Los Banos News

It began like any other Thursday afternoon in Mrs. Valadao's second-grade class at Westside Union Elementary School in Los Banos.

The 99th annual Holy Ghost Festa, which stretches over three days, is steeped in the traditions of the Portuguese immigrants who settled on the West Side.

Avoid the 11, an effort involving 11 Merced County law enforcement agencies, plans license checkpoints and DUI “saturation” patrols through Monday, according to a news release.

The board of trustees recently voted to increase the fees from $3.23 per square foot to $7.35 per square foot.

Six young women will compete June 1 for District 6 Dairy Princess at Our Lady of Assumption Hall in Turlock.

HILMAR — GDI Insurance Agency will hold its third annual Community Safety Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hilmar Cheese Co.

A 23-year-old Los Banos man pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing an Army reservist in a hit-and-run crash in March.

A Los Banos teacher is accused of stealing money that was supposed to be used for the school's prom.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is looking for two men accused of trying steal another's dog in San Jacinto Monday morning.

The Los Banos Basque Club will celebrate its annual picnic next week. The Los Banos Basque Club will hold the Basque Festival and Picnic from noon to 2 p.m. May 18 at the Los Banos Fairgrounds, 403 F St.

The Los Banos Police Department's second-highest ranking officer has been convicted of drunken driving, according to a Stanislaus County assistant district attorney.

There are many people in the Central Valley who came from humble beginnings and have the strength, courage and perseverance to achieve success for themselves.

Los Banos Unified School District officials are deciding whether to ask the criminal justice system to prosecute a teacher accused of stealing nearly $2,500 in prom funds, Superintendent Steve Tietjen said.

There was a toll road over Pacheco Pass. In 1856, Andrew Firebaugh began to build and later operated the toll road.

An inquiry about a stolen truck led police to make an arrest for drug-related offenses this week, according to law enforcement.Officer Todd Pricolo on Tuesday at 10:37 p.m. responded to the intersection of Seventh and C streets after police received a report that a stolen truck was parked in the area.Pricolo located a Dodge Ram truck leaving the ... (more)

The Los Banos Arts Council this month released the line-up for its upcoming concert series, which offers five acts new to Los Banos."We definitely like to have a wide range -- something to please everyone," said organizer Cyndi Roelofs.The season pass for all five shows is $70. For tickets, contact Arts Council board member Steven Soares at ... (more)

DOS PALOS — The May Day Parade is a time to show off, and a note of victory for the Dos Palos marching band.That’s because the Dos Palos-Oro Loma Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees voted before the start of the school year to do away with the band programs at Dos Palos High and Bryant Middle schools.

Those who protect and serve in Merced County gathered Wednesday evening the recognize the best in their field at the 2013 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Awards Dinner.

A tip from a resident led to the arrest of three Merced County men as suspects in home burglaries that have occurred over the past three weeks in the area around the Morgan Hill Library, police said Wednesday.

"The process takes a long time," Dos Palos Mayor Johnny Mays said Wednesday. "We have to keep nudging, and nudging, and nudging." As they have on eight previous lobbying visits organized by the Merced County Association of Governments, officials this week are urging lawmakers to support an east-west bypass around the city of Los Banos on the ... (more)