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• Wal-Mart still seeks to build Supercenter in Lodi

• Lodi native starting over after hurricane

• Bates seeking chance to break into city politics in council race

• Former Tokay band director returns for Delta concert

• Regional Roundup

• Public Meetings

February 8th, 2010

• Public Meetings

• Locals pick best, most memorable Super Bowl commercials

• Regional Roundup

February 6th, 2010

• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch

• Meet Larry, Curly and Moe

• Baboon business

• Regional Roundup

• Several Lodi venues let you watch the Super Bowl in style

• Lodi Library celebrates 100 years of serving the community

• Culinary craft

February 5th, 2010

• Kids, teachers help Haiti by collecting pennies for Learning Link

• Lodi, Galt students reach out to help Haiti earthquake survivors

• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam

• Hours of sweat and work go into putting on crab feeds

• Things looking up for state's real estate

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Stray bullet strikes Lodi home; police suspect gang activity may be factor

February 4th, 2010

• Managers at Geweke Toyota answer questions about recall

• Lodi City Council votes to replace play structure at Century Park

• Lodi extends ban on pot shops for another year

• Mokelumne River triathlon set for June

• Family, friends to run half-marathon in memory of Galt family

February 3rd, 2010

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Lodi-area senators Dave Cox, Lois Wolk admit to gifts; Tom Berryhill case pending

• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts

• Galt City Council avoids budget cuts — for now

• New Lodi Memorial Hospital emergency room opens to the public without a hitch

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

February 2nd, 2010

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Jumpers across California

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

February 1st, 2010

• Find cuddly alpacas not too far from Lodi

• Public Meetings

• Patients can expect faster, better service when Lodi Memorial Hospital's new emergency room opens

• Man killed by Amtrak train in Lodi

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

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (72)
• President Obama's first year (67)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future (60)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (49)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (39)
• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (30)

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Lodi athlete receives world-class treatment

For one week, Rodger Robinson was given the chance to live the life of a world-class athlete. The Lodi wheelchair racer was invited to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., recently to train with Olympic medalists and Olympic coaches.

He was served multi-course meals, given access to the best facilities the country has to offer and was able to meet and listen to 2008 Paralympic medalists.

"It was absolutely amazing. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to be able to go down there and train with the best in the world," Robinson said of the trip. "There were gold medalists in every room and they made us feel like we really were representing our country."

It was an experience Robinson enjoyed so much, he would like to become a frequent visitor to the establishment. Robinson, a 39-year-old special education teacher at Victor Elementary School, is already a high-caliber athlete who has finished near the top of marathons around the country — including a second-place finish in the handcycle division of this year's Boston Marathon.

Robinson was one of 30 people from around the country to be invited to the training, where the athletes rode at least 54 miles each day. Being located in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, the athletes even did a little hill riding. One trail was a 25-minute ride up and a three-minute free ride on the way down.

"We hit speeds of 50 miles an hour on the way down," Robinson said. "It was a real adrenaline rush. I love it — climbed it twice."

Robinson was already on the radar as a possibility to be a member of the U.S. Paralympic team to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London. Now, after training with national coaches and Olympic medalists, he's looking even better.

The coaches told him he needs to change the way he competes to improve his chances. Instead of entering a lot of marathons, Robinson needs to enter more U.S. Handcycling events, so he can qualify for the team. The handcycling competitions consist more of criteriums and time trials, like three, four or six-mile sprint races as opposed to the 26-mile, long-distance handcycling marathons. It's a change Robinson is happy to oblige with.

"It's no problem for me. I'll do anything to get back to the U.S. training center," he said. "To be treated as an elite athlete and be in their company for a week was a great opportunity and I hope I get to do it again. I plan on taking what they taught me and moving forward with it."

Robinson is grateful for the "awesome community effort" Lodi gave him in raising funds and making the dream-like trip a reality.

Now Robinson is not only adjusting his competition schedule, but his training schedule as well. He plans on dropping some of the marathons and entering into the U.S. Handcycling Series next year. If he can finish well in the series, he will earn an invitation to the annual world finals. With a win there, Robinson would grab a spot on the U.S. Paralympic team. With the 2012 Olympic qualifying cycle just beginning, he could have four chances to do it.