Housing & Development · Riverbank, CA
Opponents of the 2,400-home River Walk development in Riverbank gathered approximately 1,760 signatures—exceeding the 10% threshold—to petition for a referendum reversing the City Council's 3-2 approval vote. The group, Voters for Farmland, alleged that paid protesters from DnD Consultants of Modesto, hired at $75–$100 per day, disrupted signature-collection sites outside Save Mart on Oakdale Road, the former O'Brien's supermarket, and Cost Less store. The new referendum is separate from Measure M, a Nov. 3 ballot initiative that would give voters veto power over developments west of the city. Signatures now enter validation by the city and Stanislaus County registrar of voters; if validated, the City Council must either reverse its decision or place the referendum before voters. Campaign finance disclosures show $50,000 from the California Association of Realtors to the "No on Measure M" effort, while Voters for Farmland reported $36,000 in contributions.
Crime · Modesto, CA
Favian Ramirez, 28, pleaded guilty to premeditated first-degree murder and robbery in the July 9, 2019 shooting death of 38-year-old Cinnamon Eades at a store on Kansas Avenue in Modesto, the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office announced Saturday. Ramirez shot Eades three times before leaving with about $45 and several items; he had been test-driving a vehicle from a local used car dealership when he committed the crime. Ramirez confessed shortly after his arrest and now faces life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for November 20.
Community News · Stanislaus County
Public forums in Stanislaus County will educate residents about 2027 Medicare changes during the Oct. 15–Dec. 7 open enrollment period. The Central Health Plan will stop offering its Medicare Advantage plan effective Dec. 31, and the Aetna Silver Script Part D prescription drug plan is also leaving the county. An Oakdale forum runs Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Gladys Lemmons Senior Center, 450 E. A St.; a Turlock forum follows Oct. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Turlock Senior Center, 1191 Cahill Ave. Speakers will review Medicare Advantage plan options and projected Part B premium increases. Residents affected by the departing plans can schedule HICAP counseling at 209-558-4540.
Transportation · Stanislaus County
Stanislaus County Public Works will close West Hatch Road from Parkdale Drive to Carpenter Road for excavation and grading work. Daytime closures are scheduled Oct. 19-24 and Oct. 26-28, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with delays expected in the area. Officials recommend Riverdale Park residents and others detour via Vivian Road south to West Whitmore Avenue. South Carpenter Road will remain open during the closures.
Public Safety · Stanislaus County
A Santa Nella man was killed Saturday night in a crash on southbound Interstate 5 near Westley in Stanislaus County. The California Highway Patrol reported the incident at approximately 9:10 p.m., north of Ingram Creek Road. Officers found the driver, identified as 29-year-old Arbin Perez-Chaparro, deceased in his overturned Honda sedan. The preliminary investigation indicates the vehicle left the roadway and struck a guardrail for undetermined reasons.
Community brief · Modesto, CA
The Listeso String Quartet will perform "Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics" on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 850 16th St., Modesto. The hourlong program features music from films and shows including "Thriller," "Stranger Things," "Beetlejuice," "The Addams Family," "Halloween," "Ghostbusters," "Psycho," "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Attendees must be…
Community brief · Ceres, CA
Alfonso's Mexican Grill, a family-run restaurant on Lawrence Street in Ceres, served its last customers on Oct. 17 after 53 years of operation. Alfonso Lara and his wife Martha opened the restaurant in 1973; their daughter Sally Lara managed it after Alfonso Sr.'s death in 2013 and has decided to retire. The family previously operated locations in Merced and Modesto, though those closures are undated. The restaurant was known for Mexican…
