Police: City won’t budge

City Manager Steve Pinkerton is being blamed by the Manteca Police Officers Association's leadership for forcing the layoffs of 12 officers.

Hornet’s Nest at Shasta honors two principals

The Shasta School multi-purpose building will honor its two previous principals – William "Bill" Pinto and Richard "Rick" Mello.

Get ready for Manteca’s next big thing: Upscale retail outlet stores

Bass Pro Shop – along with Big League Dreams – may go down as the linchpins that vaulted Manteca into a regional draw.

SHOWING HUSTLE

Entrepreneur first challenger in 2010 Lathrop mayor’s race

LATHROP – Lathrop entrepreneur J. Chaka Santos has officially announced he is running for mayor in the 2010 election for mayor.

Blood drive Thursday offers a pint for a pint

RIPON - It's a bit of Americana – enjoying ice cream together and giving blood for friends, family and community. The Delta Blood Bank is scheduled to be at the Calvary Reformed Church on Thursday from 1 until 6 p.m.

75 gather for Public Square Rosary Crusade held at Yosemite & Main

Cash Galvez, 5, and his mother Karah were among 75 people praying for the health and safety of America and the restoration of broken families – praying the Rosary with thousands of others across the country at high noon on Saturday.

Stockton Symphony offering Mozart’s Concerto for Flute & Harp Nov. 19, 21

STOCKTON – With music pieces that are energetic, elegant, warm, and sunny, the Stockton Symphony's third Classics concert on Nov. 19 and 21 will uplift your spirit and enthuse you. The Stockton Symphony and Music Director, Peter Jaffe, continue their 2009-10 season with a concert entitled "Serenade for the Soul," presented on Thursday at 8 p.m. and on Saturday at 6 p.m. at San Joaquin Delta College's Atherton Auditorium.

Junior high spirit win puts Cowell science teacher in dress

Pablo Carrillo was shocked to see his science teacher dressed Monday in women's garb.

Pumpkins roll into Half Moon Bay

HALF MOON BAY - Every year when autumn rolls around, the picturesque coast around Half Moon Bay bursts into brilliant orange and buzzes with boisterous activity in celebration of its bountiful fall harvest. The Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival is the season's big event, bringing huge throngs of visitors to the "World Pumpkin Capital" for a world-class festival on historic Main Street. This year's 39th festival will be held on Oct. 17-18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Pumpkin Patch Festival opening this weekend at Western Railway Museum

RIO VISTA - The 12thAnnual Pumpkin Patch Festival returns this weekend to the Western Railway Museum. It's the only harvest festival in the area to combine rides on real trains with the search for the perfect pumpkin.

City workers give back $11,510 each

Municipal employees – with the exception of the Manteca Police Officers Association – have made an average of $11,510 per worker in general fund compensation concessions over the next two fiscal years.

Red light runner camera proposal deep-sixed

Red light runners won't have to worry about being caught any time soon in Manteca by high-tech cameras when they violate the law and jeopardize public safety.

Rough economy creates bigger holiday need for Turkeys-R-Us

Turkeys-R-Us organizers anticipate they will need to raise funds for 2,600 turkeys to make sure struggling families, low-income seniors, and the unemployed in Manteca, Ripon, and Lathrop do not go without the main course for holiday meals this Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Ripon snags DUI enforcement grants

RIPON – You'd better not have "one for the road" in Ripon.

Are dry years here to stay?

The South San Joaquin Irrigation District is guaranteed water - providing it snows in the Sierra.

DOUBLE JOY

It was a day of double joy for Dr. George Veldstra, M.D.

Roast, fund-raiser for Jeff Tilton on March 7

The Manteca Transit Center at Moffat Boulevard and South Main Street in Manteca is the setting for the Roast of Jeff Tilton, a candidate for San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools in June's primary elections.

Friends remember Olympic torch relay in 1964

It's Winter Olympics time. And while the world's eyes may be focused on Sochi, Bob Steves and Tom Osborn's memories are flying back to the 1964 summer Tokyo Olympics.

FOR THEIR SWEETHEARTS

Herman and Ann Howard have been married for 50 years. Ann professes to know the reason behind their marital success. In a word: surprise - especially those that are carefully planned and then presented with a generous mixture of thoughtfulness and love on Valentine's Day.

Farmers say Obama plan won’t help deal with drought

LOS BANOS (AP) - Farmers in California's drought-stricken Central Valley said the financial assistance President Barack Obama delivered on his visit Friday does not get to the heart of California's long-term water problems.

Nurses, seniors picket Manteca Kaiser hospital

Kaiser Don't Break Our Hearts.

SWEETHEART STORIES

She was 18 years old and a senior in high school. He was 21 and a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

$2M facelift for two miles of Louise Ave.

A two-mile stretch of Louise Avenue is getting a $2 million makeover between Airport Way and Main Street this spring.

Court ruling shoots down ‘good cause’ for concealed guns

A federal appeals court known for its liberal-leanings struck down a mandate on Thursday that could make it easier for California residents to obtain concealed weapons permits.

Their love is still in full bloom

There's still magic in the air between Michele and Eric Davis – a Manteca couple who will have been married 25 years on Saturday.

Ripon’s Mary Cariged marks 102nd birthday

Mary Cariged of Ripon celebrated her 102nd birthday on Wednesday.

George ‘Pumpkin King’ & Vi Perry

When George and Violet Perry celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary, their five children knew exactly what special song they were going to dedicate to their parents to mark that momentous day.

Chance meeting led to love at first sight, then marriage

In 2006, the Seattle Seahawks made their first-ever Super Bowl appearance, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ford Field in Detroit.

Women rule in California’s heart

Two Assembly districts. One California Senate Seat. The heart of California's conservative Central Valley.