This week, we begin a four-part series taking a look back at the top news headlines for Oakdale during 2025. From continued success for the Oakdale High School Academic Decathlon team to growth and change in the city itself, this installment covers the first quarter of the year, January through March.
JANUARY
On Monday, Jan. 6, Oakdale Public Services Director Jeff Gravel presented an extensive overview of the city’s capital improvement projects at the City Council meeting. Gravel’s presentation covered infrastructure upgrades, ongoing projects, and future plans designed to address key areas in Oakdale’s development.
A chapter of the nonprofit organization HOW, Helping One Woman, has been started in Oakdale. The inaugural dinner for this group is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the Oakdale Event Center, 335. N. Eighth Ave., Oakdale. The dinner is being catered by Chef John from Reata on Third. The motto of ‘HOW’ is that “One woman with $10 can buy another woman lunch. Ten women with $10 can buy another woman’s groceries. One hundred women with $10 can make a real difference in another woman’s life.”
Images of fires ravaging picturesque landscapes and communities facing the most difficult challenges of their lives have filled our minds and touched our hearts as residents in Southern California try to move forward, many of them having lost their homes, businesses and schools. For a certain family here in the Central Valley, they were so moved by the ongoing fires that they decided to work together to help our neighbors to the south Christina Barreto of Valley Home is working with her family including her brother-in-law, Juan Torres, who owns Juan M. Torres Trucking Inc., out of Hughson, to coordinate and deliver much needed supplies to Southern California residents that have been impacted by the devastating fires that have spread throughout the area.
Longtime Oakdale City Manager Bryan Whitemyer, who has served in that role since 2013, has submitted his resignation. He has accepted the role of City Manager for the City of Folsom and his last day here will be March 6. Oakdale Mayor Cherilyn Bairos praised Whitemyer for his leadership and commitment to the community. “Bryan has been an exceptional leader and an advocate for the city’s growth and well-being. His impact on Oakdale is immeasurable, and we are grateful for his years of dedicated service,” Bairos said. “We wish him every success in his new role.”
Oakdale High School’s Academic Decathlon team has extended its winning streak to four straight years, coming away with the top honors from Saturday’s annual Stanislaus County competition. “Yes, fourth year in a row,” coach Dee Hawksworth said. “We have three ninth graders on the competing team, so I was a little nervous about how they would do, but everyone worked hard.” At the conclusion of the 45th annual Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon on Jan. 25, scoring saw Oakdale taking first place honors overall, with Hughson in second place and Modesto High finishing third. Oakdale was also the Super Quiz champion, noted Hawksworth, the squad shining in the only open-to-the-public event of the scholastic competition.
With the line of citizens eager for an update on all things Oakdale curled around the plaza at the Gene Bianchi Community Center, Mayor Cher Bairos took time to greet everyone and say hello to the crowd. Later, at the podium inside the Bianchi Center for the Jan. 22 State of the City program, the mayor displayed both humor and humility and shared her gratitude for all of those that work with her. Bairos indicated that she built her platform on the fundamentals of “leadership that listens” and service. “My job is to serve you, not govern you,” reiterated Bairos as she spoke about her role as mayor. She continued on stating that her love for the people and the community is what keeps her motivated.
FEBRUARY
The $6 million-plus Greger Sports Park project is in its final stretch, with city officials anticipating public access by the end of February. During Monday night’s Oakdale City Council meeting, Feb. 3, City Manager Bryan Whitemyer and Capital Projects Manager Carina McDonald provided an update on the park’s progress. The $6,807,124 Greger Sports Complex was funded through Park Capital Facilities Fund 349 ($4,750,124), Parks Replacement Fund 549 ($250,000), and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds ($1,807,000). George Reed Inc. secured the contract with the lowest bid.
For seven years in a row, the Boots and Bows Dance has continued to bring many dads and their daughters out to the dance floor and this year’s dance was no exception. Everywhere you looked at the Bianchi Community Center on Friday evening, Feb. 7, there was a sea of young ladies in colorful dresses surrounded by doting dads wearing their cowboy hats and wranglers, which appeared to be the official uniform of attendees.
Oakdale city officials and community members gathered early in the month to mark the groundbreaking of the Southwest Downtown revitalization project, a $5.6 million investment aimed at improving both road conditions and pedestrian safety. The project, approved previously by the Oakdale City Council, will upgrade key driving routes in the city, including First, Second, and Third avenues, after decades of deterioration, with funding sourced from Measure L, CDBG – Community Development Block Grant – funds, and federal grants.
In the heart of Oakdale, where community and tradition intertwine, few individuals have made as lasting an impact as Steve Medlen, owner of the renowned House of Beef. Since 1979, Steve and his wife, Cindi, have been serving the community not just with exceptional cuts of meat but with unwavering dedication and passion. Steve Medlen will be honored this year with the Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented by the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce at its annual Awards Dinner, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28. Medlen, a third-generation meat processor, honed his skills under the guidance of his father and uncles.
Working off the theme of ‘The Healing Power of Music in the Hands of Heroes,’ the Guitars 4 Vets program is focused on teaching veterans how to play guitar and then, providing them with one of their own. Doug ‘PC’ Boele, the local Chapter Coordinator, is a member of the Escalon American Legion Post 263 and recently was in Oakdale to receive a grant for the program. Funding came from a $1,000 donation from the Stanislaus Senior Foundation and requesting the grant on behalf of the program was longtime Oakdale resident and community activist Mickey Peabody. “PC is a great guy and he just wants to help,” Peabody noted.
MARCH
After nearly three hours of public testimony and council deliberation, the Oakdale City Council voted 4-1 on Monday, March 3 to approve amendments to the Sierra Pointe Specific Plan, including a General Plan Amendment, Prezone, Environmental Impact Report addendum, and annexation of approximately 297 acres in the southeastern portion of the city. Councilmember Jarod Pitassi cast the lone dissenting vote.
Spring is almost here and with the recent rains, the grass is green and the blossoms are full and it is a great time to get out there and play. That includes getting in some pickleball, a popular activity, as demonstrated by the full courts at the recently opened Greger Sports Park in Oakdale. A formal ribbon cutting ceremony for the sports park took place on Monday, March 3 at 10 a.m.
Two people suffered injuries when a portion of the roof collapsed at the Cost Less market in the 800 block of North Yosemite Avenue in Oakdale on Monday afternoon, prompting a full evacuation of the facility. Modesto Fire, Oakdale Police and Oak Valley Ambulance all responded to the scene at about 2:30 p.m. on March 17. Heavy rain and wind in the area Monday – following a few days of rain during the past week – may have contributed to the collapse. Fire department officials on scene said that an estimated 25-by-25-foot portion of the roof in the right front corner of the store, over the produce section, fell in. As it came down, fire officials said, the collapse also broke the store’s fire sprinkler system. There was water inside the store and responding authorities helped evacuate shoppers and store personnel.
Oakdale Police Chief Jerry Ramar officially stepped into the position of interim city manager at the Monday, March 17 City Council meeting, marking a significant transition for the city. During that meeting, the council also approved Jason Grogan as interim police chief. Grogan brings 28 years of law enforcement experience with the Modesto Police Department, where he previously served as Captain of the Operations Division, overseeing approximately 150 personnel. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree and has extensive experience in patrol operations, investigations, and strategic planning.
The ASTRO Foundation has officially announced the purchase of the former Oakdale Veterinary Group building at 20 S. Stearns Road in Oakdale, and with it, the launch of a capital campaign to transform the space into a state-of-the-art adoption and rescue facility. Since 2012, ASTRO has rescued over 10,000 cats and dogs, but the growing demand, especially for dogs, has outpaced the capacity of its current adoption center on North Fifth Avenue in Oakdale. The new facility will more than double ASTRO’s space, allowing the nonprofit to rescue more dogs with onsite kennels, expand spay/neuter services for rescue pets and community cats, enhance vital programs, including the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (TNVR) program and the Happy Pets Food Pantry for families in need.
The annual Civil War reenactments once again took place in Knights Ferry, put on by the American Civil War Association. Two battles were staged on Saturday, March 22 and two more on Sunday, March 23. The realistic battles are put on for large crowds, then people get the opportunity to visit the soldiers and their families, as camps are set up throughout the Stanislaus River Park area in Knights Ferry for the weekend.
Look for highlights from the second quarter of the year, April through June, in the Jan. 7 issue.
