Three people were arrested Sunday after Merced County Sheriff's Department investigators reported busting a small meth operation in Ballico.

The Merced County Office of Emergency Services said this morning that sand and other sand bag materials are now available at County fire stations, in preparation for any localized flooding from the rain.

There are four candidates running for three openings on the Ballico-Cressey School District board.

If campaign finances are any indication of who will win an election, the race for Merced Irrigation District's open seat will be a landslide.

Hazardous materials response crews are investigating a dark substance that spilled from a 50-gallon drum near El Capitan Way and Santa Fe Drive near Ballico.

Federal standards, however, don't paint as optimistic a picture. By DANIELLE GAINES Dgaines@mercedsun-star.com In the eyes of the state, Merced County schools' report cards are improving.

An estimated 60 pounds of the drug was produced. The remains of a large meth lab were reported in Ballico by law enforcement investigators this week -- one of the largest such dump sites discovered in Merced County this year.

An estimated 60 pounds of the drug was produced. The remains of a large meth lab were reported in Ballico by law enforcement investigators this week -- one of the largest such dump sites discovered in Merced County this year.