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• Giving thanks in Lodi

• Giving thanks in Lodi

• Giving thanks in Lodi

• Giving thanks in Lodi: For a son who is alive

• Giving thanks in Lodi: For a community's generosity

• Regional Roundup

• Thanksgiving closures

• Grocery stores open on Thanksgiving

February 9th, 2010

• Middle College High School rated one of the best — and a bargain, to boot

• Lodi decathlon boasts top team in county

• Man who sparked counterfeit case pleads guilty

• Local businessman will visit Haiti to look for family

• Man who claimed to be Yosemite Sam pleads guilty to meth charge

• David Harmer seeks Republican congressional nod

• Lack of evidence in case against suspect in 'drug deal' stabbing

• 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

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

• 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

• Regional Roundup

February 2nd, 2010

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Correction

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Jumpers across California

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

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• President Obama's first year (45)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (44)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (34)
• We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)
• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam (25)

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Giving thanks in Lodi

For a chance to visit family

Evan Hamilton's family is giving thanks that he will be home for the holidays this Thanksgiving, even if it's only for six hours.

The 13-year-old McCaffrey Middle School student from Galt has been at UC Davis for the past six months. He developed a tumor on his brain stem, and he had it removed in June. Some of his brain nerves have not healed yet, so he has a tracheotomy and a tube pumping food to his stomach, his grandmother Linda Shipman said.

Despite the tough medical issue, Shipman said Hamilton has tried to keep a positive attitude and remain hopeful.

"God's given him a lot of character building during this time. He handles it better than his mom and me. We just want our baby home," Shipman said.

Even though it is a hard time, the family is glad he will be home for at least the holiday and are hopeful he will be able to get a pass for Christmas, too, said greatgrandfather Gene Wilburn, who is the pastor at Big Valley Bible Church.

"We are grateful that it is not worse than it is, and grateful he can come home and be with family," Wilburn said.

The family plans to visit with Hamilton and cut his hair, which has become long at the hospital.

"For him, this is major. It's like going to Disneyland," Wilburn said.

The family is thankful to the hospital staff for caring for Hamilton who has been able to keep up with school work through a tutor.

A member of Wilburn's congregation has purchased a laptop for Hamilton, so he can communicate with friends on Facebook and other Web sites. It keeps his spirits up to be able to talk with his friends, Wilburn said.

He has also learned to play a guitar his sister bought him with the help of an instructor, and Wilburn said the doctors sometimes rock out with him.

The family is taking it one step at a time, and even six hours to be with family will be invaluable, Shipman said.

"It's just an answered prayer that he's gotten this far," she said. To read more about Evan's battle, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/EvanHamilton.

If you would like to help with the family's expenses, call Big Valley Bible Church at 369-5084.

Contact reporter Maggie Creamer at maggiec@lodinews.com or read her blog at www.lodinews.com/blogs/citybuzz.