Michael Harrick, a senior at Lodi High School, has been accepted to West Point. (Dan Evans/News-Sentinel)

Regional Roundup

Lodi High student accepted to West Point

"Drop and give me ten!"

That's what Lodi High School Principal Bill Atterberry said when he marched into Michael Harrick's government class to announce that the senior had been accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

The 17-year-old received a nomination from President Bush, a honor reserved for applicants whose parents served in the military.

Chuck Harrick, Michael's father served for 26 years.

Michael Harrick, who as a young boy aspired to be a soldier, said he hopes to become an infantry officer, but wants to keep an open mind when he goes in case something sparks his interests.

Michael Harrick holds down a 4.2 grade point average, ran on track the track team last year and participates in Lodi High's drama program. He's also and Eagle Scout.

He attributes his acceptance to a week-long summer seminar he attended at the school.

"I guess I kind of got on their radar from there," he said.

Michael Harrick said service has always been a strong theme in his family's life and he hopes being a soldier will strengthen both his mind and his body.

Alleged drunken driver hits SUV head-on

A man who was driving with more than four times the legal limit of alcohol in his body allegedly crashed head-on into another driver Monday night, Lodi police said.

Refugio Salgado, 28, was driving down Turner Road at 7:06 p.m. when he turned south on Sacramento Street, Officer Dale Eubanks said.

Salgado made a wide turn and crashed head-long into a northbound Cadillac Escalade driven by Jonathan Kirst, of Lodi, Eubanks said.

Kirst was not injured but Refugio was hospitalized, where officers cited him. The crash totaled the 1992 Nissan Sentra he was driving, which was registered to someone else but was not stolen, Eubanks said.

Preliminary tests showed a blood-alcohol content level of 0.33 percent, well above California's legal limit of 0.08 percent, Eubanks said.

Salgado, who was not licensed or insured, is also suspected of entering the country illegally from Mexico, Eubanks said. Police planned to pass his information on to Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine his legal status.

LAFCO seeks public board member

Applications are being accepted for a public member and alternate public member with the San Joaquin County Local Agency Formation Commission.

LAFCO meets monthly in Stockton to review annexation proposals and boundary changes for cities and special districts.

Applicants must live within San Joaquin County, but they may not be an officer or employee of the county, any city or special district.

The public member will serve a four-year term, while the alternate will serve for two.

Applications are available at the LAFCO office, 1860 E. Hazelton Ave., Stockton, CA 95205, or from the Web site, http://www.sjgov.org/lafco. Deadline is April 9. For more information, call 468-3198.