News

Just two days after handing Johansen High its first Modesto Metro Conference loss of the season, Modesto was on the other end of Beyer's first conference win on Friday night.

Economically depressed Amador and Calaveras counties are about to receive millions of dollars in forest-restoration funding from the federal government.
Adm Golub/ adgolub@modbee.com Families play in the Stanislaus River at Calaveras Big Trees State Park in Calif., Sunday, August 30, 2009. California will release the names of 100 state parks facing closure. - Modesto Bee - Adm Golub

Gary Holloman couldn't let it go. Years after a bomb obliterated his young wife and nearly killed his young daughter in September 1982, detectives showed no interest in Holloman's theories of killers on the fringe of a motorcycle gang. When he approached authorities, they accused him, he said.
(Debbie Noda/dnoda@modbee.com) Gary Holloman (1-04-12) recalls the incident from the Woodland Ave. ranch where they used to live in 1982. He carries a few remnants of his wife's clothing he found after the explosion that killed his wife Jennie in Sept. 19, 1982, when a pipe bomb in a tool box, rigged to go off when opened, exploded when she unknowingly opened the box. Their 20-month-old daughter, Robin, survived critical injuries from the blast. - Modesto Bee - Debbie Noda
The Holloman, including Gary Holloman with his children, daughter Robin and James Christopher taken in 1994. (courtesy Gary Holloman). - courtesy Gary Holloman - unknown

Yesteryears (2/6/12)

The Oakdale City Council is expected tonight to accept the resignation of Community Development Services Director Danelle Stylos. She said she is resigning effective March 2 after nearly five years with the city.

The Riverbank City Council will hold a special closed-session meeting tonight regarding the former Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant.
Adm Golub/ adgolub@modbee.com Presses that once made munition casing await removal and possible refurbishment by the Army at the Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant in Riverbank, Calif., March 31, 2010. The Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant was ceremonially decommissioned by the Army and will be leased to the City of Riverbank. - Modesto Bee - Adm Golub
A now empty hook once carried mortar casings nonstop at hight of the Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant's productivity during the Vietnam War in Riverbank, Calif., March 31, 2010. The Riverbank Army Ammunition Plant was ceremonially decommissioned by the Army and will be leased to the City of Riverbank. (Adm Golub / adgolub@modbee.com) - Modesto Bee - Adm Golub

Jennifer Brogan nominated Kathy Woodson for Class Acts. Brogan said Woodson is the most dedicated teacher she knows and Woodson volunteers her time after school helping children with reading. Woodson goes above and beyond in getting to know the children and their families.
JOAN BARNETT LEE / jlee@modbee.com Kathy Woodson is a 2nd grade teacher at Park View Elementary School in Ripon. She is pictured in The Modesto Bee studio on Wednesday afternooon (02-01-12). - Modesto Bee - Joan Barnett Lee

Nearly four out of five Californians do not know what the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is, even though the estuary of 1,000 square miles provides drinking water for cities from San Jose to San Diego.

The University of California at Merced has a new sustainable parking lot. University officials say they will see savings in energy and in the cost to operate it.

It remains unclear whether Luis Molina's concurrent service on the City Council and the Stanislaus County Board of Education is incompatible. A deputy in the state attorney general's office told City Attorney Tom Hallinan last month that the office won't investigate the matter.
ROSALIO AHUMADA / rahumada@modbee.com Patterson mayor Luis Molina addresses a gathering on Tuesday afternoon (03-08-11) on the Tenth Street Plaza in downtown Modesto. The event was a meeting among mayors to share their voices about Governor Brown's cutbacks. - Modesto Bee - Lio Ahumada

Modesto City Schools trustees will consider hiring attorney George Petrulakis to iron out the controversy surrounding special taxes charged Village I homeowners to build schools.

San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore said recently that there are no immediate plans to conduct further searches for the remains of Cyndi Vanderheiden and other victims of the same killer. The idea of bringing murderer Wesley Shermantine Jr. to San Joaquin and Calaveras counties to show authorities where the remains are is a possibility.

A woman and her 7-year-old granddaughter were injured Saturday night after being hit by a pickup at East Whitmore Avenue and Fifth Street, police reported. Both were taken to a Modesto hospital.

Around the Region (2/6/12)

With two officers out after suffering injuries on the job, the Atwater Police Department's overtime budget is under pressure. Interim Police Chief Frank Pietro said overtime is "extremely high" not only because of the two injured officers, but because of three positions the city froze to save money.

The family of Joey Pinasco — a 21-year-old shot to death by two California Highway Patrol officers — has won a $2 million lawsuit against the department in federal court in Sacramento.

On the bench, the coach vaulted at least a few inches off the court along with his Ripon High Indians. On the mat, the coach's son heard the most beautiful sound to ever grace a wrestler's ear.
(BART AH YOU/bahyou@modbee.com) Division 1--Turlock High School's 172 pound wrestler Eric Parsons defeated Lodi High School's Colin Anderson 16-1 during the CIF Sac/Joaquin Section Team Duals Wrestling Championships at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Saturday morning. Feb. 4, 2012 - Modesto Bee - Bart Ah You
(BART AH YOU/bahyou@modbee.com) Division 1--Gregori High School's 172 pound wrestler Nathaniel Ah You defeated Vacaville High School's Michael Cantrell 12-1 during the CIF Sac/Joaquin Section Team Duals Wrestling Championships at Lincoln High School in Stockton, Saturday morning. Feb. 4, 2012 - Modesto Bee - Bart Ah You

Just two days after handing Johansen High its first Modesto Metro Conference loss of the season, Modesto was on the other end of Beyer's first conference win on Friday night.

High School

What's it like to tour the country with a big Broadway musical? About 500 students from fifth grade through high school caught a glimpse Friday at the Gallo Center for the Arts. The students were from schools in Modesto, Stockton, Oakdale, Manteca, Patterson and Denair.
JOAN BARNETT LEE / jlee@modbee.com Barry Sandy of Modesto pushes a genie boom across the stage on Friday morning (02-03-12) as a crew sets up the traveling broadway show "My Fair Lady". This morning high school students from area schools were invited to watch the load-in of the show. They could ask questions of staff about what it takes to put on a touring show. - Modesto Bee - Joan Barnett Lee
JOAN BARNETT LEE / jlee@modbee.com From left to right-Modesto High School students Prithika Charan 15yrs, Shannon Carter 15yrs, Karen Franco 15yrs and Aritza Cortez 16yrs watch the presentation at the Gallo Center for the Arts Friday morning (02-03-12) as a crew sets up the traveling broadway show "My Fair Lady". This morning high school students from area schools were invited to watch the load-in of the show. They could ask questions of staff about what it takes to put on a touring show. - Modesto Bee - Joan Barnett Lee