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.

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 – 4 percent per year for the next three years – 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.

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 ...