Hilmar News

Zak Cozine is a bubbly, gurgly, 9-month-old bouncing baby boy. On the ground level of his family home in Hilmar, Zak rolls around the living room floor, pulling on this toy and that, guided by his big brother, 2-year-old Zane.

The Hilmar Cheese Co., owner of the world's largest cheese plant, could be allowed to continue polluting local groundwater at its Hilmar plant near Modesto for another two years, according to a draft order from the Central Valley Water Quality Control Board.

Brothers Rici and Edward Pruett helped their parents haul out the Christmas tree they had just cut, their contribution to the local economy.

The Merced County Board of Supervisors will meet today to decide several issues and hold public hearings on new planning laws.

Thieves targeted propane tanks twice this week in burglaries from storage bins at Hilmar markets, the Merced County Sheriff's Department says.

The Merced Rescue Mission's annual Thanksgiving Day giveaway set two records this year.

Thieves took several propane tanks in Hilmar this week, Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Hilmar Ingredients, a division of Hilmar Cheese Co., has been named 2009 Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Dairy Export Council and Dairy Foods magazine.

In a fairly quiet election with no major issues, voters nonetheless aimed to knock off incumbents in the Turlock Unified School District election.

There are three openings on the Hilmar Unified School District Board. In trustee area one, Tim Jones, an incumbent, is running unopposed.

Voters and elected leaders alike may want to take a moment Tuesday to thank Laurette Locke and Merced County's other poll workers.

Authorities seize narcotics, weapons in operations. By VICTOR A. PATTON vpatton@mercedsun-star.com Merced Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force agents arrested a total of nine suspects on drug-related allegations this week after serving two separate search warrants in Hilmar and near Merced.

Five men were indicted in federal court Thursday on drug charges connected to an alleged meth lab in Hilmar.

When: Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: Limited to Stanislaus County residents living outside of the city limits.

Students in home economics classes will get cooking with ingredients donated by several processors.

A husband and wife were jailed by sheriff's deputies Wednesday after a high-speed pursuit through Delhi and Hilmar.

FORT IRWIN For Jennifer Prosser, saying good-bye to husband Staff Sgt. Taisyen Prosser is more difficult this time.

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.

The roller coaster is on its way down. After a record-breaking year in 2007, agriculture in Merced County saw a drop in total worth in 2008.

Raising $1.5 million in six weeks in the middle of a miserable economy might seem like an insurmountable challenge.