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• State shuts down delta water pumps

• Bite victim still in hospital nearly a week after attack

• 'A beautiful thing': Lodi High graduates 515

• Lodi valedictorian a strong thinker who doesn't mind a day at the beach

• Lodi High's top graduates for 2007

• Lodi High School awards for 2007

• Lodi High School list of graduates

• Regional Roundup

• Graduation marks major milestone for Liberty High students

• Bianca Juarez named Liberty's top graduate

• Liberty High School list of graduates

• Galt High graduates 'excited about starting over'

• Galt High valedictorian likes varied activities

• Galt High's top graduates for 2007

• Galt High School awards for 2007

• Galt High School list of graduates

• Some of the best art around will be at 'The Square'

• Fire and smoke damage Lodi home

• Cruisin' Lodi and Rooftop Rumble a flashback event

• Clements Stampede thunders into town tonight, Saturday

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 (170)
• 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 (50)
• 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 (22)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

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Graduation marks major milestone for Liberty High students

Liberty High School's graduation ceremony was held Thursday morning — just a block away at Hutchins Street Square.

But for many of the continuation school's 112 graduating seniors, the trek to the square's outdoor stage often seemed like an endless journey.

By working to support her family, hanging out with the wrong friends and missing classes at Tokay High School, Araceli Quintero thought she'd blown any chance to complete school.

That is, until she enrolled at Liberty.

"I thought I wasn't going to make it — I thought I would work in the fields like my parents," said Quintero, moments after receiving her certificate of achievement, in front of hundreds of proud parents, friends and educators supporting the class of 2007.

Like many of the school's graduates, Quintero is headed for a brighter future after struggling to stay enrolled at Lodi's traditional high schools.

In her case, Quintero will attend San Joaquin Delta College this fall. She hopes to pursue a career in accounting or medicine.

Liberty High Principal Robert Rivas encouraged all the students to build on their accomplishments.

"Graduates, we know how far each of you have come ... the many hardships you have endured," he told them. "Pay attention to what you have done for yourselves. Recognize that you really have control of your success."

Liberty, which includes the Independence School and an adult education program, provides a more flexible schedule for students who have struggled to keep up with the structure of traditional schools.

Some of Liberty's students complete their assignments at home. Others spend only a few hours at the school each day.

Mike Nichols of Lodi said that flexibility helped his niece, Kaela Wagner, succeed at Liberty.

"It has been a little bit of a struggle," he said of her prior time at Lodi High School. "She needed an independent schedule."

Several of Liberty's students, including Quintero and Diego Chavez, became the first in their family to graduate.

"Very proud," is how Maria Pena, Chavez' mother, described her emotions Thursday. Chavez stood nearby, clutching his diploma.

"It was just a big relief after all the hard work, after the four years," he said. The 18-year-old plans to enroll at Heald College in Stockton and pursue a career as a computer technician.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.