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• After allegedly pushing officer, man flees into occupied home

• Keeter taking city manager position in Bay Area

• Former Galt resident feeling fine after rescue

• After three-year battle, deputy sheriffs to get 12.5 percent pay raise

• Energy and public lands a hot Capitol Hill topic

• Regional Roundup

• State planners set new guidelines for distribution of water supply

• Tracy will try to make $120,000 fine go away

• Logbook

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 (67)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (56)
• 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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Lodi man with alleged terrorist link took part in post-9/11 peace service

A man the FBI arrested last week on a charge of lying about attending a terrorism camp in Pakistan ironically played a role in a service in Lodi preaching peace and understanding among the world's many cultures following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Hamid Hayat, 22, remains in custody at Sacramento County Jail because of his alleged link to terrorism, yet he recited a passage from the Quran during a special service on Sept. 18, 2001, that was attended by Christians and Muslims in Lodi, Stockton and Sacramento.

Usamaa Ismail, Hayat's cousin, confirmed Thursday that the man pictured is Hayat. He even remembered Hayat attended the public event.

Mohammad Khan, a Lodi Boys and Girls Club employee, added that he is "95 percent" sure the man pictured at the service is Hayat.

More than 300 people packed the Lodi Boys and Girls Club gym on Poplar Street to spread the word of peace -- eight days after Muslim terrorists flew planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Hayat stood before the crowd to quote the Quran with the red, white and blue American flag and the green and white Pakistani flag draped behind him.

Norm Mowery, who was pastor of First United Methodist Church at the time, said he believes the people who participated in the peace service were genuine in their beliefs.

"I'm the perennial optimist and I look for the best in people," said Mowery, who is now pastor at Church of the Wayfarer, a Methodist church in Carmel. "I think the stand was genuine, virtuous and right. I can't imagine that anyone who participated in that (service) would try to hurt Americans. And if they did, it's wrong."

Dixon Flynn, who was Lodi's city manager at the time, acknowledged the irony of someone attending a six-month terrorist training camp in Pakistan in 2003 and 2004, yet preaching peace and harmony days after 9/11.

"Why would he go to an event like (the 2001 service) and try (now) to prevent peace?

"I prefer to wait and see the evidence before making a judgment. I don't know that he's done anything."

Hayat's attorney, Wazhma Mojaddidi, was intrigued after learning on Thursday that the News-Sentinel had a 2001 photograph of Hayat reading from the Quran.

"I think the picture you have is consistent with the way he feels about terrorism," she said. "Anybody who plays an active role and expresses peace and unity couldn't be labeled a terrorist."

Keith Land, who sat on the Lodi City Council at the time, declined to speculate on the possible irony about Hayat's involvement in the 2001 peace even and perhaps attending a terrorist camp.

"The overall situation is a real tragedy," Land said. "I am hopeful that all the allegations are not true and that the statements were made because he was under a lot of pressure."

News-Sentinel staff writer Jake Armstrong contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.