Weekly Farmers Market Wrapping Up Schedule

The music will stop, all the farm-fresh produce will be gone, and Oakdale residents who are still looking for a taste of summer will have to wait until next year.

Powerhouse Failure - OID Board Eyes Recouping Losses

The Oakdale Irrigation District's Board of Directors participated in discussion about recovering insurance funds for a Tri-Dam Project powerhouse failure at the Aug. 17 regular meeting.

Fatal Wreck Claims Modesto Man

A 43-year-old Modesto man was killed Friday, Aug. 13 when the vehicle he was ejected from landed on top of him in a solo vehicle accident that occurred around 7 p.m. on Orange Blossom Road, west of Lancaster Road between Oakdale and Knights Ferry, said officials with the California Highway Patrol.

National Night Out Brings Neighbors Together

The annual National Night Out event Tuesday, Aug. 3 brought neighbors together in an atmosphere of family-friendly fun and camaraderie that included food, games, animals, and cars - depending on where you ended up. as there were multiple block parties throughout the city from The Estates on Atlas Road to Bridle Ridge on the west end of town.

Brea DeRespini, Community Volunteer Coordinator, called the night a "huge success" with 850 hot dogs served, both fire and police personnel making appearances at The Estates, Burchell Hill, and Bridle Ridge events.

Weekly Farmers Market Slowly Winding Down

Only a few more Thursdays are left for Oakdale residents to enjoy fresh produce, mingle with neighbors, and enjoy a warm summer evening in downtown Oakdale as the city's Certified Farmers Market ends its season at the end of August.

OID, Leaders Find Common Ground

A little cooperation could go a long way toward helping meet needs and cut costs.

OVHD Shuffles As Election Approaches

With four seats up for election this November, the Oak Valley Hospital District Board of Directors held an election of their own at the Wednesday, July 28 board meeting.

Le StoryTeller Opens Store Front In Downtown Area

EdaMarie Boschetti, owner and creator of Le StoryTeller, knows locked away in everyone's cache of private memories is a great story waiting to come out - and she's just the lady to make it happen.

Boschetti, a retired Naval accountant who always dreamed of putting her journalistic roots to good use, has found her calling in the creation of customized books for people looking to preserve a moment or a lifetime.

One Year Later - Family Schedules Memorial Mass For Fallen Oakdale Teen

On Aug. 6, 2009, Raul Arellano, Jr., a boy excited about starting the eighth grade, died from complications stemming from a solo bicycle accident. As the anniversary of Arellano's death draws near, a memorial mass is scheduled on Aug. 5 at St. Mary's Catholic Church at 6:30 p.m. for friends and family.

Local Plans In Motion For National Night Out

The war on crime will continue with the annual National Night Out event, which will be held Tuesday, Aug. 3 and the planning process is well under way

Chamber, Cowboy Museum, Businesses Honor Heritage

Oakdale paid homage to its Western roots with a celebration of all things cowboy and ranching on Saturday, July 24. The day was observed as the National Day of the American Cowboy and included a variety of competition at the Oakdale Saddle Club Rodeo Grounds, in addition to special sidewalk sales and deals at multiple stores around town.

Fair Changes Impact Oakdale Exhibitors

Changes were made to this year's Stanislaus County Fair, one of them being that the fair's date was moved to take place sooner in the month since the California State Fair did the same. However, even though the county fair dates were adjusted, there is still overlap with the state fair. In some cases, it worked out for some exhibitors to show at both fairs, but not for all of them.Oakdale FFA advisor Ed Hartzell stated that the overlap in dates especially affected breeding beef exhibitors, causing the junior exhibitors to have to make a choice to ...

City Fire Q&A On Budgets, Changes

With the new fiscal year in full swing, The Oakdale Leader thought it would be prudent to sit down with Oakdale City Fire Chief Michael Botto and find out how the city fire department is weathering the budget crisis and how the changes might affect the community. (Answers may have been edited for content.) What structural changes within the department will be made to accommodate the FY Budget 2010-11? BOTTO: We have reduced our administration staffing from two full-time chief officers and one half-time executive secretary to two part-time chief officers and one full-time executive secretary. Division Chief/Fire Marshal ...

Communities Rocked By Tragic Loss

Four men, known for their deep and abiding friendship that spanned decades, were killed when their boat capsized in heavy surf off Point Reyes National Seashore, Wednesday, July 14 during an annual fishing excursion with a tight-knit group known as the "Oakdale Offshore Fishermen."Coast Guard crews pulled the bodies of Henry Medrano, 62, of Riverbank, and Melvin Cox, 67, of Imboden, Arkansas (formerly of Riverbank) from the frigid water while the body of boat pilot Ronald Fuentes, 65, of Riverbank, washed ashore Thursday morning and skipper of the 24-foot yellow-hulled boat, Jack 'Jackie' Taylor, 62, also from Riverbank was ...

Group Seeks To Renew ‘Lost Youth’ Plaque

An idea for a plaque to memorialize Oakdale's "Lost Youth" originated in 1990 by families who had grieved the loss of their own children and wanted to memorialize all the young people in the area who had passed so they would not be forgotten.The plaque lists the names of young people in the Oakdale school district - Oakdale, Valley Home, Knights Ferry, and Waterford areas - who had lost their life, for any reason, before the age of 26.Oakdale residents Shannon Trent, Jackie Rankin, and Shirley Watson, who have been involved since its inception, are trying to revitalize the ...

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.