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.

COMMUNITY: FIRE OPEN HOUSE

Lessons of fire prevention and emergency responses were doled out in hefty doses Saturday at the annual Turlock Fire Department open house. The annual event is capping off the national Fire Prevention Week and featured fire and rescue demonstrations, as well as valuable information on what to do in case of a fire.

Teen killed by car while running

A 13-year-old was killed Monday night after being hit by a car while running in Winton. The teen, whose name is being withheld pending family notification, and another person were running on Winton Way south of Bridget Court at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday, according to the California Highway Patrol. At one point the teen ran into the northbound lane of Winton Way and into the path of a Nissan Altima traveling ...

Californians ‘ShakeOut’ for safety

Businesses, schools and organizations around the state will be shaking it up on Thursday - or at least pretending to as part of the annual public earthquake drill. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all Californians to participate in the "Great California ShakeOut." The ShakeOut is the state's annual public earthquake drill, organized by the Earthquake Country Alliance. During the drill, which will be conducted ...

Garden Club keeps downtown green

Wearing green aprons and gardening gloves and armed with clippers and water, 25 volunteers from the 75-member Turlock Garden Club tend to more than 40 planter pots in downtown Turlock twice a month. The volunteers ensure Main Street looks a little more alive with colorful, well-maintained plant life. For garden club members it is a labor of love and the opportunity to give back to the community. "Volunteers really take ownership of ...

Brother and sister team produce cooking show for online audience

USDA grants to help California specialty crops

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.) ...