 10 the name "Dale Pinkney Park" was suggested for the last un-named park in Turlock.

First confirmed case of H1N1 influenza reported in Stanislaus County

Stanislaus County Public Health officials received confirmation on Friday from the state laboratory of a positive novel H1N1 case in the county. The affected county resident is a 22-year-old female who did not require hospitalization.

Hilmar Eagle Scout works on play park

Anthony Sarment, 14, recently achieved the highest rank possible in Boy Scouts of America, the rank of Eagle Scout. Sarment completed a project of re-finishing and painting the children's play park at Donnelly Park. The project took 35 people over 127 man hours to complete.

Year’s first case of West Nile virus in Stanislaus County

A dead American crow, found in Modesto, has tested positive for the mosquito-borne West Nile virus.

Tuesday flea market a bargain shopper’s paradise

Why is a flea market called a flea market? That might sound like the beginning of a bad joke, but it is a valid question. The Turlock Tuesday Flea Market features everything from live bunny rabbits to used gardening tools, but there is not a single flea for sale.

Thieves steal priceless mementos from cancer-stricken child

It's a sad fact of life that Dylan Givargiznia has come accustomed to bad news. When he was 6-years-old Dylan was hit with the life-altering news that he had a rare form of leukemia. Since then he has been on a roller coaster of remissions and reoccurrences that have taken him in and out of the hospital. Now, the 10-year-old boy is dealing with the news that his prognosis has worsened and his odds of ...

Unions call for changes in wake of prison guard’s death

As the one year anniversary of Jose Rivera's death approaches, prison guard unions are stepping up the pressure for reforms within the Bureau of Prisons and for new safety regulations.

Program helps teens realize their leadership potential

Toni Deguire has been a member of the Teen Advisory Council since fall of 2004, when she was in eighth grade. Deguire graduated from Pitman High School earlier this month and ended her five year membership with the council. She said that being a member of the Teen Advisory Council helped her to realize her leadership potential and become more involved.

H1N1 cases reported in Stanislaus and Merced counties

Stanislaus and Merced counties have reported two probable cases each of the H1N1 virus, while the global community prepares for a pandemic.

Irrigation water lessened by federal decision

California's farmers could be hard hit by a biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service on Thursday, which calls for pumping operations in the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project to be changed.

Lawsuit filed over guard’s fatal stabbing

The family of Jose Rivera, the prison guard stabbed to death by two inmates, has filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons alleging poor management and unsafe working conditions contributed to his death.

Free meals available to students through summer

Low-income students in the Turlock Unified School District can continue to receive free lunch even when school is out for summer break. TUSD offers the Summer Food Service Program to any child under the age of 18 during the months of June and July at select school locations.

U.S. tree nut sales to remain strong in coming years

U.S. tree nut growers are receiving good news just in time for the holidays. A report issued recently by Rabobank's Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group projects nut prices will remain competitive in the coming years. The information arrives as operations are wrapping up another banner harvest for most tree nut varieties.

Protecting our children

Kaley has shown up at school wearing the same clothes for five days in a row. She looks dirty and keeps falling asleep during class. Lisa's teacher has seen enough and makes a call to the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency - Child Welfare Services office. Mrs. Martinez is making a batch of her famous tamales and runs out of onion. She runs next door to see if her neighbor, Sheila, might be ...

Black Friday comes early for local shoppers

Turlock's nightlife took on a frenzied feel Thursday, as thousands of area residents ended their Thanksgiving celebrations with midnight shopping. Many local retail stores opened at midnight to begin the Black Friday shopping as early as possible - and bargain hunters took advantage of the late night deals. The line to get inside the Turlock Target on Countryside Drive stretched around the front of the store and into the back alley by ...

How to stop worrying and buy the perfect tech gift

With unfamiliar terms like megapixels, gigabytes, and "4G" clogging arcane and nonsensical product designations which feature more acronyms than the U.S. military, shopping for the geek in your life is no easy task. But, with a few easy tips, you too can save money while buying the perfect gift. Know what you're looking for Was that a PS3 or a PSP... or a PSP Vita? Believe it or not, all ...

More Californians expected to travel for Thanksgiving

In recent years tight budgets have forced countless California families to skip their annual Thanksgiving trips to see friends and family. But this year that decline in travel is expected to bounce back, as more than 5.3 million Californians plan to travel 50 or more miles this Thanksgiving weekend, per AAA Northern California's travel survey. "Many Californians have foregone holiday family gatherings over the past three years," said AAA Northern California spokesperson ...

Pecan streusel pumpkin takes top prize in annual pie contest

While not a chef herself, the years Janice Virgo has spent working with the Institute of Technology's culinary program students as a career advisor must have rubbed off. Virgo's pecan streusel pumpkin pie won first prize in the Dubyak Chiropractic pumpkin pie contest to benefit the United Samarians Foundation Thanksgiving lunch. "I just bake for fun," the Turlock native and resident of Delhi said. "In fact, I'd rather bake than cook." <p ...

Fraternity helps prepare Thanksgiving meals

While most people are lounging around the house enjoying football and appetizers this Thanksgiving, the men of Eta Tau Chapter of Theta Chi fraternity will be hard at work. A group of Theta Chi members and their friends volunteer to prepare meals for the less fortunate every Thanksgiving. This year they will be working at the United Samaritans Foundation preparing the meals that will be served later that day on the lunch trucks. ...

Long road to economic recovery, states report

The Central Valley's progress out of the Great Recession is going to be a sluggish process that will take a few years, according to a recently released economic forecast from the University of the Pacific. The quarterly regional economic forecast from UOP's Business Forecasting Center is predicting a long haul toward recovery for the Central Valley - one that likely won't be reached until 2015. The Business Forecasting Center is predicting personal ...

Toy drive looks to double efforts

Bradley Pacheco developed meningococcal (spinal) meningitis when he was just five months old and he spent much of the rest of his life in and out of hospitals before passing away on Thanksgiving Day 2007 at eight years old. He developed severe complications from the meningitis and although he never learned to speak, doctors say his life was an incredible teaching experience for them. "Very few people survive meningococcal meningitis at such ...

Search for lost hikers called off

The search for two hikers swept over a Yosemite National Park waterfall in July has officially ended for the time being, park officials announced last week. Park officials said the conditions are becoming too dangerous to continue the search efforts for Ramina Badal, 21, of Manteca and Ninos Yacoub, 27, of Turlock, as rain and snow is starting to swell the Merced River. Search teams have been scouring the area of Vernal ...

Law enforcement urges safety when shopping

As hearty shoppers prepare for the craziness that is Black Friday, law enforcement agencies are hoping those preparations include a few steps that will make for a safe shopping experience.

Local businesses expect big holiday spending season

Small business owners in downtown Turlock admit they can't beat big box and chain stores when it comes to Black Friday super sales - but they can compete over the course of the holiday shopping season. The exploding niche markets of unique, hand-crafted and second-hand goods are helping small businesses in Turlock not only survive but thrive over the busiest shopping month of the year; which begins this Friday. Kim Jonson, ...

TID set to vote on rate increases

With a final vote on three years of Turlock Irrigation District electric rate increases looming, TID ratepayers had one final chance Tuesday to offer input on the measure in advance of a Dec. 6 vote. For a residential household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, the proposed increase &ndash; 4 percent per year for the next three years &ndash; would amount to an additional $4 per month in 2012, a further $5 ...

Turkey donations needed now

Walmart looks to donate $1.5 million to nonprofits

Retail giant Walmart launched a new campaign on Facebook to nominate nonprofits for $1.5 million in grants this holiday season.