CalFIRE Declines Contract Offer

CalFIRE recently delivered disappointing news to the three local fire agencies hoping to become a part of the state fire department when they declined the opportunity to support a Schedule A contract with Stanislaus Consolidated, Oakdale Rural Fire Protection District and Oakdale City Fire.

Line Up Aims To Appeal To Families

Family-friendly is the goal and that's exactly the kind of entertainment scheduled for the Riverbank Cheese and Wine Exposition, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9 on Santa Fe and Third streets in the heart of downtown Riverbank.

Uneasy Negotiations - ORFD Labor Group Concerns

Upon the heels of Oakdale Rural Fire Protection District Chief Lee Winton's two-year term ending, negotiations have begun to bring on Steve Mayotte, Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District Chief, on a limited, part-time basis as an administrative chief to Oakdale's rural district but the rural fire company's labor group members have been vocal in their concern.

Local Threading Artist Ventures On Own

A single thread of string - that's all local aesthetician Patty Lopez needs to transform even the most unruly '70s style eyebrows into perfectly manicured works of art and her clients adore her not only for her talent, but for her heart.

Master Craftsman - Modern Day Toymaker Creates Old Fashioned Joy

After a long day at work many people enjoy winding down by putting up their feet and watching a few favorite television shows, catching up on daily events, or perhaps reading a good book.

Kimberly's Book Reviews

Mistress By Midnight Publisher: HQN Books ISBN: 0373774885 HHHHH Recently, for a change of pace, I've been reading historical novels. I love the richness of detail inherent in a well-written historical romance novel and I was lucky enough to find two I really enjoyed so I'm sharing. The Blurb: Merryn Fenner is on a mission to ruin the Duke of Farne. A beautiful bluestocking with a penchant for justice, Merryn has waited ten years ...

Oakdale Prepares For Eye In The Sky

The fight against graffiti is getting an unexpected boost in the form of ROTA (Riverbank Oakdale Transit Authority) surveillance cameras funded by a grant issued by the Department of Homeland Security.

City Coffers - ‘Phishing’ Scheme Siphons $118,000

The City of Oakdale recently discovered it had been the victim of a sophisticated Internet "Phishing" scheme in which a chameleon-type email disguised as appropriate infected a city computer and gained access to the passwords to a checking account held at Oak Valley Community Bank.

'Net Thieves Breach City Account

A breach in security by Internet hackers resulted in the theft of more than $118,000 from Oak Valley Community Bank that belonged to the City of Oakdale.

The Cost Of Vandalism

It's a quality of life issue - one that is visible and jarring to those affected - and Oakdale is under assault by those who have little reason to care.

New Owners Rehab Sno-White

The new owners of the Sno-White Drive In are hoping to restore all that was great about the Oakdale landmark diner starting with the food.

Stuff N' Nonsense - My Youngest Sister’s Wedding

By the time you read this, my youngest sister, Kamrin, and her fiancé, Kyle will have tied the knot. You see, Kamrin and Kyle got married on Friday, Sept. 16 in Sanger. I'm sure the ceremony was lovely and I'm sure there were plenty of sniffles from the audience because weddings - although joyous occasions - never fail to start the waterworks no matter how jaded you are about the whole process.

Business Venture Stirs Controversy

An investigative services company created by the current police chief, legal counsel, director of human resources, and a former city manager has raised ethical and legal questions, spurring an internal investigation into the ramification of such an action by current city employees in top administrative positions. City Councilman Jason Howard called the actions of those involved, "blatantly wrong" and an abuse of a loophole within the City of Oakdale Merit System Rules ...

Local Man Relates To Patients With Personal Experience

Danny Huestis, Certified Prosthetist with Pacific Orthotics and Prosthetics, knows a thing or two when it comes to prosthetics that comes from more than just training - he's been wearing a prosthetic since he became an amputee at five years old.

Labor Day Weekend Busy For Cops

From DUIs to fights, the Labor Day holiday weekend kept Oakdale Police running from one call to the next as hot temperatures and too much alcohol translated to hot tempers.

Oakdale's Annual Chocolate Festival

Although the main attraction of the Oakdale Chocolate Festival is undoubtedly the chocolate, there are plenty of other things to see, taste, and experience at the 21st annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival hosted by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce. Several new vendors – nearly a dozen ‑ have committed to the festival, ranging from pool supplies to tasty candied treats and there is bound to be ...

Stuff ‘N Nonsense - Adjusting To The Dream Job

Who knew there would be an adjustment period to living the dream? I certainly didn't. Many of you know I published my first book in December 2006 and it's been a dream of mine for longer than I can remember to support myself solely on my fiction writing income. After many years of incredibly hard work, I managed to make that dream a reality and I left my post at The Leader to live the dream.

Hottest Ticket - Annual Cowgirl Luncheon Wild Success 12 Times Over

It's the hottest ticket in town and for 464 lucky ladies - it's money well-spent.

Chatting With Pam Thornberry, P.A.

Pam Thornberry, a Physician's Assistant with Dr. Lee Horwitz, has a smile that immediately puts patients at ease, whether she's discussing something serious or simply exchanging information about one's medical history. Thornberry, who received her medical training at UC Davis, has been a PA for 18 years and in the current Oakdale office for the past 12. For the special Healthy Living feature, this 'Q and A' is designed to help the ...

Stuff ‘N Nonsense - A Graceful Exit

I have an issue with finality. At the end of every year, as everyone is celebrating the ball drop on a New Year, I'm lamenting the fact that I'll never be in that moment again - another year lost to time, never to experience again. In that second before the big calendar change, I panic just a little knowing that it's over. I'm happy to report that the panic doesn't last but ...

BOWL BOUND

The Oakdale Varsity Football team arrived bright and early Friday, Dec. 14 to board the bus headed for Carson, California for the California Interscholastic Federation State Football Championship Division II Bowl game -- a first for the Mustangs and there was a good-sized, rowdy crowd ready to send them off in style.

Not-So-Merry - Thieves Pilfer Holiday Packages

The best part about the digital age is the ease with which retailers make it for consumers to do a large portion of their shopping from the comfort of their living room via the Internet. Emarketers estimated that Internet shopping will account for 24.3 percent of all U.S. retail spending during the traditional holiday season (November-December) and judging by the number of times the UPS, FedEx, and other mail carriers have been ...

House Of Beef, A Delicious Holiday Resource

Holiday Safety - Police: Be Wary Of Opportunists

As the unseasonably warm Indian summer fades to the chill, foggy days of a Central Valley winter, Oakdale Police are reminding the community that criminals often look for quick opportunities to steal other people's property and a foggy night makes for perfect cover. "As soon as the fog starts to roll in, we see more crime because of the lower visibility," Sgt. Michael Nixon of the Oakdale Police Department warned. "You ...

Eclectic Empty Nest Under New Ownership

Shelley Leadem is no stranger to the business world, having been in real estate for 20 years in her native Hollister, but the new owner of The Empty Nest admits that working in retail is a whole new world. Leadem and her husband relocated to Oakdale three years ago due to a job change and quickly fell in love with the small town. "My husband got ...