Fun run helps feed hungry area families

Nutrition naturally would be necessary for a group of more than a hundred runners planning to cover just over 3.1 miles.

BMX park work day

After a rainy winter, it's almost time to shape up Turlock's BMX Bike Park.

Heart Health Month: Know your risk; get healthy; learn CPR

Gilbert Mora has always led an active life. He rides his bike every chance he gets, practices martial arts and, at 71 years of age, still goes to work five days a week.

Bees-iest time of the year

In the coming weeks millions of honey bees will be hard at work in Turlock area almond orchards, that is if Mother Nature cooperates with sunshine and mild temperatures. Earlier this month a week-long warm streak got some varieties of almond trees beginning to bloom, only to be halted again by a winter storm.

County island residents look at lighting tax

A dark county island in the heart of Turlock, rife with crime and safety issues, could soon be home to a new system of streetlights.

Relay for Life teams get a head start on fundraising

Turlock Relay for Life teams won't be walking for a cure until April, but fundraising for the event is in full swing. Teams are independently fundraising for the walk and Lisa Vorse, 2011 Relay chairperson, said the total fundraising goal is $200,000 this year.

USDA Farm Forecast predicts strong 2011

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) predicted the nation's net farm income will increase by about 20 percent in 2011.

Photographers capture precious memories in midst of sorrow

One of the most miraculous events on earth is the creation and birth of a human life. Nearly everyone has pictures or video of when their children were born and those precious moments are celebrated with wonder, happiness and hope for the future.

More Californians could be eligible for health insurance under reform, study finds

An estimated 4.7 million uninsured Californians will become eligible for insurance coverage when health care reform expansion laws take effect in 2014, according to a new report from the UCLA Center for Health

Foreclosures effect downtown owners’ association funding

Since its inception in 2003, the Turlock Downtown Property Owner's Association has facilitated programs geared toward revitalizing and improving the downtown area that have helped bring in new businesses and customers. But, with an uncertain economic future on the horizon, property and business owners alike will have to consider if they can continue to fund the association that has helped them grow.

Community discusses return of Hughson Chamber of Commerce, Fruit and Nut Festival

In 2008 the Hughson Chamber of Commerce held their last Fruit and Nut Festival, and shortly after they shut their doors. The chamber has been completely inactive since that time.

Freeway crash injures Turlock woman

A Turlock woman was seriously injured in a multiple vehicle collision on Highway 99 in Ceres on Thursday afternoon.

Celebrating Indian dance, culture

A kaleidoscope of color and movement filled the Main Stage Theatre at California State University, Stanislaus on Saturday during the Indian Student Association's (ISA) Culture Show.

TID to pay over $38,000 for damaged train

It was a train wreck of a happy ending for the Turlock Irrigation District on Tuesday.

A new face for Henry

The day after his eighth birthday, Henry Johnson was in surgery. This was not just the latest of a lifetime of reconstructive facial surgery, but a surgery that would give him a whole new face.

Junior high student struck by car in critical condition

A 12-year-old girl remains hospitalized in critical condition after being struck by a vehicle while darting across traffic in front of Turlock Junior High School Wednesday afternoon. The TJHS student sustained head trauma and injuries to her lower extremities, said Turlock Police spokesman Lt. Nino Amirfar. She has regained consciousness and is critical but in stable condition, Amirfar said. The girl was struck while trying to cross N. Walnut Road between Christoffersen ...

Local vets receive highest civilian honor

Several local veterans were presented the highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for their outstanding efforts in World War II. Why honor war veterans with a civilian medal? These men faced discrimination at home and in the military because of their ethnicity. These soldiers are members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and 100th Infantry Battalion, World War II veterans, and Japanese Americans. Hiro Asai was born and raised in Turlock. His ...

Keyes to Learning moves to Turlock

The Keyes to Learning Charter School's junior high and high school students and faculty moved from its former location in Keyes to the Turlock Covenant Church in Turlock. Principal Lee Ann Stangl said the new official name of the school will be "The Key Academy." Kindergarten through sixth grades will remain at the Keyes location and the name will remain "Keyes to Learning." "We really just had to move because our student enrollment ...

Emanuel Cancer Center offers quit smoking kit

In support of November's lung cancer awareness month, Emanuel Cancer Center is offering smokers a free "Quit Kit" to help them kick the habit. Complimentary Quit Kits can be reserved online at emanuelmedicalcenter.org/quitter or by phone at 664-2434. Once reserved, Quit Kits can be picked up at Emanuel Cancer Center, 880 E. Tuolumne Rd. in Turlock, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (excluding Thanksgiving and the day after).

The great debate: Turlocker or Turlockian?

Newspapers, just like any other industry, has its own way of doing things. Many of the "rules" we at the Journal follow in our reporting and writing are the standards laid out by the Associated Press in its "Stylebook," which is the yardstick that most newspapers follow in the industry - with a few notable exceptions, like the New York Times. But, as the Associated Press "Stylebook" is a general guideline, there are ...

Local businessman finds funding for homeless shelter

Turlock insurance salesman Grant Davis has a dream and what he calls "a vision from God." The dream is to build a campus-style shelter in Turlock to house the homeless and serve those afflicted with addiction to drugs or alcohol. In the last few days his dream took a huge jump toward reality. Davis has secured a letter of intent to provide $1 million from LandPro Development, based in Minneapolis, to form a ...

Training mission long time coming for local man

Food assistance program for seniors

TID offers new efficient window program

As winter sets in, drafty windows don't just keep houses cold – they also waste energy used to heat homes. The Turlock Irrigation District and Habitat for Humanity Stanislaus County have partnered to address this problem with the Windows of Hope program, offering affordable energy efficient windows to low-income families. The program offers energy efficient windows for $25 each, regardless of size. Customers are asked to install the windows on their own, ...

Fire chars room

A fire from an undetermined cause destroyed a garage that had been converted into a bedroom. The fire was reported at 7:11 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of Hedstrom Road. All occupants of the home made it out safely, the Turlock Fire Department reported. Fire fighters found heavy smoke pouring from the bedroom when they arrived. Crews were able to keep the flames from spreading and had the fire under ...

Don't panic: It's just a test

Next Wednesday every television and radio station will broadcast the familiar squawks and beeps of an emergency test, but this time the test will be broadcast out across the country. The first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will occur at 11 a.m. Wednesday. The test will last approximately three minutes and is being conducted jointly by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, ...

THE FIRE LANE

The Turlock Fire Department responded to a total of 442 incidents during the month of October. These incidents included a total of 268 emergency medical service calls. Turlock Fire responded to 17 motor vehicle accidents, and 33 commercial/ residential fire alarms. There were a total of 26 fire type calls: Seven building fires, one vehicle fire, two unauthorized burnings, five cooking fires, nine vegetation and/or rubbish fires, one Dumpster fire, and one additional fire classified ...

After-school, meal programs set to close

A much-needed meal program serving families on the Westside of Turlock will soon come to an end due to lack of funding. For years Westside Ministries -an organization that provides social, educational and spiritual services to children and families on the Westside of Turlock - served a free meal on Wednesday and Sunday nights and lunches for those kids who were out of school when there was year-round tracks . Two years ...

Thorsen’s celebrates 100 years in business

Thorsen's Inc. is celebrating 100 years of history this month. Thorsen's Plumbing received a business license from the City of Turlock in 1911, and it has been owned by the Thorsen family since that time. Thorsen's is the oldest family owned business in Turlock, and the business grew with the town. Anders "Andy" Thorsen was born in Norway but immigrated to the United States as a child. He walked from Stockton to Turlock ...

Olive Garden to launch Monte Vista Crossings expansion

Turlock could soon be home to a little Hospitaliano – and those famous never-ending breadsticks, soups, salads, and pastas – as the Olive Garden Italian restaurant considers expanding to the city's Monte Vista Crossings shopping center. "The Olive Garden is moving forward," said Steve Hale, a permit expeditor with the project. The new restaurant is planned for 2701 Countryside Dr., a currently vacant site just south of the existing Kohl's. Planning documents ...