Story Tools

Email this story | Print this story

Indexes

Today's Stories

Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• Lodi too small for two Tigers?

• Nationwide, pet obesity is on the rise — Lodi is no exception

• Richard Prima, public works chief, calls it a career after 3 decades

• Probation violated? Lodi man arrested after a hate-crime charge was tossed

• State approves $49.4 million for Highway 12 makeover

• Regional Roundup

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 (165)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (70)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Public health care is a Christian option (29)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (17)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

ADVERTISEMENT

Regional Roundup

Assistant court CEO arrested, not charged

The assistant executive officer of San Joaquin County Superior Court was arrested Thursday night after a domestic altercation at her home, but prosecutors declined to file charges.

Sharon Morris, 55, assistant to the court's CEO, spent the night in the Lodi city jail and was released from custody when no charges were filed.

Her husband, attorney David Wellenbrock, declined to comment. He retired three years ago from the District Attorney's Office after spending 18 years there, and before that he worked for 14 years in the Public Defender's Office.

Lodi Police did not give details on the 10:30 p.m. incident, citing victim privacy laws regarding domestic violence matters.

However, domestic violence laws give officers little discretion regarding whether to arrest a suspect. If there is any complaint of pain or visible injury, including a red mark or small scratch, officers make a felony arrest, said Lodi Police Officer Hettie Schaeffer, a department spokeswoman. She declined to comment on any injuries in the Thursday incident.

The filing of criminal charges is left to prosecutors, who consider factors such as whether there is enough evidence and if the victim will cooperate, Schaeffer said.

The prosecutor who declined the case, Pat Rieta-Garcia, did not return a message Friday afternoon,and neither did Rosa Junquiero, the court CEO. Morris' work voice mail said she was out of the office Friday.

Redevelopment EIR available to public

A draft environmental impact report for the city's proposed Eastside redevelopment district is available to the public.

Redevelopment is a tool cities use to channel property tax toward neighborhood improvements, like fixing sidewalks or upgrading storefronts, and ultimately spurring the economy in that area.

The Lodi City Council will vote this summer whether to approve a redevelopment district. It would stretch generally east of Sacramento Street to the eastern border of the city, but also include eastern stretches of Kettleman Lane and Lodi Avenue.

City consultants have estimated the district could generate $131 million over its 30-year lifetime.

Critics of redevelopment say the process places cities in too much debt, and funnels property tax away from schools and other services.

The environmental report — prepared by GRC Redevelopment Consultants, Inc. — studied ways redevelopment will affect land use, traffic and air quality, among other topics. A summary of the report said redevelopment will have a "less than significant" or no affect on the above topics.

The report can be picked up at Lodi City Hall, 221 W. Pine St. Call 333-6700 for more information.

Teacher winsBrazil study grant

A school teacher who lives in Lodi will spend a week studying fair trade in Brazil after winning a study grant competition.

Stephanie Brown, who teaches seventh and eighth grades at Waterloo Elementary School in Linden, won the nationwide contest sponsored by Sam's Club, TransFair USA and coffee roaster Cafe Bom Dia.

The week-long program will focus on improving environment, economic and social conditions for coffee farmers, according to a press release from the grant sponsors. While in Brazil, Brown will meet farmers, teachers and employees at coffee cooperatives.

Brown hopes to "bring real world lessons on global issues into my classroom," she said in a statement.

National Guardholding open house

Members of the California National Guard are hosting a open house at the armory to highlight opportunities in the guard.

The event will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and will feature Army equipment, video games, simulators, free pizza and drinks.

The armory is located at 333 N. Washington St. in Lodi.

Square dancing festival

The San Joaquin Valley Square Dancing Association is holding a festival, "Spring Jamboree," today at Hutchins Street Square. The event will feature continuous square dancing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and round dancing from 7 to 11 p.m. The caller will be Buddy Weaver from San Diego.

FFA auction today

The Galt FFA Ag Boosters will host its annual auction at 4 p.m. today.

Proceeds from the auction fund agriculture scholarships, field days and pay for students to attend state conferences and county fairs.

Items up for auction include gift certificates, farm equipment, antiques and even a few gag items. Donations for the auction are also still needed.

A hamburger or hot dog with chips, candy and a drink is also available for $5.

The auction will take place at Cattlemen's Livestock Market, 12495 E. Stockton Blvd.

For more information contact Tracy Silva at 607-4444 or Lisa Steele at (916) 600-5561.