Merced County Times

10/25/2025

The Times has learned that a group of UC Merced students and alumni are planning to transform parts of the historic Greenbrier home into a haunted house on the eve of Halloween — Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

  What have those mischievous UC Merced bobcats done now? The Times has learned that a group of them are planning to transform parts of the historic Greenbrier home into a haunted house on the eve of Halloween — Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Beware young friends. The Greenbrier is alr...

10/23/2025

PICTURE OF THE WEEK:

Merced City Council members stand up and applaud as Ronnie De Anda, at right, speaks about his time representing South Merced, during an emotional end to Monday night’s meeting at City Hall.

READ UPDATED STORY HERE:

https://mercedcountytimes.com/merced-city-councilman-decides-to-step-down/

10/23/2025

For small local business owner like Kris Chinnock of Merced, two decades of serving the community is quite an accomplishment — a testimony to dedication, resilience and support from those around her.

  Twenty years can fly by, especially for a successful business. But for a small local business owner like Kris Chinnock, two decades of serving the community is quite an accomplishment — a testimony to dedication, resilience and support from those around her. “We wouldn’t be here without our...

10/21/2025

Merced City Councilman Ronnie De Anda announced he is stepping down from the Merced City Council during emotional comments at the end of Monday night’s meeting at City Hall.

READ STORY HERE:

  Editor’s note: This story will be updated for this week’s print publication and online. Merced City Councilman Ronnie De Anda announced he is stepping down from the Merced City Council during emotional comments at the end of Monday night’s meeting at City Hall. The 84-year-old De Anda cit...

10/16/2025

RIP Ace!

Shock me (Make me feel better, oh yeah)
I'm down to the bare wire
Shock me (Put on your black leather, baby)
Come on, come on, shock me

10/16/2025

Merced Irrigation District and Merced County are advising the public to exercise caution due to higher flows in and around the Merced River this October.

10/16/2025

Mercedians have been patiently awaiting significant retail progress in and around the old Merced Mall site, and they were finally rewarded last weekend with two big grand openings, and word that there’s more to come.

10/09/2025

At a time when the word “divided” frequently enters our national dialogue and debates, local residents came together in a show of unity on Saturday, Oct. 4, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the iconic Merced County Courthouse and its recent restoration project.

  At a time when the word “divided” frequently enters our national dialogue and debates, local residents came together in a show of unity on Saturday, Oct. 4, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the iconic Merced County Courthouse and its recent restoration project. It was a grand occasion hi...

10/09/2025

The Merced County Board of Supervisors approved a contract this week to bring in a new ambulance service provider to respond to this region’s emergency needs.

  The Merced County Board of Supervisors approved a contract this week to bring in a new ambulance service provider to respond to this region’s emergency needs. In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the board accepted a five-year contract with the national firm American Medical Response West (AMR) ...

10/07/2025

Living up to its reputation as the “West Coast’s Largest Rock, Punk & Metal Festival,” Aftershock 2025 delivered yet another truly amazing experience this past weekend, Oct. 2-5.

We’re here celebrating heavy music in Sacramento and its beautiful! It was so cool to receive a proclamation from the city to Aftershock because of all of the great stuff that we do for the area. — Jose ‘Metal Ambassador’ Mangin   Living up to its reputation as the “West Coast’s Largest...

10/03/2025

Pumpkins, wine, pizza, & art at Vista Ranch

The 2025 fall season at Vista Ranch is already in full swing with a sprawling pumpkin patch, corn maze, wine tastings, and two paint nights planned for their ‘Brush ‘n’ Barrel’ series.

Located at 7326 East Highway 140, Vista Ranch & Cellars is a cozy outdoor favorite in Merced, perfect for the fall season.

Vista Ranch welcomes guests daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with outdoor dining available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy freshly made pizza and the Vista’s seasonal dessert while you search for your favorite pumpkin. You can choose from heirloom pumpkins, winter squash, and orange and white pumpkins as you walk through the entrance of the property.

‘Brush ‘n’ Barrel’ is a paint and sip workshop regularly hosted by the Vista and is open to artists of every level. Tickets are $38 and can be purchased directly through the Vista’s website at vistaranch.com. For the month of October, you can enjoy painting a little red wagon full of pumpkins on Oct. 13 or a sugar skull on Oct. 27.

For more information, please visit their website at vistaranch.com or give the ranch a call at (209) 722-8200.