West Side Index & Gustine Press-Standard

Driver arrested after July 4 DUI crash in Newman NEWMAN — A driver was arrested Thursday morning after police say he crashed into a parked vehicle while driving with an extremely high blood‑alcohol level. Officers Freeman and Arroyo were dispatched around 11:21 a.m. to the 2100 block of Canyon View Drive for a report of a vehicle that had struck a parked car.

TURLOCK — The countdown is on for one of California’s most anticipated summer traditions as the 2026 Stanislaus County Fair returns July 10–19, bringing ten unforgettable days of entertainment, agriculture, family fun, and community celebration to the Central Valley. Visitors can look forward to exciting carnival rides, midway games, mouthwatering fair food, live concerts, livestock competitions, educational exhibits, and attractions for every age.

An AT&T outage last week left residents, businesses and government agencies across Stanislaus and Merced counties without phone or internet service, with significant impacts reported in Westside communities including Newman and Gustine. The outage began Tuesday morning and affected city halls, police departments, school districts and county offices. In Stanislaus County, Turlock City Hall, the Turlock Police Department and the Stanislaus County Jury Commissioner’s Office all reported disruptions.

NEWMAN – Eight months has passed since Orestimba High football head coach Austin Martins walked off the field at Warrior Stadium. That was when Orestimba hosted Beyer in a bowl game that the Sac-Joaquin Section implemented for high school football programs that didn’t earn a playoff berth. Beyer, out of Modesto, returned to the East side of the city with a 20-7 victory. That was the Warriors’ seventh consecutive loss, ending the 2025 season at 2-9. “We’re going to turn that page,” Martins said.

GUSTINE — Engines roared and dust rose over the Gustine High School football stadium July 3 as Gustine FFA hosted its 41st Annual Truck and Tractor Pulls. The longtime tradition brought families, students, alumni, farmers, pullers and community supporters together for a night filled with horsepower and hometown pride. Held at the Gustine High School football stadium, the event marked more than four decades of one of Gustine’s most anticipated summer traditions.

Three members of the West Side Community Healthcare District Board of Directors will be up for reelection after the board voted for their seats to appear on the ballot in November on June 22. Those individuals are Sandy Walsh-Guajardo, Ashley Casteel and Debbie Lopes. Their terms expire in December 2026, resulting in them appearing on the ballot. Walsh-Guajardo joined the board to represent Zone 2, Newman City, in December 2024.

BY VICTOR PATTON Merced Focus Now that the primary election is in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead to the Nov. 3 general election. Besides the numerous runoff races that will be determined by voters, will include city council seats in all six Merced County cities, plus school and water districts. The candidate filing period begins Monday, July 13, and the deadline is Friday, Aug. 7, with the exception of races where an incumbent has not filed to run for reelection.

GUSTINE — Red, white and blue filled Main Street as Gustine’s Fourth of July celebration brought families, youth groups and longtime residents together for a day that many said felt like the community at its best. With decorated vehicles, colorful floats, water spraying into the crowd and families lining the sidewalks, the parade delivered the kind of hometown energy residents said they’ve been missing.

As the school year came to an end, Gustine FFA members gathered to celebrate another successful year at the annual Chapter Banquet. On May 19th, members, families, supporters, and community members came together for an evening of recognition and celebration. This year's theme, "Harvest Your Potential," highlighted the dedication and hard work shown by members throughout the year.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Adam Gray, D‑Merced, praised the Trump administration’s new supplemental funding request that includes $10 billion in assistance for specialty crop growers — a proposal he has pushed for as Central Valley producers face rising costs, trade instability and tightening competition.