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Police soon learned that the driver, whom Officer Josh Redding stopped for a traffic infraction, was wanted on warrants. Wade was on parole, which allowed police to search him, and Jacobson said he found firecracker fuses in Wade's pocket and methamphetamine under a strap on his boot.

Both men were arrested and a tow truck was called to the scene at Flora and Main streets. The tow truck driver moved the car forward to get it into position and noticed something that had been beneath the vehicle, Jacobson said.

The tow truck driver gave the three-inch-long metal object to Jacobson, who realized he was holding a possible pipe bomb and quickly put it outside the patrol car.

Bomb squad members inspected the device and on Thursday determined that it was active and could have exploded if the fuses had been in place, Jacobson said.

Officers saw the driver get out of the car without holding such an item, so they suspect Wade tossed the pipe bomb under the car, Jacobson said.

Wade is on parole after a 2003 conviction for involuntary manslaughter in the April 2002 death of wheelchair-bound Robert "Scott" DuBois, of Lodi. He was paroled from state prison and then spent another year in jail after a September 2005 conviction for possessing ammunition, according to San Joaquin County court records.

Boy hit by car to be released from hospital

A Lodi boy who was hit by a car Wednesday is expected to be released from the hospital today, police said.

The boy, who turns 5 today, was flown by medical helicopter after he ran in front of a car on Lodi Avenue near Garfield Street at 1:08 p.m.

He was conscious and crying at the scene, but medical workers feared head injuries. Police said the boy, who had traveled as many as 52 feet after he was hit, had a fractured skull and ocular bone.

The boy apparently had no brain injuries and was in good condition Thursday evening, Lt. Steve Price said.

Police are investigating the matter as an accident and do not think the driver, a 24-year-old woman, was at fault.

School buys video microscope for the WOW

Washington Elementary School raised nearly $1,900 to buy a video microscope for the World of Wonders Science Museum.

The school's Parent Teacher Club collected loose change from students, parents, teachers and community members in science beakers for three months to raise the money.

The hand-held microscope magnified images 200 times and shows them on a television monitor.

"You can put it on anything, and it shows a live picture," said Marne Simpson, the Parent Teacher Club president.

Washington Elementary classes competed against each other to raise the money and were helped out by a few businesses, including Umpqua Bank, House of Clocks and Martin Construction.

Simpson said the club chose the microscope because the scientific concept behind the device is easy to understand.

"It's one of the most fun (exhibits) for the kids because there's no learning curve."

Planning Commission approves subdivisions

The Lodi Planning Commission approved a parcel split, a development plan review, two beer and wine licenses and a parcel map extension at its meeting Wednesday night.

Below is a list of the specific approvals:

• Request for a tentative parcel map to divide one parcel into two at 14 S. School St.

• Request of Kathleen Haring for development plan review to construct six residential units at 1911 S. Church St.

• Approval of a permit to allow a beer and wine license at Taqueria Santa Cruz at 2533 W. Kettleman Lane.

• Approval of a permit to allow a beer and wine license at Janet's Richmaid Restaurant at 100 S. Cherokee Lane.

• Request of Kathryn Takemura for a one-year extension of time on a previously approved tentative parcel map to divide one parcel into two parcel at 630 N. Pleasant Ave.

FPPC OKs fine against Galt Chamber groups

The California Fair Political Practices Commission voted 4-0 with one absent Thursday to fine two former committees of the Galt District Chamber of Commerce and the chamber's former executive director $39,000.

The commission approved FPPC staff's recommendation after FPPC staff and Galt representatives agreed to the $39,000 settlement.

The FPPC fined two former chamber organizations, Businesses United for Good Government, which was the chamber's political action committee until BUGG was disbanded earlier this year and the Galt Economic Development Task Force. Also fined was Rex Albright, former chamber president and CEO who also served as treasurer for BUGG and the Economic Development Task Force. Albright is now executive director of the Calistoga Chamber of Commerce in Napa County.

Some speakers requested a higher fine for the chamber organizations, others requesting reimbursement of funds from the chamber organizations and some requesting jail time, according to FPPC spokesman Roman Porter and Brian Hildreth, an attorney for the plaintiffs.

City Councilman Tim Raboy asked commissioners to increase the fine to the maximum $45,000 and reimburse him $1,000 that he spent for Measure R, the slow-g owth initiative that was defeated in 2002, plus $1,000 each spent by Galt resident Joann Walter's committee and by Tom and Lori Heuer's committee.

Raboy also asked the FPPC to refer the case for criminal prosecution with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, California Attorney General's Office and the FBI.

The commission approved only the $39,000 fine.

Deputies seek Stockton registered sex offender

A registered sex offender is being sought on allegations that he kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 12-year-old Stockton girl.

Billy Potts

Billy Don Potts, 71, is considered armed and dangerous, and is accused of using a firearm during the crime, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.

Officials issued an Amber Alert around noon Thursday after Potts and the girl did not return to the East Vine Street home where they lived in Stockton. Potts is a family friend of the girl but not related, Deputy Kim McCleary said.

The Amber Alert was canceled after the girl was found around 2 p.m., but officials were still seeking Potts.

Potts and the girl left for the Food-4-Less grocery store on Wilson Way around 7 p.m. Wednesday and never returned. It took a while for family members to realize something was wrong, because Potts was a trusted family friend, McCleary said.

Potts is now being sought on suspicion of kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault of a child and possessing a firearm. He is listed on California's Megan's Law Web site as being convicted of lewd acts on a child.

Potts is described as white, 5-feet-9 inches tall, 165 pounds with blue eyes and balding brown hair. Anyone with information may contact local law enforcement or the Sheriff's Office at 468-4400.

Governor declares drought emergency

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in nine Central Valley counties grappling with severe water shortages.

The governor says below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and a court-ordered restriction on water transfers have led to shortages in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties.

Thursday's emergency declaration comes a week after the governor declared a statewide drought.

The declaration will allow the Department of Water Resources to transfer groundwater through the California Aqueduct to help farmers in the affected counties.

The governor is also directing the State Water Resources Control Board to give speedy review to water transfers.

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