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• Trinchero Family Winery in Lodi celebrates first pressing

• Rep. Jerry McNerney: Health care bill will save money, not increase deficit

• Lodi activist withdraws her salary cap initiative

• Former site of Fairsite Elementary appraised at $1.9 million

• Regional Roundup

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? (70)
• 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' (37)
• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)
• We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)

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Tokay High School senior Holly Rankin looking to finally chase down state berth

Last season, Tokay High long-distance runner Holly Rankin made the Tri-City Athletic League cross country courses her own personal training grounds, winning every race in the league meets.

Rankin followed up her league dominance with a second-place at the subsection meet in Angels Camp.

But health problems plagued Rankin at the section championships last fall when she failed to qualify for the state meet for the second straight year after being in second place with 400 meters left. She just missed qualifying for state in 2007 by one spot.

Now that Rankin is finally healthy for her senior year, Tokay head coach Karey Harty thinks she will have a strong showing this season despite having a big bulls-eye on her back that is reserved for the best female runner in the league.

"She's looking pretty good right now," Harty said. "Last year she had some health issues and she is kind of on a comeback. She should have gone to state last year and if she had not had the health issues, she would have."

Rankin also swept the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs at the TCAL track and field championships last spring and owns both the TCAL and Tokay school record in the 3,200 with a time of 11.48.90. She capped it with a 12th place finish at the section meet.

Right now, Rankin said her top priority is running and training. She practices with her team during the week and then she and several teammates run the hills at Camanche on Saturdays. On Sundays, Rankin can usually be found running on her own, usually around Lodi Lake.

"I am very motivated after coming so close to making state last two years," Rankin said. "I would really love to get to state."

She has an ulterior motive for all the hard work she is putting in, as she hopes to continue her running career at the collegiate level. Rankin, who has a 4.5 grade point average, hopes to attend Stanford and is considering becoming a doctor.

"My goal is 18 (18 minutes) because that's what I need for Stanford," said Rankin, explaining that all the runners on the Stanford squad meet that time.

Harty has no doubt this will be Rankin's year to finally reach her dream.

"She is an excellent student, highly disciplined and extremely motivated," Harty said. "I am confident she will advance to state this year."

Harty is expecting big seasons from both the boys and the girls squads. The Tigers return a strong nucleus on both teams. Veterans Cory Pack and Thomas Canchola will lead the boys and experienced runners Rankin, Catalina Calderon and Haley Kroll will form a formidable threesome for the girls squad.

Lodi Flames

Head coach Jeff Tillet said this season's turnout was the largest ever for the Flames, with over 113 runners. He said he thinks both the boys and girls squads will contend with Lincoln High for the San Joaquin Athletic Association crown.

His girls team will be looking to extend its streak of six straight SJAA championships.

Galt Warriors

Head coach Nathan Woods thinks his Galt boys and girls team can make it to the state meet this season because the Warriors are moving down to the Division III level.

The Lady Warriors squad went to the state championships last year in Fresno, and with five runners returning, will be Galt's best hopes of returning to the state meet again.

Elliot Eagles

After a pair of section titles the past two seasons, Jim Elliot Christian has only three cross country runners returning, two on the boys team and one on the girls squad.

Head coach Jon Hathorn has his team in a rebuilding mode this season, which could be a tough one for the Eagles, who have to compete with league powerhouses Livingston and Patterson.