LATHROP CHAMBER MIXER

The Lathrop Chamber of Commerce mixer was hosted by the Manteca Youth Focus Lathrop Scholarship Competition at the Hampton Inn Suites in Lathrop.

Is there a dirty dancer among them?

So just who is more suave of a dancer – Manteca Councilman Steve DeBrum or Commons at Union Ranch (Premier Care) Chief Executive Officer Don Peterson?

Retired police dog takes 1st place

Manteca Police Canine "Spike" took first place in the class A division for military and retired police dogs last weekend in the Lodi Police Department's annual canine trials.

Manteca Rec sport leagues

The following are upcoming Manteca Parks & Recreation programs. For more information call 456-8600.

ODDS & ENDS

Officer befriends German couple on honeymoon

Passing this way but once, a honeymooning German couple was befriended by Manteca motorcycle officer John Machado after an intersection fender bender at Yosemite and Lincoln avenues Tuesday afternoon.

LAYING TRACK

Work continues at the Spreckels Recreation Park BMX track at Spreckels Avenue and Moffat Boulevard. Inspections are expected to take place this week with concrete work targeted for next week which means the track could open in a month or so.

Universal Dance marking 10th year

Universal Dance Company voted Manteca's "Best Dance Studio 2009" is ready to begin its 10-year anniversary of competition dance.

Camera club offers free Photoshop workshop

If you've always wanted to learn how to use layers and masks in Photoshop, here is an opportunity for you to have a whole afternoon of hands-on tutoring in Manteca.

Tickets now on sale for old-fashioned social, turkey BBQ benefiting museum

An old-fashioned tri-tip and turkey barbecue social is in its 17th year benefiting the Manteca Historical Society and Museum.

Ripon VFW staging luau, dancing plus dunk tank

RIPON – The Ripon Veterans of Foreign Wars is staging their third annual Luau Fund Raiser, to benefit the Ladies Auxiliary and Iraq fund.

‘Snow’ in Pumpkin Fair forecast

Get ready for some Manteca snow to fall during the Manteca Pumpkin Fair.

Tennis tourney this weekend helping fund mentoring for kids

You can take a swing at winning a tennis tournament this weekend and help put in place a program designed to mentor students at the same time.

Ripon Unified spends $200K for bilingual liaison workers

RIPON - Ripon Elementary School shot ahead in English Language Arts as well as Math in the spring 2009 Standardized Test and Reporting (STAR) testing.

Lathrop wants to woo businesses in earnest

LATHROP – To hire a consultant for $50,000 a year or to hire an economic development administrator for $150,000 a year: that is the dilemma facing the Lathrop City Council tonight.

2nd chance at first love

Nine days after Valentine's Day and exactly 21 days after their engagement, Patrick Payan and Andrea Juarez will exchange vows and wedding bands in front of family and friends.

PASTELS & PETALS

Mantecan Jean Ramey has added another feather to her artist's cap. Her nostalgic watercolor rendition of a restful garden setting has earned the nod of the Manteca Garden Club to be the signature picture that will grace the brochures, flyers and posters of the garden tour in May.

Sinkhole poses driving hazard on Highway 99

A sinkhole started developing on southbound Highway 99 at Austin Road at about 9:30 Monday night prompting numerous calls to the California Highway Patrol.

Manteca band 4th in Battle of the Bands

There are no trophies for fourth place.

Olsen speaks Thursday at Manteca gathering

Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, is speaking this Thursday at a meeting of the Manteca Patriots.

DUI/drivers license checkpoint Friday

The Manteca Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI/Driver's License Checkpoint on Friday, Feb. 14, at an undisclosed location within the City of Manteca between the hours of 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.

SSJID seeks to squeeze more crops out of water

A bold initiative to take farm water conservation to the next level is being vetted by the South San Joaquin Irrigation District.

Using hands to keep people alive

Manteca District Ambulance wants to give Manteca-Lathrop residents the power to save lives.

Tee time for Ripon Soroptimists

The Soroptimist International of Ripon is calling the area's best foursomes – men, women and mixed – to Spring Creek Golf and Country Club for its annual golf tournament on May 5.

ONE LETTER AT A TIME

Diane Stellhorn is an inspiration.

Teen credits Boys & Girls for positive changes

Miguel Lopez is thankful for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manteca/Lathrop.

Council would like to wave Ripon Fire fees

The Ripon Consolidated Fire District recently broke ground on a new fire station on the corner of River Road and North Ripon Road.

Crab feed to help pregnancy center launch mobile unit

The Pregnancy Help Center of Manteca hopes to address one of the area's growing needs with an all-you-can-eat feast.

Ripon man dies in 99 accident

MERCED – A Ripon man was killed early Friday morning when the pickup truck he was traveling in veered off the road on Highway 99 near Merced and crashed into metal guardrail.

Surviving the streets of Manteca

Brad Peters calls it "fanning his feathers."