Pay-check your facts, Wasden doubters

Let's get this out of the way right at the start. Yes, new Turlock City Manager Roy Wasden will be making just over $202,000 in base salary during his first year on the job. Ignoring taxes and required benefit contributions, that's enough for Wasden to purchase a beautiful new 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 1,500 square foot cul-de-sac home in Turlock with just one year of pay. Yes, Wasden will be receiving a $500 a month ...

From the desert to the valley

By now you might have seen my name in a few bylines in the Turlock Journal. I am the new education reporter, and I started the day after Memorial Day. I came in on that first day expecting to sign a stack of papers, fill out my W4 form and be in and out in about an hour. Boy was I wrong.

Skills for American workers

As America works towards an economy that's built to last, we must make sure to provide American workers with the skills they need to compete.

What’s love got to do with it?

Entire aisles at grocery stores are decked out in red and pink. Every other television advertisement is for diamonds and local flower shops have increased the size of their storefront banners by 200 percent. It's Valentine's Day once again.

Documentary well worth the cost

The Turlock Irrigation District's new historical documentary, "The Irrigationist," looks to tell a story worth hearing &ndash; but at what cost? It's hard to imagine anyone taking issue with the basic premise of the film, commissioned to celebrate the district's 125th anniversary. Without the Turlock Irrigation District, there would be no water. With no water, there would be no Turlock &ndash; just look to some dying south Valley communities for proof. <p ...

Congress needs a grammar lesson

Are we trekking on a course towards disastrous censorship? As long as two poorly- worded bills loom in Congress, this appears to be the case. For individuals using the Internet on a regular basis, the issue should sound familiar. Simply put, the Stop Online Piracy Act (or SOPA) introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith, and the PROTECT Intellectual Property Act (or PIPA) introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy both intend to curb any aid on ...

‘Mr. Bulldog’ lives on

When taking on a new job, it's inevitable that you will be compared to the person who last held the post. Sometimes this can be a positive thing, especially when hearing a complaint. It's easy to say that being the new person you can't speak to practices of the past, but in the future it will be your mission to make things right. Sometimes, however, filling the shoes left by a predecessor can be ...

Ceaseless change dominates our dynamic planet

Nothing about Earth history is static or unchanging. That's particularly true of climate, and thereon hangs more than one interesting tale including recent news of a scientific advance in understanding how past climate has changed.

Agricultural education and our moment to shine

Be your neighbor’s keeper

I grew up in a small town. Now, I know native Turlockers like to think this is a small town, but they're wrong. The population of my hometown was around 3,000 when I was living there; it's over 4,600 today. Turlock boasts a population of over 68,000. Enough said. The best part of living in a truly small town is the security. I never locked the door to my house - or car, ...

Small claims—big headache

Why is court so complicated? I just feel the frustration ooze out of the small claims litigants. Most folks who sue in small claims court sue on "principle" and firmly believe that they are in the right. The judge, however, must follow the substantive law. In small claims court, it is the legal procedures that have been modified or set aside to give folks easier access to the Courts. People are also mistaken ...

Take a break and spur the economy

I love vacations. Unfortunately, my desire to travel the world far exceeds my financial means and time availability to do so. Don't get me wrong I still travel, just on a smaller scale and not as often as I'd like. When I finally do get away, I feel guilty about the money I spend and my absence from work. Thankfully, the Obama Administration is giving me a guilt-free reason to travel. President Obama ...

And a little child shall lead them

Little kids are amenable to learning new habits - generally much more so than those of us who are set in our ways because this isn't our first rodeo. That's why it's sometimes more effective to teach children health science information rather than to do outreach aimed directly at their parents.

Supreme Court case obscenely out of step with the times

What is obscene cussing and should the government regulate it?

Nothing new under the sun

Out with the old, in with the new. That is the rallying cry for many come January. I'm not quite sure about the "out with the old" part, but in 2012 the Journal is bringing in new - and hopefully exciting - features for our readers. One of the most interactive projects the Journal is undertaking this year is our Readers Recipe Book. Throughout the year, the Journal will be collecting recipes from ...

The worth of water

According to the "Longman English Dictionary," a New Year's resolution is "a decision to do something better or stop doing something bad in the new year." Not surprisingly, New Year's resolutions generally serve only as broad ideals that individuals fabricate in an attempt to freshen themselves for the new time period; exercising more, controlling expenses, or simply behaving nicer constitute the main desires. Despite the truth that such resolutions rarely survive the temptations that unfold, ...

Preserving prime ag land, planning for a sustainable future through regional collaboration

Stanislaus County is a unique community. Ours is a county where city leaders come together on a regular basis to discuss ideas, strategies, and opportunities where regional collaboration can best be implemented.