Westside Connect

09/11/2025

The video, set to be released by the FBI on September 11 at 10 a.m., features Chief Chavez alongside Sacramento FBI Supervising Agent in Charge Sid Patel and Chief Jason Hedden. All three are graduates of the FBI National Academy, a prestigious program that fosters leadership and collaboration among law enforcement professionals nationwide.

GUSTINE, Calif. — Gustine Police Chief Ruben Chavez recently participated in a special 9/11 memorial tribute video produced by the FBI’s Sacramento Field Office, joining fellow law enforcement leaders to honor the lives lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and reflect on the enduring...

08/07/2025

GUSTINE - After decades of dreaming and years of planning, local author Marie has officially opened the doors to her long-awaited independent bookstore, Scrawl, Scribble & Smirch Bookshop, in downtown Gustine.

GUSTINE - After decades of dreaming and years of planning, local author Marie has officially opened the doors to her long-awaited independent bookstore, Scrawl, Scribble & Smirch Bookshop, in downtown Gustine. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, held recently with the Gustine Chamber of Commerce and city o...

08/07/2025

GUSTINE — What started as a summer boredom buster has blossomed into a small business with a big heart for Fatima Blanco, a fourth-grade student at Gustine Elementary.

GUSTINE — What started as a summer boredom buster has blossomed into a small business with a big heart for Fatima Blanco, a fourth-grade student at Gustine Elementary.

08/06/2025

NEWMAN — With swag bags in hand and smiles on their faces, hundreds of students and families packed the campus of Yolo Middle School on Saturday for the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District’s annual back-to-school event.

NEWMAN — With swag bags in hand and smiles on their faces, hundreds of students and families packed the campus of Yolo Middle School on Saturday for the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District’s annual back-to-school event.

08/06/2025

The Center for Human Services will host its 39th annual Edible Extravaganza on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Modesto Centre Plaza, featuring more than 50 food and beverage vendors, live music, and a new theme inspired by the neon-lit glamour of Miami Vice.

The Center for Human Services will host its 39th annual Edible Extravaganza on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Modesto Centre Plaza, featuring more than 50 food and beverage vendors, live music, and a new theme inspired by the neon-lit glamour of Miami Vice.

08/06/2025

Animal shelters across Merced and Stanislaus counties are participating in the national Clear the Shelters campaign this August, offering reduced adoption fees and hosting community events to help pets find permanent homes.

Animal shelters across Merced and Stanislaus counties are participating in the national Clear the Shelters campaign this August, offering reduced adoption fees and hosting community events to help pets find permanent homes.

08/06/2025

As students across the Westside return to school, families are encouraged to take a few extra steps to ensure a safe and smooth start to the academic year. Whether children walk, bike, ride the bus, or get dropped off by car, small precautions can make a big difference.

As students across the Westside return to school, families are encouraged to take a few extra steps to ensure a safe and smooth start to the academic year. Whether children walk, bike, ride the bus, or get dropped off by car, small precautions can make a big difference.

08/06/2025

These 16 elected leaders, including all five Stanislaus County supervisors and representatives from each of the county’s nine cities, might share blame as well, the grand jury found.

One of the area’s most bruising blows to government trust in years – StanCOG potentially fleeced by its own, according to the Stanislaus Civil Grand Jury – has many wondering how in the world something like this could happen.

07/29/2025

The West Side Index & Gustine Press Standard newspaper office in Newman will be closed Wednesday, July 30 and Thursday, July 31. We will reopen on Friday, August 1 at 9 a.m.

06/27/2025

PLEASE SHARE ... URGENT: CURRENTLY CREWS ARE WORKING ONSITE TO RESOLVE A GAS LEAK. PLEASE AVOID THIS AREA OF THE CITY! THIS INCLUDES THE LIBRARY AND THE AQUATICS CENTER.

06/11/2025

Mimi's Nail and Spa, nestled at 680 South Ave #8 in Gustine, is more than just a place to get a manicure. It's a sanctuary, a testament to passion, and a reflection of the extraordinary woman behind it all – Mimi Huynh herself. Her story, a journey from Vietnam to small-town success, is as vibrant and captivating as the nail art she creates.

Mimi's Nail and Spa, nestled at 680 South Ave #8 in Gustine, is more than just a place to get a manicure. It's a sanctuary, a testament to passion, and a reflection of the extraordinary woman behind it all – Mimi Huynh herself. Her story, a journey from Vietnam to small-town success, is as vibrant...

06/11/2025

While thrill-seekers chased adrenaline on carnival rides and fairgoers savored delicious treats, a dedicated community of 4-H and FFA members, alongside their unwavering families, lived and breathed the spirit of agricultural showmanship.

MERCED – Beneath the scorching Merced sun, a different kind of dedication was on full display at the annual Merced County Fair. While thrill-seekers chased adrenaline on carnival rides and fairgoers savored delicious treats, a dedicated community of 4-H and FFA members, alongside their unwavering ...