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• State of the City

• 'A wonderful guy to be around'

• Jury rules no money from state

• Few details on drowning

• Vinewood principal recognized as 'Boss of the Year'

• Regional Roundup

• Foreclosure rate makes Mountain House the 'underwater' epicenter

• Four out of five: Delta College disagrees with most of state's findings

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 (161)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (70)
• 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)
• 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)

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A dream deferred

After losing his final prep season to a devastating knee injury, Lodi senior unsure about his once-promising future in football

One hit. One pop. One fraction of a second and everything changed for Conner Peterson.

The Lodi High senior went from a standout running back and linebacker with collegiate potential to a spectator. His knee was left mangled, his future football plans altered. He may play again, he may not. If he does, it certainly won't be easy.

"I was hoping to play in college. I talked to a bunch of coaches and everything. It would be pretty tough now," Peterson said.

It was Sept. 12, a day which began filled with the hope that accompanies the start of every season.

Less than six minutes into the second half, on an ordinary play that didn't elicit any awes or grimaces from the crowd, Peterson remained on the ground after a 12-yard run.

He tried to get up off the field at Sheldon High School, but went right back down until he was carried off by Lodi head coach Todd Dillon.

It was the last play of his prep career.

"I knew right away it was done," Peterson said. "I heard it pop."

Just about everything in Peterson's left knee was destroyed on that hit.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL): torn.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL): torn.

Medial collateral ligament (MCL): torn.

Medial meniscus: torn.

Lateral meniscus: torn.

And his dreams potentially shattered.

"He was being recruited pretty heavily. (The University of California at) Davis was really interested," Dillon said. "He could be a typical Davis kid and have a chip on his shoulder and be good for them. He wanted to go there."

The recovery process

On Oct. 2, Peterson had the first of two surgeries required to repair the damage in his knee. Doctors made five incisions, sewed up his PCL, MCL and meniscus and put 40 staples in his leg to close it up.

Peterson wore a cast for four weeks. Now, his knee is in a brace. On Wednesday, Peterson met with a physical therapist and made a rehabilitation plan and he's slowly starting the long and painful process which includes regaining mobility and strengthening exercises.

In the spring, instead of playing baseball like he used to do, he'll have his second surgery to repair his ACL. Then rehab will start again, but Peterson's doctors have told him they expect a full recovery.

Next year, instead of undertaking a college program's summer workout regime, Peterson will be inching down the long road to recovery. It's one Dillon has seen many athletes go down, himself included.

"It is a long freaking road. Nine times out of 10 you are the guy steering the ship. You are up there all by yourself," Dillon said. "... It is a lonely deal. It really is." Peterson's story isn't an uncommon one. In every sport in every season, injuries rob thousands of promising athletes of their passion, and in some cases, their identity.

The loss can leave an emptiness.

"In some ways, it is as if a part of one's self has died and this must be integrated into who they are and who they will transition into being," said Dr. Kim Cusimano, a sports psychologist in UC Davis' sports medicine program. "It is a process and takes time."

Some athletes can't recover emotionally from being forced from the game. Some face depression, others struggle to move on and even get in trouble with drugs and alcohol, according to Cusimano.

Peterson's been able to stay optimistic about it and focus on his job in the classroom.

"It was tough in the beginning, but there is really nothing I can do about it," Peterson said. "I am just looking toward the future. I wasn't just relying on football before. I have always done well in school so now I am just keeping up with my grades."

Peterson's mother Aine was heartbroken when her son's high school career was ended. She and her husband Jeff knew this was Conner's year. Aine says she hates seeing him not be able to play, but has been amazed with his ability to stay positive.

"He has just been a trooper through the whole thing," she said. "He has had such a good attitude."

Finding the new path

Despite his ordeal, Peterson is still a part of the Flames. Only instead of eating up yardage or laying out opponents, he wanders the sidelines. He's missed only one game and that was against Tokay just one day after his surgery. He's also been to almost every practice.

The following week, against Grace Davis, Peterson sat in a wheelchair, pulling himself up and down the sidelines and cheering his teammates on from the track on the side of the field. Always a leader on the squad, Peterson still spouts out directions and the team still responds.

"He was still a big part of our team this year," said senior quarterback Patrick Armstrong. "He supported us and we fight for him knowing that he would give anything to be out there playing with us."

Peterson said he hasn't decided if he wants to try and play football again. He's got until he can start rehabbing from his second surgery to think about it then he'll have to choose if he wants to dedicate himself to the pursuit a collegiate career.

Peterson's parents believe he'll be back on the football field. So does Dillon, if Peterson starts college next year as a part-timer in order to retain his eligibility. Then in the 2010 season, he could try to play for a junior college and be a 20-year-old freshman.

It would be a long haul brought on by one hit, one pop, one fraction of a second on Sept. 12, 2008.

"It comes down to how hard do you want to come back," he said. "... As long as you can see light in certain situations at the end of the tunnel then you are going to keep striving for it."