Raking in the leaves

It's called fall for a million simple reasons: all those darned leaves that yellow, wither, and plummet from branches to ground.

Parks and Rec commissioner reaches term limit after 22 years

After 22 years of service to the Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission, Brent Bohlender is finally faced with the end of his term limit. Bohlender has been on the commission since 1988, through five different recreation directors and three mayors of Turlock.

Local brewery to open ‘beer bistro’

Local residents will have a new place to taste the fruits of Turlock's own brewery, following a Planning Commission decision Tuesday evening.

Planning approves fun center

After a marathon three and a half hour meeting Thursday night, the Turlock Planning Commission recommended approving plans for the Ten Pin Fun Center, a proposed family entertainment center containing a 34-lane bowling alley.

Supervisors agree to cut 27 from sheriff’s ranks

The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors gave the initial green light Tuesday for the sheriff's department to start the process of laying-off 27 employees. Whether that number will nearly double, decrease or stay the same will depend on budget negotiations between the sheriff's department and the county's chief executive office over the next month.

Split council denies fee refund

With a split, 2-2 vote Tuesday night, the Turlock City Council took no action to reimburse $635.93 in building permit fees to Lori Crivelli of Crivelli's Shirts and More.

City of Hughson signs contract with new auditors

After years of having the same Certified Public Accountant firm to audit the City's finances, Hughson decided on a new CPA firm for the next three years at their Monday meeting.

City reserves could help new ventures

The Turlock City Council on Tuesday will consider a new "Turlock Partnership Incentives" plan, which would offer $5,000 in fee relief for new businesses, to be financed from the city's General Fund Reserve.

New city commissioners look to better the community

The Turlock City Council approved four new city commissioners at Tuesday's meeting. Mike Dowd and Steven Nascimento were appointed to the Parks, Recreation and Community Commission; and Alex Cantatore and Susana Love were appointed to the Arts Commission. Each commissioner had his or her own reason for applying, but they all said they were happy to be appointed to serve their community.

Council decides to stay with agency operating Gomes Lake, for now

The Turlock City Council on Tuesday elected not to withdraw from a Joint Powers Agency in charge of operating Gomes Lake, where Turlock discharges its storm water.

Stars and Stripes to line Turlock streets

The American flag won't just fly over Turlock's streets on the Fourth of July.

State budget passes with $7.4 billion in cuts, no new taxes

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger set a new record by signing the $87.5 billion 2010-2011 state budget into law Friday night.

City offices to close for furloughs

The Turlock City Council adopted a schedule for worker furlough days which will see city offices close three days this year.

Turlock City Council briefs

On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council:

Hughson hires new city manager

Hughson has had a rough year with code-violating council members, sexual harassment claims in City Hall and an empty city manager position to lead the city out of the mess. But at Monday's special City Council meeting, council members voted 4-0 to appoint a new city manager.

Longer hours, more vendors will improve farmers market, say students

A group of California State University, Stanislaus students has big ideas on how to improve Turlock's Farmers Market.

Yamzon named StanCOG director

Carlos Yamzon has been named the new Executive Director of the Stanislaus County Council of Governments. Yamzon was appointed by vote of the StanCOG Policy Board on Tuesday evening. Yamzon spent five years as StanCOG Senior Planner, and 27 years at the California Department of Transportation. Since June, Yamzon has served as StanCOG Interim Executive Director. The position became vacant when then-director Vince Harris resigned in June to assume the post ...

Valley counties in trouble with new clean air standards

New clean air standards announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday could be tough for some Valley counties to meet. The new nationwide standard allows no more than 12 micrograms of harmful fine particle pollution – particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, like soot – in a cubic meter of air. That PM2.5 can lead to plaque deposits in arteries, leading to vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, according to the American Medical ...

City seats new council members

The new Turlock City Council, entrusted with guiding the city through 2014, was seated on Tuesday. Newcomer Steven Nascimento was sworn-in Tuesday alongside returning Councilmember Amy Bublak in front of a crowd of family, friends, and notable Turlockers. Both were elected on Nov. 6. "Welcome Steven, happy to have you up here," Mayor John Lazar said as the council was seated. "And welcome Amy, happy to have you back." Just before ...

Planning revisits electrified fencing ban

Criminals could get a bit of a shock the next time they try to break into a secured area. Electrified security fences may soon be made legal in the City of Turlock, following an early endorsement from the Turlock Planning Commission on Thursday. "I think it's a legitimate request," said Planning Commission Chair Michael Brem. "… Let's just get on with this, and let's get it done as quickly as we can." ...

City to swear in new council members Tuesday

Turlock's two newest council members will be sworn in at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11. Incumbent Amy Bublak, a Modesto Police Officer, will be sworn in alongside council newcomer Steven Nascimento, a former Parks, Recreation, and Community Commissioner and District Director for State Sen. Anthony Cannella (R – Ceres). The two earned the most votes of four competitors in the Nov. 6 election. Also being sworn in will be incumbent City Treasurer ...

Health Benefit Exchange site could bring hundreds of jobs to county

Inauguration tickets available

A limited number of tickets for President Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration ceremony will be made available through the office of U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R – Turlock). Constituents from across the newly redrawn 10th Congressional District of California have until 5 p.m. Dec. 19 to request tickets to the 57th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on Jan. 21, 2013, which will be held at the U.S. Capitol. Such standing-room tickets to the inauguration are ...

City development fees records first increase in three years

After three straight years of decline, the City of Turlock's Capital Facility Fees posted revenue growth last year for the first time since 2007-08. Turlock posted $1.3 million in CFF revenues in 2011-12, a 16 percent improvement from fiscal year 2010-11 and the highest such figure since 2007-08. "The trend does show that, maybe, we are finally coming out of this recession," said City Engineer Mike Pitcock. Revenues still greatly lagged ...

Council passes visitors bureau budget

The Turlock City Council unanimously approved the Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau 2013 budget Tuesday night, which will see the CVB begin to offer services on weekend days. But approval of the CVB budget was almost postponed, as Councilwoman Amy Bublak requested the measure be delayed until after newly elected councilmember Steve Nascimento is seated in December. The council postponed approving a study of city water rates on Nov. 13 for the ...

Visitors bureau to give annual report

The Turlock Convention and Visitors Bureau will give its annual report for 2012 and announce goals for 2013 at Tuesday's Turlock City Council meeting.

Lawsuit: General Plan doesn't go far enough to protect ag land

Turlock's newly adopted General Plan looks to preserve the city's agricultural heritage, while preparing for an expected influx of new residents over the next 20 years. But the City of Turlock is now facing a lawsuit from a Davis-based non-profit, charging that the city's new General Plan does not go far enough in its quest to protect agricultural land. "Stanislaus County has a conservation easement program," said Eugene Wilson, head of the ...

City offices close for holiday weeks

The City of Turlock's offices will be closed for the week of Thanksgiving, from Nov. 19 to Nov. 23. The closures were planned to minimize interruptions in service, the city said. Public safety and other essential services will remain in operation. Turlockers were notified of the planned closure in city utility billings. Turlock offices will also close for the week of Christmas, Dec. 24 to Jan. 1, 2013.

Council postpones water study

Turlock's water rates will remain flat – at least for now. The Turlock City Council was expected to approve hiring a consultant to conduct a water rate study on Tuesday, a move which will likely lead to higher water bills. But that study was postponed at the request of Councilwoman Amy Bublak, who argued that recently-elected Steven Nascimento should have the right to weigh in. "These are going to be big decisions," ...

County moves forward with new mental health, coroner's facilities

A dearth of beds for mental health patients in Stanislaus County, coupled with surging demand, has driven Stanislaus County mental health costs millions of dollars well above projections in recent months. On Tuesday, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors took the first steps to respond to that shortage of beds, approving a recommendation to develop a county-owned Psychiatric Health Facility at the Stanislaus Recovery Center in Ceres. "We are increasing the level ...