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• Wells Fargo to buy Placer Sierra for $645 million

• 'Not just skating'

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November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

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• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

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

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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

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November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

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• Congress allocates money for local water projects

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

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

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

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

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November 16th, 2009

• Correction

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

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November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

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

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• 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

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• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

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

• The country's mess is our fault (147)
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• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (54)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (46)
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'Not just skating'

Local teen center's Splinter park also offers bible study

At the 180 Teen Center, music to a skater's ears isn't just the Christian punk music blaring through speakers above the Internet terminals and pool tables.

It's outside, through a rear door of the rehabbed warehouse, on the concrete foundation of an old loading dock, where a group of teens are creating their own skateboarding rhythm.

Under a gray sky on a recent afternoon, about a dozen skaters sweep by on wooden ramps. The scraping sounds of wood on metal and the popping of wheels landing hard on pavement drowns out the noise of traffic on Lockeford Street.

Some of the teens have become members of what's called skate ministry.

"The whole idea is to give skaters, and especially skaters uninvolved in other things, an opportunity to skate, and at the same time, learn about life skills through the moral compass of the Bible," said teen center director Jake McGregor.

Any middle and high school-aged youth can use the Splinter Skatepark, while the skate ministry is involved with weekly Bible classes and fellowship. Of course, all are welcome to sit in on a meeting if they're interested. Skate ministry members also form a skateboarding team, which may go on out-of-town skate trips and competitions.

McGregor says the skate ministry movement was sparked in Portland, Ore. in 1987, when two childhood friends from San Luis Obispo founded skatechurch.

And, a couple of pastors from Fresno recently came to check out the 180 Teen Center's skatepark operations.

Lodi's Splinter skatepark has been open since November, and hosts at least a dozen teens on a typical afternoon. The 8,000-square-foot-park has ramps and runs for all skill levels.

At small skate shop has also opened at the center, and teens are talking about holding contests at the park.

Beau Baty, a 14-year-old Millswood Middle School student, said he likes the snack bar (stocked with candy, microwaveable foods, coffees and energy drinks).

"All the people here are all my friends," said Lodi High student Kelly Journagan, also 14.

Young skaters hit the ramps recently at the One-Eighty Teen Center on Lockeford Street.

McGregor said building a skate park has been his vision since accepting his position four years ago. There have always been 10 to 20 kids skating outside, on ramps McGregor built and repaired every six months or so.

In August, he traveled to Lubbock, Texas to give a grant proposal to the Betenbough Company, a home developer that also funds Christian ministries. It also awards grants to build parks through Splinter Skateboarding, a Joplin, Mo.-based Christian nonprofit that is trying to create a nationwide network of skate ministries.

McGregor received a phone call the morning after he gave the proposal — the teen center would receive $54,000.

Three months later, professional Christian skaters and volunteers worked for two weeks to install ramps — these should last 10 years.

With the grant, 180 also purchased a digital video camera and editing software, and opened a small skate shop.

Skate park director Travis Waugh says he and McGregor are focused on mentoring teens, many of whom are considered "at-risk."

"It's coaching them on being successful in skating and as well as spiritually," Waugh said.

Waugh said he'd like to plan some out-of-town trips as well as contests at both Splinter and Kofu skateparks. An impromptu contest in early December drew 15 entrants and 50 spectators.

Beau Baty, 14, skates at the One-Eighty Teen Center on Lockeford Street recently. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

A friendly "Lodi vs. Redwood City" exhibition is set for Jan. 27, where teen videographers will be gathering footage for highlight tapes.

Splinter Skateboarding director Mark Jannetta said skate ministries are growing in popularity since pastors discovered skateparks could be used as a tool to reach out to youth.

"I think a lot of people are tired of 'church,' and you'll find a lot of para-Christian organizations and ministries," Jannetta said. "Any state you go to you'll find skate ministries."

Clutching his JVC video camera, Brent Hemphill, 16, a Tokay student, rested his blue and red DC shoes on his skateboard. Hemphill is gathering footage for a video featuring the skaters who frequent Splinter Skatepark. He climbed to the top of one ramp, his camera lens carefully following a skater as he glides up and down ramps and his eventual mid-air maneuver.

McGregor says he loves seeing the teens' camaraderie, how they build friendships and creativity with each other.

"It's not just skating," he said.

Contact reporter Kendyce Manguchei at kendycem@lodinews.com.

First published: Thursday, January 11, 2007