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Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• Uncertainty reigns

• Lodi pilot crash lands in vineyard, breaks leg

• City may haul in cash with new garbage deal

• State unveils new medical cards

• Good news: Expansion dedicated at Micke Grove

• Regional Roundup

• San Joaquin County Fair offers free entry time today

• Correction

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 (149)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (65)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (55)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (46)
• 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 (22)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Regional Roundup

Man arrested after police allegedly find drugs, guns

A Lodi man was arrested Thursday after police allegedly found a loaded handgun in his car and cocaine in his pocket.

Frank Alegre Jr., 51, was arrested before noon when officers got a report of a possible drunken driver, Capt. Gary Benincasa said.

When police arrived at Vine Rose Drive and Claret Court, near Ham and Kettleman lanes, they found a vehicle parked facing the wrong way. A man in the vehicle ducked when he saw police, which made officers suspicious, Benincasa said.

Police stopped and asked for identification, and the man began looking through his front seat but couldn't find it. Officers got him out of the car and tried to get his ID, but instead they found a loaded handgun sitting on the front seat, Benincasa said.

On the floor of the back seat, police found an unloaded .22-caliber rifle. They also found two police scanners in the car, Benincasa added.

Inside Alegre's shirt pocket, police allegedly found an Excedrin bottle containing what they believe was 1.2 grams of cocaine, Benincasa said.

Alegre was arrested on suspicion of possession of a concealed firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance, transporting a controlled substance and carrying a firearm while transporting drugs.

Galt council to discuss vote on spending plans

The Galt City Council Tuesday night will discuss and consider adopting spending plans for the next two fiscal years.

City administrators say the 2008-09 and 2009-10 budgets will be balanced, despite an expected flattening of sales and property tax revenue.

The city's General Fund expenses are expected to decline from $12.36 million for the 07-08 fiscal year to $11.85 million in 08-09. City estimates show they would reach $12.17 million in 09-10.

The General Fund pays for police, building, planning, attorney, engineering and many other city services.

Over the next two years, that fund will also be called upon to pay $1.5 million of the city's parks and recreation costs, Galt City Manager Ted Anderson said last week.

Revenue from the Galt Flea Market — which in the past has covered all parks and recreation expenses, such as youth sports programs — has not kept up with the department's expenses.

Anderson noted the shift in funds will still leave Galt with $5 million in General Fund reserves.

No layoffs will be required to balance the budgets. However, Anderson expects four positions could remain open. Those would affect the police, public works, building and planning departments, he said.

Disgraced former sheriff going back to prison

Former San Joaquin County Sheriff Baxter Dunn is heading back to prison for 30 days due to a drunken driving conviction while on supervised release.

Dunn, 61, must spend the full 30 days behind bars and on Thursday a federal judge ordered him to report to prison on Aug. 11, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Dunn was on supervised release after being convicted of mail fraud in 2005, related to a public corruption case that brought down several prominent figures. Dunn retired the day he entered his plea.

In the corruption case, he spent six months in prison and paid a $40,000 fine.

In November, Dunn was arrested on drunken driving charges after rear-ending a truck in Manteca, causing minor injuries to the truck's driver. That crime violated terms of his supervised release — similar to the state probation program — which included instructions not to commit any crime.

At sentencing Thursday, Judge Morrison C. England Jr. followed prosecution and probation recommendations on the 30-day sentence.

The judge noted that Dunn had complied with those supervising his release and made no excuses for the drunken driving incident. England also said that the crash could have been much worse if Dunn had hit a car instead of a truck, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Once Dunn finishes his 30-day sentence, he will remain on supervised release until December.

Supervisors increase military benefits

San Joaquin County employees who are called to active military duty will receive more military benefits.

The Board of Supervisors extended benefits on Tuesday because the leave-of-absence benefits were about to expire for six county employees who are on active duty.

The county will pay the difference between the eligible employees' military pay and regular county salary when the military pay is less.

District to hand out free mosquitofish

The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District will hand out free mosquitofish in Lodi June 25.

The fish help cut down on mosquitos and are ideal for ornamental ponds, green swimming pools and animal water troughs.

Recipients must be residents of Lodi or of surrounding San Joaquin County communities. They must provide a name, address and location where the fish will be placed.

A maximum of 15 fish will be handed out to residents, as long as supplies last.

The distribution will take place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. June 25 at the Lodi Softball Complex parking lot at 401 N. Stockton St.

For more information, contact the district at (209) 982-4675, 1-800-300-4675 or www.sjmosquito.org.