Westside Connect / Turlock Journal

Westside Connect • 5th March 2025

Westside Community Healthcare District delays discussion about financial future to March 17 meeting

Discussions about Westside Community Healthcare District’s future were pushed to a March 17 meeting.   Initially, discussions about the district’s future were supposed to happen during last Tuesday’s meeting.

Westside Community Ambulance Board Vice President Kenneth Helms said the delay was given to get more information from their partners regarding possible steps the district could consider to alleviate their current situation.  

“They’ve been crunching numbers and looking at ways where we coul...

Westside Connect • 5th March 2025

Two schools within Newman-Crows Unified School District may see possible renovations soon.

Orestimba High School and Bonita Elementary could see possible renovations soon following discussions held during a Newman-Crows Landing Unified School's (NCLUSD) board workshop meeting on Feb. 21.  

The meeting focused on prioritizing projects as part of the district’s facilities master plan, which focuses on NCLUSD’s anticipated short and long-term facilities needs and priorities. The plan is also based on assessing the conditions of existing facilities, projected future enrollment numbers an...

Westside Connect • 5th March 2025

Orestimba High School’s Track and Field looks to build off last season’s accomplishments

With their season on the horizon, Orestimba High School’s track and field program will look to lean on their experience and their momentum from last season for the upcoming year.  

Throughout various meets last season, the program saw multiple athletes cement themselves in the program’s record books in multiple events, including the 100-meter, 200-meter, 800-meter and 1600-meter races and shot put event.   In last season's CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V finals, Orestimba finished within the...

Westside Connect • 25th February 2025

3,900 square foot expansion planned for a local veterinary hospital in Newman

A 3,900-square-foot veterinary hospital expansion is currently in the works for a local veterinary hospital in Newman.  

True Blue Veterinary Hospital - located at 2025 N. St. - is planning for its expansion project site on a property located between the current hospital site and a local Taco Bell restaurant.  

Maria Rodriguez, a partial owner of True Blue Veterinary, mentioned the city of Newman’s recent growth and the growing need for pets that she has noticed since the COVID-19 pandemic as so...

Westside Connect • 12th February 2025

Ford remains as Gustine’s Mayor Pro Tem

Rich Ford will continue being mayor pro tem for Gustine after the city council voted unanimously to extend his term during last Tuesday’s city council meeting.   Ford - named mayor pro tem in January 2023 - will continue his term until December 2026.

Before Ford, Derek Alexander took over as Gustine’s Mayor Pro Tem in January 2021.   While this is nothing new for Ford, he understands his responsibilities as mayor pro tem which includes presenting the agenda and keeping the meeting in order whil...

Westside Connect • 12th February 2025

Westside Community Healthcare’s future faces uncertainty with possible shutdown

After concerns were raised about the Westside Community Health District’s future in November, their future faces more uncertainty after Monday’s board meeting when it was revealed that the district has a cash flow of seven months to continue its operations.  

The news comes as the District is dealing with Measure A not passing. The ballot measure - which would have allowed the District to impose a parcel tax of $69 per parcel to fund ambulance services - did not pass during last year’s general e...

Turlock Journal • 26th January 2025

Denair girls earn 12th win following 4-0 shutout against Delhi

After a close outing against Gustine High School on Tuesday, Denair girls soccer head coach Mark Morphy wanted the team to play with more consistency heading into Friday’s match.That consistency - which has played a role in the team’s success - was showcased in Denair’s 4-0 shutout win against Delhi High School on Friday at Jack W. Lytton Stadium.

The Coyotes improved to 12-5-1 overall, surpassing last season’s win total of 11 games. They also remain undefeated in Southern League play at 8-0, tyi...

Turlock Journal • 26th January 2025

Denair and Delhi men’s soccer finish with a scoreless draw

Throughout the majority of the head-to-head matchups between Delhi High School and Denair High School boys soccer programs, it’s been a one-sided rivalry, especially within the past decade.

Coming into Friday’s match, Delhi had an unbeaten streak of 23 games in head-to-head matchups against Denair - 17 of which were wins - dating back to September 2012. While Delhi’s extended to 24 games, the two rival programs had an intense outing against one another with a 0-0 draw on Friday at Jack W. Lytton...

Westside Connect • 24th January 2025

Orestimba boys’ soccer moves to first place in TVL standings following two-game slate

Following a two-game slate that saw them play against two teams who are at the bottom of the Trans Valley League standings, Orestimba boys’ soccer finished with a draw and win last week.  

As the regular season comes to a near end, Orestimba (7-7-3 overall) sits at the top of the TVL standings with a 4-1-1 record after initially being tied for second against Ripon High School. Ripon, who initially was in first place in the TVL standings, fell to second place after they lost and drew against Esca...

Turlock Journal • 22nd January 2025

Denair boys bounce back with 2-0 win against Gustine

Following a loss to Waterford High School, Denair High School boys soccer rallied for a 2-0 win against Gustine High School Tuesday evening at Jack W. Lytton Stadium.

Denair improves to 6-6-3 overall and 4-1-1 in Southern League play as they’ve won four of the last five games. This is also their fifth shutout of the season.Jose Antonio Padilla, one of the two assistant coaches on the team, believes that the team is starting to hit their stride especially since they were winless in their first fiv...

Westside Connect • 21st January 2025

Gustine Unified School to begin the search for a new Board of Trustees member following Bloom’s resignation

Gustine Unified School District has begun its search for a new board of trustees member following the resignation of a recently elected member.   Andrew Bloom, a former member who represented Area 4 for the GUSD, announced his resignation in a statement; mentioning that he felt it was best for the interest of both parties to move on and resign from his position after believing he was perceived as having a conflict of interest by being involved with two organizations, GUSD and a Farmer Power Team...

Westside Connect • 2nd January 2025

Westside Ambulance Board to elect new board president in upcoming meeting

While a career in a specific profession may seem destined to happen for someone, sometimes it’s not what they initially envisioned and Dennis Brazil was no different. Instead, he saw himself involved in a field rooted in his upbringing: Agriculture.   Growing up in Los Banos, Brazil, he was one of four siblings. He and his brother were involved with their family’s business, Brazil Hay Express, a trucking company that focuses on providing high-quality hay. Both of them handled a multitude of task...

Westside Connect • 2nd January 2025

City of Newman to increase water rate and fees next month

Starting January 9, 2025, Newman residents will see an increase in water rates, fees and other related services after the city council voted unanimously for the change at a recent meeting. 

With the change, rate increases will vary depending on the monthly service charge per meter. Currently, a five-eighth-inch, three-fourth-inch and one-inch meter will go up from the current rate of $28.42 to $32.24 per month next year. The most substantial increase is the 10-inch meter where it goes from $1...

Westside Connect • 16th December 2024

Local youth football player to represent Newman Warriors Youth Football program in youth All-Star Game

Growing up, James Jackson wasn’t involved in the sport of football. Instead, he was involved in another sport: Martial arts.  

Since he was 5-years-old, Jackson has been relentless at this sport. Currently, he is at a purple belt. In Martial arts, the purple belt represents a student who is ready to enter the advanced stages of learning. Jackson is not only a student but also a junior instructor for the Fighting Dragon Martial Arts Program. The program is located in Newman and is run by his gran...

Westside Connect • 15th December 2024

Orestimba High School goes 2-2 in weekend slate

Following a two-game skid where they went scoreless and allowed five goals, the Orestimba High School men’s soccer team went 2-2 overall in four matches over the weekend.  

Orestimba are now 3-6-1 for the season, making this the team's worst start through the first 10 games since the 2019-2020 season where they also had the same record.   While the Warriors’ slow start to the season may seem concerning, senior midfielder Emilo Navarro believes the team will eventually find chemistry with their...

Westside Connect • 10th December 2024

City of Newman expected to finalize Urban Forest Management Plan by 2025

The City of Newman is developing an Urban Forest Management Plan. The final version is expected to be completed by Spring 2025.  

The plan is a roadmap that focuses on preserving trees and maintaining an urban forest within the city. The urban forest consists of trees along the streets, private property, and parks. Trees within the city are categorized into two different sections: city trees and private trees. City trees are found near the streets, parks, and facilities within the city, while pr...

Westside Connect • 5th December 2024

West Side Community Ambulance Board shifts focus to Healthcare District’s future following Measure A failure

With Measure A not passing, the West Side Community Ambulance Board members discussed the future of the West Side Community Healthcare District during Monday’s meeting.  

The measure would have introduced a parcel tax of $69 per parcel as a means of funding the district’s ambulance services in Newman, Gustine, Santa Nella, and Stevinson. For residents who could have a serious health condition at any point, the nearest hospitals for those cities are located in Turlock, Modesto, and Merced - makin...

Westside Connect • 26th November 2024

Gustine extends term agreements with local cannabis businesses

The Gustine City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday to extend the agreement terms for two cannabis businesses.   Tip Top Farms, located at 377 4th Street, will have its development and operating agreement extended until Dec. 31, 2026. Both agreements were originally set to expire at the end of this year. In addition, Flavor Farms's developing and operating agreement terms will also be extended until the same dates as Tip Top Farms'.    “We’re very pleased with the city council’s decision to r...