Tuesday, May. 20, 2008

News & Notes

Lower temps follow days of record heat

After four days of record high temperatures, Monday ushered in the beginning of a cooling trend expected to last most of the week. Monday's high of 95 degrees was the third-hottest May 19 of all time in Modesto; the record is 97, set in 1947 and matched in 1966. The heat wave began Thursday with a record-tying high of 98, then spiked to 106 Friday -- the hottest May day recorded in Modesto. Saturday's high of 100 and Sunday's of 101 matched the all-time highs for May 17 and May 18. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low to mid-80s the rest of the work week. For more weather information, see Page B-8

Your 1-stop source for graduation info

Beginning today, The Bee will publish which high schools have graduation ceremonies scheduled each day. There is one school in the Northern San Joaquin Valley that will honor graduates tonight: Adelante/R.I.S.E. of Riverbank, 6:30 p.m., Riverbank High School stage.

The Bee also is putting together lists of high school commencement ceremonies and graduates to publish on www.modbee.com in the coming weeks. Schools are invited to send their alphabetized listings to dlivingston@modbee.com.

Car seat checkup set for Waterford

More than 90 percent of child safety car seats in Stanislaus County are installed or used incorrectly, according to the Modesto Police Department. To help children ride more safely, the Modesto Police Department, Waterford Child Development and the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency "Keep Baby Safe" Program will conduct a free child safety seat check today from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will be at Moon Elementary School, 319 N. Reinway Ave., in Waterford. This is the first safety seat check to be offered in the city. Anyone who needs a child safety seat check who is unable to attend the event may schedule an appointment by calling 572-9500.

Yesteryears

50 YEARS AGO: A pigeon owned by Everett Vieira won the 220-mile Modesto Pigeon Club weekly event in a time of 1,114.92 yards per minute.

25 YEARS AGO: The Modesto Exchange Club honored Modesto Police Chief Gerald L. McKinsey as "Peace Officer of the Year." The club commended McKinsey for his leadership and accomplishments in starting law enforcement programs in the police and the sheriff's departments.

-- Karen Aiello