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• 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 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

• Regional Roundup

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

• 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

• Jason Behrmann is unanimously named Galt's city manager

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

• Regional Roundup

• 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

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

• Group investigates reports of haunting

October 31st, 2009

• Area schools have no plans of closing due to H1N1 virus

• Tokay High evacuation

• Gated communities in Lodi

• Finishing touches on Hill House replica

• Regional Roundup

• In remembrance of Kyle Coumas

• Lodi-area Halloween events

• City of Lodi settles case of mistaken identity

• Lodi a reflection of Halloween's retail emergence

• Izzy Laviola and Seth Siddle-Mitchell crowned Tokay homecoming queen and king

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)
• The Treaty of Tripoli hoax (60)
• Universal health care solves big problems (54)
• Here's what my father knew about the assassination of JFK (35)
• Stuck in neutral? Hardly! (35)
• Words from our forefathers (27)
• City of Lodi staff looking into possibility of limiting number of taco trucks (24)
• Majority cannot deprive the minority (23)

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Isleton jumper Amy Acuff ready for Olympics

Three-time United States Olympian Amy Acuff says she enjoys living in Isleton because of both of the rivers that run through it and the historical aspects of the old Chinese community.

On Aug. 8, Acuff will be seeing real Chinese history up close on the ultimate field trip as a member of the U.S. team that will compete in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

The 6-foot-2 Acuff qualified for her fourth Olympics last month in the high jump at the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Acuff has never medalled in the Olympics, with her best finish being a fourth-place showing in the 2004 Athens Games.

"I am set on winning a medal in Beijing," Acuff said in an e-mail interview on Thursday. "You can't control what other people are going to do, but I plan to will myself into a great performance."

After graduating from UCLA with a degree in biology, Acuff, a native of Texas, has been among the best high jumpers in the nation for the last 15 years by using her longevity as well as her looks to help raise awareness of her sport.

Acuff has appeared in Playboy magazine and modeled for many others while acquiring somewhat of a reputation for donning spicy attire during a few select meets. But that won't be on display in Beijing.

"I used to spice things up at a few choice meets in the past," Acuff said. "The Olympic team-issued apparel is strictly controlled by sponsors for this event, so, there is no chance of that."

It is her intelligence and knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine that helps Acuff, a licensed acupuncturist, stay on top of her game at age 33.

"In such an abusive event as the high jump, I definitely could not have made it this long without it," Acuff said. "Athletics, and mainly injuries, has made me so aware of functional anatomy."

According to Acuff, who has a career-best leap of 6 feet, 7 inches, there is no clear-cut favorite and all of the medals in the high jump competition in Beijing will be up for grabs.

"The Croatian (Blanka Vlasic) is the one to beat right now," Acuff said. "There are two Russians that I'm sure will be strong. The medal stand is anybody's to be had."

And, incredibly, if Acuff does not medal in Beijing, there is a good chance she will shoot for what would be her fifth Olympics in the 2012 Games in London, England.

"I'm just going to play it year by year from here on out. I'm sure I have another four years in my body to go through 2012, but we'll have to see if the motivation to continue this rigorous and strict lifestyle is still there."

Make no mistake, however, Acuff enjoys the spirit of the Olympic Games and is proud to represent the USA.

"One of the really fun things about the Olympics is getting to chat with athletes from other sports. It is fun to admire their skills and talents. Just yesterday at team processing I got to meet Lisa Leslie from basketball," Acuff said.

After Beijing, it will be back to the peace and quiet of the Isleton home she shares with her husband, pole vaulter and Sonora native Tye Harvey.

"I have lived in Isleton for two years now," Acuff said. "My husband and I plan to stay."

Acuff and Harvey are members of the Tri-Valley Athletics track and field club which trains in Stockton under the tutelage of highly regarded coach Dan Pfaff. Harvey failed to qualify for the Olympics and will stay behind, but Pfaff will be joining Acuff in Beijing.