Fire departments throughout California have been expecting an active wildfire season this year following an extremely dry winter. Statewide it's proven true, and local departments have sent strike teams to help fight flames in Northern and Southern California much earlier than usual.

Richard Welker, who is accused of killing a man in Lodi last week, was arraigned on several charges including voluntary manslaughter on Monday.

Abri Cardenas became a starting midfielder in her first varsity season, but she never expected to write a page of Liberty Ranch history, too.

Lisa Ferrero

Between the hours of 8 a.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Monday, The Lodi Police Department received 580 calls for service. Below is a sample of those calls:

After a mere moment of hesitation, Sarah Fox, general manager of the Ryde Hotel, agreed to lead an impromptu excursion.

Experienced wine drinkers in Lodi will tell you the best place to get a bottle of vino is right from the source: one of dozens of local tasting rooms offering the fruit of their fields. But once you’re in the winery, there’s a wider range of gift options than what you can pour in a glass.

Lodi’s nooks and crannies are filled with unique places of interest. From lakes and parks to fruit stands, tasting rooms and community events, there are places to check out around town.

Micke Grove Zoo is filled with unique animals and attractions for children and adults alike.

There are a number of hospitals and health clinics in the greater Lodi area:

Want to combine a day of exploring old mine shafts, historical buildings and gaming at an Indian casino while driving less than an hour from Lodi?

The Lodi Grape Festival returns on Sept. 12 and runs through Sept. 15, offering animal shows, winetastings, a midway and much more.

The Central Pacific Railroad gave birth to Lodi in the summer of 1869. Beginning as a simple rail stop with a couple merchants’ simple wood buildings and a few scattered homestead farmers, Lodi grew to become a bustling city of more than 75,000 with a thriving and increasingly famous grape and wine industry.

With clear Sierra streams flowing through the foothills, man-made reservoirs that stretch for miles and the meandering waters of the Delta nearby, Lodi is an angler’s dream.

Overview: Between the various eateries, cinema, olive oil, cheese and wine tasting, shopping and more, Downtown Lodi is the place to be. You can grab a bite with friends at one of the various restaurants that serve delicacies ranging from sushi to burgers, sample some sweets at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory or sip Zin at one of the many tasting rooms. Then enjoy some shopping before ending your day.

Whether it’s coming up with a new creation for a food truck, adding a Mexican flair or adding a twist to comfort foods, culinary talents abound in Lodi. Some area chefs are self-taught, while others have learned on the job.

Jasmine Turner was the top student at Lodi Academy in 2005.

Sunday’s seventh annual Avenue of the Vines through southeast Acampo was the “biggest event ever,” event organizer Tony Vice said.

A 31-year-old parolee from Lodi was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of threatening family members and Lodi police officers, police said.