Regional Roundup

The application time for the principal position at Lodi High School closed Friday, and the Lodi Unified School District is moving forward this week with assembling an interview committee. Interviews are set to begin next Monday.

Mike McKilligan, who oversees the human resources department, declined to state how many applications were received and how many were from within the district.

The district is replacing former principal Bill Atterberry, who has started his new position of assistant superintendent of secondary education at the administration office. In the interim, Bob Lofsted is handling the principal duties.

— Jennifer Bonnett

Pursuit of robbery suspect ends in crash

A robbery suspect was jailed after fleeing from deputies Saturday night and crashing at the end of Davis Road north of Peltier Road.

Ginger James Lim, 39, allegedly led San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies on a pursuit from El Toro Way in Stockton. The chase started at 9:48 p.m. and ended 12 miles later. Tire tracks remained a day later, where a car left the end of Davis Road and plowed through several mailboxes.

Earlier that night, deputies were called to Highway 88 in Stockton, where a 20-year-old female said she had been robbed at knife point, said Deputy Les Garcia, a Sheriff's spokesman. The victim said a man asked her for a cigarette when she walked out of her rented room, then stole her purse when she returned.

The woman said she bit, kicked and punched the man as he wielded a knife. She was able to break away and call for help, and the man fled. She suffered multiple lacerations and had blunt trauma to her face, Garcia said.

Deputies identified a suspect and vehicle, then later found it in the 8800 block of El Toro Way, and the driver fled.

Lim did not receive major injuries in the crash, and he was soon booked into the county jail on suspicion of robbery, assault, making criminal threats and evading police, as well as a warrant for a vehicle infraction. He is scheduled to appear in Stockton court today.

— Layla Bohm

Report: Ag production hits all-time high

For the second straight year, the estimated value of agricultural production in the county is more than $2 billion, according to the San Joaquin County office of the Agricultural Commissioner. The office released its 2008 Annual Agricultural Report on Monday.

The report said production is up 6 percent from last year. It's the second year in a row that the value has exceeded $2 billion.

Walnuts, ranked fifth in 2007, moved up to third thanks to a larger yield. Grapes remained in second place as higher prices helped deflect a lower yield.

Even though prices took a hit nationwide, milk is still the commodity with the largest value in San Joaquin County. However, it did fall more than $33 million from its 2007 total.

The reports have been released annually since 1934 and 2008 marks the 75th anniversary. In 1934, San Joaquin County's total agricultural value was $29.1 million. Adjusted for inflation, that amount would equal roughly $463 million.

— Jordan Guinn

McNair High School locked down Monday

Roughly 2,000 McNair High School students were forced to stay an extra half hour when the school was locked down shortly before classes ended Monday afternoon due to rumors of a drive-by shooting.

The day was scheduled to end at 2:22 p.m. and the lockdown began at 2:15 p.m.

An automated phone call shortly after the lockdown began notified parents of the situation.

Bill Atterberry, Lodi Unified School District's assistant superintendent for secondary education, said rumors were started that a drive-by shooting was going to take place after lunch.

He said the Stockton Police Department came out during the lockdown and made sure the students were not threatened.

Atterberry said no particular student or groups of students were singled out in the threat. He said the staff acted correctly to alert the authorities and ensure the safety of the students. He said it does consume valuable resources for the local law enforcement, but the threats aren't something he takes lightly.

"Better to be safe than sorry," he said.

— Jordan Guinn

Assembly candidate gets new endorsement

State Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad, vice chairman of the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee and the Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, has announced his endorsement of Paul Hegyi for the 10th Assembly District, according to Hegyi's campaign.

Hegyi, chief of staff for Assemblyman Van Tran, R-Garden Grove, was a member of Wyland's staff when Wyland was in the Assembly.

Hegyi hopes to oust first-year Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills, in the 2010 election. His more recent endorsements include Elk Grove Vice Mayor Sophia Scherman and State Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, whose district includes Galt.

— Ross Farrow

Seeking apple recipes

Very soon, the abundance of apples will signify the coming of fall. It also brings with it an excuse to try some fall cooking.

What types of dishes do you make with apples? If you have a tasty apple recipe, we'd like to hear from you for future story about apples.

Apple recipes may be sent to Pam Bauserman at pamelab@lodinews.com or to P.O. Box 1360, Lodi, CA 95241.

— Pam Bauserman

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