Regional Roundup

Lodi hires interim deputy city manager

Rick Oakley, a veteran city administrator, will serve as Lodi's interim deputy city manager starting July 22.

Oakley is a former city manager for Adelanto and Placerville. He has served in the public sector most recently as Barstow's interim finance director and previously as an assistant city manager in Coronado.

He's also worked extensively in the private sector, specifically in the investment banking industry for several firms.

"We're pleased that someone with such a strong background in the public and private sector was available to help us until we find a permanent replacement," Lodi City Manager Blair King said in a press release.

Lodi is searching for a permanent deputy city manager to fill Jim Krueger's job. Krueger left earlier this month after four years in Lodi for a similar job near his family in Idaho.

The position oversees Lodi's finance, budget, personnel and information systems divisions. The city is accepting applications for a permanent deputy city manager through Aug. 25.

VA awards grant to Lodi Salvation Army

The Lodi Salvation Army's Hope Harbor Family Shelter will receive a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Veterans Program to aid in housing and counseling for homeless veterans.

"This is good news. We have an obligation to all the men and women who served and I'm pleased that the Lodi Salvation Army's initiative to serve veterans in a transitionary period was rewarded by a grant," said Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, in a press release.

Lt. Dan Williams, of the Lodi Salvation Army, estimates the amount will be approximately $120,000 and will be given on a per diem basis depending on how many veterans are being housed at the facility.

"We're excited because it will help us to work with the homeless vets we have in the community and get them into housing," he said.

Williams said the Salvation Army has been working with some of the veterans in the rehabilitation programs and have been waiting for this for quite a few years.

The grant will aid veterans who are going through drug and alcohol treatment at the VA. The vets are permitted to stay for up to two years.

Units have been set aside for 10 veterans and Williams said they plan to have a case manager provide assessments for each one to see what the needs are.

Elementary expansion, public safety on agenda

Michael Garr and Steve Miller from the Lodi Unified School District will give a report on the Lockeford Elementary School expansion and renovation project at Thursday's meeting of the Lockeford Municipal Advisory Council.

In other action Thursday, Lt. John Williams from the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol Officer Adrian Quintero will report on public safety issues in Lockeford, Chris Locke will give an update on the proposed Lockeford Community Park and Gary Gordon will report on the renovation of the 19th-century Lockeford schoolhouse building.

Thursday's MAC meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Lockeford Community Center's McDonald Building, 19456 N. Jack Tone Road.

Couty to spray against West Nile virus

The San Joaquin County Mosquito and Vector Control District will increase aerial and ground spraying in various areas of the county this week to combat growing mosquito populations and West Nile Virus activity.

District Manager John Stroh stated that the recent heat wave created perfect conditions for West Nile to expand in local bird and mosquito populations, and the virus is now being detected in numerous urban, suburban, and rural areas.

The Lodi area has not been affected thus far.

Areas planned for spraying this week include White Slough and other areas west of Interstate 5, plus areas north and east of Escalon.

Spraying for adult mosquitoes is done near sunset or sunrise with trucks and airplanes when mosquitoes are most active. The district will use sprayers that apply a very fine mist of material that kills adult mosquitoes.

Residents should take precautions to avoid mosquito bites and eliminate standing water on their property," Stroh said in a press release.

Spray locations and times will normally be available 24 hours in advance.

Residents may access spray information and spray schedules by calling 982-4675 or toll-free at 1-800-300-4675 between 7 a.m. and noon and from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. Information is also available at www.sjmosquito.org.

DUI bill would require treatment program

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed Assembly Bill 2802, which will require a person convicted of a "wet and reckless" offense who has a prior drunken driving conviction in the past 10 years to participate in a nine-month treatment program at their own cost, according to Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, who authored the bill.

The treatment program includes education, group counseling and individual counseling.

Current law permits many people who are arrested of drunken driving to plead to a "wet and reckless" conviction, which carries far fewer penalties than a DUI conviction, even though they are both the result of driving under the influence, Houston said in a news release.

Houston's Assembly district includes Galt and Thornton.