Free tax Assistance offered at Manteca Branch Library

The Manteca Branch Library is partnering with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to bring free 2009 income tax assistance.

Push for ½ cent jail sales tax

The November ballot could include a half cent sales tax designed to generate $40 million to pay for the staffing and operations of an expanded San Joaquin County Jail.

Teens learn about what firefighters do on the job

The Manteca Junior Ambassadors – all high school seniors – experienced a taste of being a firefighter in the community on Tuesday at the Powers Avenue fire station.

Plenty of places for super time Sunday

Just because you aren't having your own Super Bowl party doesn't mean you can't enjoy the tradition of food and football.

Haircuts help Hope for Haiti Foundation

Janet Hutton wanted to do her part to help the people of Haiti.

Manteca, Ripon & Escalon say ‘yes’ to SSJID, ‘no’ to PG&E

Two years ago PG&E was able to garner support among elected leaders in Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon to thwart South San Joaquin Irrigation District efforts to gain official council support of SSJID's efforts to enter the retail power business.

Margo Young: Educator, counselor, physician and nun

Margo Young is a rare breed.

Fagundes going for record 250-pound hamburger

Forget the waterslides, the pumpkins, or the unique history of the city's name – Manteca is about to become the record-holder for California's largest hamburger.

Motorist dies in submerged SUV

The body of a 31-year-old male motorist was pulled from his SUV about 10 p.m. Monday night that had become submerged in the murky levee water off of Wing Levee Road.

Is Manteca Ronald McDonald’s kind of place?

The fast food proliferation in Manteca continues.

Sororptimist Something Special event offers Saturday lunch, Sunday brunch

The Soroptimist members of Manteca are preparing for their 18th annual "Something Special" themed luncheon.

GECAC offers safe haven after school

Did you know that juvenile crime increases by almost 15% once school lets out? This leads us to ask a very important question: "Do you know what your child is doing between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.?"

Boys & Girls Club Member Profile

ODDS & ENDS

Builders: Cut growth fees in half

The head of the organization that represents almost all builders in Manteca has a message for City Hall – if you want to generate jobs slash growth fees for everything from parks to road projects triggered by the need to accommodate growth in half.

Dog park proposed on Moffat

Manteca may finally get a dog park first promised in 2003.

HUNGER PAINS

The San Joaquin Valley - the most productive farming region on the planet - is America's food basket.

Growth prompts need for more Lathrop facilities

It didn't take long for Lathrop's founders to realize that development needs to pay its own way.

Ripon workshop for major housing plan

The North Pointe Specific Plan is a major project for the City of Ripon.

TOUGH NUT TO CRACK

Dave Phippen is more than just a simple almond farmer.

Manteca celebrating 4th of July on July 3?

Manteca's elected leaders will decide whether to celebrate the Fourth of July on the actual day or move the city's aerial fireworks display to July 3.

HALL OF FAME

Alex Hildebrand was an engineer by training and a farmer by vocation.

5th graders host 103-year-old’s birthday party

Did you have pets as a child? What was your favorite color? How many siblings did you have? What was your favorite subject in school?

PG&E fails in bid to derail SSJID plan

Only one more roadblock remains before South San Joaquin Irrigation District can legally make an offer to buy PG&E retail electrical facilities in Manteca, Ripon, and Escalon.

WATER EMERGENCY

A South County water emergency could be declared by month's end.

IT’S ALL MIME

When Jon Walkup first got behind a camera it was a camcorder he borrowed from his parents and attached to a tripod designed to take film photos.

Volunteers sought to harvest citrus

Jim Todd drives by countless yards each day with citrus trees bursting with nutritious oranges, tangerines, lemons, and grapefruit.

State edict: Don’t save water

An edict from Sacramento bureaucrats amid a severe drought crisis is prompting the South San Joaquin Irrigation District to suspend efforts to save enough water a year to meet all of the annual needs of a city the size of Tracy.

Give Every Child a Chance bowl-a-thon set for Feb. 28

The Give Every Child a Chance (GECAC) Antone E. Raymus, 16th Annual Bowl-A-Thon takes place Saturday, Feb. 28.

Man with knife shuts down shopping center

A 24-year-old knife-wielding man in front of a Lathrop coffee shop on Harlan Road south of Lathrop forced the evacuation of the entire SaveMart center shortly after the noon hour on Tuesday kept police at bay for more than three hours before being taken into custody.