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.

Health department urges seasonal flu vaccination

Gas prices fall; still higher than last year

As the temperature has fallen, so too has the price of gasoline in California, according to an AAA Northern California report. A gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline now averages $3.81 in California, down 14 cents from a month ago. But that price drop is expected to slow or reverse in the coming months, per AAA. "Increased demand for gasoline and oil has helped to stall out recent price drops at the pump," ...

Turlock Fire Open House

Lessons of fire prevention and emergency responses will be doled out in hefty doses today at the annual Turlock Fire Department open house. The fire department's open house is running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Fire Station 1 at 540 E. Marshall St. The annual event is capping off the national Fire Prevention Week and will feature fire and rescue demonstrations, as well as valuable information on what to ...

Air district disputes federal fine

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is filing an appeal over a federal fine for ozone violation, citing a natural disaster as the cause of the spike. The air district submitted their appeal to the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind some of the ozone violations recorded over the summer because they were caused by a large wildfire. The air district contends that the Lion Fire in the Sequoia National Forest, which ...

Turlock woman celebrates 106th birthday

Hattie Belle Smith has seen a lot of changes in her lifetime. The biggest change she has witnessed, according to Smith, is electricity. "There wasn't electricity for miles around," said Smith, who was born on Oct. 23, 1905 in Almeria, Neb. and raised on a farm with her six siblings. "Everything was dark." Smith grew up on the family farm, helping out as needed until her father's death when she was a ...

Cancer survivors find strength in numbers at annual event

Emanuel Medical Center and the Turlock community celebrated cancer survivors with an evening of inspiration at the 14th annual Women's Cancer Awareness event. The evening was headlined by motivational speaker Geralyn Lucas, who wrote the book "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy." The evening started with a procession of cancer survivors through Monte Vista Chapel. The group included women who have survived cancer anywhere from one day to more than 30 years. ...

Hughson High student’s death leaves classmates mourning

Students at Hughson High School are mourning the death of a classmate who was killed in a Friday afternoon vehicle crash. R.J. Barney, 17, son of Rowe and Linda Barney of Roberts Ferry, died instantly in the crash. Barney was driving to Merced to pick up his sister when the crash occurred at 12:10 p.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, Barney was driving southbound on Oakdale Road north of East Avenue ...

Baking for a cause

Each November local bakers of all ages and every skill level are asked to prepare the best pumpkin pie in their repertoire and compete for cash prizes. This annual pie contest not only gives amateur bakers a chance to shine, it also helps feed hundreds of hungry people in the Turlock area. Local chiropractor Dave Dubyak holds the pumpkin pie contest every year, with the caveat that all participants submit two pies - ...

Humane Society event brings rescues, community together

Puppies, kittens and bunnies - and their owners - came together at the Tuolumne River Regional Park on Saturday for Petoberfest, a new event held by the Humane Society of Stanislaus County. The event invited eight pet rescues and many pet-related vendors to share in a day of celebrating "adopt a dog" month. "We have a lot of rescues in this area but we never work together on the problem (of pet homelessness.) ...

Turlock Sikh Temple teaches children faith, equality

In the Sikh Temple Turlock a group of nine volunteer teachers have built a successful youth education program that is teaching students about the importance of the Sikh cultural heritage, faith and equality. An essential part of that cultural heritage education is the Punjabi school where students are learning the Punjabi language and the Sikh religion. Part of the Punjabi school's dedication to its students is a Student of the Month award for ...

THE FIRE LANE

The Turlock Fire Department responded to a total of 400 incidents during the month of September. These incidents included a total of 262 emergency medical service calls. Turlock Fire responded to 25 motor vehicle accidents, and 17 commercial or residential fire alarms. There were a total of 20 fire type calls: one building fire, two vehicle fires, two unauthorized burnings, two cooking fires, seven vegetation and/or rubbish fires, one fire in a structure ...

TID begins painful budget process

The Turlock Irrigation District Board of Directors kicked off the 2012 budget process on Tuesday with an overview of what the budget might look like, as the district attempts to keep costs flat and mulls an electric rate increase. The preliminary budget sees the district reduce seven unfilled positions year-over-year, dropping from 479 positions to 472. The employee allocation also drastically shifts from a year ago, with the General Manager's office and ...

Fun activities for young and old planned throughout area

There is - finally - a chill in the air and the leaves are starting to change into vibrant oranges, yellows and reds. Autumn is here and with it harvest and Halloween activities for young and old. The following are just a few of the local events happening this month:

Local pumpkin patch features first-ever corn maze

Ten foot tall corn stalks rustled in the breeze on Friday afternoon as families made their way down the narrow and winding corridors of a living maze. They back-tracked a few times, had to check the map more than once, and a few were a little spooked by the sound of birds and other people making their way through the corn. Eventually everyone made it back to the safety of the R.A.M Farms pumpkin ...

Legacy Circle campaign raises $871,000 for Emanuel’s Cardiac Services

More than $871,000 was raised to support comprehensive cardiac care at Emanuel Medical Center during the hospital's six-week annual giving campaign, known as Legacy Circle. Community volunteers raised $575,871 and Emanuel employees raised an additional $295,370, the hospital reported. "These generous donations represent money given from the heart, for the heart," said Bill Gibbs of Turlock, the fund-drive chair. "It's an extraordinary amount, given the state of the economy and our area's ...