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• Nine felony charges

• Lodi, Galt facing fines

• Lodi Unified sees gains in its state standardized tests

• Adult store robbed at gunpoint

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)

ADVERTISEMENT

Ready for more adventures in Lodi

I vividly remember my first trip to Lodi — and probably will for the rest of my life.

It was 2006 and I was coming from Colorado to California to help celebrate my sister's 30th birthday (or make fun of her in person might be more accurate).

That's when my brother-in-law came up with an idea to do something new and exciting. Somehow skydiving in Lodi was the selected choice.

I thought I was game for hurling myself out of a fully-functional plane, so I agreed. Although when I look back, I fail to see the logic of my decision.

As the plane cruised higher and higher into the sky, I was sure that we were closer to outer space than the ground. That's when the guide strapped on my back said it was time to jump out even though I distinctly remember saying no.

Despite the fact that my legs were paralyzed with fear, my guide managed to talk me into moving toward the abyss-like door — and by talk me into it, I mean he picked me up and carried me over there.

Then came the leap of faith, or how it seemed to me at the time, the plunge of death. For the few brief moments I could open my eyes during the seemingly-forever freefall, I saw a beautiful, picturesque canvass below me — one that looked just as nice when I was peacefully gazing at it through the window from inside the plane.

Once the parachute was deployed and I went from dropping like a cannon ball to swaying back and forth like a feather, my heart slowly reverted back to its regular pace instead of that of a humming bird.

I enjoyed floating back to the earth, but enjoyed having my feet touch it even more. I am not sure if I would ever jump out of a plane again on my own free will, but the experience was nevertheless unforgettable.

Having now returned to Lodi as a sports reporter for the Lodi News-Sentinel, I am hopeful I can create some new memories that maybe I don't have to risk my life to create.

I have been a sports reporter for seven years, most recently in Glenwood Springs, a small mountain town in Colorado. Writing about high school and community sports is an occupation I feel lucky to have and a responsibility I don't take lightly.

I am excited to be here and look forward to getting to know about the people and atmosphere of the area instead of just knowing what it looks like from 10,000 feet in the air.

Joelle Milholm is a News-Sentinel sports writer. She can be reached by phone at 369-7035 or by e-mail at joellem@lodinews.com