Helping Idol hit a winning note

For as long as she can remember, music has always been a part of Melanee Scarborough's life.

Ripon parents challenge ‘the wall discipline at Weston

RIPON - It was all about "The Wall" disciplinary action at Weston Elementary School that drew the ire of one mom who spoke her mind to the Ripon Unified School Board Monday night after putting up a three-page website online defending her stand.

Water deal will trash Delta

The $11.1 billion water bond being pushed by the state legislature is expected to "trash the Delta," according to Manteca farmer and recognized California water expert Alex Hildebrand.

Browne will be subject to pay cuts, furloughs

LATHROP – The $480,000 settlement, which includes back pay and benefits, awarded to Matt Browne at the conclusion of his two-and-a-half years' wrongful-termination battle with the City of Lathrop will not be subject to a 10 percent cut.

Fence leaping ends in assault arrest

A man with a gun and a foot chase over nine fences by a Manteca Police officer resulted in the arrest of Mario Garcia Castaneda, 28, of the 1100 block of Windsor Place.

City of Manteca employees donate blood

The Delta Blood Bank mobile unit was parked Tuesday at the Manteca Senior Center.

VOLUNTEERING AT CEMETERY

Turkeys R Us short 300 turkeys for Thanksgiving

Turkeys R Us is just 300 turkeys away from their goal of making sure 1,300 struggling families in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop have a turkey on their Thanksgiving table.

LATHROP RESIDENTS REACT TO SETTLEMENT

LATHROP – Lathrop taxpayers are breathing a collective sigh of relief that the expensive and long-drawn Matt Browne debacle is over. However, they remain highly critical at the way the city's elected officials have handled – or, according to some, mishandled – the entire process saying it did not have to have dragged on this long and cost the city a ton of money.

Cowell School honors All Stars for October

Joshua Cowell School has selected the All Stars for October.

Hospice of San Joaquin plans 2009 Tree of Lights

Join hundreds of families in lighting-up the 2009 Tree of Lights.

Browne back on the job

LATHROP – The Matt Browne wrongful-termination saga is over.

Deeper cuts on horizon for Ripon if state budget gets worse

Layoffs could loom on the horizon for the Ripon Unified School District.

THE BEDQUARTERS WAY

Julian Holifield is at ground zero of the squabble over the downtowns bulbs.

Brock Elliott tops can competition among schools with 519 lbs

When it comes to recycling, the City of Manteca wants kids to know they can.

Uno más: Taco Bell adding Manteca store

Manteca's third Taco Bell could break ground in the coming months.

Push for better libraries

Donna Brown's message is clear: Libraries are more relevant than ever before.

Free Weston Ranch seeking more stores

Free Weston Ranch burst into the scene about six years ago. It's a grassroots movement being vigorously pushed by residents of the community who want to see their six plus-square-mile community detached from the City of Stockton.

Manteca Library expanded in 1977 with aim to serve 32,000

Public libraries with treats such as coffee on the side aren't a modern creation.

Pants theft ends in 2 arrests

A daylight theft from the J.C. Penney store in the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley at Union Road and the 120 Bypass shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday ended with a house to house search in the areas surrounding Aldwina Lane and Cottage Avenue near Doctors Hospital.

Manteca nixes apartments

Southwest Manteca - an area the city is getting ready to spend $150 million for flood protection so developers can continue building - is being turned into the exclusive domain of large single family homes aimed at luring Bay Area buyers.

Conservatism is Cushman’s cup of tea

It's a quote that has been attributed to many great thinkers across history, most recently Winston Churchill.

‘As I Age’ wall part of Ripon Almond Blossom Festival

Bethany Home Foundation is erecting a wall at the entrance of the Almond Blossom Festival at Mistlin Sports Park Friday in a new twist for the senior citizens in the community between the carnival rides and the vendor displays.

GECAC offers scholarships

Give Every Child a Chance (GECAC) is once again offering the Service Challenge Scholarship.

DHM Auxiliary offers scholarships

Medically focused college students are being offered scholarship applications by the Doctors Hospital volunteers to help them shoulder the cost of their schooling, available Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

City keeps fireworks on July 4

Safety - and the desire to have less illegal fireworks launched - trumped Big League Dreams bringing in upwards of $40,000 and non-profits enjoying a 40 percent bump in the sale of safe and sane fireworks.

Churches observe Ash Wednesday, start of Lent

Several Ash Wednesday Masses and scripture services are being observed at St. Anthony of Padua in Manteca and St. Patrick's Church in Ripon. Ashes will be distributed during each service.

R3 Men’s Conference coming to Calvary Community Church

Calvary Community Church will host the Central Valley R3 Men's Conference on Saturday.

PG&E suing to overturn LAFCo

The lawsuits have started.

Electro Imaging Systems plans ribbon cutting

Mohsen Tarin, the President of Electro Imaging Systems, Inc.'s new Central Valley office at 259 Spreckels Ave., is inviting the public to a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony and chamber coffee on Wednesday, Feb. 18.