Regional Roundup

Lodi firefighter convicted of DUI

A Lodi firefighter is scheduled to check into jail today to serve one day behind bars for a drunken driving conviction.

Emilio Cahue, 38, of Lodi, pleaded no contest Aug. 6 to driving under the influence of alcohol, according to San Joaquin County court records. His blood-alcohol content level was 0.16 percent, twice the legal driving limit.

Cahue, who was not a fire engine driver, remains on the job but has been under orders not to drive city vehicles since his May arrest, Lodi Fire Chief Michael Pretz said last month. Whether any further action will be taken is a personnel matter, Division Chief Kevin Donnelly said.

Cahue was arrested at 3:10 a.m. on May 18, when a California Highway Patrol officer stopped his pick-up truck on westbound Kettleman Lane at Alpine Road. He was booked into the county jail and released around noon that day, according to court files.

He was arraigned in court June 27 on one misdemeanor count each of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol level above 0.08 percent.

Cahue reached a plea deal with prosecutors, who dropped one count while he admitted to the other count. Such plea deals are common in most drunken driving cases in which no collision is involved.

Cahue was fined $2,323, ordered to enroll in an alcohol treatment program and spend two days in jail — with credit for the day he already spent in jail.

Any action on his driver's license will be taken by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Air quality warning for San Joaquin Valley on Friday

Air quality in the San Joaquin Valley was predicted to be at its most unhealthy level in a month Friday as 104-degree heat and stagnant air combine to trap pollution.

Air officials have issued a "very unhealthy" forecast for Fresno County, while the air in Merced, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties earned an only slightly better "unhealthy" rating.

Seeking outrageous dessert recipes

What's for dessert? Would it be a pizzookie — a dessert combining the idea of a pizza and a cookie that features a large, ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookie with melted ice cream all over? Or how about a barbecued banana with all the trimmings on top?

If you have recipes for outrageous desserts, we'd like to hear from you for an upcoming story. Recipes may be sent to Pam Bauserman at pamelab@lodinews.com or at P.O. Box 1360, Lodi, CA 95241.