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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 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

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

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

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

• 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

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

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

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

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• 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

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

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

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

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

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

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

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

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

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

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

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

• The country's mess is our fault (169)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
• Public health care is a Christian option (47)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (21)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

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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.