Local 4-Hers Show Their Fashion

Orange Blossom 4-H Club recently hosted the annual Stanislaus County 4-H Fashion Review at Valley Home Elementary School. Boys and girls ages seven to 17 years old competed in categories where they either made their own outfits or purchased them and then modeled the outfits in front of judges for a score. Orange Blossom 4-Hers Cory Barney and Matthew Black hosted the event to earn their Emerald Stars. Winners in each division ...

Solar Eclipse This Sunday

This Sunday, May 20, there will be a partial solar eclipse visible from the Oakdale/Modesto/Sonora area. Oakdale High School science teacher Cameron Nickerson reported that if one is willing to travel as far as Chico, an annular eclipse will be visible, and if in Redding, the maximum of about four-and-a-half minutes of an annular eclipse will be visible. "An annular eclipse is just a shade different from a total eclipse," Nickerson said. ...

Donations Sought As Family Fights Illness

Justin Myers, an Oakdale graduate, has been fighting a mysterious illness that was discovered when he was in junior high. The Oakdale Leader has followed Justin's journey through several stories, including when he received his restored 1969 Chevy Camaro through the Make-A-Wish program. After eight years of frequent blood transfusions for what they can only determine is Pure Red Cell Anemia (partial bone marrow failure), Justin is showing signs of major organ ...

Council Candidate Has Past Rape Arrest

In a recent discovery, The Leader has learned that Oakdale City Council hopeful Scott Jaspar was arrested for rape and penetration with a foreign object that occurred in Nevada County in 2007. Jaspar, who's true name is Clifford Scott Jaspar, was one of three candidates interviewed on Monday for the vacant council seat that opened when Jason Howard resigned in April. During the interview Jaspar disclosed a 1991 embezzlement that led to ...

Feathers Tapped As Manager

The Oakdale City Council announced that former Atwater Assistant City Manager Stan Feathers will take over as the part-time interim city manager on July 1when current Interim City Manager Greg Wellman is required to leave the post. The move is pending a likely California Public Employee Retirement System approval, which would restrict Feathers to working no more than 960 hours in a fiscal year and, like Wellman, can only ...

Overworked, Understaffed - City Audits Arrive Late

After a series of city financial crises coming to light, Finance Director Albert Avila assured Oakdale Interim City Manager Greg Wellman that the city's tardy 2010-2011 audit would be received by Friday, May 11 and delivered to the city council. Last week the council also just received notice of the 2009-2010 audit report that had been withheld for nearly a year.

Housecleaning Leaves Leadership Quandary

Since the seating of the current city council in November of 2010, the City of Oakdale tribunal has purged or presided over the departure of nearly all of its department heads. Of the two that remain; the public works director has been given notice he will no longer be employed after July and the finance director may be in jeopardy of being gone by this July also.

Former Mayor Speaks Out About City Finances

Past Oakdale Mayor Farrell Jackson believes much that is being declared about the city's financial status may not be completely accurate.

Special Session To Discuss Finance Director

The Oakdale City Council announced that it will be holding a special meeting on Monday, May 14 at 6 p.m. in closed session to discuss the performance of Finance Director Albert Avila.

DNA May Reveal Deceased Baby's Mother

On Dec. 1, 2011 Sheriff's Deputies responded to the Bait Barn located at 12505 Yosemite Blvd in Waterford for an infant found in a garbage can. Fire personnel immediately responded and the infant was pronounced deceased.

City To Finally Receive 2010-2011Audit

After a series of city financial standings coming to light, Finance Director Albert Avila has assured Oakdale Interim City Manager Greg Wellman that the city's 2010-2011 audit will be received by Friday, May 11 and delivered to the city council. The council also just received notice of the 2009-2010 audit that had been withheld for nearly a year. On Tuesday afternoon, Wellman made available a letter from the city's auditing firm, Moss, ...

Council Debates Vacancy

Gridlocked by a series of two-two split motions, a packed council chambers on Monday possibly saw a glimpse into the future of a polarized Oakdale City Council stalemated on controversial agenda voting items if a fifth and deciding member is not appointed.

Perfect Day For Celebrating Flight

When the forecast calls for clear and sunny skies with a light breeze, it is a perfect day for flying.

Oakdale Residents Fill Several ‘Wrath’ Roles

Ma Joad is a strong and resilient woman. Tested by a harsh life on the family farm in Oklahoma, she has been the cement that has kept her family together. But the Great Depression of the 1930s and the horrific dust bowl conditions that accompanied that event, have just about worn her down. According to Jenni Abbott who portrays Ma in the critically and audience acclaimed production, currently running at the Gallo Center for the ...

Hospital Audit Questions New Construction Costs

An independent audit done at the request of Oak Valley Hospital CEO John McCormick earlier this year has identified $689,106 in questionable costs and $30,043 in unsupported costs for the new hospital construction project.

Shook, House, Gilbert Win Election

Unofficial results are in for the Nov. 5, 2013 Consolidated District Election. While the final numbers haven't yet been tallied, it's pretty clear who the local race winners are by viewing the recent Stanislaus County elections update released by Lee Lundrigan, Stanislaus County Registrar of Voters and Clerk-Recorder.

Holiday Train, Santa Visits Scheduled In Jamestown

Trucking Company Agrees To Pay $8.5 Million In Officer's Death

On the one year anniversary of the death of off-duty Oakdale Police Officer Paul Katuszonek, Gold Star Foods Inc., a food distribution and long haul trucking company based in Ontario, CA, agreed to pay $8.5 million to Katuszonek's family to settle claims that its truck driver employee caused his death.

Intervention Program Announces Grand Opening

Recent Oakdale Grad Helps Develop Wii Game

Keeping an eye on the help wanted ads paid off for Oakdale resident Ben Ward in the pursuit of his career goal of becoming a video game programmer and a break into the lucrative video game industry. "I had been doing some work for different people with some small mobile games for independents," said Ward, 21. "I came across an ad from Team Notion of Texas asking for a ...

Council Approves Water, Sewer Rate Hikes

With the threat of state sanctions for default, and over the objections of many residents at its Monday, Nov. 4 meeting, the Oakdale City Council voted to raise water and sewer rates to pay for a $13 million loan.

Focus On Fighting Fatigue For Drowsy Driving Prevention

Search Warrant Leads To Gun, Drugs, Stolen ATV

Council To Decide On Rate Hike

Check Smoke Alarms As Time Changes

Check Before You Burn Begins New Season

Corrected: Delta Cross Channel Gates To Be Opened

Fire Merger Presented In Oakdale Forum

Public Works Drama Continues

Just a few short months after settling his hostile workplace lawsuit resulting from defending the city's only African-American worker in another lawsuit, the City of Oakdale placed Public Works Supervisor Mark Ozbirn on administrative leave claiming an investigation now into his work performance.

Oakdale Thanksgiving Spirit Strong

Members of the Spirit of Oakdale Committee are gearing up for the 20th annual Oakdale Thanksgiving Dinner, to be served at the Gene Bianchi Community Center, 110 S. Second Ave., Oakdale.