CHANCE OF CHOCOLATE

Oakdale Parks and Recreation Director Cheryl Bolin, top photo, gets ready to roll the dice at the Craps table during the 19^th annual Chocolate Ball hosted by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Roaring '20s-themed event featured the usual spread of delectable chocolate treats from local and out-of-town bakeries but as an added bonus the community center was transformed into a mini casino for the night and attendees gambled with play money but had lots of real fun. At side, Oakdale Mayor Farrell Jackson, left, and Jerry Jones tried their hand at the Blackjack tables ...

Election Brings New Leadership

With a light turnout on Election Day, voters appeared to bring some new leadership on board, though the results will remain unofficial until all absentees are in and all votes are certified by the Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters. Turnout was just under 16 percent.

Initial results show Oakdale voters electing newcomer Diane Gilbert to the Oakdale Joint Unified School District board, with 2,011 votes - for 26 percent - the leading vote getter of four people running for three available seats. All others were incumbents, with Mke House, 1962 votes, and William Dyer, 1882, poised to reclaim their seats. Incumbent ...

OID Concerned About Riverbank

The Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors expressed concern for the district and farmers in the Ag Improvement District 48 during a lengthy discussion about issues regarding the "Reinvestment Project Area" (RPA) in Riverbank at the Nov. 3 regular meeting.

Cops Rally For Christmas Toy Drive

For Ann Farmer, Senior Outreach Coordinator for the Oakdale Police Department, when she heard that the annual Spirit Tree wasn't going to happen this year, she went through a range of emotions. First and foremost, she was sad for all those children who would go without this Christmas, then she got motivated.

Big Changes Slated For Plaza

A major facelift is scheduled for the plaza on the north end of town that houses the Costless Market, Sears, Oakdale Cinema and Ultimate Furniture, to name a few of the business currently taking up residence, and according to project facilitator and developer Richard Murdoch, the changes are going to bring a much-needed overhaul to the aging plaza.

Oakdale Dives Into Aquatic Center

Students at Oakdale High School are going to be in deep water. Well, about seven feet of it, as ground has been broken for the new OHS Aquatic Center.

Peabody Champions Senior Issues

Activist, volunteer extraordinaire, and overall go-getter Mickey Peabody is Oakdale's version of the Unsinkable Molly Brown and currently, she has her sights set on the Capitol to make positive change for senior citizens.

Police Add Spy Camera To Arsenal

Big Brother is watching - and hoping to catch vandals - thanks to the recent purchase of a special mobile surveillance camera manufactured by Q-Star Technology that will not only capture high-quality images but is triggered by motion.

Board Awards OHS Pool Bid

The Oakdale High School Aquatic Center project is officially moving forward and will have its ceremonial groundbreaking today, Wednesday, Oct. 14. The Oakdale Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees awarded the bid for the aquatic center to Diede Construction, Inc. in the amount of $2.96 million at the Oct. 12 regular meeting.

Shelter Fundraiser Draws Generous Crowd

Former Stanislaus County Supervisor Pat Paul opened her Oakdale home to a worthy cause Thursday, Oct. 8 as citizens joined together for the Shelter Pet Alliance fundraiser aimed at gathering donations toward the creation of an exercise yard for the local animal shelter.

Transient Issue Concerns Surface

Since the clean up along the Stanislaus River corridor near Costless Market and Kerr Park, complaints have increased regarding the transient population invading local parks, most notably Dorada Park, as they search for new places to inhabit.

OID Seeks Water Ops Replacement

The Oakdale Irrigation District is embarking on a search to fill the Water Operations Manager position. Kevin King completed six years with the district and has held the Water Operations Manager position since early 2006. King's last day will be Nov. 2.

Lions Club Honoring Military Personnel

The first two banners bearing the names and branches of service of service people from the local Oakdale area 95361 zip code have been placed on the light poles in the SaveMart Shopping Center at the corner of East F Street and Maag Avenue in Oakdale. Members of the Oakdale Lions Club and the parents of Sean Gage and Clay Kassahn were on hand as the banners were installed.

Homecoming Tradition Axed

Forty-plus years of a Homecoming tradition has been felled by an insurance requirement.

Swine Flu Death Reported

Another county resident has fallen victim to the swine flu.

Stanislaus County Fair Books Rocker Eddie Money

Get your "Two Tickets to Paradise" when rock and roll icon, Eddie Money, performs at the Stanislaus County Fair this summer.

A Night Of Special Recognition - Community Salutes Oakdale’s Shining Stars

A record crowd of over 300 persons turned out for the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce 69th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday night, Jan. 16.

Firefighters Train Before Demolition

Motorists trying to turn in to the East F Street McDonald's in Oakdale to get their French fry or Big Mac fix will have to wait a while to place that order.

Farmers Respond Favorably To Conservation Initiative

A year from now, if all goes as planned, some 3,250 acres within the Oakdale Irrigation District will use water much more efficiently.

Denham Bill Focuses On Veterans

U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) introduced a bill on Wednesday, Jan. 14 to lessen the burden on disabled veterans by extending military commissary and exchange store privileges to former service members and their families.

Citizens, Service Groups Due For Chamber Kudos

Oakdale Chamber of Commerce will host its 69th Annual Awards on Friday, Jan. 16, 2015 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., staged at the Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale.

Bacigalupi Family To Receive Lifetime Achievement Award

The Bacigalupi family is well known throughout the Oakdale area. Not only for the infamous H-B Saloon on F Street, but also for their philanthropy including sponsoring the Cowboy Golf Tournament, the annual AFC-NFC Championship Tailgate Party to benefit local causes, donations to Spirit of Oakdale, Community Sharing, the Lions Club Children's Christmas Shopping Tour and several contributions to Oakdale High School sports.

Junior High Jeans And Jerseys Ready To Roll

Crab season is alive and well and Oakdale Junior High School's Parent Teacher Club is ready to get cracking.

Zest For Life - Rocking The 80’s At The Gym

Life is not being wasted on Bill and Joanne Parker. At the ages of 85 (Bill) and 84 (Joanne), this couple did not wait for New Year's Day to make a resolution or begin a new health plan. On Jan. 2, 2015 the couple could be found in the same place they were on Dec. 31, 2014 … putting in some time at Fitness Plus in Oakdale.

Homeless Camp Clean Up Sparks Debate

The adage 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' was well portrayed in a recent Stanislaus River homeless camp clean up on Wednesday, Dec 31.

Youngsters Put Finishing Touches On Holiday Crafts

Like many families do, the 'family' of kids, parents and teachers at The Learning Tree Preschool in Oakdale recently completed their holiday 'Gingerbread House' craft making activity, with the children able to take home their sweet treats to display (or eat) over the holidays. Following are some photos from the special craft day.

Law Enforcement Fatalities Top 125 Nationwide

Law enforcement fatalities in the U.S. rose 24 percent in 2014, reversing what had been two years of dramatic declines in line of duty deaths, based on preliminary data compiled and released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).

Olsen Offers Thoughts On Inaugural Address

Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, (R-Modesto), issued a statement following Governor Jerry Brown's inaugural address on Monday, Jan. 5:

Highway Improvements Slated In Region

Major construction activities associated with the State Route 99/State Route 219 Kiernan Avenue Interchange Reconstruction Project are now under way.