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Top Blogs

• Sieglock beats Hegyi, Sander in District 10 race

• Huber victorious in District 10 Democratic primary

• State conducts farm worker safety inspections throughout San Joaquin County

• Lodi finance chief heading for new position in Idaho

• Buchanan wins Democratic Primary in 15th

• Ornellas rolls to re-election as supervisor in San Joaquin County 5th District; Bestolarides wins 3rd District; Villapudua in 1st District runoff

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi woman accused of forgery denies allegations

• Race for San Joaquin County bench going to November runoff

• Oak View gets support for bond

• McNerney supports Obama

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)

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Lodi high jumper Balentine leaps into the state spotlight

Accomplishment: Lodi High's Samantha Balentine placed sixth and earned a medal in the girls high jump last Friday at the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Samantha Balentine

The senior-to-be won a jump-off during Thursday's preliminary round to advance to the finals. She then cleared a mark of 5 feet, 7 inches to place in the top six in the state.

Family: Ray Balentine, father; two brothers and a sister.

Favorite sport: Track and field. "I enjoy the competition and the coaches," said Balentine, who also plays volleyball for Lodi. "I also like all the different places we get to travel for meets."

Favorite athlete: U.S. Olympians Amy Acuff and Billy Mills. Acuff is a three-time Olympian in the high jump and Mills was a gold medalist in the 10,000-meter run. "She's really determined and she's always positive," said Balentine, who has met both Acuff and Mills.

Favorite subject: Summer. "More time for track during the summer," Balentine said.

Favorite hobbies: Balentine enjoys hanging out with friends, playing sports, sleeping, eating food and helping young children succeed in track.

Would like to meet: Actor Will Ferrell. "He's hilarious," Balentine said.

Crowning achievement: Placing sixth at state in the high jump this year and getting to compete in the bigger invitationals.

Plans: Balentine hopes to attend a Division I college and continue to compete in track and field.

The Athlete of the Week is selected by the News-Sentinel sports staff. Nominations are gladly accepted. Balentine will receive a T-shirt courtesy of Lodi Sporting Goods for being selected.