Hi everyone … I hope you are all doing well. It sure is beginning to feel like spring.

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This week I would like to send a huge “Thank You” to our Stanislaus County Supervisor Buck Condit, and to our Stanislaus County Public Works personnel, Bill and Zack and the crew. Thank you each for all you do.

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A few days ago, I received news that I would like to share with you. I would like to offer heartfelt thanks to a true gentleman and although he could be very tough, he truly is a friend to all who know him. We send congratulations to our amazing CHP Officer Tom Olsen, who has served with the Modesto Area CHP for many years. He has served for the last nine years as the Public Information Officer for Modesto CHP.

We were blessed to have such a knowledgeable, caring and devoted officer. He spent many hours here in Valley Home. A phone call was all it took to have Officer Olsen come to Valley Home. He dedicated his career to making a difference in people’s lives; especially making a difference in our young people’s lives. Officer Olsen gives high praise to the gentleman that will take his place as the Public Information Officer at Modesto CHP. Officer Aaron Fay will step into Officer Olsen’s shoes. I am looking forward to meeting and working with Officer Fay on community events.

We will definitely miss our very special CHP Officer Tom Olsen. We would like to send a huge thank you to Officer Olsen’s wife and his children for sharing him with all of us all this time. God bless the Olsen family. Officer Olsen has made such a tremendous impact on our family … most especially my granddaughter Millie Cox. Millie and good friend Ashlyn McCurley met Officer Olsen when they were in third grade at Valley Home School. The girls had a Lemonade Stand to raise funds for the black bands that our first responders wear to honor our fallen officers. The girls have remained close to Officer Olsen over the years; both girls are freshmen at Oakdale High School now.

Officer Olsen has sacrificed many hours of being at home with his wife and children and we are so grateful for this amazing man.

He will be going back to road patrol and hoping to promote to the rank of Sergeant around summer time. We wish him the very best. Thank you, Officer Olsen, for the thousands of lives you have touched … May God bless you and protect you always. Congratulations to Officer Aaron Fay and welcome to our community.

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I also share exciting news from our Oakdale Granny Basketball Team. This amazing team, made up of women over 50, are very young at heart. The Oakdale Broncos Granny Basketball Team will be playing a League game this Saturday, March 14 at the Valley Home School Bonnie Gellerman Gymnasium.

The game will begin at 12 pm … all are invited to come cheer them on. The Oakdale Broncos is a senior ladies basketball team with 14 players. The coach for this amazing team is Travis Johnson. Assistant Coaches are Danny Avila and Patrick Belen. The Granny Basketball League has teams throughout the United States. In California there are teams in Oakdale, Sonora, and Columbia. There is only one requirement: you must be a woman over 50. No basketball experience is required.

The Broncos will kick off Oakdale Rodeo Week with a game against the Oakdale Saddle Club Cowboys on April 6. The game will be played at Oakdale Junior High and will start at 6:30 pm. All are invited.

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Please remember, if you have information you would like to put in this column, my email is winniemullins51@gmail.com

You may also text or telephone information to me at 209-985-5233.

Until next time, “Happy Trails to All!”