|
Community
News
October 17, 2022
|
MCOE,
Merced County Probation Celebrate Phoenix Project Graduates
Representatives
from Merced County Office of Education and Merced County
Probation pose for a photo at the Phoenix Project graduation
ceremony on Oct. 12. |
Phoenix Project, a program
of the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) in partnership
with Merced County Probation, honored the accomplishments of 22
graduates Wednesday night at an exclusive ceremony held at the
MCOE Downtown Center.
Graduates are Phoenix
Project participants who successfully completed a Career Technical
Education (CTE) training and obtained an industry-recognized certificate.
CTE courses are rigorous
and vary in length from two to six months. Participants attend
full-time and learn industry skills required for success in the
workplace such as attendance, teamwork and commitment.
Representatives from Merced County Office of Education and Merced
County Probation pose for a photo at the Phoenix Project graduation
ceremony on Oct. 12.
“The Phoenix Project
is a program that provides opportunities and hope,” said
Phoenix Project Career Educator Toula Eccles. “Hope is the
driving force behind the success of the program.”
The program serves adults
referred by Merced County Probation and helps lead them to successful
employment through education and training.
Many of the night’s
graduates completed CTE courses in a variety of industries which
include automotive technology, construction, transportation, medical
and more.
The ceremony included
guest speakers and representatives from MCOE, Merced County Probation
and Merced County Board of Supervisors as well as two graduate
speakers.
A large percentage of
Phoenix Project graduates obtain full-time employment after graduation.
Research has shown that employment is the best predictor of post-release
success.
For more information
on Phoenix Project contact Career Educator Toula Eccles at teccles@mcoe.org
or (209) 381-6682.
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October 17, 2022
|
Foundation
Fundraiser Raises More Than $40,000 for Camp Green Meadows,
Arts Education
|
Nearly 150 people attended
Merced County Education Foundation’s (MCEF) annual Oktoberfest
Fundraiser where they helped raise more than $40,000 in support
of outdoor education at Camp Green Meadows Outdoor School and
arts education programs that help create meaningful experiences
for students outside of the classroom.
The annual fundraiser,
held at the MCOE Downtown Professional Development Center, featured
drone footage that highlighted Camp Green Meadows and an art showcase
which featured artwork by students from Merced and Livingston
High Schools.
Support for these programs
will help with student scholarships to Camp Green Meadows and
improvements to facilities. Funds will also support a variety
of visual and performing arts opportunities throughout Merced
County.
MCEF also supports art
programs such as the Merced Symphony Children’s Concerts
and the UC Merced Opera for Children. Foster Youth are also eligible
for scholarships to attend visual and performing arts classes
throughout the year.
“Experiences outside
the classroom benefit students with improved motivation, confidence
and teamwork skills,” said MCEF Executive Director Stacie
Arancibia. “We were happy to welcome our supporters back
to an in-person event to highlight and support these wonderful
student programs.”
Title sponsors included
Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU), The Hate Dust Project,
Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union (MSEFCU) and Tinetti
Realty Group. Tinetti Realty Group and The Hate Dust Project committed
to match donations up to $10,000 each.
Additional event sponsors
included El Capitan Hotel, Merced Credit Union and UC Merced.
Money was also raised in a dessert auction with desserts donated
by elected officials and candidates for local offices. The dessert
auction raised nearly $3,500.
For more information
about the MCEF and how you can support their programs, contact
Stacie Arancibia at (209) 381-5910.
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October 17, 2022
|
California
Invests Nearly $3 Billion for Transportation Improvements |
Planada — The
California Transportation Commission (CTC) this week allocated
nearly $3 billion for projects to repair and improve transportation
infrastructure throughout the state. The allocation includes more
than $452 million in funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment
and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and more than $123 million in funding
from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act
of 2017.
“This allocation – which includes a significant federal
investment – allows Caltrans and our local partners to continue
building the equitable, sustainable, and safe transportation system
on which future generations will depend,” said Caltrans
Director Tony Tavares.
Projects approved this week include the construction of sidewalks,
driveways, ADA curb ramps, crosswalk pavement markings, a bike
lane and railroad pedestrian flashing beacons along the east side
of Plainsburg Road in the Merced County community of Planada.
This project allocation includes $1,351,000 in federal IIJA funds.
The CTC allocated more than $2.1 billion to Caltrans' Division
of Local Assistance in its annual federal fiscal year investment.
These local assistance funds are used by more than 600 cities,
counties and regional agencies throughout California to build
and improve roads, bridges, tunnels and other transportation infrastructure,
and for projects that enhance safety and help protect the environment.
Annually, more than 1,200 new projects are authorized through
the Local Assistance Program.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that
is shared equally between the state and local agencies. Road projects
progress through construction phases more quickly based on the
availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially
funded by SB 1. For more information about transportation projects
funded by SB 1, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov.
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October 17, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC CONTROLS
ON STATE ROUTES 49, 132, & 140 |
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various operations on State Route 49 (SR-49), SR-132, and SR-140
next week in Mariposa County.
State Route 49
• One-way traffic control from Tiptop-Usona Road to Hirsh
Road/Woodland Road for tree work beginning Tuesday, October 18,
through Friday, October 21, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
• One-way traffic control from the Mariposa/Tuolumne County
Line to Bear Valley Road for shoulder work beginning Thursday,
October 20, through Friday, October 21, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.
State Route 132
• One-way traffic control from the Mariposa/Tuolumne County
Line to State Route 49 for shoulder work beginning Monday, October
17, through Wednesday, October 19, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m.
• One-way traffic control at 4th Street for sign work on
Monday, October 17, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
State Route 140
• One-way traffic control from Climbing Lane to Bear Creek
Bridge for tree work beginning Monday, October 17, through Thursday,
October 20, from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, October 21,
2022, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair through October 31, 2022.
• One-way traffic control from the Mariposa/Merced County
Line to Trower Road for highway construction beginning Monday,
October 17, through Friday, October 21, 2022, from 10:00 a.m.
to 10:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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October 7, 2022
Educators, families
and community members from across the country gathered to
celebrate the annual Excellence in Education awards, hosted
by the Merced County Office of Education (MCOE) and Educational
Employees Credit Union (EECU), at the Merced Theatre. |
Teacher,
School Employee and School Administrator of the Year Revealed
at 2022 Excellence in Education Awards
|
Student Services Secretary
Mandie Onate from Merced Union High School District was named
employee of the year; Principal Diana Dietz from Atwater Elementary
School District was named administrator of the year; and Merced
Scholars Charter School Teacher April Amaral received the teacher
of the year award.
This is the 17th year
that the program, which is open to school districts across Merced
County, has awarded exemplary teachers, administrators and school
employees. There were ten honorees for school employee of the
year, six honorees for administrator of the year and ten honorees
for teacher of the year.
In addition to the reveal
of the three county winners, the Oct. 6 ceremony recognized all
26 honorees and featured video presentations, produced by Merced
Educational Television (METV), that highlighted the three county
winners.
Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen and EECU CEO Elizabeth Dooley both
shared their praises to the honorees and winners for their exemplary
work in education.
The winners of the Merced
County Teacher of the Year and School Employee of the Year are
now eligible to move on to apply at the state awards program.
The 2022 Excellence
in Education video vignettes and event program can be found at
www.mcoe.org/eie.
* Excellence in Education
winner
TEACHERS:
Cristen Camp
Atwater Elementary School District
Adam Suleiman
Delhi Unified School District
Bobby Hanning
Dos Palos Oro-Loma Joint Unified School District
Olga Iniguez
El Nido Elementary School District
Danet Estabillo
Gustine Unified School District
Maggie Santos Machado
Merced County Office of Education - Special Education
Preschool
*April Amaral
Merced County Office of Education - Educational Services
Tammy Rodriguez
Merced City School District
Kyle Clinton
Merced Union High School District
Julia Robertson
Weaver Union School District
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES:
Claudia Villafan
Atwater Elementary School District
Angelica Prado
Delhi Unified School District
Charlotte Coleman
Dos Palos Oro-Loma Joint Unified School District
Janneth Del La Torre
El Nido Elementary School District
Helen Encinas
Gustine Unified School District
Yadira DeMartinez
Merced County Office of Education - Special Education
Lucas Lopez
Merced City School District
Delcio Gois
McSwain Union Elementary School District
*Mandie Onate
Merced Union High School District
Erendira Alamillo
Weaver Union School District
ADMINISTRATORS:
*Diana Dietz
Atwater Elementary School District
Priscilla Whiteaker
Dos Palos Oro-Loma Joint Unified School District
Jesus Lopez-Moreno
Le Grand Union High School District
Mary Whited
Merced County Office of Education - Educational Services
Mary Williams
Merced City School District
Joel Sebastian
Merced Union High School District
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October 7, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 33 & 99 |
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 33 (SR-33)
and SR-99 for maintenance
and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 33:
• One-way traffic control from I-5 to SR-152 for construction
beginning Monday,
October 10, through Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 9:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 6:00
a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October
14, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October
14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140 East
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Long-term, full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
at G Street for
construction through March 24, 2023.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday,
October 14,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday,
October 14,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning on Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October
14, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October
14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Hammatt Avenue to southbound
SR-99 for pavement
work beginning Sunday, October 9, through Monday, October 10,
2022, from
11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Hammatt
Avenue for pavement
work beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October 14,
2022, from 10:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Winton
Parkway for
construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October
14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks
Road for
construction beginning Sunday, October 9, through Friday, October
14, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Bradbury Road to southbound
SR-99 for pavement
work beginning Monday, October 10, through Friday, October 14,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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October 7, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49, 132 and 140 |
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49, 132 and 140.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• One-way traffic control from Tiptop-Usona Road to Hirsch
Road for tree work beginning Monday, October 10, through Friday,
October 14, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Route 132
• One-way traffic control from the Stanislaus/Tuolumne County
Line to Route 49, Coulterville, for shoulder work beginning Tuesday,
October 11, through Friday, October 14, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m.
Route 140
• Full highway closure from Fifth Street to Route 49 North
for a special event from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October
14, 2022.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair and clearing through October
2022.
• One-way traffic control at various points from the Merced/Mariposa
County Line to east of Trower Road for highway construction beginning
Monday, October 10, through Friday, October 14, 2022, from 6:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control from Triangle Road to Ponderosa
Way for tree work beginning Monday, October 10, through Thursday,
October 13, from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 6:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 14, 2022.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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October 4, 2202
Atwater High School agriculture students
Ayden Silveira, Kaleb Shannon, Alfonso Gomez, Zachary Shannon,
and Evan Goucher celebrate their 3rd place team finish at
the FFA bowling tournament.
Atwater FFA member Evan Goucher (center)
is presented the "I'm Just happy To Be Here" award
by Atwater FFA officers Alany Guzman and Alexa Bracamontes.
|
Atwater
FFA Members Have A Ball During Recent Meeting!
Written by: Jacky
Velazquez – Chapter FFA Reporter
Atwater High School agriculture students
Rosemary Trindade, Marissa Silva, Emily Brazil, Destiny
Perez, and Evelyn Correa-Montoya joined in on the Atwater
FFA meeting and tournament held at Bellevue Bowl.
Atwater High School FFA members Alden Hansard,
Caden Hultgren, and Nic Presto enjoyed the opportunity to
join over two hundred other FFA members at Bellevue Bowl
for the annual bowling tournament and FFA meeting. |
Over 250 Atwater High
School FFA members participated in the 19th annual FFA “Bowling
Tournament” Meeting on September 28th at Bellevue Bowl in
Atwater. The purpose of the meeting was to create an opportunity
for FFA members to participate in a recreational activity and
develop one’s social and team building skills.
The Atwater FFA holds monthly meetings, scheduled at a regular
time and guided by a sound agenda, that provide an efficient transaction
of business, promote chapter unity and encourage better attendance.
Chapter meetings are excellent learning and teaching tools. “The
important thing to realize is that the chapter meetings are planned
and run by the students,” says FFA Advisor Kim Mesa, “Tonight’s
meeting was an excellent way to bring everyone together as a chapter.”
Trophies were awarded to the top three teams. Atwater High School
agriculture students Ruby Mondragon, Anthony Tucker, Louis Angel
Chavez, Bryan Heitman, Luke Sanchez, and Erik Gonzalez placed
1st overall as a team and won the tournament. Tony Corarrubias,
Julian Zaragoza, Favian Tristan, Adrian Tinoco, and Aadan Cisneros
placed 2nd overall as a team. Ayden Silveira, Kaleb Shannon, Alfonso
Gomez, Adrian Garcia, and Evan Goucher were recognized as 3rd
place team finishers. Specialty awards were given to individuals
during the tournament. The “Sports Center Highlight”
award went to Zachary Karastathas, the “Maybe I Need a New
Sport” award went to Eric Garibay, the “I’m
Just Happy to be Here” award went to Evan Goucher, the “Ms.
Queen Pin” award went to Danica Chrstofferson, and the “Strike
It Up” award went to Marissa Silva.
FFA is a dynamic youth organization within agricultural education
that changes lives and prepares students for premier leadership,
personal growth and career success. FFA was created in 1928 as
Future Farmers of America; the name was changed in 1988 to the
National FFA Organization to represent the growing diversity of
agriculture. Today, over half a million-student members are engaged
in a wide range of agricultural education activities, leading
to over 300 career opportunities in the food, fiber and natural
resources industry. Student success remains the primary mission
of the FFA.
This was the 19th year the newly rennovated Bellevue Bowl has
sponsored and supported this popular student event. “Bellevue
Bowl is just one example of the continued support our AHS students
and agriculture program receives from our community and local
businesses,” said Atwater High School FFA advisor Shelby
Fishman. “Our goal is to make a positive difference in young
people’s lives, and this event is an example of being able
to get together and enjoy each other’s company.”
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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October 4, 2022
|
The
Virginia Smith Trust — Keeping the Promise Nearly
50 Years Later
By Steve M.
Tietjen, Ed.D.
Merced County Superintendent of Schools
|
The focus of my career
as an educator has always been to serve students, families and
the community, whether as a teacher, school district superintendent
or in my current role as Merced County Superintendent of Schools.
Of the many programs
and opportunities I have seen for students, a truly unique opportunity
is the Virginia Smith Trust, which awards grants and scholarships
for students to pursue higher education.
Virginia Smith was a
native Mercedian whose grandfather settled in Merced in the 1850s.
He built a land legacy that spanned more than 15,000 acres across
three Central California counties. Virginia never married or had
children so when the time came, she made a decision to benefit
the children of Merced County with her wealth. Virginia provided
in her will that the remaining land in her control would be granted
to the Merced County Office of Education in a trust for the children
of Merced County to be used for college scholarships, thus the
Virginia Smith Trust was born.
The VST gifted 7,100
acres of land to the Merced County Office of Education Board of
Trustees to support needy and deserving students, which has benefitted
more than 3,000 Merced students through nearly $6 million scholarships
since 1975.
The VST and land associated
with it was vital in the University of California regents selecting
Merced as the home for the tenth University of California campus.
I’ve worked with
our Board of Trustees and several other organizations to fulfill
the wishes of Virginia Smith in providing scholarships for Merced
students. In fact, this year the Virginia Smith Trust for the
first time provided nearly $100,000 in grants to high school seniors,
along with $590,000 in scholarships to 83 students, which is an
increase of 50 students from the previous year.
While the grant and
scholarship is currently only available to students who attend
school in the city of Merced, we are working on expanding this
for students across Merced County.
Projected income for
the endowment could be as much as $1.7M by 2026 and up to $10M
for Merced County students by the time the VST development project
is complete in the late 2030s.
The VST planned development
will provide housing for all income levels, with large lots for
residents in the custom home market and smaller lots for homes
that are more affordable. In fact, more than 10% of the housing
in the development, (more than 400 homes) will be targeted at
affordable housing markets.
The VST development
has set aside property for schools, parks and public safety, like
police and fire stations. The development will fund these amenities
and will not raise costs for other parts of Merced.
This is all possible
because of the unique nature of the VST development.
One of the key reasons
we can move forward now is that Assemblymember Adam Gray carried
legislation that allows the city of Merced to annex UC Merced.
Once annexed, the City has the ability to annex neighboring properties
adjacent to the university. The VST will then have access to city
services and those properties will begin paying appropriate use
fees and taxes, as we all do. Property taxes from the UC will
begin accruing to the city of Merced after annexation.
The future is bright,
but it does need action by locally elected officials. The VST’s
Environmental Impact Report and plan will go before the Board
of Supervisors in Spring of 2023 and it will be up to the Merced
City Council to annex the VST property later in the spring after
annexation of UC Merced.
Let’s all support
the dream of scholarships for all deserving students. When the
time comes, I will need your support to make this long held promise
a reality by calling on elected officials and attending meetings.
Let’s make those meetings a true celebration of Virginia’s
visionary gift for Merced.
Steve Tietjen, Ed.D.
Merced County Superintendent of Schools
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October 4, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP, LANE & FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 99 & 152 |
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 99 (SR-99)
and SR-152 for maintenance
and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 6:00
a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October
7, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October
7, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140 East
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Long-term, full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
at G Street for
construction through March 24, 2023.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 37, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday,
October 7,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday,
October 7,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning on Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October
7, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October
7, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Winton
Parkway for
construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October
7, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure on northbound SR-99 at South Avenue
for pavement repair
on Thursday, October 6, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks
Road for
construction beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October
7, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 152:
• Various closures of the #1 (left) lane of eastbound and
westbound SR-152 from I
Street to Ward Road in Los Banos for striping operations, utility
work and sign work
beginning Sunday, October 2, through Friday, October 7, 2022.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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October 4, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49 and 140 |
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49 and 140 next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• One-way traffic control from Tiptop-Usona Road to Hirsch
Road for tree work beginning Monday, October 3, through Friday,
October 7, 2022, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• One-way traffic control from Moccasin Creek to Bear Valley
Road for shoulder work beginning Monday, October 3, through Wednesday,
October 5, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Route 140
• One-way traffic control at Fourth Street for sign work
from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 3, 2022.
• One-way traffic control from Triangle Road to Ponderosa
Way for tree work beginning Monday, October 3, through Thursday,
October 6, from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 6:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2022.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair and clearing through October
2022.
• One-way traffic control at various points from the Merced/Mariposa
County Line to the beginning of the passing lane for highway construction
beginning
Monday, October 3, through Friday, October 7, 2022, from 6:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 29, 2022
|
Delhi
Students Learn to Save Lives with Hands-Only CPR Training
|
Nearly 800 students
from Delhi High School will learn to save lives through the Hands-Only
CPR Training on Friday.
Delhi High School Career
and Technical Education (CTE) Medical Pathway Instructor Carolyn
Rodriguez and students from the Delhi Patient Care Pathway, teamed
up with Riggs Ambulance Education Manager Greg Peterson to help
train students on proper Hands-Only CPR techniques.
All students, from ninth
through 12th grade, will participate in the training during their
Social Science or College and Career classes.
This is the third year
that the training is provided to the entire Delhi High School
student body.
Hands-Only CPR is CPR
without rescue breaths and follows a two-step method. The training
will help provide students with the knowledge, confidence and
skills needed to stay calm in a medical emergency and potentially
help a person in need.
According to the Center
for Disease Control, performing CPR immediately can improve the
odds of surviving cardiac arrest.
Rodriguez, who helped
organize the event, says the training is all about empowering
students to be the difference for someone they love.
For more information,
contact CTE Medical Pathway Instructor Carolyn Rodriguez at (209)
656-2050 or Delhi High School Principal Edward Taylor at (209)
656-2050.
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September 27, 2202
Atwater High
School agriculture student Giselle Lucatero hands community
member Teresa Raco an Atwater FFA BBQ meal during the recent
BBQ fundraiser held by the Atwater FFA to help support student
FFA/agriculture events and activities throughout the school
year. |
FFA
Cooks Up Successful BBQ Fundraiser
Written by: Jacky
Velazquez – Chapter FFA Reporter
Over 1,000 BBQ
tri-tip and pork loin dinners were cooked, prepared, and
picked-up by various community families through the annual
Atwater “FFA Take-Out BBQ” dinner. With 4500+
lbs of tri-tip, pork loin, salad, beans, and rolls packaged
and sold by Atwater FFA students, the BBQ dinner turned
out to be a successful for this FFA fundraiser. “This
is a win-win situation. The community gets a great tasting
BBQ meal and the agriculture program benefits from the funds
that will be focused directly on the students,” said
FFA advisor and BBQ coordinator Kim Mesa. This fundraiser
is one of four take-out BBQ fundraisers for the Atwater
FFA throughout the upcoming school year. The students sell
the tickets in advance followed by the ordering of food.
The Atwater FFA has worked closely with Atwater’s
Smart & Final, Richwood Meats, Sysco, and Costco as
they have supported the program’s fundraiser every
year. The morning of the BBQ, students arrive early before
school to prepare the salads, meat, beans, and dinner bags.
Throughout the day, students take a “hands-on”
approach towards the preparation, cooking, and organization
of all the meals. “The students are invested in this
event as they put forth tremendous effort in organizing
and implementing the event,” said FFA advisor and
“BBQ Extraordinaire” Sam Meredith.
|
The “FFA Take-Out
BBQ” is one of two current fundraisers for Atwater FFA.
The other current fundraiser taking place is the placemat ad sales.
“All the money that is raised goes directly toward the students
in providing resources and opportunities for all of them to achieve
personal growth, academic success, and career objectives,”
said FFA advisor Shelby Fishman. Over $25,000 in funds and agriculture
resources is expected to be raised this school year to help support
the agriculture program’s operation and activities.
The success and growth of the Atwater FFA and agriculture program
is due to the continued support of the Atwater High School staff
and administration, the Merced Union High School District, the
Atwater Ag Boosters, and the hundreds of local community members
and parents.
“We want to ensure that there is a return on the community’s
investment by motivating and encouraging our students to go after
their educational and career interests,” said FFA advisor
Taylor Helton, “The excitement and effort we are seeing
this year from our students is generating just a “taste”
of what is still to come!”
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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September 23, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP, LANE & FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 99, 152 & 165 |
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 33 (SR-33),
SR-99 and SR-152 for
maintenance and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 33:
• One-way traffic control from SR-152 to I-5 for construction
beginning Monday,
September 26, through Friday, September 30, 2022, from 9:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30, 2022, from
9:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140 East
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at G Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday,
September 30, 2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday,
September 30, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from 8:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning on Sunday, September 25, through Friday,
September 30,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from 8:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at East Atwater
Boulevard for
construction beginning Monday, September 26, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from East Atwater Boulevard to southbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning Monday, September 26, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Applegate
Road for
construction beginning Monday, September 26, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Applegate
Road for
construction beginning Monday, September 26, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 26, 2022.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at West Atwater
Boulevard for
construction beginning Monday, September 26, through Friday, September
30,
2022, from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Hammatt Avenue to southbound
SR-99 for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Tuesday, September 27,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Winton Parkway
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Tuesday, September 27,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Collier Road
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Tuesday, September 27,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at South Avenue
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Tuesday, September 27,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks Road
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Tuesday, September 27,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Bradbury Road to southbound
SR-99 for construction
beginning Tuesday, September 27, through Friday, September 30,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Bradbury
Road for construction
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Tuesday, September 27,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 152:
• Various closures of the #1 (left) lane of eastbound and
westbound SR-152 from I
Street to Ward Road in Los Banos for striping operations, utility
work and sign work
beginning Sunday, September 25, through Friday, September 30,
2022.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 23, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49 and 140 |
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49 and 140 next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• Moving lane closure for sweeping operations at Fairground
Road Entrance and from the California Ranger Station to Bear Valley
Point beginning Monday, September 26, through Tuesday, September
27, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Traffic breaks south of Penon Blanco Road/Haigh Road for
utility work from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September
27, 2022.
• One-way traffic control from Mocassin Creek to Bear Valley
Road for shoulder work beginning Monday, September 26, through
Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 7:00 .m. to 3:30 p.m.
Route 140
• One-way traffic control from Morse’s Nursery to
Triangle Road for tree work beginning Monday, September 26, through
Thursday, September 29, from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from
6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2022.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair and clearing through October
2022.
• One-way traffic control at various points from the Merced/Mariposa
County Line to the beginning of the passing lane for highway construction
beginning
Monday, September 26, through Friday, September 30, 2022, from
6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 20, 2202
Atwater High
School FFA chapter officers (top row) Kayleigh Trindade,
Dulce Campos,-Rodriguez, Alexa Bracamontes, Guadalupe Millan
Solorio, Alany Guzman, and Giselle Varela join the Merced-Mariposa
sectional FFA officers (bottom row) Taylor Nunez, Mikayla
Silveira, Reena Grewal, and Anika Niles at the FFA SOLC
hosted at Merced College. |
Agriculture
Students Prepare for Annual FFA Fall Plant Sale
Written by: Jacky
Velazquez – Chapter FFA Reporter
The 2022-2023
Atwater FFA chapter officer team joined thirteen other FFA
chapters from the Merced-Mariposa section at the annual
FFA Sectional Officer Leadership Conference (SOLC) held
at Merced College September 13th.
The annual leadership conference is held each year to help
students develop and strengthen leadership skills and responsibilities
within their offices. This year’s officer team includes
Joshaua Medeiros , President; Alexa Bracamontes, Vice President;
Dulce Campos, Secretary; Guadalupe Millan, Treasurer; Jacqueline
Velazquez, Reporter; Kayleigh Trindade, Sentinel; Alany
Guzman, Historian; and Giselle Varela, Parliamentarian.
|
This year the theme
for the Merced Mariposa Sectional FFA is “Breaking Barriers”.
Various activities were held at the conference which included
understanding body language, proper etiquette, chapter fundraising,
public speaking, facilitating a meeting, analytical skills, and
finding team strengths. “I learned the advantages, strengths,
and importance of communicating with my team, others, and to not
be afraid to speak up,” said Dulce Campos. The conference
one of many leadership conferences the officer team will be attending
this year.
Other FFA chapters that attended the conference included Buhach
Colony, Delhi, Pacheco, Livingston, Merced, Golden Valley, Hilmar,
Gustine, Dos Palos, El Capitán, Los Banos, LeGrand, Stone
Ridge Christian, and Mariposa FFA.
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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September 20, 2202
|
HEAD
MEN’S SOCCER COACH ALBERT MARTINS NAMED NAIA COACH
OF CHARACTER
|
MERCED, Calif. - University
of California, Merced head men's soccer coach Albert Martins has
been named the NAIA Coach of Character, a national honor presented
annually to a NAIA head coach who is dedicated to teaching character
through sport.
"Being named this year's NAIA Coach of Character recipient
is validation of all the hard work these great student athletes
have put in to thriving not only academically and athletically,
but into being positive contributors to our community," Martins
said. "Our alumni have helped set a wonderful foundation
for our current team to continue showing that being a member of
the UC Merced soccer program is about more than soccer. It is
also about continuing to improve our communities, enhancing the
opportunities for our youth, and receiving a world class education.
I am very grateful for our athletic staff at UC Merced for continuing
their support and encouragement of all of our student athletes
to strive to become outstanding pillars in society."
From recruiting to coaching to teaching, the importance of building
character is ingrained daily in all of Coach Martins' interactions
and his commitment to his student athletes is unparalleled.
Celebrating each student athlete and being inclusive is a huge
part of Martins' heart and with that comes creating an atmosphere
where everyone wants to be a part of it all the time. He mentors
good champions of character and good young men and multiple student
athletes say Martins "serves as a father figure and role
model when they need it most."
Helping develop these young men into great members of society
are just as important as wins and losses to Martins. A key component
of reaching that point includes providing his student athletes
with countless opportunities for leadership and responsibility.
Martins is committed to reaching out to student athletes in the
Central Valley of California for whom college has not been a priority,
much less to play soccer at the collegiate level. It is this commitment
to providing access to higher education, with a focus on developing
character, that is the starting point for Martins to begin building
the family spirit of his team.
"We are excited that Albert is receiving this recognition
for the great work he has been doing since the inception of the
men's soccer program," Dunham said. "Albert has built
a strong foundation of providing opportunities for our student
athletes to excel in soccer, in the classroom and in making a
difference in the community in which they live and study. It is
a pleasure to work with Albert and witness the energy he brings
to the program every day."
An awards luncheon and ceremony will be held for Martins and other
NAIA National Award winners during the 2023 NAIA National Convention
in New Orleans, La., which takes place March 30-April 3, 2023.
Martins, who has been named the California Pacific Conference
men's soccer Coach of the Year four times in his nine seasons
at the helm, has guided the Bobcats to two regular season titles,
two Cal Pac Tournament Championships, and five national tournament
appearances. He has compiled an overall record of 108-46-13 and
a 74-19-3 record in Cal Pac play. In 2020, Martins was a part
of the United Soccer Coaches West Region Staff of the Year, and
in 2018 he was named the Cal Pac Coach of Character.
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September 17, 2022
|
More
Than 150 Backpacks, School Supplies Donated to El Nido Students
The school year
is now well underway for students in Merced County, and
with that comes the need for school supplies.
|
To help students start
the school year off successfully, Project Support Services —
a project management firm — provided backpacks and school
supplies to more than 150 students at El Nido Elementary School.
Each student received
backpacks stocked with books, notebooks, writing utensils and
earbuds to use in school and at home. Students also received colorful
insulated water bottles to use while at school to ensure student
health.
“We want to give
back to the districts that really need help,” said Project
Support Services CEO Natassia Melenderez-Knutson in a statement.
“Our purpose is to build better environments where students,
educators and communities can prosper by a team that genuinely
cares.”
El Nido Elementary School
Interim Superintendent Paula Heupel said the school had received
donations in the past but nothing compared to the donation provided
by Project Support Services.
“We are grateful
for their service and generosity to our community,” Heupel
added. “Our students are more attentive and have already
shown an increase in work completion.”
Project Support Services
specializes in Division of State Architecture (DSA) issues to
help districts, architects and engineers meet compliance. They
have helped more than 50 school districts close out on old projects.
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September 17, 2022
|
Caltrans
Conducting Roadway Repair Project
Update: Construction Will Occur During Daytime Hours
Along State Route 140 in Mariposa County |
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct
a pavement rehabilitation project during daytime hours beginning
Tuesday, September 20, 2022, weather permitting, on State Route
140 from the Mariposa/Merced County Line to approximately 1 mile
east of Trower Road in Mariposa County.
Construction crews will employ one-way traffic control between
6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday until winter 2022.
Originally, one-way traffic control was scheduled from 6:00 p.m.
to 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
The change is due to an industry-wide truck shortage during nighttime
hours. Caltrans will monitor traffic conditions to ensure there
are no long delays.
Approximately 24 lanes miles of roadway will be ground then overlayed
with rubberized
asphalt concrete to improve ride quality and prevent costly repairs
in the future on a key route for residents, businesses, and visitors
of Mariposa, surrounding communities, and Yosemite National Park.
Motorists should expect delays of up to 10 minutes and are advised
to take alternate routes whenever possible.
The estimated $5.1 million project will be conducted by Cal Valley
Construction of Fresno, CA.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September
16, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP, LANE & FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 99, 152 & 165 |
MERCED COUNTY – The California Department
of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5),
State Route 99 (SR-99), SR-152, and SR-165 for
maintenance and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23, 2022, from
9:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September
23,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September
23,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from 8:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at G Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from 8:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday,
September 23, 2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday,
September 23, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from 8:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning on Sunday, September 18, through Friday,
September 23,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September
23,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
* Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99 for
construction beginning
Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00
a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at East Atwater
Boulevard for
construction beginning Tuesday, September 20, through Friday,
September 23,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Applegate
Road for
construction beginning Tuesday, September 20, through Friday,
September 23,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 26, 2022.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Hammatt
Avenue for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 21, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Winton
Parkway for
construction beginning Tuesday, September 20, through Thursday,
September 22,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Collier
Road for
construction beginning Monday, September 19, through Friday, September
23,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at South
Avenue for
construction beginning Monday, September 19, through Friday, September
23,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks
Road for
construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September
23,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from Bradbury Road to southbound
SR-99 for construction
beginning Monday, September 19, through Tuesday, September 20,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Bradbury
Road for construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Monday, September 19,
2022, from
11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from South Turlock/Golden State Boulevard
to southbound
SR-99 for construction beginning Sunday, September 18, through
Monday,
September 19, 2022, from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 152:
• Various closures of the #1 (left) lane of eastbound and
westbound SR-152 from I
Street to Ward Road in Los Banos for striping operations, utility
work and sign work
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022.
• Intermittent (10-minute) full closures at Flanagan Road
for utility work on
Wednesday, September 21, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
STATE ROUTE 165:
• One-way traffic control from Merced College Campus to
Phillips Road for survey
work beginning Thursday, September 22, through Friday, September
23, 2022,
from 8:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 16, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49 and 140 |
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49 and 140 next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• Moving lane closure from Mount Bullion to Route 132 for
pavement marker replacement beginning Monday, September 19, through
Thursday, September 22, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Route 140
• One-way traffic control from Morse’s Nursery to
Triangle Road for tree work beginning Monday, September 19, through
Friday, September 23, from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair and clearing through October
2022.
• One-way traffic control at various points from the Merced/Mariposa
County Line to the beginning of the passing lane for highway construction
beginning Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23,
2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 13, 2202
Atwater High
School agriculture students Anadalay Cabrera, Jennifer Adame,
and Esmerelda Pena spend time checking on the various houseplants,
annuals, and perennial transplants housed in the greenhouse
during the hot weather in preparation of the FFA Fall Plant
Sale October 7th and 8th.
|
Agriculture
Students Prepare for Annual FFA Fall Plant Sale
Written by: Jacky
Velazquez – Chapter FFA Reporter
Atwater High
School agriculture students Paola Aguire, Anadalay Cabrera,
Jennifer Adame, Yumalai Gastelum, Joshua Brumett, Jose Antunez,
Juan Borges, Esmerelda Pena, and Oscar Sanabria attended
a recent Atwater High Saturday Academy to help transplant
pansies for the upcoming FFA plant sale.
|
Atwater High School
horticulture students transplanted
over 5000 flowering annuals and perennials the past two weeks
in preparation of next month’s annual FFA plant sale scheduled
for Friday, October 7th (8am-4pm) and Saturday, October 8th (8am-4pm)
at the Atwater High School Agriculture department.
The recent efforts of
the students will be followed by the regular care and maintenance
of the plants and flowers over the next six weeks. The “hands
on” learning represents knowledge and skills implemented
in the nursery and landscape industry.The primary purpose of this
sale is to generate funds to support the Atwater High School Horticulture
program where funds go directly back into the program to assist
in the funding of future student, school, and community horticulture
and landscape projects.
A variety of flowering
annual and perennials will be available to the community. “All
plants are priced to sell,” says agriculture instructor
Dave Gossman, “The students have put together great quality
at a price that is under what you would find at our local stores
and nurseries.” Plants being grown include, houseplants,
ferns, succulents, flowing annuals & perennials, and “Spooky
Halloween” pansies that will bloom both orange and black
flowers for the holiday!
The Atwater High School
Agriculture program was the first-ever recognized certified high
school horticulture program through the California Association
of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). The certification represents
the quality of horticulture program, curriculum and facilities,
career awareness by students in the horticulture industry, and
encourages students to continue their education towards a career
in horticulture. “People don’t realize that the horticulture
industry is a multi-billion dollar industry in the state of California”,
said Gossman, “There are numerous opportunities for students
to be successful in this field of agriculture.”
The goal of the Atwater
FFA is to expand and develop plant products that meet the community’s
needs and interests. This school year students have been taking
part in horticulture class where they select and grow their own
plants to sell at the school’s plant sales.
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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September 13, 2202
|
BRING
YOUR BATTERIES TO HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION IN
LOS BANOS
Held
in conjunction with the Los Banos fall Cleanup |
Los Banos – The
Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority (Authority)
is hosting a Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) event in conjunction
with the City of Los Banos community clean up on Saturday, September
17, 2022 from 8:00am – 12:00pm. The HHW event will be held
at the fairgrounds located at 403 F Street in Los Banos. Please
note, the clean up is for City of Los Banos residents only, but
the Household Hazardous Waste event is open to all residents and
businesses of Merced County.
Recycling batteries is a top priority for the Authority this fall
as there have been several fires at the Billy Wright landfill
near Los Banos which appear to have been caused by batteries that
had been improperly disposed of in household trash bins. All batteries
are considered hazardous waste as they are prone to combustion
and should never be placed in household garbage containers or
blue bins. Lithium-ion batteries such as those in mobile phones,
laptops, tablets, power tools, drones, scooters, and hover boards
are especially dangerous. Batteries can be disposed of for free
at the landfill, at HHW events, at Home Depot or through the biggreenbox.com
program.
There is no cost for residents within Merced County to bring HHW
to the event but a discounted rates will apply to businesses.
Before bringing items out to the facility, residents may call
Clean Harbors at 916-396-1505 to identify the amount and type
of HHW that will be dropped off. Please note, under State of California
transportation regulations, there are quantity limitations on
how much HHW can be brought to the event at one time; contact
Clean Harbors for details.
HHW is any household product that contains ingredients that are
corrosive, reactive, flammable, and/or toxic. Some examples of
HHW are ammonia-based cleaners, fluorescent tubes, car batteries,
paint, and used motor oil. Items commonly found in homes that
cannot be brought to the landfill at any other time except HHW
collection days include wet chlorine tablets, full or partially
full aerosol containers, and lithium-ion batteries that have started
to bulge or become hot.
For more information on types of HHW or what quantities will be
accepted at the landfill, please visit www.mcrwma.org/31/Household-Hazardous-Waste
or call the Regional Waste Authority at (209) 723-4481.
The Merced County Association of Governments provides
administrative oversight of the Merced County Regional Waste Authority.
The Regional Waste Authority operates two regional landfills,
one in Merced on North Highway 59 and the Billy Wright landfill
in Los Banos. For more information, visit www.mcagov.org or the
Regional Waste Authority page on Facebook.
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September 10, 2022
|
Merced
County Combats Chronic Absenteeism Through S.A.F.E. Education
MCOE Caring
Kids Project Manager and Behavior Support Specialist Monica
Adrian teaches a S.A.F.E. parenting class |
As part of a commitment
to reduce chronic absenteeism throughout the county, the Merced
County Board of Education recognizes September as National Attendance
Awareness Month, with the goal to educate families through programs
like the Supporting Attendance and Families through Education
(S.A.F.E.) parenting class.
The S.A.F.E. parenting
class – a collaboration between multiple Merced County agencies
and families in the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process
– is designed to help educate families and increase understanding
on the significant role attendance plays in student success.
MCOE Caring Kids Project Manager and Behavior Support Specialist
Monica Adrian teaches a S.A.F.E. parenting class.
The S.A.F.E. parenting
class – a collaboration between multiple Merced County agencies
and families in the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process
– is designed to help educate families and increase understanding
on the significant role attendance plays in student success.
“The S.A.F.E.
program has been a great tool in reaching families and their educational
needs.” said Supervising Deputy District Attorney Nicole
Silvera. ”Ensuring our kids receive quality education is
the one of the greatest ways to keep our county safe and community
productive.”
The goal of S.A.F.E.
is to reduce youth and family involvement in the criminal justice
system, develop healthier families and provide resources to improve
academic success.
“Sixty-one families
have attended the S.A.F.E. parenting class since its inception,
and we hope that families will take advantage of the resources
offered to them throughout the county,” said Merced County
District Attorney Investigator Andrea Valtierra Gongora, who works
with school districts across the county on student attendance.
“We look forward to seeing improvements in their child’s
attendance and academics.”
S.A.F.E. began as a
two year commitment, with the upcoming classes offered on Nov.
3, Feb. 2, 2023 and May 4, 2023.
S.A.F.E. is a collaboration
between multiple Merced County agencies including Merced County
Behavioral Health, Merced County Human Services Agency, Merced
County Probation Prevention and Intervention Program, Merced Police
Department School Resource Officers and Merced County District
Attorney’s Office Attendance Engagement Program.
“We are grateful
to all of the participating agencies for their involvement and
proud of parents for taking an active role in bettering attendance
for their children,” added Silvera.
For more information
on S.A.F.E. and Attendance Awareness Month contact the Merced
County District Attorney’s Office Here to Learn Attendance
Engagement Program at (209) 385-7383.
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September 10, 2022
MCEF invites the community to the annual
Oktoberfest Fundraiser in support of MCEF programs.
|
Oktoberfest
Fundraiser to Support Camp Green Meadows Returns Oct. 8
|
Merced County Education
Foundation (MCEF) will host the annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser
on Oct. 8 at the MCOE Downtown Center, 1715 Canal St. Merced.
The annual fundraising
event helps support programs like outdoor education at Camp Green
Meadows, Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA), STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics) education and College & Career
scholarships for students throughout Merced County.
“We are excited
to be back in person and share all the great work the MCE Foundation
has accomplished to support experiences outside the classroom
for Merced County students,” said Merced County Education
Foundation Executive Director Stacie Arancibia. “Camp Green
Meadows Outdoor School turns 60 this year and we want to be sure
that outdoor education and other important programs continue for
generations to come.”
MCEF invites the community to the annual Oktoberfest Fundraiser
in support of MCEF programs.
Tickets are $75 per
person and include dinner, a commemorative mug and drink. Sponsor
tables are also available for groups of eight and range from $750-$2500
per table. View all ticket options at www.bit.ly/mcefoktoberfest22.
Title sponsors include
Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU), The Hate Dust Project,
Merced School Employees Federal Credit Union (MSEFCU) and Tinetti
Realty Group. Tinetti Realty group has also committed to matching
donations up to $10,000.
The Merced County Education
Foundation seeks to expand the horizon for Merced County students
through meaningful educational experiences outside of the classroom.
Last year’s drive-thru event raised more than $16,000 for
MCEF programs.
To purchase tickets
visit http://www.bit.ly/mcefoktoberfest22.
To make a donation visit
https://bit.ly/donate2mcef.
For more information
on the MCEF Oktoberfest Fundraiser contact Stacie Arancibia at
(209) 381-6602 or email events@mcoe.org.
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September 10, 2202
|
KELLIE
BERNARD NAMED UC MERCED’S HEAD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
COACH
|
MERCED, Calif. - University
of California, Merced Executive Director for Recreation &
Athletics David Dunham named Kellie Bernard the Bobcats new head
women’s basketball coach on Friday afternoon.
“We are excited to have Kellie join our staff to lead our
women’s basketball program,” Dunham said. “I
look forward to working with her to continue to build on our tradition
of success within our women’s basketball program.”
Bernard comes to UC Merced after spending 2021 as the lead assistant
at Menlo College. While in Atherton, Bernard helped direct the
Oaks to 16 wins and a berth to the NAIA Women’s Basketball
National Championship Opening Round a year ago. She also coached
an All-American center in Kiara Brown and saw her Oaks squad take
down a Top-10 nationally ranked opponent on the road.
"I am thrilled and honored to be named the new head coach
of UC Merced women’s basketball,” Bernard said. “This
program has a history of success and excellence that I am excited
to build upon. With this strong foundation, an exceptional school,
and a skilled group of players, I am grateful to have the opportunity
to lead this program to new heights. I'd like to thank David Dunham
and the hiring committee at UC Merced for this opportunity, as
well as the coaches I have worked with in the past who have helped
form me into the coach I am today."
Prior to her position at Menlo College, Bernard was on the coaching
staff for two years at Ohio Christian University. In her two seasons
with the Trailblazers, she split time between an assistant coach
as well as taking the helm as the interim head coach for time.
Over those two seasons, Ohio Christian amassed a record of 29-22,
produced two NAIA All-Americans, and in 2020, won the school’s
first ever River States Conference Title.
Bernard also spent two years as an assistant coach at Ohio Wesleyan
University, helping turn around their program and saw the team
go from one win in 2017-18 to eleven wins the following season.
Prior to collegiate coaching, Bernard was the head coach of junior
varsity and varsity girls basketball teams at Academia Los Pinares
in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In five seasons, Bernard led her squad
to two second place finishes at the Honduran "Ten Best"
Tournament and a second place finish at the Honduran National
Championship.
The Swayzee, Ind., native was a two-sport athlete at Clarks Summit
University in Pennsylvania, playing basketball and tennis. Bernard
also played basketball in Honduras.
Bernard holds a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education
from Clarks Summit University and a master's degree in Adapted
Physical Education from Western Michigan University.
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September 9, 2022
|
MCOE,
EECU to Host 17th Annual Excellence in Education Awards
In Person
|
The Merced County Office
of Education (MCOE) and Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU)
once again invite the community to celebrate the annual Excellence
in Education event with an in-person awards ceremony on Oct. 6.
The program has three
categories that recognize teachers, school administrators and
school employees who made an impact in their school district.
The awards ceremony,
which is free and open to the public, will begin at 6:30 p.m.
at the historic Merced Theatre.
In addition to learning
about all 26 honorees and the reveal of the three county winners,
guests will enjoy videos produced by Merced Educational Television
(METV) that highlight the winners and their work, and comments
from EECU CEO Elizabeth Dooley and Merced County Superintendent
of Schools Dr. Steve Tietjen.
There are six honorees
for administrator of the year, ten honorees for school employee
of the year and ten honorees for teacher of the year.
Winners of the Merced
County Teacher of the Year and School Employee of the Year are
eligible to move on to apply at the state awards program.
For more information on the Excellence in Education program or
to RSVP, call Stacie Arancibia at (209) 381-5910 or email events@mcoe.org.
The district honorees
this year are:
TEACHERS:
Cristen Camp
Atwater Elementary School District
Adam Suleiman
Delhi Unified School District
Bobby Hanning
Dos Palos Oro-Loma Joint Unified School District
Olga Iniguez
El Nido Elementary School District
Danet Estabillo
Gustine Unified School District
Maggie Santos Machado
Merced County Office of Education - Special Education Preschool
April Amaral
Merced County Office of Education - Educational Services
Tammy Rodriguez
Merced City School District
Kyle Clinton
Merced Union High School District
Julia Robertson
Weaver Union School District
SCHOOL EMPLOYEES:
Claudia Villafan
Atwater Elementary School District
Angelica Prado
Delhi Unified School District
Charlotte Coleman
Dos Palos Oro-Loma Joint Unified School District
Janneth Del La Torre
El Nido Elementary School District
Helen Encinas
Gustine Unified School District
Yadira DeMartinez
Merced County Office of Education - Special Education
Lucas Lopez
Merced City School District
Delcio Gois
McSwain Union Elementary School District
Mandie Onate
Merced Union High School District
Erendira Alamillo
Weaver Union School District
ADMINISTRATORS:
Diana Dietz
Atwater Elementary School District
Priscilla Whiteaker
Dos Palos Oro-Loma Joint Unified School District
Jesus Lopez-Moreno
Le Grand Union High School District
Mary Whited
Merced County Office of Education - Educational Services
Mary Williams
Merced City School District
Joel Sebastian
Merced Union High School District
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September 9, 2022
|
CALTRANS
BEGINS STATE ROUTE 152 TRAFFIC SAFETY
MEDIAN PROJECT IN LOS BANOS |
MERCED COUNTY –
Caltrans recently began a traffic operations and safety
improvement project that will install new raised medians at various
locations on State
Route 152 in the city of Los Banos.
Raised medians will be installed on SR-152 at the intersections
of I Street, 4th Street, 6th
Street, 7th Street, and Ward Road. Medians at these locations
are required to help
reduce or eliminate potential traffic collisions.
This $318,000 project began on September 7, 2022, with completion
expected October
19, 2022 (weather permitting.) Work will be performed by Genuine
Engineering Inc.,
(Corona, CA.)
Work is scheduled to occur mostly during night-time hours (Sundays-Fridays,
9:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.) and will require various single-lane closures
on eastbound and
westbound SR-152.
Caltrans will have changeable message signs alerting motorists
of the lane closures and
potential delays.
Future traffic advisories will alert the public of scheduled lane
closures on SR-152 to
perform this work.
Schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather,
availability of
equipment and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September
9, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP, LANE & FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 33, 99, 140 & 152
|
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 33 (SR-33),
SR-99, SR-140, and SR-152 for
maintenance and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 33:
• Overnight, one-way traffic control from I-5 to SR-152
West for construction
beginning Monday, September 12, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16, 2022, from
9:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
• Long-term full on-ramp closure from Childs Avenue to northbound
SR-99
beginning at 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, through 5:00 a.m.
on
Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
• Full off-ramp closure on northbound SR-99 at Childs Avenue
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Monday, September 12,
2022, from
9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September
16,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Long-term, full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99
at G Street for
construction beginning Sunday, September 11, through March 24,
2023.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, September 11, through Wednesday,
September 14, 2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday,
September 16, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Monday, September 12,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Long-term, full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street)
to northbound SR-99 for
construction beginning at 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, through
5:00 a.m.
on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September
16,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Monday, September 12,
2022, from
9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure on northbound SR-99 at Applegate
Road for construction
beginning Sunday, September 11, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 26, 2022.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Winton
Parkway for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 14, through Friday,
September
16, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Collier
Road for
construction beginning Sunday, September 11, through Wednesday,
September
14, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 140:
• Full highway closures for special events (parades) from
SR-33 West to Sixth
Avenue/Fourth Street at the following dates/times;
o Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
and from 8:00
p.m. until 10:00 p.m. On Sunday, September 11, 2022, from 12:00
p.m. until
3:00 p.m., and on Monday, September 12, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. until
4:30
p.m.
STATE ROUTE 152:
• Various closures of the #1 (left) lane of eastbound and
westbound SR-152 from I
Street to Ward Road in Los Banos for striping operations, utility
work and sign work
beginning Monday, September 12, through Friday, September 16,
2022.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 9, 2022
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
TRAFFIC SHIFT – NORTHBOUND STATE ROUTE 99 IN ATWATER
NORTHBOUND
#2 (RIGHT) LANE TO SHIFT FROM NORTHBOUND MEDIAN TO
NEWLY CONSTRUCTED #2 (RIGHT) LANE
NORTHBOUND SR-99 ATWATER BOULEVARD ON-RAMP TO OPEN BY SEPT.
26, 2022 |
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
a
traffic shift of northbound State Route 99 (SR-99) and is scheduled
to complete
extended full closures of the Atwater Boulevard on and off-ramps
in the city of Atwater,
as work progresses on the SR-99 Atwater Rehabilitation Project.
Two travel lanes will
remain open on northbound and southbound SR-99 during this traffic
shift.
Beginning Monday, September 26, 2022, the #2 (right) lane of northbound
SR-99 will be
shifted from the median of northbound SR-99 to the newly constructed
concrete
pavement of the standard #2 (right) lane, from just north of the
Atwater Expressway
Overcrossing to south of Westside Boulevard Overcrossing.
The #1 (left) lane of northbound SR-99 will remain shifted to
the median of southbound
SR-99 as motorists will then travel northbound between temporary
k-rail (concrete
barrier) on southbound SR-99 and the newly constructed center
median barrier. While
traveling between these barriers, motorists will not have access
to off-ramps to exit the
highway.
Additionally, the Atwater Boulevard off-ramp of northbound SR-99
is scheduled to open
to traffic on September 8, 2022, while the Atwater Boulevard on-ramp
is scheduled to
open on September 26, 2022. The Applegate Road on and off-ramps
will remain open.
This closure will require the following detour route that will
be marked with roadside
signage:
NORTHBOUND SR-99 ATWATER BOULEVARD ON-RAMP DETOUR:
• From all locations within the city of Atwater, use the
Applegate Road on-ramp to
northbound SR-99
Motorists should expect 10 to 15-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
These traffic shifts and ramp closures are required to ensure
the safety of both
construction workers and the travelling public. Motorists are
reminded that speed limits
will be reduced to 55 miles per hour within the work zone.
The SR-99 Atwater Rehabilitation Project will repave and make
improvements to over 16
lane miles of northbound and southbound SR-99 from Buhach Road
to Westside
Boulevard, providing a smoother and more reliable route for commuters
and
commercial vehicles through the city of Atwater.
The project also calls for the reconstruction of the on- and off-ramps
at Applegate
Road and at Atwater Boulevard. The project is estimated to be
complete by
December 2022.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the
safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 9, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49 and 140
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49 and 140 in Mariposa
County next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• Moving lane closure from Blacks Creek Road to the Mariposa/Tuolumne
County Line for pavement marker replacement beginning Monday,
September 12, through Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control from Route 140 North to Mariposa
Creek for crack sealing beginning Tuesday, September 13, through
Friday, September 16, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Route 140
• One-way traffic control from Route 140 North to Lakeview
Road for tree work beginning Monday, September 12, through Thursday,
September 15, from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and from 6:00 a.m.
to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 16, 2022.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair and clearing through October
2022.
• One-way traffic control at various points from the Merced/Mariposa
County Line to the beginning of the passing lane for highway construction
beginning Tuesday, September 13, through Friday, September 16,
2022, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 7, 2202
Atwater FFA
chapter officers Giselle Varela, Alexa Bracamontes, Alany
Guzman, Guadalupe Millan, and Dulce Campos meet with Atwater
High School students Jennifer Gonzalez and Eliza Arreola
durui during the annual high school "Club Rush".
Atwater High
School student Kylie Cristofferson meets with Atwater FFA
chapter officers Alexa Bracamontes, Giselle Varela, Alany
Guzman, Guadalupe Millan, and Dulce Campos during the school's
"Club Rush".
|
Atwater
High School Students Get Connected with Club Rush
Written by: Jacky
Velazquez – Chapter FFA Reporter
The 2022-2023
school year is off to a great start at Atwater High School
with over 2100 students participating in the annual Atwater
High School Club Rush last week. The purpose of this event
was to promote and recruit programs, events, and students
to the numerous activities and opportunities available at
Atwater High School.
“Club
Rush was an amazing event,” says FFA Chapter Vice
President Alexa Bracamontes, “We were able to join
other organizations and clubs on campus and expose the various
opportunities available to all students.” With over
thirty active clubs and youth organizations at the high
school, students created various promotional activities
in the quad during lunch. The event is organized by the
Atwater High School Leadership class. Some of the highlighted
clubs/organizations included Asian Youth Club, Art, Band,
Chess Club, Choir, Drama, DECA/ROP, FCA, FFA, GSA, Key Club,
Leadership, Link Crew, and Percussion.
“It was a great turnout
overall, with a lot of kids having fun with genuine school
spirit,” said Atwater High School Director of Activities
Nathan Braga. “We feel it is especially valuable for
the new 9th grade students as it helps them get connected
with Atwater High School.”
For more information on the
Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater FFA,
please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
|
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September 7, 2202
|
JOHNNY
BEGA CHOSEN TO LEAD UC MERCED WATER POLO
|
MERCED, Calif. - Johnny
Bega, a NCAA National Champion while on the staff at Cal and a
longtime San Jose State coach, has been named the first head men's
and women's water polo coach at University of California, Merced,
Executive Director of Athletics David Dunham announced today.
"I am excited to have Johnny to lead the start up of our
men's and women's water polo teams," Dunham said. "He
brings a wealth of experience from all levels of water polo and
his experience with water polo in the Valley will allow us to
build a successful program. I look forward to working with him
to grow our water polo programs."
Bega comes to UC Merced with over 25 years of coaching experience
across various levels and has been a part of winning teams at
every stop of his coaching career. Bega, who has coached both
men and women at the collegiate level, has also worked with some
of the world's brightest water polo minds.
Bega was an assistant coach at Cal under Kirk Everist where he
helped the Golden Bears men's team during their run to the 2016
NCAA Championship. Bega moved to Cal after ten years at San Jose
State, including three years as the head women's water polo coach.
"I am truly excited about joining University of California,
Merced Athletics and am looking forward to mentoring student athletes
at the highest level," Bega said. "I'm coming with "Anything
is possible". Anything is possible for student athletes and
I look forward in guiding their journey. The Valley has such a
rich history in men's and women's water polo, I'm excited! What
an opportunity and new chapter. I want to thank David Dunham and
his team for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to
start water polo at UC Merced."
Bega led San Jose State to a pair of top-10 final rankings and
20-win seasons in his three years at the helm. The Atwater High
School and Long Beach State alum was named the MPSF Coach of the
Year in his interim year in 2014. Bega's team set school records
for most goals in a
season with 393 that year and defeated three top-ten teams. Bega
holds a collegiate head coaching record of 61-37.
Bega was the Associate Head Coach at SJSU under the late longtime
women's water polo head coach Lou Tully from 2009-13 and was an
assistant coach as early as the 2006 season.
Most recently, Bega served as the Aquatics Director at Great Wolf
Lodge in Colorado Springs, CO., while also running water polo
youth camps nationwide from California to Florida. Bega has also
been working with five-time Olympian and Water Polo Silver Medalist
Tony Azevedo and 6-8 sports.
Bega had stints as a volunteer assistant coach at Santa Clara
and Long Beach State prior to San Jose State. In addition, he
has reached lofty heights of success at several high schools and
clubs around California, winning multiple CIF Division One titles
and several medals at Junior Olympics.
On the international level, Bega has served as the USA National
Zone 11 junior girls and youth boys head coach. From 1997-2001,
he coached in Japan, Hungary, Brazil, Greece and Holland.
The 1999 Long Beach State graduate majored in vocational education.
Bega will relocate to the Central Valley from Colorado with his
wife Alexandra, daughter Keira, and two English bulldogs.
"I am super excited to come back to the Valley (Atwater High
School graduate) and the rich history of water polo."
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September 7, 2202
|
Caltrans
Conducting Roadway Repair Project
Along State Route 140 in Mariposa County
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin
a pavement rehabilitation project next week on State Route 140
from the Mariposa/Merced County Line to approximately 1 mile east
of Trower Road in Mariposa County.
Approximately 24 lanes miles of roadway will be ground then overlayed
with rubberized asphalt concrete to improve ride quality and prevent
costly repairs in the future on a key route for residents, businesses,
and visitors of Mariposa, surrounding communities, and Yosemite
National Park.
Construction is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 12 and
continue until November 2022. Crews will employ one-way traffic
control between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
Motorists should expect delays of up to 10 minutes and are advised
to take alternate routes whenever possible.
The estimated $5.1 million project will be conducted by Cal Valley
Construction of Fresno, CA.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and other
motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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September 2, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP, LANE & FULL HIGHWAY CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 33, 99, 140 & 152
|
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 33 (SR-33),
SR-99, SR-140, and SR-152 for
maintenance and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
• Full connector ramp closure from northbound I-5 to westbound
SR-152 for
electrical work on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, from 7:00 a.m.
until 3:00 p.m.
STATE ROUTE 33:
• Overnight, one-way traffic control from I-5 to SR-152
for construction beginning
Wednesday, September 7, through Saturday, September 10, 2022,
from 9:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9, 2022, from
9:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at G Street
for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through
Friday,
September 9, 2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through
Friday,
September 9, 2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday, September 9,
2022from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at East Atwater
Boulevard for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Applegate
Road for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 15, 2022.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Collier
Road for
construction beginning Wednesday, September 7, through Friday,
September 9,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 140:
• Full highway closures for special events (parades) from
SR-33 West to Sixth
Avenue/Fourth Street at the following dates/times;
o Saturday, September 10, 2022, from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
and from 8:00
p.m. until 10:00 p.m. On Sunday, September 11, 2022, from 12:00
p.m. until
3:00 p.m., and on Monday, September 12, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. until
4:30
p.m.
STATE ROUTE 152:
• Full off-ramp closure from eastbound SR-152 to northbound
I-5 for electrical work
on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 30, 2202
Atwater High
School FFA chapter officer Dulce Camos and Guadalupe Millan
serve Atwater High School agriculture student Michael Beltran
a scoop of ice cream during the FFA social.
|
Hundreds
of Agriculture Students Attend FFA Ice Cream Social
Written by: Jacky
Velazquez – Chapter FFA Reporter
Atwater High
School agriculture students Viviana Roach and Yahaira Carrillo
enjoy ice cream during an FFA event welcoming students back
to school.
Atwater High School
agriculture students Logan Camp and Elijah Geier get a scoop
of ice cream from Atwater FFA chapter officer Kayleigh Trindade
during the FFA's ice cream social event held after school.
|
Over 400 Atwater High
School agriculture students and FFA members participated in the
annual FFA Ice Cream Social FFA meeting last week. The purpose
of this events was to promote the high school’s agriculture
program and the numerous academic, personal growth, leadership,
and social activities and events scheduled for the upcoming school
year.
Later this month, Atwater High School will have over twenty active
club and youth organizations on display with the annual high school
Club Rush with students promoting various clubs and organizations
that get kids involved outside the classroom. The event is organized
by the Atwater High School Leadership class. Some of the highlighted
clubs/organizations included Asian Youth Club, Art, Band, Chess
Club, Choir, Drama, DECA/ROP, FCA, FFA, GSA, Key Club, Leadership,
Link Crew, and Percussion.
“The FFA “Ice
Cream Social” was a tremendous turnout overall, with many
students engaged and interested in FFA activities,” said
Atwater High School FFA Advisor Kim Macintosh. “We feel
the event is especially valuable for the new 9th grade students
as it helps them get connected with Atwater High School and the
agriculture program.”
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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August 26, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49 and 140
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49 and 140 in Mariposa
County next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• One-way traffic control from Mariposa/Tuolumne County
Line to Bear Valley Road for drainage work beginning Monday, August
29, through Thursday, September 1, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30
p.m.
Route 140
• Full closure from Fifth Street to Route 49 North for a
special event from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September
3, 2022.
• Long-term one-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge
to Bull Creek Road for slope repair/clearing from 10:00 a.m. to
3:00 p.m. through October 2022.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For
the safety of workers and other motorists, please Be Work Zone
Alert.
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August 23, 2202
|
Membership
in National FFA Organization Reaches All-Time High
Written by: Atwater FFA
Atwater High
School FFA is one of the largest FFA chapters in the nation
with over 1100 student members representing a diverse and
culturally dynamic group of future leaders. Pictures are
students who competed at the FFA State CDE Finals at Cal
Poly, SLO last May.
|
As the importance of
agriculture continues to be a focus throughout the world, students
around the country understand the vital role it plays in everyday
life. No more is this more evident than in the growth of membership
in the National FFA Organization.
Today, the National
FFA Organization announced a record-high student membership number
of 850,823, an increase of 15% from last year. In addition, chapter
numbers increased by 178, resulting in 8,995 chapters in the United
States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Interest in FFA and
agricultural education continues to grow as membership and the
number of chapters increase. The top five student membership states
are Texas, California, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.
This year, the organization has more than 132,700 Latino members,
more than 47,000 Black members and more than 13,000 American Indian
and Alaska Native members. Forty-three percent of the membership
is female, and 50% is male, with .5% reporting as nonbinary, 4.7%
undisclosed, and 1.2% unreported.
“Our FFA members
are the future generation of leaders who make a difference in
their communities as well as agriculture and other industries,”
said National FFA CEO Scott Stump. “As we continue to grow,
we see the enthusiasm for agricultural education and FFA reflected
in our membership.”
The National FFA Organization
is a school-based national youth leadership development organization
of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA
chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department
and Atwater FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org
.
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August 23, 2202
|
MCOE
Regional Occupational Program Student Receives State Recognition
Photo of Diana
Cortes, MCOE Adult ROP student who received statewide recognition
from the OTAN
California Adult Education Students Succeed program. |
Merced County Office
of Education Adult Regional Occupational Program (ROP) student
Diana Cortes received statewide recognition through the Outreach
and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) California Adult Education
Students Succeed program.
The OTAN California
Adult Education Students Succeed program recognizes students who
found success through adult education agencies and highlights
their hard work in pursuit of personal, academic and professional
goals.
Cortes completed the
Foundations in Early Education Adult ROP course and is currently
enrolled at Merced College where she is working towards an associate's
degree in child development. In addition, Cortes was hired at
the Merced College Child Development Center as an instructional
assistant.
“My experience in the Foundation in Early Education program
was great. I gained knowledge in infant/toddler development and
caregiving practices.” Cortes said of the program. “Also,
having the opportunity to intern helped me gain real-world skills
and to be prepared to apply for a job.”
Cortes was nominated
by MCOE Adult ROP Instructor Andrea Cruthird-Mays, who teaches
the Foundations in Early Education course. Her instructor stated,
“Diana is an amazing student who is modeling and teaching
her young daughter that educational advancement is an economic
equalizer. Diana is an inspiration!”
The Merced County Office
of Education 2021-2022 Award of Excellence, which honors Adult
ROP students for their educational and professional achievements,
was also awarded to Cortes for her success.
Cortes’ achievements
and story are featured on the California Adult Education Students
Succeed website: https://adultedlearners.org/Students/Student/304
Program honorees were
selected based on criteria such as employment status, contributions
to the community, continued higher education, achievement of goals
and the ability to overcome personal challenges in the pursuit
of professional and educational advancement.
For more information
on the MCOE Adult ROP courses contact Dora Robles at (209) 381-6684.
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August
23, 2202
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August 20, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 99 & 165
|
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 99 (SR-99)
and SR-165 for maintenance
and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Mission
Avenue for guardrail work
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August
26, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August
26, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at G Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday,
August 26,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday,
August 26,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August
26, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August
26, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, August 21, through Friday, August 26, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• East Atwater Boulevard off-ramp from northbound SR-99
will be closed to traffic
through August 31, 2022. DETOUR: Use Applegate Road.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 15, 2022.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at South
Avenue for
construction beginning Thursday, August 25, through Friday, August
26, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks
Road for
construction beginning Tuesday, August 23, through Thursday, August
25, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Bradbury
Road for
pavement work beginning Sunday, August 21, through Tuesday, August
23, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 165:
• One-way traffic control from Wolfsen to Salt Slough Bridge
for pavement work
beginning Monday, August 22, through Wednesday, August 24, 2022,
from 6:00
a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 19, 2202
|
High-Speed
Rail Board Completes Environmental Clearance in Northern
California
Nation’s
First High-Speed Rail Project Now Environmentally Cleared
Between San Francisco and Northern Los Angeles County
|
SAN JOSE, Calif –
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) Board of
Directors today certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental
Impact Statement (Final EIR/EIS) and approved the approximately
43-mile project for the San Francisco to San Jose section. This
action completes the environmental clearance for high-speed rail
in Northern California and extends environmental clearance to
420 miles of the project’s 500-mile alignment from San Francisco
to Los Angeles/Anaheim.
“With environmental
studies completed in Northern California, we are closer than ever
to realizing a first in the nation, statewide high-speed rail
system,” said Authority Chairman Tom Richards. “We
look forward to working with all of our regional partners and
stakeholders in developing modern, sustainable transportation
infrastructure, completing our work in the Central Valley and
connecting to the Bay Area as soon as possible.”
The approval of the San Francisco to San Jose high-speed rail
project section and its environmental document represents a major
milestone in advancing the entire statewide program by linking
the San Francisco Bay Area and the Peninsula to San Jose, the
Central Valley, and Los Angeles County in Southern California.
Connecting these major economic regions with high-speed rail will
change how people travel throughout the state and foster more
equitable employment and housing opportunities.
The Board’s certification
of the San Francisco to San Jose Final EIR/EIS and approval of
its project section will move the project section closer to being
“shovel ready” when funding for final design, pre-construction
and construction becomes available.
In approving this project
section, the Authority Board of Directors selected the Preferred
Alternative (Alternative A). This alternative builds on the Caltrain
electrification project and incorporates the infrastructure necessary
to run high-speed rail service in the corridor. The approved Alternative
A extends from the previously approved San Jose high-speed rail
station and includes new high-speed rail stations in San Francisco
and Millbrae; construction of a light maintenance facility on
the east side of the Caltrain corridor in Brisbane; and improvements
for safety and speed in the region.
The Final EIR/EIS can
be found on the Authority’s website here: https://hsr.ca.gov/programs/environmental-planning/project-section-environmental-documents-tier-2/san-francisco-to-san-jose-project-section-draft-environmental-impact-report-environmental-impact-statement/
California high-speed
rail is currently under construction along 119 miles in California’s
Central Valley at 35 active job sites. To date, more than 8,000
construction jobs have been created since the start of construction.
For more visit: https://www.buildhsr.com/
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August 19, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Routes 49 and 140
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Routes 49 and 140 in Mariposa
County next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• Lane restrictions at 4th Street for sign work from 7:00
a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 2022.
Route 140
• One-way traffic control from Bear Creek Bridge to Bull
Creek Road for slope repair/clearing beginning Monday, August
22, through Thursday, August 25, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
and from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 26, 2022.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 18, 2202
|
Cal-SOAP,
MCOE to Host Free Financial Aid Workshop
|
The Merced California
Student Opportunity Access Program (Cal-SOAP) and Merced County
Office of Education (MCOE) will host a California Student Aid
Commission (CSAC) statewide financial aid workshop for the Merced
region on Monday, Sept. 19.
The free CSAC workshop
will provide high school counselors, student outreach coordinators,
community education partners and other youth advocates with financial
aid knowledge they can use to help students apply for and receive
financial aid benefits.
Training topics include
updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),
California Dream Act Application (CADAA), Cal Grant programs,
Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), programs for foster youth and
the California Dream Act Service Incentive grant.
Information on the AB469
legislation, which requires local education agencies (LEAs) to
confirm that all high school seniors have completed the FAFSA
or CADAA, is also included in the training.
The workshop will take
place at the MCOE Downtown Professional Development Center at
8 a.m. and is open to the public.
Access the CSAC statewide
financial aid workshop registration page here.
For more information
contact Cal-SOAP Project Director Shawn McCall at smcall@mcoe.org
or (209) 381-5917.
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August 18, 2202
|
California
High-Speed Rail Board Approves Design Contracts to Prepare
for Construction into Merced and Bakersfield
|
SACRAMENTO, Calif. –
The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) Board of
Directors today approved contracts to advance design of the 52.4
total miles that will extend the project into Merced and Bakersfield.
The contracts bring the project closer to constructing the final
Central Valley packages that will complete the 171-mile high-speed
rail electrified segment and ultimately connect to the Bay Area
and Los Angeles.
“Taken together,
these contracts bolster the Authority’s effort to have high-speed
trains operating in the heart of California by the end of the
decade,” said Authority Chairman Tom Richards. “These
contracts demonstrate our ability to leverage lessons learned
from past contracts, increase project readiness and prepare for
continued progress on this transformative project.”
The Authority awarded
the $41 million Merced to Madera extension design contract to
Stantec Consulting Services Inc. which covers approximately 33.9
miles with 40 structures. The $44.9 million Fresno to Bakersfield
(Locally Generated Alternative) extension contract was awarded
to HNTB and covers approximately 18.5 miles between the cities
of Shafter and Bakersfield in Kern County with 31 structures.
The contracts are expected to last two years, and the two companies
will work with the Authority to finalize the project configuration
footprint and advance design work to refine costs and travel time
enhancements, and map right of way and utility relocation. These
critical steps will move the sections closer to construction,
with the goal of electrified high-speed trains running between
Merced and Bakersfield by the end of the decade.
Last week, the U.S.
Department of Transportation awarded the Authority $25 million
in federal grant funding to advance the project into downtown
Merced. The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability
and Equity (RAISE) grant will provide more than half of the cost
for the Madera to Merced design contract.
The Board is expected
to take action Thursday on the San Francisco to San Jose section
environmental document, potentially finalizing environmental work
for more than 420 miles of the 500-mile long project.
The California high-speed
rail project is currently under construction along 119 miles in
California’s Central Valley at 35 active job sites. To date,
more than 8,000 construction jobs have been created since the
start of construction. For more on construction, visit: www.buildhsr.com
The following link contains
recent video, animations, photography, press center resources
and latest renderings: https://hsra.app.box.com/s/vyvjv9hckwl1dk603ju15u07fdfir2q8
These files are all
available for free use, courtesy of the California High-Speed
Rail Authority.
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August 18, 2202
|
Caltrans
Conducting Slope Repair Project
Along State Route 140 in Mariposa County
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will conduct
a slope repair project on State Route 140 near the community of
Briceburg in Mariposa County.
The project is needed to restore the integrity of the slope beneath
an existing 84-inch concrete pipe culvert.
Crews will install rock slope protection to prevent further erosion
of the roadway. Other work includes upgrading guardrails to current
standards.
The project will take place along the eastbound side of Route
140 about 2 miles west of Bull Creek Road and 2 miles south of
Briceburg.
Construction is expected to begin August 22, and conclude in November
2022. Crews are expected to work from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday
through Thursday, and from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday.
Work may occur off the roadway on weekends. One-way traffic control
via traffic signal lights will be employed during construction,
beginning tentatively on August 26.
Motorists should expect delays of 10 minutes or longer at times
and use alternate routes whenever possible.
The estimated $4.5 million project will be conducted by Granite
Construction of Watsonville, CA.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 17, 2202
|
The
Exciting Atmosphere of Rat Pack Era Las Vegas in Merced!
|
Raise a glass: Merced
Theatre kicks off its 2022-2023 season on September 10, 2022 with
A Toast to The Rat Pack!
The legendary friends who made history on the stage of a Las Vegas
showroom are brought to life again with this incredible tribute.
With music, comedy, and spot-on impersonators, fans are transported
to a bygone era as they sing along with such hits as Fly Me to
the Moon, Everybody Loves Somebody, The Candy Man, and many more!
You won’t want to miss this crowd-pleasing show!
A Toast to the Rat Pack will be at the Merced Theatre on September
10, 2022 at 7:00 PM. Tickets can be purchased online at www.mercedtheatre.org,
by phone at (209) 381-0500, or in person at the Merced Theatre
Box Office, located at 301 W Main Street. Box Office hours are
Tuesday to Friday, from 1 PM to 5 PM.
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August 16, 2202
|
Atwater
High Ag Program Welcomes New Ag Student Teacher
Written by: Jacky Velazquez, Atwater FFA
Atwater High School
student teacher Kyle Pawling (far right) shares a brief
introduction on welding equipment to Atwater High School
Welding I students Giovanni Cruz, Liliana Aquino, and Russell
Meyers during the first week of school.
|
The Atwater High School
Agriculture Department welcomes Fresno State University’s
Kyle Pawling to its agriculture and FFA program. Mr. Pawling is
finalizing his agriculture teaching credential program as a fall
student teacher. Over the past twenty years, Atwater High School
has had over thirty-five university level student teachers. The
process involves a semester of teaching in the classroom, agriculture
project supervisions, and FFA leadership under the mentorship
of experienced agriculture teachers and FFA advisors within the
department. “This is an opportunity to shape, develop, encourage,
and support new teachers into the profession which is in dire
need of effective and productive educators to fill in the growing
need throughout the state and nation,” said Atwater High
School agriculture mechanics instructor Sam Meredith.
Mr. Pawling’s
area of interest in the agriculture mechanics pathway which includes
shop classes in welding, wood, and engines. “I wanted to
be an agriculture teacher so I can give back to the next generation
of students and impact their lives in a positive way just as my
agriculture teachers did for me,” said Pawling. Originally
from Riverside, California, Mr. Pawling was an active FFA member
at Norte Vista High School and attended Mt. San Antonio College
and Fresno State University. His goal is to learn, observe, and
gain as much experience to establish a solid foundation towards
his teaching tenure. “I hope to have the opportunity to
teach in the central valley and continue to call the valley my
home,” said Pawling.
The Merced Union High
School District along with the agriculture high school programs
within the district are strong supporters of the teacher credentialing
program and student teachers. UC Davis, Chico State University,
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Cal Poly Pomona are the agriculture
credentialing universities in California that send students to
quality, productive agriculture programs to provide new teachers
the experience associated with their chosen profession.
Atwater High School
has over 1100 individual agriculture students. “The challenge
agriculture education faces is the stereotype that agriculture
education is for agriculture students only,” says Atwater
High School agriculture instructor Dave Gossman. “The reality
is that agriculture education and the FFA has value for all students
in terms of skills, experiences, activities, and involvement that
benefits all regardless of career interests.”
The Atwater High School
agriculture education program and FFA focuses on academic success,
personal growth, leadership, and career exploration for students.
The Atwater and California FFA is a high school youth leadership
and career development organization that is a state association
of the National FFA Organization, a federally charted corporation
under Public Law 105-225. The California Association currently
serves over 95,000 student members in 338 high schools, from urban
schools in Los Angeles and the Bay Area to rural schools all across
the state.
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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August 13, 2202
|
Good
afternoon Merced County community,
MCOE is thrilled
to welcome students back for the 2022-23 school year.
The start of
the school year is an exciting time as it represents new
beginnings and opportunities for students to succeed.
|
As the school year kicks
off, expect updated COVID-19 guidelines from Center for Disease
Control in the next week or so. We will have more information
on that soon from the California Department of Public Health.
Between students back
in the classroom, upcoming events, staff professional development
and new dual language programs, there is a lot to look forward
to this year.
Have a great year!
Steve M. Tietjen, Ed.D.
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August 13, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 33, 99 & 165
|
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 33 (SR-33),
SR-99 and SR-165 for
maintenance and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 33:
• One-way traffic control from Almond Street to Blossom
Street for utility work
beginning Monday, August 15, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 6:00 a.m.
until 6:30 p.m.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Mission
Avenue for guardrail work
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022, from 9:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August
19, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August
19, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at G Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday,
August 19,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday,
August 19,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August
19, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August
19, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 8:00 p.m.
until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, August 14, through Friday, August 19, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• East Atwater Boulevard off-ramp from northbound SR-99
will be closed to traffic
through August 31, 2022. DETOUR: Use Applegate Road.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 15, 2022.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Hammatt
Avenue for
construction beginning Thursday, August 18, through Friday, August
19, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Winton
Parkway for
construction beginning Wednesday, August 17, through Thursday,
August 18,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Collier
Road for
construction beginning Tuesday, August 16, through Friday, August
19, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at South
Avenue for
construction beginning Monday, August 15, through Tuesday, August
16, 2022,
from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks
Road for
construction beginning Tuesday, August 16, through Wednesday,
August 17,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Bradbury
Road for
pavement work beginning Monday, August 15, through Tuesday, August
16,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 165:
• One-way traffic control from Santa Fe Grade Road to Salt
Slough Bridge for
pavement work beginning Monday, August 15, through Friday, August
19, 2022,
from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 12, 2202
|
$25
Million in Federal Funding Awarded to Advance High-Speed
Rail in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, the
California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) was notified
that it has been awarded $25 million in federal grant funding
to advance the project beyond the 119-miles under construction
and into downtown Merced. This grant was awarded through
the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability
and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program, and $25
million is the maximum grant award. |
“This grant is
vital for the Authority to advance its initial electrified service
between Downtown Merced and Bakersfield. It reflects the strong
state-federal partnership now in place to see the nation’s
first true high speed rail service commence right here in California,”
said Authority CEO Brian Kelly. “Next week, our Board will
consider awarding the contract to advance the design work for
this transformative project.”
The funding from the
U.S. Department of Transportation will provide more than half
of the expected $41 million cost for the Madera to Merced design
contract. That contract will be brought before the Authority’s
Board of Directors during their two-day Board meeting next week
for consideration.
This is the second grant
the high-speed rail program has received under the Biden Administration
since November 2021. Last fall, California’s high-speed
rail project was awarded $24 million for crucial safety, efficiency
and construction projects in and around the City of Wasco and
State Route 46. Construction in the region will build safe, multimodal
connectivity projects around Wasco to prepare for future high-speed
rail service.
The Authority is also
pursuing $1.3 billion in federal grant funding to double-track
the 119 miles currently under construction and purchase new, clean,
electric train sets capable of speeds in excess of 200 miles per
hour. The funding requested by the Authority will help accelerate
construction for electrified high-speed between Merced and Bakersfield
by the end of the decade.
Since the start of construction,
the California high-speed rail project has created more than 8,000
construction jobs, a majority of which go directly to those living
in the Central Valley. There are currently 119 miles under construction
in the Central Valley with more than 30 active construction sites.
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August 12, 2202
|
One-way
Traffic Control on State Route 49
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Route 49 in Mariposa County
next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• Moving lane closure from Mount Boullion to Route 132 for
pavement marker replacement beginning Tuesday, August 16, through
Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control from Bear Valley Road to the Mariposa/Tuolumne
County Line for drainage cleaning/inspection beginning Tuesday,
August 16, through Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 7:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 11, 2202
Poster display at the Merced Mall
from the 2021 Young Patriot Challenge competition. |
Local
Patriotic Contest Open to Students Throughout Merced County
|
This September marks
the tenth year of the Young Patriot Challenge (YPC) — the
annual competition that offers students throughout Merced County
the opportunity to share their perspectives on the U.S. Constitution.
The contest is open to all Merced County public school and homeschool
students and helps them learn about the U.S. Constitution in a
creative and fun way.
YPC also provides both
public and homeschool teachers with the opportunity to meet the
federal requirements to teach students about the U.S. Constitution
every year on Constitution Day, Sept. 17.
Kindergarten to sixth-grade
students will create posters, middle school students will write
essays and high school students will prepare speeches as part
of the annual competition.
Poster display at the Merced Mall from the 2021 Young Patriot
Challenge competition.
Students who participate
have the chance to win cash, gift cards and other prizes.
The prompt for this year is “Which amendment of the U.S.
Constitution would you repeal or rewrite? Please explain why you
would take this action and the beneficial outcome(s) for the nation.”
Constitution Week takes place between Sept. 12-16 with all submissions
due to the Merced County Office of Education by Sept. 16. Selected
posters are displayed at the Merced Mall from Oct. 6-18.
The award ceremony for
parents and contest winners of all grade levels is scheduled for
Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Atwater Community Center, 760 E. Bellevue
Rd.
When asked about the
competition, YPC Chairperson Barbara Riis-Christensen quoted Abraham
Lincoln, “Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution.
That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.”
For more information
on this year's Young Patriot Challenge contact YPC Chairperson
Barbara Riis-Christensen at 358-8404 or visit https://www.ypcusa.net.
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August 10, 2202
|
New
Hmong and Spanish Dual Language Immersion Program Begins
this Fall
|
Merced Scholars Charter
School is starting a new Hmong and Spanish classroom-based Dual
Language Immersion program that will begin this week.
The Dual Language Immersion
program takes the place of a traditional public school where students
learn only one language.
While in the program,
students will receive instruction in a second language, which
includes either Hmong or Spanish.
The benefits of Dual
Language Immersion programs include improved cognitive development,
proficiency in multiple languages, cultural awareness and strong
social connections with Merced County communities.
Enrollment for the 2022-23
school year is currently open for students in transitional kindergarten,
kindergarten and first grade.
Space is limited and
some students may be placed on a waitlist until space is available.
Waitlisted students are chosen based on a lottery system.
Click here to view the
Dual Language Immersion program intent to enroll form.
For more information
on the Merced Scholars Charter School Dual Language Immersion
program, contact the school at (209) 381-5165 or email MSCS at
mercedscholars@mcoe.org
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August 9, 2202
The 2022-2023
Atwater FFA officer team comprised of Alany Guzman, Giselle
Varela, Alexa Bracamontes, Jacky Velazquez, Guadalupe Millan,
Dulce Campos, and Kayleigh Trindade prepare to venture on
the ropes and zip line course at Treetop Adventure Park
in Lake Tahoe.
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Atwater
FFA “Leads Tomorrow’s Legacy” During Leadership
Retreat
– Written
by: Jacky Velazquez, Atwater FFA
Staff and students
of the Atwater FFA prepare to venture off on a kayak adventure
on Lake Tahoe as part of their Atwater FFA leadership retreat
team building activities.
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“Leading Tomorrow’s
Legacy” was selected as the 2022-2023 Atwater FFA theme
as advisors and chapter officers gathered in South Lake Tahoe
for their annual Atwater FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Retreat
on August 5th-7th. The primary goals of the three day retreat
was to plan the calendar, identify yearly objectives to help strengthen
and continue the growth of its members and program, and strengthen
team building skills.
“Our officer team
starts the school year with focus, vision, and enthusiasm in leading
their organization and our students,” said FFA advisor Kim
Mesa. This year’s officer team hopes to inspire student
leadership, expand personal success, increase participation from
current members, and strengthen recruitment of new members. “This
year’s theme represents the past successes and contributions
of agriculture students and FFA members with the goal of continuing,
expanding, influencing, and developing more opportunities and
successes to current and future agriculture students and FFA members,”
said Atwater FFA Secretary Dulce Campos.
Leadership retreat highlights
included a ropes and zip line course at Treetop Adventure Park
and kayaking at Lake Tahoe. For many students and some staff members,
this was their first trip to South lake Tahoe and the activities
involved. “The opportunity to explore and visit a beautiful
place such as Lake Tahoe while getting to know fellow students
and teachers was a highlight and a lifelong memorable experience.”
said FFA officer Guadalupe Millan.
The Atwater High School
agriculture program has been recognized as one of the state’s
most productive agriculture programs by the California Agricultural
Teacher’s Association (CATA) and the National Association
of Agriculture Educators (NAAE). “We have tremendous support
from our school administration, school district, and our community
in supporting FFA and agriculture education as a way to get students
involved and provide individuals with purpose, direction and self-confidence
in life,” said agriculture instructor and FFA advisor Jose
Vargas.
The new officer team
is looking forward to the opportunities and rewards the upcoming
2022-2023 school year holds for them. This year’s officer
team includes Joshaua Medeiros , President; Alexa Bracamontes,
Vice President; Dulce Campos, Secretary; Guadalupe Millan, Treasurer;
Jacqueline Velazquez, Reporter; Kayleigh Trindade, Sentinel; Alany
Guzman, Historian; and Giselle Varela, Parliamentarian.
For more information
on the Atwater High School Agriculture Department and Atwater
FFA, please log on the website www.AtwaterFFA.org .
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August 5, 2202
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TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
REST AREA, RAMP & LANE CLOSURES
INTERSTATE 5 AND STATE ROUTES 33, 99 & 140
|
MERCED COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform
various closures on Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 33 (SR-33),
SR-99 and SR-140 for
maintenance and construction operations. Work to occur as follows;
INTERSTATE 5:
• Full closure of the John C. Erreca Rest Areas on northbound
and southbound I-5
beginning Monday, April 4, 2022, through July 2023.
o ALTERNATE LOCATIONS: Motorists are advised to use either the
Westley
Rest Area (San Joaquin/Stanislaus County line) or the Coalinga-Avenal
Rest Area (Fresno/Kings County line). Electric vehicle charging
stations
are available at the Westley Rest Area.
STATE ROUTE 33:
• One-way traffic control at Cypress Road for core drilling
beginning Monday,
August 8, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from 7:00 a.m. until
3:00 p.m.
STATE ROUTE 99:
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at Mission
Avenue for guardrail work
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until
6:00 a.m.
• Alternating closures of the #1 (left) and #2 (right) lanes
of northbound and
southbound SR-99 from Colony Slough to SR-140/SR-59 (V Street)
beginning
Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from 9:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August
12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Childs
Avenue for
construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August
12, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until
5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-140
East for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at G Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until
5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from G Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on northbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday,
August 12,
2022, from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at SR-59/Martin
Luther King Jr.
Way for construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday,
August 12,
2022, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from northbound SR-99 at R Street
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until
5:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from R Street to southbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from SR-140/59 (V Street) to northbound
SR-99 for
construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August
12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.
• Full off-ramp closure from southbound SR-99 at SR-140/59
(V Street) for
construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August
12, 2022, from
10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from 16th Street to northbound SR-99
for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
8:00 p.m. until
5:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at 16th
Street for construction
beginning Sunday, August 7, through Friday, August 12, 2022, from
10:00 p.m.
until 6:00 a.m.
• East Atwater Boulevard off-ramp from northbound SR-99
will be closed to traffic
through August 31, 2022. DETOUR: Use Applegate Road.
• West Atwater Boulevard on-ramp to northbound SR-99 will
be closed to traffic
due to construction through September 15, 2022.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Shanks
Road for pavement
work beginning Sunday, August 7, through Monday, August 8, 2022,
from 11:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on and off-ramp closures on southbound SR-99 at Bradbury
Road for
pavement work beginning Monday, August 8, through Tuesday, August
9, 2022,
from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
• Full on-ramp closure from South Turlock/Golden State Boulevard
to southbound
SR-99 for construction beginning Sunday, August 7, through Monday,
August 8,
2022, from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
STATE ROUTE 140:
• One-way traffic control from Kibby Road to Santa Fe Avenue
for electrical work
beginning Wednesday, August 10, through Friday, August 12, 2022,
from 9:00
p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
Motorists should expect five to 10-minute delays. Alternate routes
should be taken
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic
incidents, weather, availability of equipment, and/or materials
and construction related
issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August 5, 2202
|
TRAFFIC
ADVISORY
One-way Traffic Control on State Route 49
|
MARIPOSA COUNTY –
The California Department of Transportation (Caltans) will perform
various operations next week on State Route 49 in Mariposa County
next week.
Work is scheduled as follows:
Route 49
• Moving lane closure from Agua Fria Road to Route 132 for
pavement marker replacement beginning Monday, August 8, through
Friday, August 12, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• One-way traffic control from Bear Valley Road to the Mariposa/Tuolumne
County Line for drainage cleaning/inspection beginning Monday,
August 8, through Thursday, August 11, 2022, from 7:15 a.m. to
3:30 p.m.
Motorists should expect 10-minute delays and use alternate routes
whenever possible.
This work is scheduled to begin as listed, but is subject to change
due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment,
and/or materials and construction related issues.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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August
4, 2202
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Caltrans
Begins Widening Southbound State Route 99
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Merced County —
Caltrans announced
today it is beginning work to widen
southbound State Route (SR) 99 from two
to three lanes for nine miles from
Livingston to Turlock. The $41 million
project stretches from south of the
Hammatt Avenue exit in Livingston to the
Merced/Stanislaus County line.
Approximately 77,000 vehicles use this SR
99 corridor every day, and of that, more
than 24 percent of the trucks are five-axle, heavy trucks.
“This project will benefit commuters, local traffic, and
of course, Merced
County’s important farming communities,” said Caltrans
District 10 Director
Dennis T. Agar. “Upon completion, trucks carrying Central
Valley goods such as
almonds, grapes, dairy and tomatoes will move more efficiently
throughout the
state.”
Crews are scheduled to work mostly during weekdays and perform
temporary
lane, ramp, and shoulder closures. No two consecutive ramps will
be closed
simultaneously. There are no current plans for full highway closures
on SR-99;
however, motorists should expect reduced speed limits throughout
the work
zone while crews are at work. Motorists are encouraged to plan
ahead, use
alternate routes, and Be Work Zone Alert.
The contract was awarded to Security Paving of Westlake Village,
California.
Work is scheduled to be completed by fall 2023.
The work schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents,
weather,
availability of equipment and/or materials, and/or construction-related
issues.
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August 4, 2202
|
CALTRANS
COMPLETES BRIDGE MAINTENANCE PROJECT AT
NINE LOCATIONS IN MERCED & MARIPOSA COUNTIES |
STOCKTON – Caltrans
recently completed a bridge preventative maintenance project
that made necessary repairs at nine different locations within
Merced and Mariposa
Counties.
Work began the week of April 24-30, 2022, and varied per location
to include the repair
of existing bridge deck concrete, installation of polyester concrete
overlays, and the
replacement of various joint seals and bridge deck approach and
departure slabs. This
project finished well ahead of schedule, with the original estimated
completion date
not expected until September 2022.
Project locations included structures at:
This estimated $2.93 million maintenance project was performed
by Myers & Sons
Construction LP, of Sacramento, CA.
For the safety of workers and
other motorists, please Be Work Zone Alert.
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