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• Heat doesn't hinder lively, well attended Fourth at Lodi Lake

• Lodi Community Art Center loses home ... again

• Pyrotechnic professionals

• Don't panic: You have another year

• Home damaged in Lockeford blaze

November 20th, 2009

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Regional Roundup

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• Acampo woman killed

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

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

November 19th, 2009

• Logbook

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Operation: Christmas

• Corrections

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Chase ends in crash

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

November 18th, 2009

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

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

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

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

November 17th, 2009

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Regional Roundup

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Clarification

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

November 16th, 2009

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

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

• Public Meetings

November 14th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• 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

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

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

• The country's mess is our fault (130)
• Obama is not a moderate (129)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (60)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (49)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (45)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• The haves should help the have-nots (25)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)
• Nightmares about America's future (21)

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Olympic dreams

Lodi's blind archer shooting for 2012 Games

Lodi's Janice Walth is the only known blind archer competing in the United States.

But when she heads to Korea in October for the IPC Archery World Championships, she'll hope to bring back something more than a first-place finish.

"I think when I come back, I can really promote visually impaired archery with some legitimacy," Walth said

Unlike the U.S., Walth says, visually impaired archery has become popular in other parts of the world, such as Korea, which fields an entire team.

At this year's archery championships, the visually impaired event will only be exhibition status, but it's likely to become part of the 2012 Paralympics in London.

And that's a big part of why Walth is exicted to attend the games, as she'll get the opportunity to discuss the future inclusion of blind archery in the Paralympics, something in which she certainly hopes to compete. Other events for disabled archers have been included the games, but never one for the visually impaired.

Walth's husband, Courtney, a sighted man, took up shooting when the couple first met seven years ago. She'd join Courtney and the Lodi Bowsman as they shot at the Grape Festival Grounds, but it wasn't until three years later they figured out a way she could shoot, too.

The technique — mastered by British Blind Sport, an organization in the UK that coordinates sports for the visually impaired — requires the use of a tripod, an adjustable bowsight and a laser pointer to align the tripod with its target.

On this Thursday afternoon, Janice Walth has her bow steadied, her arrow drawn back and — fwop!

"Yellow! 8 o'clock!" Courtney says, describing the location of his wife's arrow.

Courtney Walth will accompany his wife to Korea as her coach and spotter, though the couple needs $6,000 to pay for the trip to Korea.

"I have to pay my own way because it's exhibition status," Janice Walth said.

Walth has been doing fundraising to raise the money for the VI Archer Foundation. To offer donations, e-mail Janice Walth at viarchery@softcom.net.