Local pet store accused of animal cruelty

A long-time pet store in Turlock is being investigated on allegations of animal cruelty. "There is an open investigation on an animal complaint at The Pet Shop," said Turlock Police spokesperson Sgt. Nino Amirfar. "There have been allegations of animal cruelty." Brian Trask, a local dog owner, said he gave a statement to a Turlock Animal Control officer about his experiences with The Pet Shop in May. Trask said he was called by a groomer ...

Six days to digital TV

Turlockers who make use of analog broadcast television were granted a four-month reprieve when the transition to digital TV was postponed from Feb. 17 to June 12, but the new cutoff date for analog broadcast television is now just six days away.

School’s out for summer but kids can find activities at camp

School is out for many elementary school students around Turlock, and parents are looking for something fun and safe for their children to do for the summer. The City of Turlock Recreation Division is offering summer camps for kids in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Passports now needed to return from Mexico, Canada

Americans planning a summer vacation to the Caribbean islands, Bermuda, Canada, or Mexico now might need to make a stop at their local passport office before hitting the road.

Program brings fresh food to seniors

Low-income senior citizens in Stanislaus county can get free produce from local farmers' markets through a program sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Chamber a champ at political advocacy

The Turlock Chamber of Commerce garnered statewide recognition earlier this month, as the California Chamber of Commerce bestowed the President's Circle award on the local chamber.

Canal Drive roadwork kicks off

Canal Drive, long known as Turlock's bumpiest road, is getting a much-needed makeover this year, which should result in a newly paved, easy to drive, east-west thoroughfare.

Lawsuit filed against city, ex-cop for half million

The Turlock teenager who claimed she was sexually assaulted by former Turlock police officer Jorge Cruz has filed a lawsuit against the city and is seeking $500,000 for pain and suffering.

Mosquito districts bitten by court decision, reduced tax dollars

Just as California enters the most dangerous time of the year for mosquito and West Nile virus outbreaks, mosquito abatement districts around the state are finding their ability to fight the pests hampered by new restrictions on mosquito sprays and reduced funding from the state.

Turlock company wins small business award

Jack Wilkey doesn't like to talk about his own achievements. When asked about his community involvement he can rattle off an impressive list - with a little help from the memory of his wife, Pat - of organizations that he has contributed to or been involved in over the years. But when he describes those organizations he talks about the good that they do, and not the good that he has done for them.

Country blaze burns hay, vehicles

A fire sparked by a welding torch burned through several junk cars and hay bales before firefighters were able to contain it.

Local autistic children try their hands at ranching

"Look mom, I'm really holding him!" said Connor Smith as he snuggled a rabbit. The 12-year-old Ceres boy was one of 22 area children with Autism that took part in A Day on the Farm, a one-day camp sponsored by the Society for Handicapped Children and Adults to introduce young people to activities typically seen on a horse ranch.

New beginnings for Turlock Poker Room

An era will come to an end at 7 a.m. Monday when the Turlock Poker Room will forever shutter the doors of its West Main and Locust streets card house, where it has continuously operated since opening on June 1, 2004.

Local poker players ante up with the big gals

As 1,060 of the best female poker players in the world gathered at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday to kick off the Ladies World Championship - event 17 of the World Series of Poker - six patrons of the Turlock Poker Room were counted among their ranks.

Public transportation hub rolls forward

The Turlock Planning Commission kept plans moving to construct a new public transportation hub during their Thursday night meeting, voting 6-1 in favor of the $1.75 million development.

AAA hosts mobile blood drive

Monetary donations are not always what's needed for saving the world. Sometimes, the answers lies skin deep. Tuesday morning, the Turlock branch of AAA partnered with the Delta Blood Bank to hold a blood drive for community members and AAA employees off Hotel Drive in Turlock. The AAA Turlock Blood Drive hoped to garner attention for the cause, and relay more customers for the Delta Blood Center. A mobile truck was parked just ...

Family's passion for quilting is shared through downtown store

Name of business: Cloth and Quilts Type of business: Fabric and quilt store Location: 625 East Main St., Turlock Contact info: 632-3225 Hours of operation: Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. History of business: At Cloth and Quilts, customers shop for more than just fabric, patterns and supplies. They come for inspiration. The store, with walls adorned with sewn quilts, serves as a springboard for ...

Road Work Report

Southbound Golden State Boulevard between Monte Vista Avenue and Tuolumne Road is temporarily down to one lane as work continues on the beautification project. Caltrans has construction and closures planned for the following areas this week: • The northbound and southbound on and off-ramps on Highway 99 from the Turlock Rest Area to Hammett Road will alternately close from 7 p.m. until 9 a.m. Saturday. • The center and right lanes, ...

Sorority shines a blue light on autism

More than 7,000 landmarks and buildings around the globe were bathed last night in blue in honor of World Autism Awareness Day. For six years, autism organizations around the world have marked the day with fundraising and informational events to raise awareness of the development disorder and the need for research. Hard at work in raising awareness, are the women of Alpha Xi Delta sorority from California State University, Stanislaus. For the past ...

Former Turlock residence of Hedy Lamarr on the market

Drive around Hollywood and you'll find plenty of homes with claims that some starlet or leading man graced the doorstep and laid their head down on a pillow for a night. But in Turlock the pickings for such claim to fames are pretty slim, unless it happens to be on Sierra Street. There at the corner of Sierra and Shasta streets nestled in among the lofty Sycamores and the sweet smelling camellias, sits ...

Canine companion comes to aid of local woman

AB12 making a difference for foster youth

When Nick Smith turned 18 he wasn't ready to live on his own. Unlike most young adults, however, Smith did not have a family able to offer a bridge of financial and emotional support to ease his transition into adulthood. Smith was a foster youth and lived in a group home with five other boys and constant adult supervision. In the past, Smith may have become one of the 65 percent of former ...

Crews tear down cheese plant destroyed in arson fire

The process of removing the charred rubble and burnt out husk of the vacant Turlock cheese plant began earlier this week. Lea's Demolition is handling the teardown of the former Lactalis USA facility that was destroyed in a Feb. 19 arson fire. The project began Monday and is estimated to take three weeks for completion, said the demolition company's owner Troy Lea. "The fire did most of the work in bringing it ...

Scholarships support future of Valley ag

Vander Veen named MNC group publisher

Emanuel employees rally for union vote

Mark Eusey comes from a family of healthcare workers, so naturally he became an auto mechanic. "I was not going near a hospital," Eusey jokes of his career path. But life had another plan for Eusey - one that led him to take a position at a hospital. "Wouldn't you know it, I fell in love with it," Eusey said. "I didn't choose this job - it chose me. I believe ...

Denair toddler drowns in hot tub

A Denair toddler drowned Thursday after falling into a hot tub. The 18-month old boy fell into a hot tub in the 4100 block of Windgate Drive around 11:20 a.m. Thursday. A call to 911 was made and the Denair Fire Department, American Medical Response and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene. It's unknown who placed the 911 call. The child had been pulled out of the ...

Pitman High students named winners of TID’s first video contest

Dapper suits, black and white grainy film, a loving family, and…energy efficiency? This isn't your ordinary "Leave it to Beaver" rerun, or 1950s "how to" video promotion. Instead, Pitman High School students decided to revamp the classics when they created their winning submission to Turlock Irrigation District's 1st Annual 'Take Action' Energy Efficiency Video Contest. Their video, "Environmental PSA," featured how compact fluorescent lamp bulbs are more efficient than common incandescent bulbs, and ...

Unemployment falls in county

The unemployment rate in Stanislaus County made significant improvement in February as more people were able to join the area's workforce, according to the latest report from the Employment Development Department. February's unadjusted unemployment rate in Stanislaus County came in at 14.9 percent, which is a dip from the revised 15.6 percent unemployment rate reported for January and the year-ago estimate of 16.8 percent. It has been several years since Stanislaus County ...

Turlock Purina plant under investigation

Land O'Lakes Purina Feed, LLC has initiated a voluntary recall of specific sweet feed for horses at a Turlock mill location after a banned medication, zilpaterol, was found in 48 horses earlier this year. Zilpaterol is a feed supplement given to cattle to increase their size, feed efficiency, and value. Its properties are close to those found in athletes using anabolic steroids, and is banned in thoroughbred races. Zilpaterol is listed as ...