John Derby

The view of Lake McClure as you drive past Horseshoe Bend is amazing. Never in our memory has the lake been this full of water. The river through Snelling is maxed out and far above its normal banks. The docks at Lake Yosemite are almost under water. The falls at Yosemite have never been so full, powering from the top of the mountains…

There is no use complaining as the heat, which we are used to having at this time in the Central Valley, is here. It seems hotter than usual because we…

We were in England and the trains went on strike. It was bad enough to have to drive on the wrong side of the street; however, when we asked for…

Statistics say the United States has an unemployment rate of 3 percent; however, Merced County has an unemployment rate of over 11 percent. What is the problem here? The Federal Reserve looks at the country and sees everyone working and spending money like crazy, while we in Merced County see people sleeping under bridges or walking the…

Editor’s note: The following is a continuation of last week’s editorial about what could and should be the proper bike paths for the city of Merced.…

As we step on the plane to fly back to San Francisco, our mind is full of thoughts and impressions of Colombia. First and foremost is it is nothing like we…

We are in a different country; in a different world. We are attending the wedding of our grand niece who is marrying a man who was born in Colombia, South America. More than 50 people related to the bride or groom have converged on the town of Medellin, Columbia for the wedding. Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia, after…

Brain Drain is a big problem for our valley communities. Many of our best students go off to college and never return. They find college sweethearts,…

At the rate this summer is going, it could be rated as the "Not-So-Hot" summer. The weather man is certainly throwing some unusually beautiful weather at…

The wedding was planned for Sept. 18, and the groom had waited six years to marry his bride. The bride's father was reluctant to give his daughter in marriage to a young man who he felt would not provide his daughter with the type of living which she had been used to. The young man was in love and tried first one job and then another. He…