Author

Robert Plank

Robert Plank has 96 articles published.

City roads program taking shape

in News

The City of Turlock continues to make headway on new roads projects in town, with several thoroughfares set to undergo improvements both this year and next.

Interim Development Services Director Nathan Bray presented the City Council with an update on the new roads program initiative during their July 13 meeting, which aims to rehabilitate Turlock's 428 lane miles of roads. The city’s roads currently have a pavement condition index of 55 out of 100, and the program will improve that number over the course of the next five years by allocating 50% of Measure A funding for the cause. 

An estimated total of $5.5 million will go towards road projects annually, increasing the City’s existing road funding by 100%. Bray explained that prior to the passage of Measure A, the City had available $4.75 million for roads projects through Measure L, SB 1 and federal funding. Now, there is $10.25 million to be spent on road rehabilitation annually.

https://www.turlockjournal.com/news/government/city-roads-program-taking-shape/Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Turlock Community Theatre to launch comeback with help of federal grant

in Entertainment

It was announced this week that the Turlock Community Theatre was one of six venues throughout the Central Valley to receive federal COVID funding in order to help keep its doors open.

After pushing the Biden administration to speed up the delivery of critical grants to local stages, bars, movie theaters, museums and concert halls last month, Rep. Josh Harder on Monday said that over $3.8 million had been distributed to Valley businesses and nonprofits through the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program.

“...I can’t wait to sit down for a performance and go to a movie this summer, and I’m glad our venues will be reopening with the resources they deserve,” Harder said in a statement.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Backyard nursery offers plants at discounted prices

in business/Environment

Name of business: Green Aura Plant Life

Type of business: Backyard discount nursery

Location: 694 Mitchell Ave. in Turlock

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. by appointment Sunday through Monday

Contact information: 209-202-8839; gaplantlife@gmail.com; @green_aura_plant_life on Instagram

Specialty: Indoor plants for all skill levels

History of business:

Like many people throughout the country and the world, Turlock resident Audrina Mae’s world was turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic. The single mother lost her job thanks to the virus that shut the globe down, and as a result her mental health took a turn for the worst.

Also like many, Mae found solace in taking care of indoor plants — a quarantine hobby that not only helped pull her out of depression, but resulted in a business she could call her own.

“I found that plants were very therapeutic for me,” Mae said. “I really wanted to collect plants, but I couldn’t afford them.”

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

City turns focus from homeless encampments to long-term planning

in Community/News/People

After clearing out major homeless encampments throughout the city in recent months, the Turlock City Council on Tuesday approved the next steps in addressing the local unhoused crisis.

The Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to terminate a previously ratified local emergency proclamation, which focused on encampments and ratified a new local emergency focusing on unsheltered homeless and re-appropriates unspent funding from the first proclamation to be used for the issue moving forward.

Interim Chief of Police Steven Williams provided the Council with an update Tuesday on the City’s local emergency in response to its Unsheltered Homeless and Encampment Crisis, which was ratified on March 16. Since then, City staff has partnered with county resources and local shelters to make contact with unhoused individuals living in notable encampments throughout Turlock, connecting them with available resources before clearing out the camps.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Stanislaus County Fair delivers on opening day

in Events

Corn dogs, cows and crowds made their way back to the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock on Friday for opening day of the fair’s Summer of Fun — a different approach to one of the area’s most popular events after a year of closures due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

While this year’s Stanislaus County Fair is taking place without rides or exhibits, CEO Matt Cranford said the organization crammed as much fun as they could into three weekends featuring favorite fair foods, pop-up shops, FoodMaxx Arena events and livestock shows. After COVID restrictions kept Cranford and company guessing for months, they were finally able to begin planning once guidelines were relaxed and had just six weeks to do so, he said.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Stan State alumnus earns spot on U.S. Olympic baseball team

in Sports

Former Stanislaus State pitcher and current Tampa Bay Rays prospect Joe Ryan was recently named to USA Baseball’s 24-man roster and will compete in the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. 

Baseball is returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2008 and Ryan will be part of the team’s starting rotation. The 12th-ranked prospect in the Rays system, Ryan currently pitches in the minor leagues for the Durham Bulls. He was a member of the qualifying roster for Team USA and helped them go 4-0 in the qualifying games last month.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Cooling centers offer relief from the heat

in News

With temperatures expected to hit in the triple digits for this week and into the next, the homeless and others who can’t escape the heat on their own will be able to seek relief in a number of public places offering air conditioning.

High temperatures can pose serious dangers for those without a place to cool down. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports some of the more frequent heat-related illnesses are: sunburn, heat rash, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke. Rising temperatures can also lead to dehydration, heat-induced insomnia, and can make it harder to keep food from spoiling when it is being kept outdoors.

Continue Reading on The Ceres Courier

Turlock’s drinking water quality outlined in annual report

in News

The City of Turlock had one drinking water violation in 2020, according to the annual drinking water quality report recently released by the City.

As part of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires community water systems to deliver a Consumer Confidence Report, also known as an annual drinking water quality report, to their customers. These reports provide information about local drinking water quality, data from tests conducted the previous year, and contact information for any questions or concerns.

The City of Turlock Municipal Services Department published its annual drinking water quality report on July 1.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Fire reported at Vista apartments

in News

A candle ignited a fire at the Vista apartment complex at 900 W. Monte Vista Avenue on July 1.

The candle fire spread to the surrounding contents on the second-floor room and grew up the wall, said Turlock Fire Department spokesman Capt. Jason Bernard.

The fire department ordered the building evacuated until the fire was put out.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

Fair to offer shopping Pop-Up Palooza!

in business

Stanislaus County Fair visitors will have the chance to shop from local artisans and vendors as the Pop-Up Palooza will be open for business on the fairgrounds this year.

The pop-up shops will have free admission and be open to the public July 9-10, July 17, and July 23-24. Antiques, crafts, treasures and vendors of all sorts will be exhibited.

The first pop-up event will be hosted by Grandma’s Treasures of Denair and take place from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. On July 17, the Pop-Up Palooza will be hosted by Hey Turlock! The shops will be open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Grandma’s Treasures of Denair will return to host on from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 23 and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. July 24.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

1 2 3 10
Go to Top