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• Conservancy aims to expand Woodbridge Wilderness Area

• Tough times for Lodi youth seeking work

• Haze may last till weekend

• Lodi Unified takes first step toward facelift at Lodi High

• Acampo toddler dies after being hit by car

• Delta college lays out plans for bond projects

• Budget's approved, but Galt may see 'rocky' years in near future

• City hit by two brief but extensive power outages

• 15th Assembly hopefuls focus on Contra Costa

• Andal denies any role in Delta violation of open government

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 (71)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (49)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Public health care is a Christian option (30)
• 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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Local cyclists ready to take talents to new heights

Brothers Nathanael and Joseph Christensen of Clements, and Mark Whittock of Lodi are accomplished cyclists. They also compete in triathlons.

Joseph Christensen

The Christensens play in a bluegrass band and Joseph is a state fiddle champ.

Whittock plays tennis and soccer at Lodi High.

All of the boys are bright, gifted students.

Nathanael Christensen

Yet for all their successes, the three recently returned from a USA Cycling developmental camp at Sonoma State inspired and motivated to be even better on their bikes.

"I've always had a desire to compete at the top level, but the camp has bolstered my desire and given me more confidence," said Nathanael Christensen, 18, who was named the best athlete at the invitation-only camp that included the top 30 junior riders on the West Coast.

Mark Whittock

"I gained confidence and brought back lots more inspiration to ride," added Christensen, who earned a spot at the national talent identification camp, which will be held Oct. 9-13 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Lodi's Robert Fuller, a USA Cycling coach who works with the Christensens and Whittock as members of the local Rocket Sports Racing team, said the nation's best up-and-coming talent was represented at the camp, noting that a national champion and 20 state champs were in attendance.

As for the local riders, Fuller says the Christensens and Whittock can be as good they want to be.

"They have the potential to take it as far as they want," he said.

That potential was on display at the junior camp, and Fuller says some of the U.S. team's top coaches came away impressed with Nathanael Christensen, who proved to be quite a physical specimen.

Christensen scored highest on VO2 max (the maximum capacity of an individual's body to transport and utilize oxygen during exercise), a test that reflects the physical fitness and endurance of a person. He also ranked high in riding skills (cornering, braking, sprinting, to name a few) and was among the top riders in the criterium race, which involves numerous sprints and high-speed cornering.

But just as important, says Christensen, was the knowledge and experience he gained in the areas of race strategy and tactics.

"There is so much more to cycling than just pedaling a bike," he said. "There is so much mental involved. I've done triathlons and running, and there is an element to cycling that seems to make it harder. The strongest guy doesn't always win."

Christensen, who will move from the junior ranks to under-23 racing next year, says it's too early to think about an Olympic berth, noting that most riders don't hit their full potential until their late 20s. However, Fuller says maturity is one of Christensen's strong suits.

"He is the most mature of them all," Fuller said. "Coaches love this guy. He exudes leadership. He appreciates others and is well-rounded."

Joseph Christensen, 16, was also the best athlete in his age group, winning or placing high in every category he tested in. But unlike his brother, he can't help but to look ahead.

"I would love to become a professional cyclist and be on the national junior team and the Olympics would be great," said the multi-talented Christensen. "Cycling is probably the favorite thing I do."

Fuller says there's little that Christensen can't do.

"He's just a bright, bright kid," he said.

Whittock, 15, isn't as experienced on a bike as the Christensens, but the all-around athlete's numerous triathlon victories helped earn him an invitation to the camp.

Fuller says Whittock surprised him with his performance.

"I knew he would do well in the aerobic threshold; however, he amazed me with his skills during the clinics," Fuller said.