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• Wal-mart Supercenter debate

• Rodriguez: 'A lot of hope here'

• Wandering marine mammals becoming more common?

• New LUSD trustee ready to make tough budget decisions

• Two area schools still being eyed for possible closure

• Regional Roundup

• Massage business halted for 90 days

• San Joaquin County supervisors approve Morada church expansion

• Delta College police want student government to better account for money

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 (151)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (66)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (55)
• 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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Lodi's Cody Vaz looks to lead St. Mary's to section title

If Cody Vaz played in the NFL, his numbers — 206 completions on 313 attempts for 3,260 yards and 27 touchdowns with nine interceptions — would be Pro Bowl worthy.

The St. Mary's quarterback, who was born and raised in Lodi, doesn't get any special treatment like pro QBs do, though. On Wednesday, three days before the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship between St. Mary's and Pleasant Grove, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior was hard at work in the weight room with the rest of his Ram teammates.

He wouldn't have it any other way. His work ethic and determination to be the best don't allow for days off.

"He is one of those kids that's just intrinsically self-motivated," St. Mary's head coach Tony Franks said of Vaz. "He wants to be a very good football player and he is goal oriented and willing to work at it. The reason he is where he is at now is because he has worked at it."

Vaz also wants to go out on top. Ever since St. Mary's fell 38-36 in the section finals to Napa last year, he's been focused on getting back to the title game. Not even committing to play at Oregon State University prior to his senior season deterred his concentration on his goal.

"Last year we came real close. All the juniors from last season came together in January and started working out and saying we were going to get back to that game and here we are," he said.

This year the Rams are 11-2 and wrapped up another perfect Tri-City Athletic League campaign. Vaz is averaging 250 passing yards per game and is the catalyst behind the mighty Ram offense that averages 451.9 yards and 40.1 points per contest.

St. Mary's High quarterback Cody Vaz practices with a medicine ball at the school's weight room prior to Wednesday's practice. The senior has already made a verbal commitment to play at Oregon State. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Franks knows St. Mary's will be challenged by a tough Pleasant Grove defense, but Vaz is confident the Rams can continue to eat up yards.

"We just do what we have been doing — just execute and move the ball up and down the field like our offense can," he said. "The offensive line has been doing a great job this year and I have no doubt they are going to do a great job on Saturday, too. They are basically the key to the game." Outside of Vaz, a large chunk of the squad hails from Lodi, including seniors Scott Copriviza (safety), Jordan Carl (offensive lineman/linebacker), Austin Joshua (defensive back), Gage Miller (offensive lineman), Garrett Haislip (linebacker) and sophomores A.J. Borges (linebacker/fullback), Frank Boyd (linebacker) and Lincoln Boyd (wide receiver). Senior Andy Hurst (defensive back/wide receiver) even makes the commute to Stockton from Galt.

Vaz said the entire St. Mary's squad is close, but the Lodi group has a special bond. They've went to St. Anne's together and have played together their whole careers.

"Those are my best friends. We have known each other for a while and they have played a big role on the team too," he said. "All four years here have been a blast. It's been fun. Not only football, just school wise with some of my best friends who I will be in touch with for the rest of my life."

With a win on Saturday over Pleasant Grove (11-2), the Rams, who are classified as Division II in the state's bowl game selection process, would be eligible, but not automatically qualify for a bowl — the Division II state championship.

Saturday's game, which is slated for 1 p.m. at the University of the Pacific's Stagg Memorial Stadium, could be the final chapter in Vaz's standout prep career. No matter what the future holds, Franks expects Vaz will be in his finest form in the section championship.

"Great players make big plays in big games and this is a big game and Cody has been there now for a couple years," he said. "He knows how to play in these games and we'll be confident and prepared and I expect that we will get the best out of him."