News & Notes

last updated: November 06, 2007 02:15:13 AM

Attendance facts

For the second year, many Stanislaus County schools are participating in the "Every Day Counts" campaign to focus on the importance of student attendance and to boost attendance. Did you know ... Poor school attendance is the most frequent symptom of the potential school dropout.

Crashes are down, traffic tickets up

Car crashes in Modesto are happening less frequently than in 2006, but traffic tickets are climbing. Eight people had died in Modesto car crashes by Sept. 30 this year, down from 16 by that date a year ago. Crashes are down, too, with 3,482 this year, 18 percent fewer than the same time last year. In 2006, 4,609 crashes occurred, a decrease from 5,919 in 2005. Police have issued 24,637 traffic citations this year, up from 21,260 for all of 2006.

School musicians gather for concert

Six Stanislaus County high schools will perform Thursday in Modesto Junior College's annual High School Orchestra Day, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Downey High School Auditorium, 1000 Coffee Road, Modesto. The event is free and open to the public. Downey, Davis, Turlock, Pitman, Enochs and Modesto high schools are taking part. MJC Community Orchestra conductor and strings instructor Anne Martin will lead a clinic with the high school music students. An ensemble of music teachers will perform a gypsy tune. The event will end with the Irish Jig "Off She Goes" performed by 200 high school string musicians. For more information, contact Martin at 575-6646.

Looking for renters

Are you a renter who has been forced to move because the house you were renting was foreclosed on by the bank? The Modesto Bee wants to talk to renters who have been ousted because their landlords didn't pay the mortgage. Did you get evicted or lose your deposit? To share your story, contact staff writer J.N. Sbranti at 578-2196 or jnsbranti@modbee.com.

Yesteryears

• 50 YEARS AGO: Dozens of Modestans got up just before dawn to get a view of Russia's new dog-carrying satellite Sputnik II as it soared above the city. The satellite appeared about 5:25 a.m. in the southwest, crossed overhead and disappeared in the northeast. Sputnik II would reappear the following day at 5:36 a.m. for those who missed its first flyby.

• 25 YEARS AGO: In an effort to bring the length of school days close to or longer than the state average, the board of trustees of the Empire Union Elementary School District voted to tack as many as 30 minutes of instructional time to its daily schedules. The change would affect students at Capistrano, Empire and Sipherd elementary schools and Teel Middle School.

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