A California Magazine with Local Focus and Global Appeal:
Community - Entertainment - Human Interest

Weekly issues every Saturday morning and other special articles throughout the week — there's something for everyone. Check out our sister site KRL News & Reviews for even more articles every week.

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Kickbacks, Kayaks, & Kidnapping By Tonya Kappes: Review/Giveaway

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Kathleen Costa SECTION

by Kathleen Costa


Mae is always trying to make Happy Trails a full-service campground. This year she’s added a variety of water sports to the “things to do” since the local company that she counted on was forced to close down. Mae doesn’t have a lot of experience with kayaking, canoeing, white-water rafting, and fishing, so why not jump into the deep end of the pool with Paddle Fest, a weeklong summer festival, and to make it more exciting, she’s reintroducing the kayak competition with contestants arriving from all over the country which includes future Olympian Bryce Anderson.

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And Then Came Rhiannon

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Animal Rescue Adventures SECTION

by Lee Juslin



Brianne lives alone, is handicapped, and has PTSD. She wanted a companion, and after thinking about it, decided what she needed was a furry, four-footed therapist. And, then came Rhiannon.

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Poison in Paradise By Melissa Baldwin: Review/Giveaway/Interview

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Kathleen Costa SECTION

by Kathleen Costa


Passengers hoping to explore the ports of call head over to the Port Adventures and book a exciting excursion from up close animal interactions to once-in-a-lifetime explorations. Not always the easiest task for Lexi when one wants “this” and another wants “that,” but it is rewarding to help create forever memories. Her first client of the day arrives and turns into an unexpected reunion. Josie Brooks was a close childhood friend, but her parent’s divorce caused Josie to move away and the two friends to lose contact. Now, she stands in front of Lexi as the recently knotted Mrs. Phillip Edwards with a obscenely large diamond ring perched on her finger.

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Jackie Dale-The Cat Mother/Cat Trapper: Smoke, Kittens and TNR

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Animal Rescue Adventures SECTION

by Jackie Dale



It has been a very long, very hot month. The extreme heat alone was enough to cause issues, but the smoke from the many California wildfires only served to complicate matters. I even tried to bring my dog, Ilsa inside the house, but apparently she isn’t too keen on being inside. Not sure why that is but needless to say, once she tried to launch herself through a closed window, I put her back outside. She has shade, a pool and I would regularly hose her down. In the evenings I walk Ilsa down to the nearby canal so she can take a little dip.

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The Fixer’s Daughter By Hy Conrad: Review/Giveaway/Guest Post

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Sandra Murphy &
Hy Conrad


Callie McFee became estranged from her father three years ago. Buddy McFee, former attorney general and now fixer of problems, was investigated following an offhand remark Callie made during her on-air television job. Now fired from her job, she’s returned home, and the only work she can find is as a reporter for the weekly local free paper, a giant step down in life.

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Landscapes and Landmarks of the Great Central Valley

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Arts & Entertainment SECTION

by Terrance Mc Arthur
& Janice Stevens


The Great Central Valley. The San Joaquin Valley. The Heart of California. The Big Valley.
It’s an amazing place to explore, and it’s even better to explore it with people you like. Two of my favorite traveling companions are Pat Hunter and Janice Stevens, although I’ve never shared a car with them. I travel in their books. With Hunter’s delicate watercolors and Stevens’ concise prose, they’ve helped me explore Fresno’s architectural gems, the twenty-one missions of California’s El Camino Real, the stomping grounds of William Saroyan’s past, and Highway 1’s stretch up the California coastline from Mexico to Oakland.

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Jeff Bowman: Musician/Storyteller/Filmmaker/Writer/Teacher

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Books & Tales SECTION

by Mallory Moad



What do the following have in common: An upgraded Nancy Drew, Santana, a black and white cat, and a clarinet player named Vic Ratto. I’ll give you a few minutes to think about it.
Did you figure it out? No? OK, this eclectic cast of characters has influenced, or is the product of, Jeff Bowman’s vivid imagination.

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Endeavour (Season 7) & Father Brown (Season 8) PBS

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Kathleen Costa SECTION

by Kathleen Costa


PBS is an easy, free way to see some favorite and popular U.K. mysteries and police procedural with access to Masterpiece Mystery on KVIE and KVIE2 (Sacramento) and KQED (San Francisco). Every year Endeavour shows up, but with infrequent reruns the rest of the year. Father Brown is a regular with weekly reruns from the current and some of the previous seasons. I also make regular weekly visits to watch favorites like Vera, Death in Paradise, Prime Suspect, Grantchester, Morse, Lewis, Midsomer Murders, The Dr. Blake Mysteries and more although not the full series and not all the time. However, even with issues of regularity, variety, and completeness, PBS is a good way for many to enjoy these popular favorites.

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The Three Latest Spensers from Ace Atkins

FROM THE September 19 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Sharon Tucker


Although I liked Robert Urich in Spenser for Hire, he never really seemed like the Spenser I read in Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels. His touch was too light. And Lifetime TV’s attempt at Spenser movies still starring the likable Urich were bland palimpsests of the books. No. The real Spenser was in the pages Parker wrote, and I have my doubts anyone could embody him with justice. Spenser’s stream-of-consciousness, first-person narratives gave the reader inside information into what made an idealist like Spenser able to survive with his soul intact sorting out dark tangles beyond the rest of us.

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The Year I Rediscovered Short Stories

FROM THE September 16 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Victoria Hamilton


Here is the latest installment of our new column, Top 5 Mysteries I Have Read During the Pandemic, this one from mystery author Victoria Hamilton. As we continue to spend most of our time at home, we are all looking for book suggestions so we asked mystery authors and reviewers to share the top 5 mysteries they have read during this pandemic.

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Do You Need an Escape?

FROM THE September 16 ISSUE

IN THE Mysteryrat's Maze SECTION

by Randy Overbeck


Right about now—six months into this pandemic, still not able to do much and smack dab in the middle of an nasty election season—could you use a getaway? Have you had to restrain your impulse to throw something at the TV during the latest Coronavirus update or when another negative political ad comes on? Couldn’t you just picture yourself on an sun-drenched beach, toes in the warm sand, and a frosty drink on your hand? Or maybe sailing across blue green waters, waves lapping peacefully at the sides of your sailboat with the shoreline around you exploding with color?

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COVID-19’s Impact On The Online Delivery Business

FROM THE September 15 ISSUE

IN THE Community SECTION

by staff



This year’s pandemic has had a massively negative impact on so many businesses around the globe and sadly, we have seen many, which have been forced to close their doors for good. With this being said there are some other businesses which have thrived and the delivery business in particular falls squarely into that category. With so many of us forced into lockdown, we have become reliant on items being delivered to our doors so that we don’t have to go out.

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A Canary in the Canal By Anna Celeste Burke: Review/Giveaway

FROM THE September 12 ISSUE

IN THE Kathleen Costa SECTION

by Kathleen Costa


When Max barks, Georgie listens, but this time it’s a more pleasant command. She’s expected to step in as a PR substitute and attend a cocktail party in the historic canal district of Venice, California. The evening will showcase guest of honor and jazz singer Kay Garland accented with excellent food with a “Big Easy” flare.

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Reedley College Instructor Spotlight: Dr. Kirk Kawagoe

FROM THE September 12 ISSUE

IN THE Education SECTION

by Jim Mulligan


As the Tutorial Coordinator, my paid job, I have the pleasure of working with many of the instructors at Reedley College. The relationships I have with the instructors are essential to finding qualified and interested students to become peer tutors. A side benefit is the opportunity to get to know these hardworking, dedicated individuals who help students discover the joy of learning. As a Reedley College alum myself, I know and remember the influence that instructors had on me and my motivation to achieve my academic goals.

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