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• 50,000 San Joaquin homes to be reassessed

• 'Guardian angels': 3 honored for saving Lockeford woman from burning truck

• Last but not least: Tokay graduates two weeks late

• Tokay valedictorian already a social activist

• Tokay High School's top graduates

• 'We'd do anything to help Downtown Lodi'

• Contractor that hired farmworker who died put out of business

• 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)

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Last but not least: Tokay graduates two weeks late

Through mold, construction and what may have seemed like constant uncertainty, the staff and students at Tokay High School persevered to graduate a class of nearly 400 students.

"To say the least it's been and very interesting year at Tokay High School," said Principal Erik Sandstrom, before modeling what had become the school's standard dress code, a white construction hat decorated with a purple paw.

Tokay High started the school year five weeks late after construction workers found mold in every classroom building in June of last year.

Sandstrom compared Tokay High's senior class to a massive building project, full of obstacles and roadblocks, but ultimately successful.

"The road to success is always under construction," Sandstrom said, quoting actress and comedienne Lily Tomlin before delving into several other mold-related puns.

High temperatures kept the seniors sweating in their robes and interrupted Student Body President Trent Cunningham's speech, when the plastic coverings his speech was stored in melted together, causing him to lose his place.

"I think I'm missing a page. That's not good," he said searching for his place. "I got an extra copy. Don't worry," he said as he pulled folded pieces of paper out of his pocket.

"We prepare them so well they got the back up plan right in their pocket," Sandstrom said after Cunningham finished.

Senior Class President Kelley Douglas opened her speech with a warning: Beware of tears.

"I cry all the time, when I'm happy, when I'm sad. I get it from my mom, whose probably crying right now," she said.

Douglas made good on her promise after reflecting on the times she spent with her classmates.

Tokay High's staff broke diploma presentations into two chunks, giving the audience a break in the name-calling.

Gripping their diplomas, the new graduates waved to family members in the crowd with ear-to-ear grins.

Some stopped to hug nearby teachers.

One of those students was Abraham Espinosa, who wrapped his long arms around his favorite teacher Mary Ward. Ward stroked Espinosa's cheek as if to savor the moment.

Later Ward said a lot of the students at Tokay High are like kids of her own, including Espinosa.

"I've dragged him through, and he's been so much fun," she said. "He could have some way else, and he went this way."

Diploma presentations paused for valedictorian Lee Kraljev's speech, a journey through the classes four years of high school.

As freshmen, she said, the class was transfixed on two things: looking cool and Justin Timberlake.

During their last year, she said, the class of 2008 still had two things on their mind: getting out of school and Justin Timberlake.

"Yeah, he's still sexy," Kraljev said.

Kraljev peppered her speech with original metaphors — shocked like a baby eating "its first salt-and-vinegar chip" — and faux delusions of grandeur, and closed it with a quote from Dwight Schrute, "The Office's" quirky character with bouts of real arrogance.

"We must never acquiesce because it is together that we will prevail," she said.

Douglas presented teacher Joe Johnson with the senior class selection for teacher of the year. Johnson also won the Tokay High's schoolwide teacher of the year award earlier in the night.

Johnson slipped away without saying a word when accepting his first award, but the students wouldn't let it happen twice.

"Speech, speech," they clamored.

"I can't believe these guys want to hear more from me than they already have," he joked, before emphasizing that Tokay High's rough year had also been full of fun.

The second round of diploma handouts were filled with deep bellows and shrill screams from proud family members and friends.

Seniors Amanda Knox and Douglas' inspiring performance of "For Good" from the musical "Wicked" earned the pair a standing ovation.

Sandstrom ended the night with bit of business, declaring the class officially graduated from Tokay High School.

"And, yes," Sandstrom said, "Lodi Unified always saves the best for last."

Tokay High School Awards

Bank of America Awards — Certificate