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• Galt $7 million short

• 'History going down the drain'

• Lodi council sees holes in latest greenbelt proposal

• Galt acts on two large public works projects

• Deportation could split family here for 13 years

• Regional Roundup

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

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

• 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

• Regional Roundup

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

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• 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

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

• 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

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

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

• Regional Roundup

• 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

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Group investigates reports of haunting

October 31st, 2009

• Area schools have no plans of closing due to H1N1 virus

• Tokay High evacuation

• Gated communities in Lodi

• Finishing touches on Hill House replica

• Regional Roundup

• In remembrance of Kyle Coumas

• Lodi-area Halloween events

• City of Lodi settles case of mistaken identity

• Lodi a reflection of Halloween's retail emergence

• Izzy Laviola and Seth Siddle-Mitchell crowned Tokay homecoming queen and king

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

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (71)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (70)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (60)
• Universal health care solves big problems (54)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (35)
• Stuck in neutral? Hardly! (32)
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• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks (21)
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Galt acts on two large public works projects

The City Council took a major step to improve traffic in central Galt by approving a $2.6 million contract Tuesday evening for the city's C Street intersection improvement project.

The council also approved a financial advisor to help with the funding of its wastewater treatment plant upgrade project.

The need to replace the C Street interchange over Highway 99 was identified in the city's 1990 General Plan. Residents complain that traffic slows to a crawl over the 50-year old overpass, especially during the Galt Market.

In a 4-0 vote, the council awarded the contract to the Roseville-based engineering firm Omni-Means, which will draw the plans and specifications and perform the estimate for the more than $30 million project. Mayor Tim Raboy was absent.

Omni-Means has been working since 2003 on the environmental study for the project. Tuesday's contract award is for phase two of the project, covering all the work leading up to the beginning of construction.

City officials estimate construction will begin in April 2010 with the new interchange in place in late 2011. The new overpass will replace the existing bridge with two bridges, Public Works Director Gregg Halladay said.

Councilman Darryl Clare said he hopes the city gets its money's worth from such a large contract.

"This is a big ticket," he said. "I'm pleased with the work Omni-Means has done. If we have to squeeze a little more money out of them, I think we can."

The contract is subject to review by the California Department of Transportation, which audits all large contracts of this type.

The council also voted 4-0 to hire Urban Futures, an Orange-based consulting firm, to advise the city on its wastewater treatment plant financing. The firm recently helped the city amend its redevelopment plan.

The city's wastewater treatment plant is undergoing a $50 million upgrade. Finance Director Inez Kiriu said financing options include selling bonds, state loans and cash on hand. Urban Futures is being brought in to help the city identify the best option, she said.

"As the city's financial advisor, the firm would independently review, analyze and recommend the optimum manner for financing the project," she said.

The $15,000 contract could be expanded if the consultant helps the city with a bond sale.

Contact reporter Matt Brown at mattb@lodinews.com.