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• Stockton, Lodi rivalry growing more intense?

• New improvement projects are reincarnating Lodi's soul: The train

• Renowned artist, Lodi native Viola Frey dies

• LUSD to discuss attendance boundaries

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi pastor becomes third to file for City Council

• Officials work to control spread of West Nile virus

• Lodi rides the rails again thanks to Amtrak

• Tracking down Lodi's railroad history

• County supervisors question fairness of Stockton's 911 fee

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (151)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (66)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (55)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Officials work to control spread of West Nile virus

State health officials are working with local animal control agencies to collect and dispose of dead birds in an effort to track and contain the spread of West Nile virus in California.

The California Department of Health Services Web site (www.westnile.ca.gov) reports that there has been one case of a bird infected with West Nile in San Joaquin County, a dead barn owl found north of Stockton.

Lodi Animal Shelter workers say they receive an average of three calls a day about dead birds. They refer the callers to the state health department's hotline (877-968-2473) to determine if the bird could possible carry the virus.

Only certain bird breeds (crows, ravens, magpies and jays) that have been dead for less than 48 hours are collected by local animal services and picked up by state officials for testing.

Most of the birds Lodi Animal Shelter picks up do not meet this criteria. But some have been passed off to state officials. No tested birds from Lodi have been carriers of West Nile virus, said Jennifer Jordan, an animal services officer.

"People are aware of (West Nile), which is good. I'd rather have people be cautious," she said.

Dead birds are indicators of the spread of the virus, so locals are urged to report them. Mosquitos also feed off infected birds and can transmit the virus to people.

"It's definitely a good thing. We want to encourage people to be aware, and the more aware they are, the stronger our enforcement, surveillance and prevention can be," said Norma Arceo, spokeswoman for the Department of Health Services.

On July 19 in Wilton, a yellow-billed magpie was found to be infected with the virus, bringing the number of West Nile-infected birds in Sacramento County up to seven.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne disease common in Africa and first spotted in the U.S. in 1999.

It was first detected in California September of last year and resurfaced again this April in Southern California. Seven counties have human cases. Nineteen counties have detected the virus, either in humans, horses, birds or mosquito pools.

Currently, there are 52 people infected with West Nile in the state. The first and only victim of West Nile in California was a 57-year-old southern California man who died July 22.