News & Notes

Students collect coins to help others

In an effort to enable people to feed themselves and start small businesses, Oakdale's Magnolia Elementary School students raised $5,211.59, surpassing their goal by more than $1,000. They raised the money by collecting spare coins. Students donated the money to Heifer International, a humanitarian organization that gives animals to those in need and teaches people how to use those animals as a source of food and income. Students learned more than philanthropy from the fund-raiser. Teachers used it as an opportunity to teach agriculture, geography, math and goal setting.

CHP officer chases down suspects

California Highway Patrol officer Tom Killian has spent the past few years talking to civic groups and school students, and, as public information officer for the Modesto CHP office, he works daily with the media. On Thursday, his law enforcement experience came back to him as he chased down two teenagers suspected of mugging an 80-year-old woman outside a Modesto bank. Page B-2

Kids' Day facts

Kids' Day is May 20, with proceeds from the sale of special editions of The Bee going to help The Salvation Army's youth programs in Modesto and Turlock.

The Salvation Army's Red Shield Community Center has 22 computers available for job searches, basic online computer courses, Internet research, homework and recreation. There are digital cameras and an LCD projector for multimedia projects.

For more information, call The Salvation Army Red Shield Community Center in Modesto at 538-7111 or the Turlock Corps at 667-6091.

Sonora Pass open

Highway 108 over Sonora Pass is open for the season, the California Department of Transportation reported Thursday. Crews finished clearing snow and debris from the two-lane highway then made needed repairs. The barriers were taken down at 2 p.m. The other two central Sierra mountain passes -- Highway 4 over Ebbetts Pass and Highway 120 over Tioga Pass -- remain closed.

Yesteryears

50 YEARS AGO: Jess Phipps of Waterford caught a 7 pound, 11 ounce whopper to claim the month of April's top honors in the Waterford Black Bass Derby. Phipps caught his prize in the Tuolumne River.

-- Karen Aiello