Merced news roundup: Water safety, trash pickup and a river drowning. What to know
Merced County residents faced a busy stretch of news this week, from questions about drinking water safety to a new curbside cleanup program and a fatal drowning in the Merced River. Here’s a look at the top local stories and what they mean for you.
Here are key takeaways:
- More than half of private domestic wells in unincorporated Merced County tested over the state’s safe drinking limit for at least one contaminant, and experts talked about the topic said at a Tuesday panel discussion at the Merced County Library in Atwater. California does not test private wells, meaning residents may be drinking unsafe water without knowing it.
- Merced County launched a curbside bulky waste disposal program for residents of unincorporated areas on July 1, allowing two bulky pickups per year through Waste Management. Items must be curbside by 6 a.m. and cannot exceed 6 feet by 6 feet by 6 feet. To schedule a bulky pickup, residents can call 800-369-4999 or use the Waste Management app.
- A 13-year-old boy drowned in the Merced River at the Cressey Bridge area on Saturday night after being swept away by the current while swimming with family, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said. His body was found at a depth of 18 feet using a remotely operated vehicle.
- Sheriff Vern Warnke concluded that the March 2025 killing of four horses at an Atwater property was not illegal or immoral, after a Maryland-based animal rights group published body camera video of the euthanasia and launched a petition demanding accountability.
- Playhouse Merced’s Young Artists Conservatory opened an eight-show run of “Disney’s The Lion King Jr.” on Thursday, featuring performers ages 8-17. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, running through July 26.
- The Merced Sun-Star is asking readers to vote for the best sports bar in Merced County as part of its Best of Merced County series. Voting closes at noon on Sunday, July 26.