Winter Weather Prompts Pass Closures

Holiday Enforcement Efforts Show Favorable Results

Travel Bureau Ignoring Agreement To Report Finances

Debit Card Scam Hits Central Valley

Angel Trees Placed In Community For Holiday Season

Center for Human Services (CHS) – Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center introduced Angel Trees in 2011 to assist families in need during the holiday season. Last year, CHS – Oakdale Family Resource and Counseling Center hosted Angel Trees at four different sites and were able to provide gifts for approximately 130 Angels (local children). This year, the center is hosting Angel Trees at 10 sites and plan to serve over 160 ...

Columbia College Presents Sounds Of The Seasons

The 45-voiced Columbia College Community Chorus with 25-piece orchestra, under the direction of John Carter, will present their annual Sounds of the Season Concerts Friday through Sunday, Dec. 6, 7, and 8 at the Historic Opera Hall at 250 S. Washington St., Sonora. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Music on the program will include selections from J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio, Christmas motets, seasonal ...

Salmon Study Spawns Learning

Council Designates Special Parking

In response to a complaint of parking availability by the business owner of Plaza 131, Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer asked the city council at its Dec. 2 meeting to designate that street parking on South Second Avenue in front of the business be designated only for the patrons of Plaza 131. Whitemyer told the council that when the Gene Bianchi Community Center and adjoining plaza were constructed, South ...

City Asks OID For $$ Donation

The City of Oakdale's manager Bryan Whitemyer requested a check for $99,000 from the Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors to keep the Royce Memorial Pool open at the Dec. 3 regular meeting of the board. The $99,000 request is an increase of $26,500 from last year. Whitemyer's presentation showed that the total cost of pool, swim lessons, and conservation efforts is $128,000, minus a lowered city contribution of ...

To Detect And Protect

There's a new cop on the beat. Chevy, a 13-month-old cross breed between a German Shepherd and a Belgium Malinois, was sworn in during a special ceremony at Steves Chevrolet on Monday, Dec. 2. He will be partnered with Oakdale Police Officer Andy Stever and should be hitting the streets within a few days. The resurrection of the department's canine program that had been cut in ...

Knights Ferry News Week of December 4, 2013

Marg-Ins – Iowa And The Island

November is such a busy month, leading right up to an equally hectic December, that it literally feels like a lifetime ago I wrote my last column. Since then, the Winter Formal has been attended (by my daughter, not me), massive quantities of turkey have been consumed, family gatherings have been enjoyed, and there have been a couple of other notable trips. One, if you can ...

Valley Home News Week of December 4, 2013

Valley Home 4-Hers held their annual Christmas party this week. It was filled with lots of laughter and tons of fun. The 4-Hers each brought a white elephant item to exchange…what a bunch of fun they had! During the evening they enjoyed Christmas cookies and holiday punch. While they were busy playing games and enjoying refreshments they were stunned to hear a loud crash, almost as if someone had landed on top ...

Anna Zakian Kohler

Anna Zakian Kohler, 82, died Tuesday, Nov. 5. The youngest of three daughters, she was born in Milwaukee, Wisc. to Manoug and Nazlu Zakian who emigrated from Armenia. At a young age, her family moved to California and settled in the little towns of Yettem and Monson in the San Joaquin Valley where she worked on her family's raisin grapes ranch into her late teens. After ...

Marianne Stadler Orvis

Marianne Stadler Orvis, 83, of Farmington, died peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 24 after a short hospitalization at Doctors Medical Center, Modesto. She was born in Manteca to Robert Stadler and Juliana Dunst Stadler, who emigrated from Switzerland and Austria to the United States. She lived in Manteca until the family bought rural property in Oakdale in 1940. She graduated from Oakdale High School in 1949 and attended Stockton College. ...

Denham Re-Elected, Has Oakdale Issues On Radar

Congressman Jeff Denham has a list of local matters to take on as he prepares to take over the newly drawn 10th Congressional District. On Tuesday, Nov 6, Denham defeated Democratic challenger Jose Hernandez by taking 54 percent of votes cast.

Citizens Cast Votes, Council Members Seated

Oakdale voters have spoken on the structure they want to see for its city council and the direction they will take the city for the next few years. One newcomer will join a re-elected councilman for full terms and a former mayor will fill the two-year remainder of a vacant seat.

Valley Home News for November 14, 2012

Christina Barreto shares the following information with us. Our Valley Home 4-H members are busy planning for another Bake Sale at Tractor Supply in Oakdale on Saturday, November 17th. There will be the delicious odor of baking delectable goodies filling the air throughout our community this coming week as our 4-H'ers busy themselves baking up a storm of delicious goodies to sell at their booth. The 4-H'ers will be found manning this booth located inside ...

Former Waterford City Administrator Hired For Oakdale

Interim City Manager Stan Feathers announced on Nov. 5 that retired Waterford City Administrator Chuck Deschenes has joined the city's management team as an interim operations manager. Deschenes replaces retired Merced County CEO Demetrios "Dee" Tatum, who leaves the position due to state regulations on the limited number of hours he can work after retirement.

Knights Ferry News for November 14, 2012

Birthday wishes go out to: Bob Brunker Jr., Phil Frymire, John Krick, Matt Holcomb, Alex Krippner, Roger Ray, Elise Seeds, Bill Carr, Bill Higgens, Ben Cassinetto, Dorothy McKinsey, Wyatt Dickens, Elissa Simons, Megan Miller, Jasmin Olvera, Tristan McCarthy, Megan Willis, Taylor Witzke, Alexa Boyajian, Alyssa Sisco, Dayne Sturtevant, Emma Tankersley, Jenna O'Neil, Presley Wilson and Gage Perry.

Native Daughters - Organization Strives To Preserve California History, Help The Community

The mission statement reads: "The mission of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, as one of the oldest associations of diverse California born leaders, is to preserve California's history and better the quality of life through active participation in education and community service." Across the state and through the local Oakdale Parlor, the Native Daughters of the Golden West (N.D.G.W.) is a society of women that are born in California and are dedicated to ...

Fishing Report

Fish attractants have been used in some form or another for many years. In the middle 1980s I can remember there being a big interest in fish attractants as several major tackle manufacturers added fish attractants to their product line. I can remember one specific brand that comes to mind "Bait mate," it was in a liquid form with a consistency that was similar to vegetable oil. One quick spray of this supposedly would create ...

Local Girl Qualifies For Horse Reining Finals

Sometimes a name just sticks. The nine-year-old quarter horse dubbed Imasmartlittlecheese (all one word) knows that all too well, but he's not complaining. The quick and nimble mount is about as obedient and responsive to a rider's command as a horse can be. With Oakdale-trained Courtney Yohey gracefully holding the reins, Imasmartlittlecheese has carried the pair to the pinnacle of horse reining. "I call him 'Cheese' for short," Yohey ...

Ruben Mora, Jr.

Ruben Mora, Jr., 15, died Sunday, Nov. 11. He was born in Oakdale and lived in Oakdale all his life. He was a freshman in high school and loved by many friends. He is survived by his parents, Ruben and Gloria Mora; sisters, Melissa and Jessica Mora, and Adrianna and Alynna Arellano-Groomes, all of Oakdale; grandfather, Manual Mora; as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins. Funeral services ...

Freda Eagen Knowlson

Freda Eagen Knowlson, 93, died Saturday, Nov. 10. She was a woman of faith who left a legacy of strength with her family. Jesus Christ was her Lord and Savior. She loved God and entrusted everything to Him. Mrs. Knowlson loved to cook, clean and serve her family. Guests who visited her home never left hungry. She would do anything for anyone and was extremely kind and generous. She always put ...

Paul Katuszonek

Paul Katuszonek, 30, died suddenly on Thursday, Nov. 8. He was a recent cancer survivor and appreciated each day with his family. He was a loving husband and father. Mr. Katuszonek loved being a policeman with the City of Oakdale and considered his co-workers to be his extended family. He is survived by his wife, Shannon Katuszonek; daughter, Ava; father, Roman Katuszonek of Modesto; mother Christine Katuszonek of Augusta, ...

Roberta Ann Buerer

Roberta Ann Buerer, 38, died suddenly on Monday, Nov. 5. She was born in Okinawa, Japan. She lived in Lodi for a period of time and made her home in Oakdale for 15 years. Mrs. Buerer was a veteran of the U.S. Army. She was a cashier and a mother. She belonged to River Oak Grace Church and Celebrate Recovery. She is survived by her husband, Jason ...

Antone M. (Tony) Avila

Antone M. (Tony) Avila, 89, passed away peacefully at Doctors Medical Center Hospital on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012.

Bill P. Abbott

Bill P. Abbott, 58, died Saturday, Nov. 10 of a sudden illness in Modesto. He was born in Lincoln, Neb. He lived in Oakdale since 1979. Mr. Abbott was a forklift operator for Ball Can Company in Oakdale since 1988. He is survived by his wife, Eva R. Abbott of Oakdale; daughter, Connie (Daniel Jr.) Carreira of Oakdale; son, Paul (Denise) Froman Jr. of Coquille, Ore.; sisters, Deborah Wallace ...

Dahlia Marie Smith

Nicole and Alan Smith of Oakdale welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Dahlia Marie Smith, on Oct. 28, 2012.