SANTA AT BASS PRO SHOPS

Santa's Wonderland at the Manteca Bass Pro Shops opened Saturday and runs through Dec. 24. Kids can get a free photo with Santa plus make free crafts.

1919: Mayor Cowell resigns due to ill health

Snow, tubing, & fun in Lathrop

LATHROP – There's several inches of snow on the ground in Lathrop and it's going to stay there until at least March.

Bay Meadows Park name may honor Bobette & Charlie Giles

Bay Meadows Park adjoining the Boys & Girls Club could be renamed in honor of the late Bobette and Charlie Giles.

Move afoot to stop future state raids on local money

California voters in November 2010 may be asked to vote for a ballot measure that significantly curtails the state's ability to borrow or simply take money from cities and counties in order to cover state budget deficits.

Replacing Ripon bus pass will now cost $1

RIPON - The number of Ripon Unified students losing their bus passes – 24 in just two weeks – has raised concerns among the school district administration. Passes had been initiated in mid-October because of the troubled economy's affect on the schools' budget.

Patriotic songs set the standard during Manteca Idol

Sometimes there's a place for glitz, glamour, and glitter.

Board recognizing students earning prefect STAR scores

Trustees of the Manteca Unified School District on Tuesday will recognize students who achieved perfect 600 scores in the California Standards Test.

Breast health care at Doctors Hospital results in ‘excellent’ accreditation status

A "Center of Excellence" status has been awarded to Doctors Hospital of Manteca for its level of breast care given to its patients.

Rehearsals this Sunday for ‘The Messiah’

RIPON - The Ripon Oratorio Society will be celebrating the Christmas season with the 64th presentation of Handel's Messiah on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 4th & Orange Streets in Ripon.

Second car wash theft suspect identified at high school

The second teen-age suspect in Thursday's theft of a tip box at the Kiwki-Kleen Car Wash and convenience store in the 700 block of East Yosemite Avenue was located at his high school Friday morning.

Ripon schools told of need to upgrade computer network

RIPON - The 10 to 12-year-old network that connects all of Ripon Unified School District's computer operations was described as being obsolete this week by Jerry Springer, director of Internet Technology for the San Joaquin County Office of Education.

Raymus Foundation seeks grant applications

The Antone E. and Maire F. Raymus Foundation has applications available for local organizations seeking financial grants.

Odds and Ends

BUNDLING UP

SAVING LIVES

Dallas Waters of Ripon wanted an Eagle Scout project that could possibly save a life.

Doctors Hospital plans cancer symposium

Donna Hartley is coming to Manteca to inspire positive thinking as a way to fight illness.

Ash Wednesday services today in Manteca and Ripon churches

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. In Catholic churches, it's the day the faithful receive the sigh of the cross on their foreheads in ashes.

Miss Manteca Carolina Gutierrez reflects back on her year of service

This year marks the 46th annual crowning of Miss Manteca.

Manteca in hunt for jobs

Manteca is in the hunt for the next Amazon.

Gangs target of new Lathrop police unit

LATHROP – Gangs in Lathrop had better run and hide.

Tree crashes on 3 cars in downtown

The largest storm to hit Manteca in nearly 18 months proved costly for three car owners.

LAUGHING MATTERS

MODESTO – It takes a certain personality to convince an entire theater full of people to shout out the most infamous four-letter word in unison.

Not guilty verdict in mock murder trial

Mayra Posada and Marco Jaimes believe in the power of persuasion.

Manteca shifts park costs to homeowners

Landscape maintenance districts are passé.

Ripon Chamber steps up its lobbying game

It was seen as a very productive session of the new Government Relations Committee of the Ripon Chamber of Commerce that brought together representatives of the city, county, state and congress Friday noon in a meeting room of Bethany Home.

Water table expected to plummet

A hidden reservoir helps keep dishes clean, yards green, and flush toilets in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop.

Santa getting new digs for downtown

Christmas is an already an afterthought to most people.

Quilt show underway at MRPS Hall

They braved Friday's pouring rain so the show will go on this weekend.

City pump malfunction triggers street flooding

Caught in the Friday morning street flooding at Garden Gate Drive and Morgan Street, one Manteca woman called a friend to help her in his hip high boots to reach her pickup truck where waters had flooded much of her lawn and driveway.