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STANISLAUS COUNTY, Calif. —

A Modesto man is accused of driving drunk and crashing head-on into another vehicle and injuring four people before running away from the scene, the California Highway Patrol Modesto division said.

Navin Sharma Kumar, 52, is facing charges that include felony DUI, felony hit-and-run and driving with a suspended driver's license, CHP said.

The crash happened at 12:47 a.m. Thursday along River Road near Cleveland Avenue near the Oakdale area of Stanislaus County, CHP said. While the investigation is in its early stages, officers believe Kumar was driving his Mercedes sedan westbound on River Road approaching Cleveland Avenue when he lost control of his car.

CHP said he went into the eastbound lane and slammed into a Kia SUV head-on. Inside the SUV was a 17-year-old driver who suffered minor injuries. Two of her passengers had major injuries and were taken to Memorial Medical Center. There was a third passenger, but details were not released on the extent of their injuries.

Details were not released on the ages and genders of the SUV passengers.

After the crash, CHP said Kumar ran away, and a family member later picked him up and took him to his Modesto home. Officers who tracked him down to his residence noted that Kumar appeared intoxicated and took him into custody.

Once he was medically cleared, officers booked him into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, CHP said. The agency revealed that Kumar had a warrant out for his arrest, but did not say why he was wanted.

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Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 27.

Whether you’re hitting the road, running errands or spending the day roasting a turkey, several Modesto-area businesses and services — including government offices — will be closed or observing limited hours for the holiday.

What does that mean for garbage collection? Will Thanksgiving delay trash pickup in Modesto?

Here’s what to know:

When is my scheduled trash pickup day in Modesto?

Trash pickup in Modesto varies depending on where you live.

According to the city of Modesto, Gilton Solid Waste Management and Bertolotti Disposal Service handle all solid waste and recycling collection.

“Each hauler has an exclusive service area as deemed by the Modesto City Council,” the city said on its website.

You can see your scheduled trash pickup day on the city’s website.

Garbage and organic waste are collected every week.

In Modesto, recyclable items such as bottles, cans and cardboard are collected every other week.

Homes with even-numbered addresses follow one schedule, while odd-numbered addresses follow another.

To find out when your recycling will be picked up, check the city of Modesto’s recycling calendars.

Will Thanksgiving delay garbage pickup in Modesto?

According to the city, local haulers only observe four holidays each year.

The following holidays will delay trash pickup in Modesto:

In 2025, Thanksgiving — Thursday, Nov. 27 — will delay trash pickup for Modesto residents.

“These holidays may cause your service to be delayed by one day during the appropriate week,” the city said on its website.

If your usual pickup day falls on Thanksgiving, which is a Thursday, collection will shift to Friday. Nov. 28.

Will garbage pickup be delayed in Stanislaus County?

According to the Stanislaus County website, contracted waste haulers only observe the following four holidays each year:

“During holiday weeks service will be performed a day behind schedule,” the county said on its website. “Please contact your garbage company if you have any questions.”

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.

Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 27.

Whether you’re hitting the road, running errands or spending the day cooking with family and friends, keep in mind that some Modesto-area stores and services will be closed or operating on reduced hours for the holiday.

The Modesto Bee contacted local businesses to see how Thanksgiving Day will impact their schedules.

Below is a list of which places will be open or closed in Stanislaus County on Thursday, Nov. 27.

Hours can vary by location, so be sure to check with your local store before heading out.

Which Modesto grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving? Closed?

The Modesto area is home to a variety of grocery stores, supermarkets and other retailers.

Here are the major chains that will be open or closed Thursday, Nov. 27, for the holiday:

Are Modesto-area coffee shops open on Thanksgiving?

Here’s how Thanksgiving will affect hours at local coffee shops for Thanksgiving on Thursday, Nov. 27:

Is Vintage Faire Mall open on Thanksgiving?

Vintage Faire Mall will be closed on Thanksgiving.

Individual restaurants and retailers, including Dave & Buster’s, can have different hours, so it’s best to contact them directly.

Are local pharmacies open on Thanksgiving Day?

Here’s how Thanksgiving will affect hours at local pharmacies and drugstores on Thursday, Nov. 27:

What’s closed on Thanksgiving in Modesto?

Government offices, including the California Department of Motor Vehicles, U.S. Postal Service and public libraries, will be closed on Thanksgiving, as well as most banks.

If you’re planning to run errands on Friday, Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving, check ahead before heading out. Some offices, including the DMV, will remain closed that day as well.

Package delivery companies including FedEx and UPS will be closed for the holiday.

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.

JS West & Companies is erecting a new headquarters at Modesto’s northwest edge, six miles from the downtown street where it began in 1909.

The company is a major producer of eggs and propane in Northern California. It will continue to employ about 325 people, fourth-generation President and CEO Mike West said Wednesday.

He spoke at the groundbreaking for the four-story project at the southwest corner of Dale Road and Kiernan Avenue. JS West hired Huff Construction of Modesto to build it from a design by Dahlin Architecture, Planning and Interiors of Pleasanton. It could be done in July 2027. The cost was not disclosed.

JS West will put its offices in the third and fourth floors. The accounting firm of Gensky Muller will occupy the second story. A restaurant and other offices are being sought for the ground level by CoSol Commercial Real Estate of Modesto.

JS West no longer will have offices on Ninth Street but will keep a propane hub there. It also delivers the fuel to six towns between Fresno and Placer counties. The laying hens live in large barns near Oakdale, Hilmar and Livingston.

“We’ve been proud to continuously heat, feed and serve our customers, but today represents something a little bit more,” said Kelly Monk, vice president for corporate development.

How did JS West get its start?

Modesto had about 4,000 residents when Nebraska native James Stewart West launched the business 116 years ago. He started with coal and grain sales at Ninth and G streets.

Other items came and went over the decades — ice, fuel oil, auto sales and service, furniture and appliances. JS West began selling propane in 1936 and now has outlets in Modesto, Selma, Oakhurst, Sonora, Angels Camp, Placerville and Colfax.

JS West got into eggs in the late 1940s. It later joined with industry partners to build the massive feed terminal near Hughson, supplied by rail from the Midwest. JS West markets its eggs through the NuCal Foods cooperative, based in Ripon.

The company had a retail feed store on Ninth from 1958 to 2022. Customers could get food and supplies for pets and for 4-H and FFA livestock projects.

Mike West said Wednesday that the family will continue to own the Ninth Street properties. Future uses have not been announced, including possible housing under the city’s downtown plan.

The former furniture store fronting H Street is leased to Redeemer Modesto church. The rusty old feed silos sit across Ninth from the gleaming new courthouse.

What’s coming at the new HQ?

JS West’s new facade along Kiernan will have a rough copy of the original sign hawking coal and grain. An actual feed silo from the past will be nearby.

The office building is part of a first phase that also includes parking under solar panels. The other phase will have some kind of retail in a pedestrian-friendly layout.

The site is just north of the Kaiser Permanente complex, completed along Dale nearly 20 years ago. It was followed in recent years by multiple-story apartments and hotels on the west side. They are fronted by several eateries.

Mike West said the company is looking to expand its propane service area, which would add jobs. On the egg side, it has endured some of the bird flu outbreaks affecting producers across the nation.

The groundbreaking audience included retired CEO Gary West, father of Mike and grandson of the founder. Dozens of other business and government leaders turned out. Among them was Modesto Councilmember Rosa Escutia-Bratton, whose district takes in the new JS West site.

“Their century-long history of success in our community,” she said, “shows that they are resilient, that they evolve and grow with every generation.”

As an atmospheric river swept through California, the Modesto area saw several days of gray skies, gusty winds and steady rain.

How much rain fell in Modesto? Is more rain in the weather forecast?

Here’s what to know:

How much rain did Modesto get?

As of the morning Monday, Nov. 17, the Modesto area had received 1.06 inches of rain over the past 48 hours, according to the Modesto Irrigation District.

Earlier totals from Tuesday, Nov. 11, show the atmospheric river delivered 2.22 inches of rain since Wednesday.

Altogether, the storms have brought total rainfall for the season — which runs from July 1 through June 30, 2026 — to 3.42 inches.

According to Modesto Irrigation District data, the region’s “wettest rainfall season” on record was in 1983, when 26.01 inches fell between July 1982 and June 1983.

Will Modesto get more rain?

According to the National Weather Service, the system will continue bringing rain to the West Coast.

This will result in “embedded thunderstorms over Central California, mainly through early Tuesday morning,” the weather agency said in a Monday, Nov. 17, news release.

The atmospheric river was expected to drop another 0.1 to 0.25 inches of rain in Modesto on Monday, the National Weather Service said on X.

What’s in the weather forecast for Modesto?

The National Weather Service’s latest forecast for the Modesto area called for cloudy skies on Monday, Nov. 17, with a 60% chance of rain and possible thunderstorms before 8 p.m.

Temperatures were expected to range from a high of about 59 degrees to a low near 48 degrees.

On Tuesday, skies will turn partly sunny with a high around 59 and a low near 48, along with light winds around 5 mph.

Wednesday brings a high near 60 and a low around 50, with a 30% chance of rain.

Rain chances increase to 50% on Thursday, with temperatures hovering near 58 degrees during the day and 48 degrees in the evening.

By Friday, skies will clear up with sunny skies, a high near 60 and a low around 45.

The sunshine will continue through the weekend, with Saturday reaching a high around 61. The temperature will drop to about 45 degrees overnight.

How to drive safely on roads during rain

In a post on X on Monday, Nov. 17, the National Weather Service said drivers should beware of “slick roads and longer-than-normal commutes.”

The weather agency said there could be “ponding water in low-lying areas and roadways.”

Rain, along with speeds of 50 mph or more, can result in your tires losing contact with the road, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles’ California Driver Handbook.

When it rains, drive up to 10 mph slower.

“Slow down at the first sign of rain, especially after a dry spell,” the DMV said on its website. “A slippery road will not give your tires the grip they need.”

If your vehicle starts “riding on water” or hydroplaning, slow your car down gradually. Do not use the brakes.

What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com.