A little bit about a lot of things:

· We've seen more than our fair share of stories involving troubles, controversy or tragedy.....but every now and then a story has a happy ending and the good guys win.

That was the case last week, when David Reed's dog-napped canine companion “Toto” was safely returned to him.

Reed, his family and friends had been on the lookout for Toto ever since the occupants of a late-model four-door white Honda (or similar vehicle) scooped up the Yorkshire Terrier from in front of his Kern Street home last Tuesday and sped away.

Those who picked up the dog either discovered that he was an older canine that could not be sold, or decided to let Toto go after word got around town about the pilfered pooch.

Reed said that the dog was found in the neighborhood and taken to local veterinarian Cathy Wallace Saturday morning. She checked the dog out, determined the owner's information by scanning an implanted micro-chip and notified Reed with the wonderful news.

“It made my day,” said Reed.

So, too, did the response of community members who had heard of the situation earlier in the week.

“By Wednesday, I had people I didn't even know coming up and asking me about it,” he commented.

Fortunately, the story ended well.

But at the same time you have to shake your head in disbelief that somebody would be so low as to snatch somebody's dog from their front yard.

· Wonderful gesture by the Newman Youth Baseball and Softball Association during opening day ceremonies, where 11-year-old Garrett Spaulding threw out the ceremonial first pitch to open the baseball season.

Garrett suffers from a rare skin condition known as epidermolysis bullosa.

The young man is an inspiration to all who know him, and it was very moving to see him acknowledged and given the honor of throwing the first pitch Saturday....

· We salute the West Side's ag industry with a special section appearing in this week's editions.

Agriculture is the heartbeat of the West Side.....always has been, and continues to be despite the growth in the area.

California agriculture is nothing short of amazing.

I came to the Golden State with a great appreciation of farms and farmers, having grown up in the nation's heartland where corn, soybeans, cattle and pork are the kings of the ag community.

There's still not a steak that beats Iowa corn-fed beef hot off the grill....and when it comes to sweet corn, the mouth-watering Midwestern varieties are second to none.

For sheer diversity, however, California agriculture sets the standard.

I learn something every time I talk to a farmer, and still run across crops which I didn't realize were produced here.

Like farmers everywhere, California growers are independent, resourceful and resilient as they go about the business of helping feed the world.

Farming is a way of life more than an occupation, and this week we take time to honor those special people.

· Good decision by the Newman-Crows Landing school board last week to move forward with the new Hunt School drop-off area project.

Hopefully the new configuration will help ease some of the daily chaos on the streets surrounding the K-5 campus.

We had been concerned that the district may hold off on this very necessary project to use as a “carrot” in an upcoming bond campaign, and are happy with the decision just to go ahead with the work.

· Special events are the hallmark of our local communities.....everything from our festas to our festivals to our patriotic celebrations.

Saturday is a banner day for traditional activities on the West Side.

Gustine High School will be hosting its 81st annual stock show on campus, a trial run of sorts for the upcoming Spring Fair in Los Banos.

And there are Easter eggs to be collected as well in Gustine and Newman.

Gustine Lions will plant 3,000 colored eggs in the grass at Schmidt Park for their Saturday morning egg hunt, which begins at 10 a.m......sharp.

In Newman, the Knights of Columbus will host an egg hunt at Hunt School beginning at 1 p.m.

Don't be late, though....it doesn't take long for the young searchers to pick the fields clean of every last egg.

Have a wonderful and blessed Easter!!!

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