Author

Robert Plank - page 182

Robert Plank has 2441 articles published.

Big Trees State Park adjusts operations amidst ongoing pandemic

in Environment

In a year of dislocating pandemic and destructive wildfire, it’s nice to get out into nature and take a break from the news.

But even the ancient redwood groves of Calaveras Big Trees State Park have not been immune from the events of 2020.

For about two months beginning on March 26, the park was completely closed to vehicular traffic in order to slow the spread of COVID-19, though walking and biking into the park were still allowed.

“We did this mainly to reduce the visitation surges that we would normally see,” California State Parks Spokeswoman Adeline Yee said. “We had to reduce large crowds and destination travel, which is still not encouraged right now. Because of the stay-at-home order, we were asking people to stay local.”

Continue Reading on Calaveras Enterprise

You might be interested in

Stanislaus County businesses await move into California’s red tier

in business

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. (KTXL) — Business owners were disheartened Thursday to hear that Stanislaus County would remain in the purple tier, the most restrictive tier in the state’s reopening plan.

Rich Lowdermilk is the owner of Buckhorn Grill in Modesto, which opened just two years ago.

“When the food comes out right, people are usually, ‘Wow, this is, you know, some of the best tri-tip I’ve ever had,’” Lowdermilk told FOX40.

He’s just one of many restaurant owners in Stanislaus County who have been struggling to survive during the pandemic.

Continue Reading on Fox 40

You might be interested in

Cannabis revenues to drop

in business

Yet another developer agreement for a cannabis retailer was amended by the City Council on Monday in light of a more local competition which will result in less revenue for the city.

The Ceres City Council voted 3-2 to approve changes to the agreement that allows Pacafi Cooperative, Inc., to pay less in fees to operate its Patient Care First dispensary at 1442 Angie Avenue in Ceres.

At the time of the first developer agreement was inked, the Patient Care First began operating in December 2017 with only selling cannabis to medicinal patients. But it later began selling recreational marijuana after California voters approved recreational cannabis use among adults. In the past three years, other jurisdictions like the city of Turlock and Stanislaus County also followed Ceres’ example and began allowing dispensaries, which have cut into sales.

Continue Reading on Ceres Courier

You might be interested in

Stanislaus State announces names of students on Spring Dean’s List

in Education

California State University, Stanislaus has announced the names of more than 3,000 students who were bestowed with a spot on the Spring 2020 Dean’s List.

California State University, Stanislaus serves a diverse student body of more than 10,000 at two locations in the Valley – a beautiful 228-acre campus in Turlock and the Stockton Campus, located in the city’s historic Magnolia District. Widely recognized for its dedicated faculty and high-quality academic programs, the University offers 43 majors, 41 minors and more than 100 areas of concentration, along with 16 master’s degree programs, seven credential programs and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Continue Reading on Ceres Courier

Parks reopen as Stanislaus County remains in widespread COVID-19 tier

in Environment

The California Department of Public Health has given the greenlight for parks and playgrounds to reopen statewide, regardless of what tier the counties are in currently.

The authorization was granted Monday and is only for outdoor parks and playgrounds. It also comes with a lengthy list of rules designed to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

Playgrounds that are allowed to open must be fully outdoors, free to enter and use, and publicly accessible.

Visitors to outdoor community playgrounds must comply with the following requirements:

  1. Face masks over the mouth and nose are required for everyone 2 years of age or older with caregiver supervision at all times to ensure face mask use.
  2. Do not use the playground when different households are unable to maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or when the capacity limit has been reached.
  3. Caregivers must monitor to keep adults and children from different households at least 6 feet apart.
  4. Consider coming on different times or days to avoid wait times and potential crowded times.

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

You might be interested in

End of shift

in People

With one day to go before his retirement starts, Turlock Police Chief Nino Amirfar is surprised it got here so quickly.

“When I announced it, it seemed so far away,” Amirfar said. “I can’t believe it’s here already. I’m not sure I’m ready.”

Amirfar announced his retirement in early March of this year and at the end of his shift on Thursday, he will hand the reins off to Capt. Miguel Pacheco and Capt. Steve Williams. The two men will both serve as interim police chief, in turns, with Pacheco taking the first four months and Williams taking the next four months.

While there are a few items Amirfar might not be able to check off his to-do list, he can look back on a career that has well-served the Turlock community.

“It’s about wanting to take care of the community and wanting to make a difference.”

Continue Reading on Turlock Journal

You might be interested in

Drone video captures the devastation left behind by the fires in California wine country

in Around California

Dramatic drone video on Monday captured the utter devastation left in the wake of raging wildfires that are wreaking havoc throughout Northern California.

This footage showed what little remained of Mountain Hawk Drive in Santa Rosa, about 60 miles north of downtown San Francisco, after flames from the Glass Fire roared through the neighborhood.

Firefighters, putting out remaining hotspots in the upscale Skyhawk neighborhood, came upon frames of now-obliterated houses, the skeletons of pickup trucks and bicycles baked to crisps.

Continue Reading on NBC News

Community Rebuilds Fence For Turlock Family Who Was Targeted With Hate Crime And Escaped Fire

in People

TURLOCK (CBS13) — Some community members in Turlock came to the rescue after a family found a racial slur outside their home, then escaped a fire on their backyard fence just days later.

The suspicious situation is still under investigation by Turlock police, but now the family has a new fence and a new sense of security.

The transformation is like night and day. What was just a pile of ashes and a police investigation, is now a symbol of hope.

“It’s good people and something terrible happened to them. I wanted to show them this is not who Turlock is,” said Tim Fried, the volunteer who organized this effort.

Fried came across the incident online. A Black family who found the n-word spray-painted on their fence last week, then escaped a fire days later.

Continue Reading on Sacramento CBS Local

‘It’s almost a joke.’ In rural California, Newsom’s gas-powered car ban is a stretch

in Environment

It’s a long drive to just about anywhere Gary Wright needs to go. A rancher in the far northeastern corner of California, he sometimes has to drive nearly 100 miles, one-way, to get to where his cattle graze. It’s 36 miles to Klamath Falls, Ore., for a significant errand run.

There are only a few gas stations along the routes through the forests and high deserts in Modoc County — let alone electric vehicle charging stations. There are none near the rangeland where Wright’s cattle graze.

So he was baffled when Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that California would require all new passenger cars and trucks to be electric or “zero-emission” by 2035 to combat climate change.

Continue Reading on The Sacramento Bee

You might be interested in

Sheriff: Deputies shoot, kill suspect armed with hatchet in Stanislaus County

in crime

STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. — Two deputies were hurt and a suspect was shot and killed by deputies in Stanislaus County early Sunday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies responded to the 800 block of Business Park Drive around 4:57 a.m. for reports of a silent burglary alarm, the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office said.

When they arrived, deputies contacted a man in his 40s who was armed with a hatchet outside of the business.

The shooting happened while deputies tried to take the man into custody. Two of the deputies were hurt and the man was shot in the struggle, officials said.

Continue Reading on KCRA

1 … 180 181 182 183 184 … 245
Go to Top