Acts of kindness restore memorial to fallen soldiers after vandalism

February is a tough month for the Gonsalves family. It was on Feb. 13, 2006, that their beloved son Chad Gonsalves, an Army Green Beret, was killed in action while fighting in Afghanistan.

Gas prices on the rise

The average price of gasoline in California surged six cents from January to February, mainly due to political concerns, according to AAA Northern California.

COMMUNITY: ART AND BAGPIPES

Downtown Turlock was serenaded by the sweet sound of bagpipers on Thursday evening. The musicians were part of the entertainment at a wine and chocolate event hosted inside of the Community Art Gallery on Center Street. The kilt-clad men and women played out on the sidewalk and confused more than a few passers-by.

Tough road ahead for local businesses in 2011

All four speakers at Wednesday's Turlock Chamber of Commerce Membership Breakfast offered a common message: 2010 was a rough year and much work remains for 2011. But all speakers also noted unexpected bright spots, which could point toward an earlier than expected recovery.

Cigarette, oxygen tank blamed for fire

Two people were injured from a fire that officials say was sparked by a person smoking while using an oxygen tank.

New programs help keep families in their homes

The California Housing Finance Agency announced on Thursday the implementation of four programs intended to fight California's foreclosure crisis, and to keep families in their homes.The federally funded programs, made possible by the U.S. Treasury Department's Hardest Hit fund, will be operated under the umbrella title of "Keep Your Home California." "Our goal is to get the very most out of these federal dollars to assist California families," said ...

Local speed dating service gives singles second chance at love

Valentine's Day is often despised by singles who have not been struck by cupid's arrow by the big day. But local singles will have a new opportunity for meeting their dream date thanks to Turlock entrepreneur Amber Scabia and her business partner Enrique Mendoza. The two used their own experiences with dating in the area as inspiration for their new speed dating business, Two Minute Match. <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; ...

Rush of the roses: Local florists prepare for busiest day of the year

Valentine's Day is one of the busiest times of the year for florists nationwide. The same holds true for local flower shops as they gear up for the mad rush of flower deliveries and drop-in customers on Monday.

Business development remains focus of downtown in 2011

The efforts to make downtown Turlock into a booming business district once again will continue through the new year as the Turlock Downtown Property Owners Association unveils a series of programs, events, and advocacy sessions to keep the seed of revitalization growing.

COMMUNITY: EAGLE SCOUT

Skyler Sexton will become an Eagle Scout at a ceremony scheduled for Feb. 26 at the First United Methodist Church. Skyler was a Cub Scout for five years, during which time he earned the Arrow of Light, the highest honor in the Cub Scouts. He has been a Boy Scout for six years with Troop #451 and has earned 29 merit badges, attended ...

Grant allows small business development center to expand services

A new federal grant to the Small Business Administration's University of California, Merced Small Business Development Center Regional Network will provide additional resources to grow or start businesses &ndash; and create jobs in the process.

Funding to promote prevention and early intervention of mental health issues

In the past, California public mental health services were limited to treatment, usually medication, for people with serious mental illness. The California Mental Health Commission is hoping to change that by promoting "help first" rather than "fail first" mental health treatment.

Turlock manager lovin’ her job reaps rewards

When Betsy Lazar moved to Turlock from Iran in 2001 she took an hourly job at McDonald's. She had no idea that she would someday be in the top 1 percent of McDonald's management.

Llama hobo classic show brings the fuzzy to town

Llamas from all over the state &ndash; and their owners - converged on the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds this past weekend for the Llama Association of North America's (LANA) third annual hobo classic llama show. This winter event is an opportunity for owners to show their llamas as nature intended them, fuzzy, dirty and happy.

State budget cuts could deflate county fairs

Governor Jerry Brown's current budget proposal includes a 100 percent reduction in California county fair funding, slashing $32 million from fair budgets across the state. If the budget is approved, nearly 30 county fairs could permanently or temporarily close.

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

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