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• Opposition to water rate increase begins

• For urinary incontinence, unique implant helps some patients, local doctor says

• Second life for Woodbridge Grange building sought

• Growers vote to continue battle against vineyard-killing disease

• Lockeford starts solar energy project

• Regional Roundup

• USS Iowa may become port museum

• Logbook

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

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November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

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• 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

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

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• 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

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ADVERTISEMENT

USS Iowa may become port museum

A historic battleship unwanted by San Francisco could end up as part of a major attraction to Stockton's waterfront.

Politicians in Washington, D.C., support a bid by the Port of Stockton to acquire the decommissioned U.S.S. Iowa and use it as an artifact, museum and tourist attraction.

"We're very interested in the idea," said port Director Richard Aschieris, "and that ship has a great history."

Aschieris said he took heart from word Friday that the U.S. Senate voted Thursday for opening a bid process for California cities to bring Iowa to their waters.

The Port of Stockton might be the most interested party of the potential bidders. Aschieris said the bid would make note of the port's willingness to donate 1,000 feet of dock space, a nearby 90,000-square-foot building and 15 acres worth of parking just to accommodate the ship.

He said the ship would be part of a complex where visitors could learn about the history of the Iowa, the U.S. Navy in the Pacific and even the navy's history in the Central Valley.

Between the dock space, acreage and building, Aschieris said, the port's bid encompasses at least an estimated $30 million worth of enticements.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement that she supports the museum concept. The Iowa is docked in Suisun Bay, and was decommissioned in 1990.

"While I am sure a number of communities in California will be interested, I understand that the Port of Stockton has already begun making preparations and raising money to bid on this project," she said in a statement Friday.

Aschieris said he's not aware of any other California cities that might want the Iowa, and pointed out that most other port cities, such as Alameda and Long Beach, already have naval attractions of their own. Earlier this month, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors rejected a motion to dock the ship there.

"We're right on Interstate 5, and we're in a freshwater environment," he said. "That really helps with the maintenance of the ship."

Launched in August 1942, the Iowa transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt on his way to the Tehran Conference in November 1943, and is the only battleship with a bathtub as a result.

The ship also saw service in the Pacific theater of World War II and the Korean War, and was President Ronald Reagan's ship for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. An unexplained turret explosion on the ship in 1989 killed 47 sailors.

The bid process for the Iowa requires cities to submit applications that include plans for finances, mooring, maintenance, towing, environmental concerns and using it as a museum. The Secretary of the Navy and then U.S. Congress must sign off on the selected city.

Aschieris said he expects at least two years to pass before the Iowa could be in the Port of Stockton.

Contact Ben van der Meer at benvan@tracypress.com.