Regional Roundup

SWAT team arrests two

An 18-year-old Lodi man and his girlfriend were arrested Tuesday morning after the police department's SWAT team served a warrant at their downtown hotel room where they lived.

Manuel Soto and Lisa Lynn Walker, also 18, were arrested on suspicion of drug and weapon possession and are expected to be arraigned in court later this week. Each was being held in the city jail on $30,000 bail.

Investigators had learned that Soto was allegedly selling narcotics and also had a firearm, Detective Sgt. Steven Price said. He asked the SWAT team to first enter the room at the Star Bar Hotel, 22 S. Main St.

Soto and Walker were arrested without incident and detectives found a sawed-off shotgun and 3.5 grams of crank in their home, Price said. The illegal narcotic is valued at about $150 but could be split into 35 "hits," Price said.

County group opens preschool program

First 5 San Joaquin has announced 20 open spots for its preschool program at Washington Elementary School.

Parents in the Lodi Unified School District will be able to apply for these free preschool slots in April.

"We are encouraged to invest in our childrens' futures, knowing that a valuable preschool experience results in a lifetime of success," said First 5 San Joaquin Porgram Coordinator Lan Schiff-Ross in a statement released this week.

The organization has allocated more than $4 million this year to provide San Joaquin County children with an enriching education before they reach the age of 5. The group runs preschool programs at Parklane, Beckman and Creekside elementary schools.

For more information on preschool programs, contact First 5 San Joaquin at 953-5437.

MAC to discuss historic chapel, health van

The Lockeford Municipal Advisory Council will discuss a plan by St. Joachim Catholic Church to relocate its 19th-century chapel on Highway 88 to its church property on Lockeford Ranch Drive at Thursday's council meeting.

In other action, the advisory council will discuss Lodi Unified School District's plans to expand Lockeford Elementary School and the possibility of San Joaquin General Hospital to bring a health van to Lockeford on a periodic basis.

Thursday's meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lockeford Community Center's McDonald Building, 19456 N. Jack Tone Road.

Mori elected as first Thornton MAC chairman

Bruno Mori was elected the first chairman of the newly created Thornton Municipal Advisory Council. Mary Grundman was elected vice president of the seven-member council, and Kristine Lagoda is secretary. The council met Feb. 5.

Regular council meetings, open to the public, will be held on the first Monday of each month at the Thornton Community Center, next door to Mater Ecclesaiae Catholic Church, 26500 N. Sacramento Blvd. Meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. during standard time and 7 p.m. during daylight-saving time.

McFall transferred

LOMPOC — A former San Joaquin County sheriff's deputy convicted in a corruption case will serve his sentence working alongside other inmates at Lompoc federal prison.

Monte McFall, 61, was sentenced Dec. 12 to more than 10 years in prison for his role in a public corruption scheme that also brought down San Joaquin County Sheriff Baxter Dunn and former Supervisor Lynn Bedford.

First published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Reader Feedback

I home preschooled my daughter wrote on Feb 14, 2007 11:32 AM:

" and then she went to a private Christian school. She was never behind and did quite well in school. She is in college today with a 3.5 GPA. However, my son went to preschool, then to public school before making the switch to the private school. He had to be dropped a grade due to being so behind, and due to the poor foundation hasn't always been as successful in school as his younger sister. "

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Why shouldn't pre-school be free? wrote on Feb 14, 2007 10:19 AM:

" If you want to send your kid to a paid school that is your business. But just because someone sends their kid to public pre-shcool does not mean they sholdn't have kids. What is your major malfunction? "

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valleynative wrote on Feb 14, 2007 10:03 AM:

" preschool is not required. if it were our students would be better prepared and would cost us less money in the long run. plus students in non-english homes would learn english faster and assimilate faster. you are just upset because it wasn't around when you were paying for it. think of the future and not your own selfishness. "

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Debbie wrote on Feb 14, 2007 9:33 AM:

" Free Pre-School! No such thing, someone is paying for it.... In raising my child, I payed for pre-school and everything else that was associated with raising a child. I may have to work 2 jobs to do so, but, I did it. I was the one that chose to have a child, not the county nor state, it was my responsibility alone. Stop having children if you can take complete responsibiltiy! "

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