Mosquito invasion coming

The series of storms pelting the South County may go a long way toward breaking the three-year drought but they also are creating perfect conditions for mosquitoes and the spread of the deadly West Nile Virus.

Volunteers help Almond Blossom festival go into bloom in Ripon

RIPON - Crowds ignored the threat of rain Saturday morning to turn out for the annual Almond Blossom Parade.

‘Chemo quilts’ made with love & devotion

Two women – mother and daughter – are bonded in their passion to go the extra mile for cancer patients having to go through biopsies and chemo therapy treatments.

New book depicts Lathrop’s history

LATHROP – Before there was Manteca, there was Lathrop.

GECAC BOWL-A-THON

1970: Voters OK school tax override

A bridge to Lathrop’s future

LATHROP – The fourth crossing of the San Joaquin River in the South County could be in place by the end of 2013.

New homes may slightly help ease city budget crunch

Manteca has a big financial stake in trying to encourage at least 300 new homes to be built annually over the next several years.

Love affair: Almond blossoms & bees

I was trying to focus intently on a bee hovering over a cluster of snow-white almond blossoms. All around me, scores of bees were buzzing. The weather was perfect for pollination - the sun was shining, the skies were clear and blue, and there was no breeze to stir the petals of the flowers that would make focusing somewhat of a challenge. And it was neither too hot nor too cold outside.

Almond Blossom Festival parade today

RIPON - The 48th annual Almond Blossom Festival parade starts at 11 a.m. today in downtown Ripon.

Green eggs & ham inspire reading event on Tuesday

Do you like green eggs and ham?

GREASE IS THE WORD

The Sierra High Band conducted a 1950s themed dinner dance Friday night at the school cafeteria featuring live entertainment featuring various local bands, staff, and alumni.

CORRECTION

It's not shooting to kill, according to the California Highway Patrol.

ODDS & ENDS

Alarming shortfall for fire needs

Thousands of homes have been built in Manteca during the last 20 years that are outside a 5-minute response time of a fire station.

Olsen has commanding Assembly lead

It might have been California's first truly open primary.

Happy Wheelers are among those not happy with ADA driven Manteca lawsuits

Farm fresh fruits and vegetables weren't the only things on the menu at the Manteca Farmer's Market on Tuesday

HITTING THE WATER

Interested in scuba diving? Curious about what lifeguard training involves? Want to swim laps for exercise? Need to learn how to swim? Or do you just want to splash around and have fun?

Fear of ADA lawsuit forces business to lock its doors

John Perez is afraid.

In Uniform

Raymond Osteria

Sisters serve simultaneous LDS missions

Sarah Sokolowski and her sister, Amanda, are currently serving as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, though they are across the continent from each other.

Council may ask Congress to reform ADA lawsuits

Manteca's elected leaders want businesses to have the opportunity to correct shortcomings in their compliance to the American Disability Act before being sued.

FARMERS MARKETS GALORE

California is considered the world's Mecca when it comes to variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Demonstrating flag-retirement protocol

When a flag of the United States is worn, torn, faded, or badly soiled, it needs to be replaced with a new one. When that happens, the old flag is "retired."

Lathrop garbage rates may go up

LATHROP – Garbage rates are going up.

Rodeo this weekend helps with kids tutoring

Give Every Child a Chance is staging the Xtreme Bulls & Broncs Rodeo on the River fundraiser on Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8 from noon to 5 p.m. both days at Dell'Osso Family Farm in Lathrop just off Interstate 5.

Not what they’re cracked up to be

Manteca needs to spend $37.5 million over the next five years to avoid 180.14 miles of city streets from deteriorating to a point they need even costlier reconstruction.

WR High salutatorian plans nursing career

Weston Ranch High has a tradition of holding off at announcing the top two academic students until awards night.

West Nile mosquitoes discovered

When a bird that tested positive for the West Nile Virus was discovered on a dairy outside of Tracy back in March, it was the earliest annual detection of the disease in San Joaquin County since it arrived in California more than a decade ago.

Group seeks youth to sing and dance

Manteca Youth Entertainers (formerly known as the Manteca Royal Family) are recruiting vocalists and dancers for the 2014 season.