Escalon News

The city is considering closing City Hall every other Friday starting in January, the administration saying that keeping employees home those days would reduce the number of polluting commutes they make to work each year.

Artist and entrepreneur Jan Knudson, of Groveland, sits beneath photos of her two favorite words, a oeevolvea and a oebelieve.a Amy Alonzo Rozak/Union Democrat Believe and evolve are Jan Knudson's favorite words, but she doesn't spell them with conventional letters.

Free government-surplus food will be distributed to qualifying low-income residents Thursday at a number of San Joaquin County locations.

Low-income San Joaquin County residents can obtain free government-surplus food Thursday at 15 locations until supplies are gone.

University of the Pacific pharmacy students will hold community meetings to help people on Medicare enroll in prescription drug plans.

Firefighters say it will be several days before a barn ignited by a nearby hay fire is extinguished.

A barn fire in Farmington that destroyed thousands of dollars worth of hay early Wednesday was expected to continue burning for several days, according to San Joaquin County fire officials.

Modesto Republican Sen. Dave Cogdill announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election in 2010, a decision his staff said was prompted in part by the state Legislature's approval of an $11 billion water infrastructure bond measure that he championed.

Plans to eliminate Sunday Dial-a-Ride transit service in Lodi are on hold. The service was among the most controversial to get the ax late last month when the City Council approved cuts to its bus and shuttle system to cover a $343,775 state funding shortfall.

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, will be calling constituents of his 11th Congressional District at 6:40 p.m. Thursday for a telephone town hall meeting on health care reform.

There has been a change in location for the three-hour Medicare Part D assistance event in Escalon later this month hosted by pharmacy students from University of the Pacific.

Firefighters were busy over the weekend battling fires that caused significant damage to two homes.

Is it part of a city manager's job description to get fired, or resign by "mutual agreement," or does it only seem that way? Hughson's City Council began dismissal proceedings against City Manager Joe Donabed last week and replaced him, for the time being, with planning and building director Thom Clark.

When it comes to real estate prices, some small towns are doing much better than big ones in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

Hogan Manufacturing Inc. of Escalon will pay a $34,050 fine for failing to submit reports on its use of toxic chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday.

WHEN: Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. WHERE: California Mortgage Associates, 1217 Standiford Ave.

A lingering abdominal pain brought Jorge Vega to the health fair at Escalon's Van Allen Elementary School on Thursday afternoon.

There were 72 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday.

Motorists between Modesto and Escalon can expect delays, but no long detours, for four to six months as crews upgrade the busy intersection of McHenry Avenue with Ladd Road.

Photo Credit : Sherry Adams. Left to right, PVCRA Summer Barrel Racing Series Buckle Winners Roxie Jimenez of Auburn, Tammie Richardson of Auburn and Pamela Bailey of Escalon.