News & Notes

Modesto's Veneman to be Obama's VP?

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama's vice president search team is floating the name of Republican Ann Veneman, a Modesto native and President Bush's first-term agriculture secretary, the Web site Politico.com reported Friday night. The search committee raised Veneman's name -- among others -- in discussions with members of Congress, two Democrats said, according to Politico.com. Veneman, 59, a former California secretary of food and agriculture, is executive director of the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF. Politico.com reported that a UNICEF spokeswoman said Veneman was in Africa and could not be reached. Veneman's sister, Jane Veneman of Salinas, told The Bee she was surprised by the report and was last in contact with Veneman two days ago when Veneman e-mailed her, saying she was on her way to Madagascar and would return Aug. 6.

Out & About

Three things to do this weekend, plus Free Fun:

1 Cowboy up with the Oakdale Cowboy Museum at its third annual Cowboy Collectibles Roadshow and have your collection appraised. Today, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Oakdale Cowboy Museum, 355 E. F St. $10 appraisal, free viewing. 847-5163.

2 Go Plane Crazy at a benefit for the Castle Air Museum with live and silent auction, dinner, dancing and music. Today, 6 p.m. Castle Air Museum, 5050 Santa Fe Drive, Atwater. $35. 723-2178.

3 Go blue with the triple bill of George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Buddy Guy and Charlie Musselwhite as they bring blues to the Ironstone Summer Concert Series. Sunday, 7 p.m. Ironstone Amphitheatre, Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys. $45-$215. 728-1251.

FREE FUN: Celebrate Indian culture from the Fiji Islands at the second annual Modesto Fiji Festival with live music, clothes, food, jewelry, music, mendhi (henna tattoos) and more. Today, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Graceada Park, Sycamore Avenue at Needham Street, Modesto. Free. 495-7031.

-- Marijke Rowland

Fire burns 900 acres in Mariposa County

A wildfire had burned more than 900 acres Friday evening in a rugged, remote area of Mariposa County several miles northwest of Midpines, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The blaze started about 3 p.m. and was burning heavy vegetation and oak trees in steep terrain near Telegraph and Sherlock roads about 40 miles northeast of Merced, according to a Cal Fire news release. As of 7 p.m., the fire was not threatening structures. Cal Fire had 15 engines, four water tenders, two bulldozers, four air tankers and three helicopters battling the blaze. Cal Fire officials had not determined the cause and the origin of the fire.