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• Olvera clock to be a museum centerpiece — it's a symbol of ties between Lodi, Zacatlan

• Local officials weigh in on approval of state budget

• Lodi police try to unite stolen items, victims

• Police looking for 5-year-old

• Lodi Unified School District gets $5 million refund from state for completed project

• Regional Roundup

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

• 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

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• 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

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (161)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (70)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (58)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Public health care is a Christian option (29)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)

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Police looking for 5-year-old

Girl not considered 'kidnapped,' but Galt PD concerned for her safety

Galt police are looking for a 5-year-old girl who hasn't been seen since Sunday night, when her parents took her from her grandmother's home.

Jada Hightower

Jada Hightower is considered at-risk because her father allegedly assaulted and kidnapped Jada's mother the previous day in Stockton, Galt Police Lt. Ken Erickson said. The incident doesn't meet the standards for an Amber Alert — a statewide alert with victim and vehicle information — because there was no sign of an actual kidnapping, Erickson said.

But because the girl's father is wanted on a $50,000 warrant related to the incident with the mother, police want to make sure that Hightower is safe, Erickson said. The girl attends a Galt school and is regularly in class, but she has been absent this week.

The weekend's incident started early Saturday morning in the 8900 block of Valley Oak Drive in Stockton. The girl's father, Laddie Hightower, 40, allegedly assaulted her mother and forced the woman into his blue Chevrolet Caprice with distinct rims, Stockton Police Officer Pete Smith said. Stockton police have since secured a $50,000 arrest warrant for domestic violence and kidnapping.

Then on Sunday evening the girl's mother, Silvia Nino, 30, picked up her daughter from Laddie Hightower's mother's house, where he was also living, Erickson said. Laddie Hightower was with Nino at the time.

Nobody has seen the three since, though Nino had apparently been in telephone contact Tuesday with her family and her employer, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Smith said.

The two have joint custody of Jada Hightower, and both live at separate homes in Galt. Police described Laddie Hightower as Nino's ex-boyfriend, but they don't know the status of the two at this point, or where Nino was when she called family. Galt police also do not know why Nino picked up her daughter, or why Laddie Hightower was with her.

"We don't know if that was under duress. Because it's unknown what that status is, we are concerned for the welfare of the girl," Erickson said.

Jada Hightower is described as black, 3 feet tall and weighing 45 pounds. She was last seen wearing blue shorts and a pink top.

Silvia Nino is Hispanic, 5-feet, 2-inches tall, weighing 130 pounds.

Laddie Hightower, is black, age 40 and is 5-feet, 11-inches tall.

They were last seen in Laddie Hightower's blue modified 1995 Chevrolet Caprice with 22 or 24-inch chrome wheels and a personalized license plate number of LRIDESS.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Galt Police Department at 366-7000.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.