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• Sun West residents petition to stop school

• 100, 104, 107: Whatever the temperature, Lodi was boiling

• Plan for White Slough approved

• Driver involved in fatal Tokay crash will be charged

• Regional Roundup

• Local law librarian files as sixth contender for Lodi council seat

• Candidates for councils, boards make final filings

• Schools lawsuit deal includes phasing out Concept 6 by 2012

• Keagy fourth hopeful for Galt council

• Logbook

• Supervisor questions grand jury's advice on housing board

• Staying safe, healthy during summer heat

November 2nd, 2009

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

November 7th, 2009

• Lodi High graduate was at Fort Hood

• Lining up for flu shots in Lodi

• Tour packs buses as birdwatchers admire Sandhill cranes

• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks

• Daytime thieves targeting Lodi homes

• Lodi High School rally featured on 'Good Day Sacramento'

• Out of control

• Homicide suspect Anthony Hubbard arraigned

• Regional Roundup

• New Lodi Memorial rule to combat spread of H1N1: Visitors must be older than 16

November 6th, 2009

• Short sales make up nearly half of Lodi market

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi man accused of smuggling drugs, weapons for inmates at state prison

• 'I-5 Strangler' sentenced to 6 terms of life

• Jury convicts Acampo man of torture, assault of his girlfriend

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

• Speakers address Lodi Unified School District budget shortfalls, plea to keep programs

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

• Regional Roundup

• California voters have final say over $11 billion water bond

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• Man wanted in Acampo homicide gives up to San Joaquin County Sheriff's detectives

November 4th, 2009

• Candle fire

• Rep. Jerry McNerney sets telephone town hall for Thursday

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council argues over ordinance hiring residents

• San Joaquin County sues state over prison hospital planned for Stockton

• Big win for Allen Baroni in reclamation election

• California sends Democratic loyalist John Garamendi to Congress

• Bicycling father raising awareness of teen suicide

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

November 3rd, 2009

• 500 attend service for Kyle Coumas

• Correction

• Galt considers ordinance that would require city contractors to hire locally

• Regional Roundup

• Have you seen a missing guide dog puppy in Lodi?

• Galt man dies after weekend Highway 12 crash

• Jason Behrmann is top candidate for Galt city manager

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

• Clarification

November 2nd, 2009

• Downtown Lodi trick or treat

• Public Meetings

• Correction

• Kyle Coumas funeral today

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Regional Roundup

• Group investigates reports of haunting

• Sandhill Cranes Festival comes to Lodi next weekend

• Lamborghini lovers gather for show, fine wine, luncheon in Woodbridge

• Lodi's 'Biggest Loser' Christy Richesin runs 5K Halloween race

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

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (73)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (70)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (60)
• Universal health care solves big problems (54)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (35)
• Stuck in neutral? Hardly! (35)
• Words from our forefathers (27)
• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks (24)
• Majority cannot deprive the minority (24)

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Lodian a finalist for reality series 'The Ultimate Fighter'

Tim McKenzie's ultimate goal is to join the World Wrestling Federation.

But, if the Lodi tough guy is to eventually be a pretend wrestler, he'll have to endure some genuine pain along the way. And he might have a national audience to cheer or sneer his "Ultimate" undertaking.

McKenzie, a Mixed Martial Arts fighter with a 9-1 record, was recently notified that he is a finalist for a reality television series that will debut in January.

He was among 40 aspiring fighters invited to a casting call this weekend in Las Vegas, of which 16 will be selected to star in "The Ultimate Fighter."

Spike TV and The Ultimate Fighting Championship have created a partnership to develop the one-hour, 13-part series that will provide an inside look at the process to locate, develop and train fighters.

Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films and Television (Survivor) is the show's creator and producer.

The series will be shot at the UFC training center in Las Vegas beginning in September. The fighters will live and train together and the last four survivors will get UFC contracts.

"I think it's going to be fun and it should open up some doors," said McKenzie, who will leave for Las Vegas this weekend and expects to be gone for about a week.

"This is an opportunity to get to the UFC and eventually make it to the WWF," added McKenzie, who is a senior majoring in communications at University of the Pacific.

McKenzie, who earned the nickname "The Wrecking Machine" for his ruthless and relentless style in the ring, won his first nine MMA fights (MMA fighting combines the striking and grappling elements of marital arts).

He suffered his first defeat at World Extreme Cagefighting X in May at The Palace Casino in Lemoore.

After pummeling Alex "The Brazilian Killer" Stiebling with his fist in the first of three scheduled five-minute rounds, McKenzie made a mistake against the UFC and Pride fight veteran in the second round.

McKenzie, who fought stand-up most of the match, says a sloppy punch got him in trouble.

Stiebling capitalized, putting the 6-foot-2, 200-pound McKenzie in a arm triangle choke hold and forcing him to tap out.

Despite suffering his first loss, McKenzie gained valuable exposure and was contacted about a possible spot on a future UFC card.

McKenzie has also garnered attention for his patriotic hairstyle. He usually sports a red, white and blue mohawk for his fights, which should serve him well in auditioning.

"They want to see personality, showmanship," McKenzie said, "They want to build a star."

Although, McKenzie realizes that shining in the UFC comes with the risk of having his lights knocked out.

"I just want to make enough money to retire and get a house or pursue a pro wrestling career," he said before his last fight.

Fake wrestling is his genuine goal. It's a less painful alternative, too.