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• Boaters pay high price for fun in sun

• Veterans, troops honored in Memorial Day ceremonies

• His future awaits

• Lodi Academy graduates 29 students

• Regional Roundup

• Public Meetings

• A kid's perspective

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

• 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

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

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

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

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

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

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

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• 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

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

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

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

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

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

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

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

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

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

• The country's mess is our fault (152)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (67)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (56)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Veterans, troops honored in Memorial Day ceremonies

"I'm not really a speaker; I'm a Navy man," Joe Richter said at Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at Woodbridge Masonic Cemetery.

Modest as he was, Richter was in the middle of the action when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.

"I think I saw the first plane come through," Richter said. "In five minutes, you couldn't see anything."

Richter, the guest speaker at the Woodbridge ceremony, said he was a scared 21-year-old, as he told a brief story about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

While veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan are usually spotlighted, emcee Pete Gonzales of the Lodi Elks Lodge also acknowledged veterans who fought in Granada, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.

The Lodi Community Band, conducted by Bob Gross, performed patriotic tunes.

The Woodbridge ceremony was one of six held in the Lodi area to honor people who gave their lives to protect the United States. Ceremonies were also held Monday at Cherokee Memorial Park, Lodi Memorial Cemetery, Harmony Grove Cemetery in Lockeford, Glenview Cemetery in Clements and Galt Cemetery.

Jim Skarles of the Lodi-Stockton Delta chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War places a wreath in honor of soldiers who have given their lives. (Ross Farrow/News-Sentinel)

Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, and San Joaquin veterans service officer Ron Green were the guest speakers at Lodi Memorial Cemetery.

U.S. Navy Capt. Charles R. Roots was the guest speaker at the Cherokee service, which featured 968 large veterans' flags and 6,082 small graveside flags marking the veterans' burial sites at Cherokee. There was also a field of flags in memory of the 4,374 soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Lockeford and Clements, the Lockeford Veterans of Foreign Wars conducted services. Kevin Young, president of the Clements-Lockeford Lions Club, and VFW Post Commander Steve Jackson spoke.

And in Galt, Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli and Galt City Councilwoman Barbara Payne were guest speakers at a service conducted by the Galt VFW. The Galt Community Choir Quartet also performed.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.