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Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• Is Delta College's new $84 million math and science center really needed?

• Lodi Mosque member says leaves are a 'sign' from God

• Lodi police hope to start pilot anti-gang program in schools

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

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 (170)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
• Public health care is a Christian option (50)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (22)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (17)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

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My Olympic arrival: Beam me up, Beijing

U.S. discus thrower Stephanie Brown-Trafton of Galt is keeping a journal about her Olympic experience. Following is her latest entry.

I have arrived in China safe and sound. On the trip from San Francisco to Beijing I had an exit row seat and I was able to stretch out my long legs during the 11-hour flight. I traveled with athletes from the fencing team, diving, and men's gymnastics. I also was able to lie back almost flat and take a much needed rest on the plane. I sat next to a woman who lives and works in Beijing and we exchanged numbers. She is from San Diego and she too feels far from the sunny beaches and skies of California.

The Beijing airport has just been remodeled and its Terminal 3 is the largest in the world. When the plane taxied up to the runway I looked out the window and the sight reminded me of the "Star Trek" movies where the Starship Enterprise opens up the door to the landing bay and the shuttlecraft hovers for a landing.

The air was thick and swampy and did not seem like it had improved. There were about 80-90 people with our group on the plane and a few of them had issues with their passport not matching the PVC (pre-validated credential) that the Beijing organizing committee had issued.

We all had our passports and credentials taken away while they checked each one and made photocopies. About an hour later we all had made it through the credential validation process and took a shuttle to get luggage.

Luggage was claimed and we waited in the main terminal for our shuttle to the Olympic village. There were hundreds of people lined up to see the athletes walk out to the waiting area and photographers were taking pictures and fans were asking for autographs. Eventually all of the athletes were allowed to board a bus to the Olympic village where we were to spend the night before heading to the track and field training camp in Dalian, China.

We checked in to our rooms and went to the dining hall for dinner. They served a variety of meats, potatoes, vegetables and salads. Peking duck was on the menu at the Asian station. McDonald's had a special restaurant serving hamburgers and apple pies. I didn't see any fries on their menu ... maybe they are trying to make it healthier for the athletes.

I put up my poster on the wall at the apartment in the village. This poster is a picture of the Beijing National Stadium taken from inside the discus circle. I use it for visualization and pretend to throw into the discus sector just like it will be on Aug. 15th. Suzy Powell and I are in the same apartment and we have taken over the living room with posters and tape on the floor to simulate a discus circle ... we are ready for the competition!

Suzy runs out of her room to tell me that one of the top contenders in the women's discus, a Russian girl, was disqualified for some sort of doping violation and we comment on how the Olympic competition will pan out.

Suzy and I go down to the medical room and get a massage to recover from the long flight. Next we go to an orientation meeting for the athletes and are introduced to the U.S. Olympic staff. They are covering all of the bases here and they have staff that will help us make it through the games with our needs met.

Back to the room where we pack and repack for the trip to Dalian. I have to condense my luggage again to take only one bag to Dalian ... I am looking forward to getting to my hotel room and settling in for 10 days. I won't have to worry about packing and repacking ... it has been a long 24 hours but I am now actually in China, at the Olympic village preparing to compete with the best of the best.

It's go time!