Miracle child: Teen was prematurely born at 24 weeks and survives

Emily Tolentino wasn't supposed to be alive today. Fourteen years ago, on Nov. 27, 1997, Tolentino was born at 24 weeks. She weighed 590 grams, or just about a pound, and had only a 5 percent survival rate.

"Despite whatever (doctors) told us, I knew that she was going to make it," her mother, Patricia Tolentino, recalled on a recent afternoon at the family's Atwater home. "She proved everybody wrong."

Crime in Atwater drops, no homicides reported in 2011

Overall crime went down for Atwater in 2011, and police officials plan to drive the numbers down more in 2012.

Crime rate up in unincorporated areas

Overall crime in the county's unincorporated areas rose roughly 10 percent in 2011, mainly due to an increase in property crimes, according to data released by the Merced County Sheriff's Department this week.

Debbie Croft: Plenty to do before spring arrives

If you're thinking about planting a spring vegetable garden you might want to hop over to the Mariposa Government Center this morning for a free Master Gardeners Sustainable Gardening Workshop, from 10 a.m. to noon, at 5100 Bullion Street. Handout materials will be available to help you prepare now for a lush garden this summer.