Remote Surveillance Trailer in Modesto, CA

The Seventh Street Bridge in Modesto will close for good March 16 so its replacement finally can be built.

The project will require detours for about two years while the new span rises over the Tuolumne River, said David Leamon, public works director for Stanislaus County. He spoke at a Monday evening meeting on the project.

The old bridge will close at 10 a.m., after next Monday’s morning commute. The new one will be erected in the same footprint by early 2028.

Drivers will be detoured to the Ninth Street and Highway 99 bridges. The project will not block visitors on foot or bicycle to this part of Tuolumne River Regional Park.

The current bridge was completed in 1916 in the handsome Beaux Arts style. It has had speed and weight limits since the 1930s due to crumbling concrete.

The new bridge is being built on an $85.2 million contact with MCM Construction Inc. of North Highlands in Sacramento County.

The total cost is about $127 million, including design, right of way and street improvements at each end of the bridge. A federal grant provided about $92 million. The state added $15 million. The county’s Measure L sales tax covered most of the rest.

The new span will double the motor-vehicle lanes to four. They will be flanked by improved bike and pedestrian paths to the park. The north end will have a plaza with displays about the historic bridge, including two of its four lion statues.

Monday’s meeting was at the Stanislaus County Agricultural Center, off Crows Landing Road about three miles south of the river. That route connects to downtown on the current bridge, but the structure cannot handle semis and other heavy vehicles.

One of the detours involves Ninth Street from Pecos Avenue to G Street. The other is on Highway 99 from the Crows Landing Road interchange to G.

More details on the project are at 7thstreetbridge.org.

Amazon will begin operation of a next-generation fulfillment center in north Modesto within the next two months, a spokeswoman said.

Natalie Banke, representing Amazon, said the facility at the southeast corner of Kiernan Avenue and Tully Road will be a same-day fulfillment center, enabling customers to receive purchases within hours of placing the orders.

The 316,800-square-foot industrial building was built in 2022 and originally was to be leased to the JackRabbit farm equipment company, but the Ripon business backed out.

The building sat empty. And recent activity at the site raised speculation about another tenant.

“We’re excited to open our same-day fulfillment center in Modesto this spring, building on our longstanding presence in the community,” Banke said in a statement Wednesday. “This facility will enable faster delivery to Central Valley customers.”

An Amazon blog says same-day delivery is free for Prime members for orders above $25 in most cities.

There was no information yet on how many people will work at the facility. Banke did not announce the opening date but said Amazon will share more details before the launch. Amazon has a 10-year lease for the building.

Amazon opened a same-day delivery center in Sacramento in 2022 — for the first time offering delivery within hours for customers in that area. Floor robots and human employees work together to fill same-day orders.

According to the publication Grocery Dive, Amazon has operated same-day centers for more than 10 years but has focused on expanding the service for the past two years.

The centers carry everyday essentials including household goods, groceries, pet food, technology and devices and other products. Banke said the centers vary on available products that may reflect the states they serve. As an example, centers in California may have pool supplies, while those in the Midwest might sell cold-weather clothing.

“We’re exited that Amazon is going to open and supply customers (in the Modesto area) with same-day service,” said Kevin Perkins, principal for Libitzky Property Companies, the Bay Area firm that developed the facility.

At the same time that the Del Monte Foods fruit cannery is closing, eliminating 1,800 jobs, Perkins said the development firm is trying to build and open facilities providing employment in the community.

A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification alerted Stanislaus County last week that closure of the First Brands auto parts distribution center in Patterson will result in 98 job losses in April.

Libitzky applied to the county to get approval for two additional warehouses of 188,240 square feet and 145,600 square feet on property just east of the Amazon building. But that’s now under the jurisdiction of Modesto, which annexed the area last year.

Perkins said the firm is working on a reimbursement agreement with the city for a water line to service the warehouses. Construction will begin when there’s an agreement for water service, he said.

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Modesto gained national attention for its stunning array of almond blossoms that have turned the region’s orchards into spring destinations.

The blossoms are back and the annual Almond Blossom Cruise is underway to guide you through those scenic routes. Put on by Visit Modesto, there are new events this year.

Right now is the time to catch the beauty, with a limited window — more limited this year because of recent rains, with possibly more to come, according to Todd Aaronson, CEO of Visit Modesto.

“It’s an odd year,” he said.

“I’m hoping for at least a long week left of blossoms ...,” Aaronson said Thursday, adding that “Mother Nature has got her own plans, and I’m not arguing with Mother Nature.”

For updates, see visitmodesto.com/almond-blossom-cruise.

Aaronson said the show will continue to be “beautiful” along the cruise route even after the blossoms have fallen, thanks to the “valley snow.” That’s when the dropped petals blanket the orchard floors.

Attracts people from across the country

The above-mentioned national attention came first via a 2024 Frugal Traveler column in the New York Times suggesting that people should skip Washington, D.C., or other pricey destinations this time of year and visit Modesto instead.

According to a story in The Bee, the column indicated that the Modesto region is a less expensive yet enjoyable travel spot for viewing the blossoming trees.

Last year, “CBS Saturday Morning” had a segment featuring Modesto’s Almond Blossom Cruise, hosted by its West Coast correspondent Emily Cook, according to another story in The Bee.

Aaronson said Thursday that they have people scheduling visits “from all across the country still.”

The Almond Blossom Cruise includes stops in Oakdale, at the Knights Ferry Bridge, at Sciabica Olive Oil, Roberts Ferry Gourmet, Rodin Farms and other public orchards, according to the release.

Following are some of Visit Modesto’s plans for this year:

Almond Blossom Sunset Dinners: The dinners will be held Feb. 27 and March 7 in the orchard at Richard’s Ranch, 300 Grimes Ave., Modesto. Featured will be outdoor dining, cocktails and live music beneath blooming trees.

Dinner tickets are $81.88, $151.23 for couples. They must be purchased by Feb. 24 for the Feb. 27 event; by March 4 for March 27.

Buzz Bus Blossom Tour: This is a new event for 2026 and will be offered March 7. The hosted tour features three wine-tasting stops. Tickets start at $130, with optional hotel packages.

Petal to the Metal Tour: You can take the Almond Blossom Cruise in a “luxury coach” on Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests receive a swag bag, an almond butter milkshake and take part in olive oil tastings at Sciabica’s Olive Oil & Brewery. Tickets start at $75, with optional hotel packages.

Plein Air Orchard Painting: Beginners to advanced artists can capture the blossoms at Zinc House Farms, 20679 CA-120 in Escalon, guided by artist Edem Elesh. Professional oil or acrylic paints, brushes, palettes and canvases will be provided. The classes will be held Feb. 27-28 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tickets start at $49.

Van Gogh–Inspired Art Challenge: Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s Almond Blossom series, this community art contest celebrates spring in the valley through photography, textiles, digital art and sculpture. Contact Visit Modesto for more information at 209-526-5588.

Audiobook Blossom Tour: Also new this year is an Audible audiobook option. It includes stories from the original Wayfarer App and allows visitors to customize their own blossom stops. Listeners will hear from almond farmers, fruit tree nursery experts, olive oil producers and historians of the E.&J. Gallo Winery. It’s listed at $9.76 on Amazon’s Audible website.

While it attracts people outside the region, Aaronson noted that the almond blossoms offer an opportunity for locals who might not otherwise be aware of what’s around them.

“It is hard for us to see the forest through the trees,” he said, “and this is a really great time to take a look in our backyard and to see how beautiful it really is.”

A sweeping multi-agency narcotics investigation that included search warrants in Modesto and Turlock resulted in the seizure of roughly 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine and the arrest of eight people, authorities announced this week.

The enforcement action, carried out Feb. 27, marked the culmination of a five-month investigation led by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit in coordination with federal, state and local partners.

Investigators said authorities seized approximately 1,500 pounds of finished methamphetamine and about 1,270 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in a partially processed state, pending laboratory confirmation. Law enforcement officials also reported seizing 1,900 marijuana plants, about 107 pounds of processed marijuana and 12 firearms.

Search warrants were executed at residential properties in Valley Springs in Calaveras County, as well as in Turlock and Modesto. More than 100 law enforcement personnel participated in the coordinated operation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Eight individuals were taken into federal and state custody. Authorities said one of those arrested was listed on the National Terrorist Watch List. Officials have not yet released the names of those arrested or detailed the specific charges they may face.

According to investigators, the case — dubbed “Operation Trash Panda” — targeted what authorities described as a drug trafficking organization suspected of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine throughout Northern California.

The investigation began in October 2025 after deputies responded to an illegal dumping complaint in a remote area of Calaveras County. Detectives said suspicious materials discovered at the site prompted a follow-up investigation that ultimately identified primary suspects and three locations believed to be tied to the suspected manufacturing and distribution operation.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office played what Calaveras officials described as a major leadership role, providing manpower and deploying a helicopter to assist with coordination and safety during the warrant service.

Participating agencies included the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Sacramento Area Intelligence Narcotics Team, the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and others.

The Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California are reviewing the case to determine appropriate state and/or federal charges.

Authorities described the seizure as the largest methamphetamine seizure in the history of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests or charges may be forthcoming.

Modesto-based dairy processor Crystal Creamery has named a new chief executive officer and president, Tom Hughes.

Crystal employs about 750 people in making and selling fluid milk, ice cream, butter, sour cream and other goods. It had 10 job openings as of Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Hughes was promoted from chief operating officer to succeed Dennis Roberts, who retired after 17 years with the company.

“Our people remain our greatest strength,” Hughes said in a news release. “Across production, quality, sales, marketing, logistics, HR and finance, our teams demonstrate exceptional skill, resilience and commitment.”

The dairy industry is among Stanislaus County’s top employers, on the farms and at Crystal and other processors. The county also has wineries, poultry, nut companies, tomato canners and more.

That diversity helps the county weather blows such as the closure of the Del Monte Foods fruit cannery. That move, announced Jan. 15, cut about 600 year-round and 1,200 seasonal jobs at the Yosemite Boulevard site.

Crystal has its plant on Kansas Avenue and employs truckers and salespeople from the Los Angeles area to southern Oregon.

The online job listings range from entry level to supervisors. Crystal offers $49,920 to $54,080 a year for a Salinas-based driver. It is seeking a Modesto maintenance mechanic at $64,480 to $72,800.

A sales manager for the zone from Fresno to Bakersfield can make $73,000 to $83,000 a year. The Modesto plant will pay $80,000 to $90,000 to a fluid milk supervisor, filling cartons and jugs safely and efficiently.

The job listings do not include the many dairy farms that supply milk to Crystal and other processors. The cows need care around the clock.

Other things of note about Crystal:

“We always like to say we nourish the communities with all of our products,” Roberts said at the time. “But we also like to be good stewards of it, too.”