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• Small school, big enrollment

• Lodi gets grant to fill four police positions

• Survival guide: Bay Bridge closure

• Lodi Muslim Mosque welcomes new president, Khan Afsar

• City of Lodi could eventually receive $1 million a year under land deal

• Firm solicits input on new Galt High School District superintendent

• Local students score higher than state test-takers

November 20th, 2009

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Regional Roundup

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• Acampo woman killed

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

November 19th, 2009

• Logbook

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Operation: Christmas

• Corrections

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Chase ends in crash

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

November 18th, 2009

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

November 17th, 2009

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Regional Roundup

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Clarification

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

November 16th, 2009

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Public Meetings

November 14th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• 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

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

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

• The country's mess is our fault (130)
• Obama is not a moderate (129)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (60)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (49)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (45)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• The haves should help the have-nots (25)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)
• Nightmares about America's future (21)

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Lodi martial arts fighter Michiye Cabral helps U.S. place 3rd at world championships

Accomplishment: Competing in the Kendo World Championships last week in Brazil, Lodi's Michiye Cabral helped the U.S. women's team finish in a third-place tie in the tournament that included teams from over 30 countries. Cabral, a 20-year-old junior at University of the Pacific, won four of her five matches. After beating Canada, Macau, Taipei and France, her only loss came in the semifinals against Japan, which was also the only team the Americans lost to. Japan went on to defeat Korea for the title.

Kendo is a ritualized version of Japanese fencing using bamboo swords where competitors score points by hitting striking points located on the wrist, torso and throat of their opponents. Cabral has been competing in Kendo for about 10 years and trains locally with the Sacramento Kendo Club.

Cabral and her American teammates earned medals and a team trophy for their efforts. Cabral trained for about a year and a half to prepare for the World Championships, which are held every three years.

"The trainings were pretty brutal, physically and emotionally. At the time, we wondered why we were doing it," Cabral said. "But then we got to the World Championships and it was really emotional and an amazing experience."

Family: Parents Anthony and Chris; two sisters and one brother.

Favorite sport: Kendo. Cabral ran cross country for Tokay High School and also studied karate for eight years, earning a black belt.

Favorite athlete: "After the World Championships, the people I look up to the most are my teammates and coaches," Cabral said.

Favorite hobbies: Practicing kendo and doing Japanese dancing. When she's not doing either of those, Cabral said she likes to hang out with her boyfriend, friends and family.

Favorite subject: "Studying music therapy, you take a lot of instrument classes. My main instrument is the flute, but I am leaning how to play percussion, the guitar and the piano, so that's pretty fun," Cabral said.

Best sports moment: "I really think this experience (the World Championships) was the best moment that I've had. When we lost to Japan at first it was pretty crushing, but after the feelings of disappointment and heart break went away, there was a real feeling of accomplishment," she said. "Knowing that we came back and competed with the top teams in the world, gives you a whole new feeling of confidence."

Dream vacation: "I have been to Japan once, but I want to go again," said Cabral, who added she'd like to go to Hawaii as well.

Favorite local restaurant: Yen Ching Restaurant.

Rich or famous: Rich.

Dream car: "My boyfriend drives a Nissan 350Z, so that's a pretty good one," Cabral said.

Plans: Cabral is working to complete her degree in music therapy. After she graduates, she hopes to get a job as a music therapist. She's also hoping to make the American kendo team again and compete in the 2012 World Kendo Championships in Italy.

The Athlete of the Week is selected by the News-Sentinel sports staff. Nominations are gladly accepted. Cabral will receive a T-shirt courtesy of Lodi Sporting Goods for being selected.