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• Is Delta's Victor Road site dead?

• 3 allegedly connected to fake bills are arrested

• Where is the line for judges?

• Rising fuel prices squeeze Lodi driving schools

• After vicious dog attack, animal control officers in

• Regional Roundup

• Council eyes pay raise for development post

• Delta mulls response to grand jury report

November 2nd, 2009

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

November 7th, 2009

• Lodi High graduate was at Fort Hood

• Lining up for flu shots in Lodi

• Tour packs buses as birdwatchers admire Sandhill cranes

• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks

• Daytime thieves targeting Lodi homes

• Lodi High School rally featured on 'Good Day Sacramento'

• Out of control

• Homicide suspect Anthony Hubbard arraigned

• Regional Roundup

• New Lodi Memorial rule to combat spread of H1N1: Visitors must be older than 16

November 6th, 2009

• Short sales make up nearly half of Lodi market

• Regional Roundup

• Lodi man accused of smuggling drugs, weapons for inmates at state prison

• 'I-5 Strangler' sentenced to 6 terms of life

• Jury convicts Acampo man of torture, assault of his girlfriend

• Young girl is 200,000th person to assemble AIDS, HIV care kit

• Woman in wheelchair struck by car

November 5th, 2009

• A lower Lodi Lake

• Streetside scarecrows

• San Joaquin County considers moratorium on new Williamson Act contracts

• Speakers address Lodi Unified School District budget shortfalls, plea to keep programs

• Armed robbers still targeting Lodi shops

• Regional Roundup

• California voters have final say over $11 billion water bond

• Weekend bus service to continue until Lodi City Council makes decision

• Paul Tebbel shines spotlight on sandhill cranes

• Your complete guide to Sandhill Crane Festival

• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy

• Man wanted in Acampo homicide gives up to San Joaquin County Sheriff's detectives

November 4th, 2009

• Candle fire

• Rep. Jerry McNerney sets telephone town hall for Thursday

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council argues over ordinance hiring residents

• San Joaquin County sues state over prison hospital planned for Stockton

• Big win for Allen Baroni in reclamation election

• California sends Democratic loyalist John Garamendi to Congress

• Bicycling father raising awareness of teen suicide

• Lodi City Council weighs raising fares to restore some bus service

November 3rd, 2009

• 500 attend service for Kyle Coumas

• Correction

• Galt considers ordinance that would require city contractors to hire locally

• Regional Roundup

• Have you seen a missing guide dog puppy in Lodi?

• Galt man dies after weekend Highway 12 crash

• Jason Behrmann is top candidate for Galt city manager

• Deputies name suspect in fatal Acampo shooting

• Clarification

November 2nd, 2009

• Downtown Lodi trick or treat

• Public Meetings

• Correction

• Kyle Coumas funeral today

• 27-year-old man shot to death Saturday night in front of Acampo home

• Regional Roundup

• Group investigates reports of haunting

• Sandhill Cranes Festival comes to Lodi next weekend

• Lamborghini lovers gather for show, fine wine, luncheon in Woodbridge

• Lodi's 'Biggest Loser' Christy Richesin runs 5K Halloween race

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Bible is entwined with American civic life (135)
• I predict: A conservative tide will rise in 2010 (73)
• David Diskin is first to give an invocation under new city of Lodi policy (70)
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Rising fuel prices squeeze Lodi driving schools

Richard Evans has been teaching young drivers the rules of the road for over five years. Most things have been the same. Seat belt? Check. Rearview mirror? Check. Right, left right, go? Check.

But, now, he is adapting to major changes: Students are decreasing while gas prices are increasing.

Many local driving instructors are being forced to change their prices, their schedules, and the cars they teach with because of increasing gas prices.

"There is no way to prevent it," Evans said. "Everything has gone up, (gas prices) affect everything."

Prices at the pump have led driver trainers to look at alternative fuel vehicles and hybrids.

"In this industry, if you don't diversify ... you are in trouble," Evans said.

Paul Wilbur, owner and operator of Referee's Driving School has always used fuel-efficient vehicles. Currently, Wilbur's students drive a PT Cruiser which averages about 20 to 25 mpg.

Kristine Bistline, legal and legislative chair for the Driving School Association of California, said her company has switched models because of the need for more fuel efficient cars.

"We went from Mustangs to Chevy Cobalts," Bistline said. "I used to be known as the Mustang driving school, not anymore."

But new vehicles aren't enough, said Wilbur, who now spends about $1,680 a month for gasoline. Evans, who owns two vehicles, averages about $2,200 a month.

Wilbur said he used to work around students' schedules, but now he asks students to work around his.

Since his students come from as far south as Manteca to as far north as Sacramento, he creates schedules that group students together by region.

This saves money and fuel because he doesn't have to drive from town to town picking up students for their lessons. He can focus on one town at a time.

"They have to become very flexible for me (and) I have to be creative," Wilbur said.

Both instructors have had to raise the cost of their services as well and have run into roadblocks.

"I've had to increase prices and a lot of clients are upset by that," Wilbur said.

Wilbur currently charges $375 for six hours of training but said his costs have been changing so often, he doesn't even print out brochures anymore.

Yet regardless of opinions about class prices, parents and others are still enrolling in driving courses.

Evans said many customers are deciding to pay per lesson rather than buying a package deal.

"People are going to drive, they all need licenses," Evans said. "(So) now is a matter of how much parents are willing to pay to keep younger drivers safe."

For Bistline, increasing prices is not an option.

"We are trying to get prices raised but suddenly there is a downturn of sign ups," Bistline said.

Driving instructors aren't the only ones hurt by the increased gas prices, their students are as well.

Sixteen-year-old Danny Holland is looking forward to drive but already recognizes he must expect to pay.

"This is something I'll have to deal with eventually," Holland said. "I'll just have to save money and not drive (as much)."

But Wilbur said teens are in a tough spot because their parents get tired of driving them everywhere and without gas money, they really can't go far.

"It's pretty tough going up (Highway) 99 on a skateboard," Wilbur said.

Contact Natalie Flynn at natalief@lodinews.com.