McDonald’s to hire 50,000 in single day

Now all those people who say "I'll flip burgers if it comes down to it," can put their money where their mouth is. McDonald's is hiring 50,000 new full and part-time people during a national hiring event on April 19.

Swarm surprises downtown workers

Rosemary Hughes is used to dealing with bees. A large jasmine bush located just outside of her downtown office building is a popular place for bees to congregate come warm weather. On Tuesday, however, the flying visitors were more than just a temporary nuisance.

Turlock girl tests her memory as ‘Brainsurge’ contestant

Denair Middle School student Lauryn Johnson was thrilled to slide down a slime-filled tunnel and land in a pit of foam. While the Turlock teen isn't particularly a fan of getting dirty, she is a fan of the Nickelodeon television show "Brainsurge."

More dogs, cats left at shelter due to foreclosures

All members of a family are impacted by the loss or foreclosure of a home, and that includes pets. The City of Turlock Police Department released its 2010 annual report, and Animal Services has seen an increase in dog euthanasia, likely related to the increase of foreclosed homes in the area.

Winter showers bring hungry mosquitoes

A mild, wet winter could translate into a buzzy, bitey, mosquito-filled summer.

TID looks at rate increases for 2012

The Turlock Irrigation District may need to raise rates an effective 9 percent for 2012 primarily to meet debt obligations associated with the Tuolumne Wind Project, district Trustees learned in a financial forecasting workshop on Tuesday.

Extremely rainy March sees end of drought

Turlockers are welcoming the warm and sunny spring weather after more than a week of rainy days in the Valley. Spring got off to a rainy start, but sunshine is in the forecast for the upcoming week.

Beekeepers could get stung by proposed fee

A proposed assessment fee on beekeepers that do business in California is causing a storm of controversy amongst the industry.

BBQ FOR LIFE

Some tasty barbecue ribs were cooked up over open flames during the 4th Annual Century 21 M&M and Associates Rib Cook-Off benefiting the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life on Friday. Over 400 people attended the event, which featured 17 barbecue teams, raffles and even cupcakes. The team with the best barbecue wins bragging rights and a traveling trophy. M&M hopes to raise $6,000 this year.

Turlock Christian junior earns Eagle Scout

Benjamin Steven Paris of Troop 451, Turlock recently attained the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest honor in Boy Scouts of America. Ben began his Scouting experience with Cub Scout Pack 451 in Turlock where he earned his Arrow of Light, the highest rank in Cub Scouts. He continued on to Boy Scouts earning 28 merit badges, camping 76 nights, hiking and backpacking over 134 miles and held various leadership positions. <p ...

Evacuation notice given for western Stanislaus County

Stanislaus County Officials and the Sheriff's Department are issuing a recommended evacuation notice for specific areas along the San Joaquin River in the Newman area in response to the rising river levels.

Turlocker earns accolades for community service

When a crisis occurs and community members and law enforcement personnel are involved in traumatic situations they often need the emotional support of someone trained in mental health first aid and stress management. That is where Al Opdyke comes in.

University hosts César Chávez Day celebration

Cries of "Si, se puede" rang across California State University, Stanislaus Wednesday night as the college hosted its 16th annual C&eacute;sar E. Ch&aacute;vez Memorial Celebration.

Hundreds turn out for job fair

With unemployment rates hovering around 18 percent in Stanislaus County, many residents are looking for any type of job they can find. Hundreds of those would-be workers lined up outside Modesto's HIREvent and waited up to an hour for the opportunity to hand their resumes over to companies looking to hire.

Local businesses take top awards in Entrepreneur Challenge

When the dust settled on the San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge, two groups of Denair-based entrepreneurs stood atop the field of 65 entrants from across the Valley.

Bringing joy in the face of tragedy

Recalls out for candy, peanut butter and lettuce

The California Department of Public Health has recently issued two separate consumer warnings for several food products and another company has issued a voluntary recall.

Denair fire receives $10,000 grant

When the community of Denair decides to get behind a cause, great things happen. The most recent demonstration of this community pride was an effort to secure a nationwide fire services grant through Liberty Mutual's Be Fire Smart Safety Pledge program.

No rise — or fall — in county unemployment

Stanislaus County's unemployment rate stayed steady for a second month, though only one sector saw job growth in October, according to the Economic Development Department's latest employment statistics. The unemployment rate in October was 15.2 percent in Stanislaus County, up just slightly from September's revised rate of 15 percent and below the year-ago estimate of 16.1 percent. The county's labor force fell from 238,400 in September to 237,300 in October. Included in ...

Gas prices on the rise

As temperatures dropped, gas prices rose in California, per AAA Northern California's monthly gas price report. Statewide, Californians can expect to pay an average of $3.84 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, up three cents per gallon from October. That's 70 cents per gallon higher per gallon than a year ago. In Northern California, gasoline now averages $3.82 per gallon, just slightly below the statewide average. Nationally, drivers can expect to pay ...

Paint It Forward accepting nominations

The final days to nominate a worthy individual or organization for a free paint job are approaching. Lancaster Painting is accepting applications for their annual Paint It Forward event. The deadline to apply is Dec. 1, said sales assistant Leisa Williams. The company will choose a worthy winner and will provide all the paint and workers for an interior or exterior paint job. "It's amazing how a coat of paint can ...

A long ride

Luke Nowlin and his horse "Geno" have traveled a long way to get to the Central Valley. The pair started out in Emerald Isle, N.C. around 150 days ago. Nowlin has traveled across the country on horseback, and is nearing his end destination of Eureka. "I want to encounter American people where they are in their lives," Nowlin said. Geno and Nowlin stopped in Denair on Tuesday, where they stayed with Tim ...

Doing the most good

The Salvation Army lived up to its motto of "doing the most good" during the nonprofit's annual Kettle Kick-Off fundraising luncheon on Tuesday. The main highlight of the annual event is the Kettle Klash, a race to raise the most cash in a set time limit. Teams run around the room with Salvation Army kettles and collect donations from luncheon attendees. Donators ring small bells to alert the kettle teams that they have cash ...

Fresno County raw dairy products recalled due to suspected E. coli bacterial contamination

Raw milk products produced by Organic Pastures of Fresno County are the subject of a statewide recall and quarantine order announced by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Whiteford.

Boxing program looks to give Delhi, Livingston students alternative to gangs

The Merced County Sheriff's Activities League and the Carlos Vieira Foundation are teaming up to deliver a powerful right hook to teen drug use in Northern Merced County. Vieira, owner and president of Carlos Vieira Racing and 51 FIFTY Enterprises, has pledged a monetary and fundraising effort, known as "Race 2B Drug Free," for the formation of a boxing program in Livingston. The program's goal is aimed at keeping high school and junior ...

Pit bull mauls Delhi boy

A 6-year-old Delhi boy is recovering from wounds he suffered during a pit bull attack. The child sustained bites to his head, neck and arm, said Merced County Sheriff's Department spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. The attack was reported around 4 p.m. Nov. 10. The caller told the sheriff's department a pit bull had turned on a young child and caused serious injuries at a home in the 16000 block of Corner Street ...

Luggage sought for foster kids

Children in foster care in California often leave their families in crisis situations. They take only a few personal items with them, maybe a change of clothes or two. Most of them don't have luggage, backpacks or even a tote bag to keep their things in. "These kids literally have a garbage bag or a box," said Cheryl Gerhardt, marketing director for Paramount Court. That is why Paramount Court Senior Living is ...

Need for food, housing rises as local nonprofits’ funding disappears

As temperatures drop and rain starts to pour, Turlock is home to more homeless than perhaps ever before. "I think it's a function of the economy," said Turlock Gospel Mission board member Chris Kiriakou. "It's not improving at the rate people thought it would. People on the edge can hang on so long, but what's happened is that they're end of the rope, basically." Between January and July, United Samaritans Foundation served ...

Turlock veteran earns honorary high school diploma

Turlock veteran Willis "Jack" Bright never graduated high school. Instead, he joined hundreds of thousands of other young boys and men who enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1945, at just 17 years old, Jack was becoming a man. He tried to join when he was 15 in 1943, but just before he was to ship out his age was discovered and he had to go back home. Bright ...

Sacrifices of one local military family