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.

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 ...