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• Return of the cranes

• Transit employees, police don't want homeless at station for Sunday breakfast

• Acampo man, 95, recalls undefeated football team

• News-Sentinel honored in newspaper contest

• Regional Roundup

• Public Meetings

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 (152)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (67)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (56)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• 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)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

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Acampo man, 95, recalls undefeated football team

Lowell Kadel has a sparkling memory of his 95 years. One of his happiest memories for the Acampo resident is his high school football team's undefeated season in 1932, right during the depths of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl in rural Kansas.

Kadel has two outstanding souvenirs of his 1932 season for Hunter High School in north-central Kansas. One is a team picture that includes him and his brother, Omer. The other is the very football he used, marked with every player on the team and the opponent and score of all eight games.

"Me and my brother, we could out-run them all," Kadel said. "We were country boys. We were tough. We played in rain and snow and ice."

Kadel played left guard on offense; on defense, it was fullback and safety. Fullback is considered an offensive position today, but in the '30s it was similar to what a linebacker today.

Kadel described Hunter as "a little town of 150, if there was that many there." The 2000 Census says that Hunter had even fewer people — 77.

He recalled the excitement of beating Beloit, the Mitchell County seat, which had a lot bigger school.

"We sent them home, 38-0," Kadel boasted.

The beloved football he showed Sunday on the kitchen counter at his residence at Arbor Mobile Home Park off Woodbridge Road is "old genuine pigskin," Kadel said. "I wouldn't take $1,000 for the ball. I have too many bruises."

Kadel's family farmed wheat in Kansas, but they left for Idaho when the Dust Bowl began. Nevertheless, he enjoyed life in Kansas, frequently drinking corn whiskey during the midst of Prohibition.

Kadel got tired of farming and transferred to a career in the aircraft industry, living in places like San Diego, Tucson, Ariz., and New Orleans. They moved to Lodi in 1961 to live near a daughter.

He and his wife, Helen, met on a blind date in 1937 and married six months later. They've been happily married for 72 years.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.