OID Approves Funds To City, Fire

The Oakdale Irrigation District Board of Directors approved over $146,000 to fund requests from the City of Oakdale's Parks and Recreation department and the Fire department in a 3-2 vote at the May 18 regular meeting. Directors Herman Doornenbal and Al Bairos were the dissenting votes.

Hair Collection Drive Aimed At Helping With Oil Spill Clean-Up

Cowboys And Chocolate

Some years the weather during the annual Oakdale Chocolate Festival is the invisible and unwelcome festival goer when it brings triple-digit temperatures but this year, the 18th annual chocolate event had mild - even delightfully - perfect weather for the 70,000 attendees who flocked to Oakdale for the weekend.

Loan Modification Nightmare - Journey To Foreclosure Despite Attempts To Modify Loan

(Editor's note: the name of the lender has been withheld.)

State Grabs $13M From County, Cities

The Stanislaus County Redevelopment Agency was recently forced to turn over $2,818,246 to the Stanislaus County Auditor, a required payment resulting from the State's decision to raid $2.05 billion in local redevelopment funds as part of the 2009-10 State Budget. Instead of going to fund local job creation, economic growth and community revitalization projects, this money will now be siphoned off to help pay the State's obligations.

CEO Visits Local C21 M&M Offices

You know you're doing something right when the CEO of the company flies in from out of state to personally say hello.

Stamp Out Hunger On May 8

On Saturday, May 8, Oakdale letter carriers will again help 'Stamp Out Hunger!' across America with the community's help in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger.

New Consignment Offers Designer Labels

Lucky U Consignment, the newest storefront on North Yosemite Avenue, is offering designer labels for the budget-minded fashionista, said owner Amy Delgado.

Library Books Donated In Educators Memory

The Oakdale Teachers Association recently donated approximately 20 books overall to elementary school libraries recently in the Oakdale Joint Unified School District in memory of former teacher and administrator Pam Antinetti.

Freitas Retires After 30 Years In Business

If there's one thing Sarah Freitas, long-time Oakdale resident and owner of Sarah's Dry Cleaning, knows it's cleaning, stitching, and altering clothes.

South Main Canal, Tunnels - OID’s Rehab Projects Completed

The Oakdale Irrigation District has recently completed work on the South Main Canal and Tunnels capital improvement project. Ron Skaggs of Condor Earth Technologies delivered a presentation to the OID Board of Directors at the April 20 regular meeting.

Paranormal Research –Oakdale Leader Building Investigated

For years the Oakdale Leader building on South Third Avenue has been rumored to host more than just the employees on the payroll. Stories of mysterious happenings, odd sounds, and even an apparition sighting or two have abounded, shared among the community from past and present employees but now it's official - The Leader office is a hot bed of paranormal activity, at least according to the investigators with the Western Region Paranormal Research (WRPR) group following an evening spent in the building.

Oakdale Loses Pioneer Donnelly

Longtime Oakdale resident Dan Donnelly died Saturday, April 17 at his Oakdale home. He was 94.

Pets Put Best Paws Forward

Hosted this year by the Believing For A Cure team, the first - of what will likely become an annual event - Bark For Life in Oakdale has been declared a huge success.

Good Time To Be A Cowgirl At Annual Fundraising Luncheon

If it weren't for cowgirls, there wouldn't be any cowboys.

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.

California Dream Act Students offered at MJC

The Associated Students of Modesto Junior College (ASMJC) is teaming up with Students United Reaching for Equality (SURE) and MJC's International Student Program to host a workshop for high school seniors and recent graduates on how to make college a reality, with an emphasis on assisting California Dream Act students and those who need information about financial aid. The California Dream Act allows undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet certain provisions to apply for and receive community college fee waivers, Cal Grants, state-administered financial aid, university grants, and private scholarships funded through public universities.

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.

Highway Improvements Slated In Region

Major construction activities associated with the State Route 99/State Route 219 Kiernan Avenue Interchange Reconstruction Project are anticipated in early January.

Fatal Heart Attack Cause Of Oakdale Man’s Crash

The California Highway Patrol reported that units responded to a single vehicle collision on Camanche Parkway South, just south of Campo Seco Road in Calaveras County on Saturday morning, Dec. 27, just after 6:45 a.m.

2014 News In Review: Part II

As the summer hit full force, there was talk of drought, and the city continued to deal with budget issues. School resumed in August, locals brought home honors from the county and state fairs and eventually we hit the holiday season – kicking off with Halloween and continuing through the Christmas shopping season.

CHP Message: Ring In New Year Responsibly

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is urging motorists to start the New Year on the right path by celebrating responsibly. If the night's events include alcohol, make the smart choice and designate a driver before the celebrating begins. The CHP will be ringing in the New Year on the roadway with motorists as part of a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), which begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015.

Rollover Crash Disrupts Downtown Traffic Flow

One lane of eastbound F Street traffic near South Fourth Avenue was closed down for about 90 minutes on Wednesday, Dec. 24 while Oakdale Police, the city's Public Works department and Reliable Tow of Oakdale worked on clearing the roadway after a solo vehicle rollover accident.

Oakdale Man Arrested For Sex Rendezvous With 13-Year-Old

Oakdale Police arrested a local man on Tuesday, Dec. 24, on suspicion of an array of sexual assault charges regarding a 13-year-old girl he met on Facebook.