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Archive By Section - Local Columns


Thigh busting challenge: Conquering ‘The Wall’

You got this. You got this. ... C'mon, man, you got this.

March 28, 2013 | James Burns | Local Columns


Manteca-Lathrop’s next economic boom is coming down the tracks

They've been working on the railroad – and for good reason. America is in the midst of a railroad boom. It has everything to do with the economic recovery, rising overseas production costs, the shale oil boom, efficiencies in fuel and goods movements, and reducing carbon footprints. Railroads this year alone are expected to pour $14 billion into infrastructure to make train movements more efficient from coast to coast. Freight demand is projected to double ...

March 28, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Caswell & outsourcing state parks

At the southern terminus of Austin Road is one of 280 gems known as California State Parks. Caswell Memorial State Park is home to unique valley riparian woodlands. Such clustering of woodlands once covered immense swaths of the valley floor alongside rivers. Today less than 2 percent of riparian oaks that existed when unsuccessful gold seekers turned to farming still stand. The 258 acres in the state park are home to perhaps a hundred or ...

March 26, 2013 | | Local Columns


In a true sense we are all Stocktonians

Stockton admittedly has its challenges. It is second only to Oakland among California cities in terms of crime. It is the third most illiterate city among those in the United States with 250,000 residents or more based on just 17 percent of the adult population having a college degree. The FBI ranks it No. 7 nationally for vehicle theft per capita. And on Monday Stockton had the dubious honor of being the largest United States ...

March 25, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


The curse of throwing around vulgar words

"My gosh." I first I didn't really notice. Then I heard it again. "My gosh." I stopped where I was working in my back yard and looked up." "My gosh. I almost got it." Standing on the roof of the house next door was a neighbor boy of about 12 years. He was shooting baskets with his cousins. They were feeding him the ball and he was trying to shoot over the top of a ...

March 24, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


AMBITIOUS PROJECT

Camron Moebius learned very quickly that building a playground was, in fact, no walk in the park.

March 23, 2013 | James Burns | Local Columns


Mock funeral drives point home to teens

LATHROP - There was plenty of tissue in use at the Lathrop High gym on Friday I have to admit there were a couple tears that touched my cheek as the death and dying in an alcohol fueled traffic crash dramatization brought back memories of those I have covered over the years.

March 23, 2013 | Glenn Kahl | Local Columns


What those ‘free’ lunches actually cost

There is no such thing as a free lunch. But sometimes "free" can be more expensive than you think. The school free lunch program is a prime example. Every year school districts must vote to accept the provisions of the free lunch program in order to continue receiving those monies, as well as all federal funds. One would think ...

March 23, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Putrid salmon shouldn’t be official color of Manteca

Bill Goodwin dislikes graffiti. Nor is he a big fan of the color putrid salmon. That explains why he challenged the status quo. And in doing so, he may make Manteca look just a little bit better. Goodwin questioning why the city is literally painting Manteca a putrid salmon started when a member of society's underbelly - vandals who fancy themselves artists and their gang cousins who mark what they perceive to be their territory ...

March 22, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


The new child abuse: Buying your kid a rifle

My brother Ronald knew how to safely use a rifle before he entered the fifth grade.

March 20, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


WALKING ABOUT RIPON

Step into "Spring" right out your front door – there's nothing like it before the sun's up. Many a pickup truck will pass you on the street as farmers are headed out to their ranches and you might even find a dog that wants to walk at your side for several blocks.

March 20, 2013 | Glenn Kahl | Local Columns


Bloomberg to the American people: Let them eat tofu cakes

Every had roasted stuffed goose, papardelle with tomato and stewed pancetta, or truffle tagliatelle?

March 19, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Texas and barnyard sex education

In 2009, an interim Texas school superintendent declared that sex-education classes were unnecessary in his rural district. Most of the area's school kids live on farms, he explained, therefore: "They get a pretty good sex education from their animals."

March 19, 2013 | By JIM HIGHTOWER Political Columnist | Local Columns


KIDS ON THE RUN

Michelle Crippen watched them spin circles around campus, plodding through an open field and skipping across the blacktop.

March 19, 2013 | James Burns | Local Columns


Fiefdoms & high paying jobs win out over providing higher education

Just 36.4 miles separate Delta College and Modesto Junior College. They both offer similar courses. Both have had to clamp down on enrollment and raise fees. But were all of the fee hikes and class caps necessary? The simple answer is no. That's because the fantasy known as "local control" takes precedent over education. San Joaquin Delta Community College District and Yosemite Community College District could easily be operated under one board and one administrative ...

March 19, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


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Page 3 of 112

Articles by Section - Local Columns


Tax Internet sales until virtual cops can protect us

The Internet.

May 07, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Summer heat and keeping dogs safe

DEAR DIDI: It hasn't been all that hot yet but I noticed when I was walking my English Bulldog the other day he refused to stay on the sidewalk. Can you tell me about temperatures for walks and what I should watch for when I take her in the car? -Worried Mommy in Manteca

May 06, 2013 | By Didi McElroy mycaliforniacanine.com | Local Columns


Taxes you pay go to PG&E & not Headstart

Pundits - and editorial cartoonists - are having a field day over Congress' decision to restore funding for air traffic controllers while letting programs such as Headstart for low-income kids and Meals on Wheels for shut-in senior citizens take federal budget hits.

May 06, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


The Pope and Godless capitalism

"This is called slave labor," said Pope Francis.

May 04, 2013 | | Local Columns


Cinco de Mayo is as American as you can get

People need to stop having heart palpations over Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

May 04, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Meeting your Ripon neighbors at jury duty, plus an unexpected pleasure over lunch

Meeting a couple of Ripon folks, and one from Linden and another from Tracy was an unexpected pleasure in my brief two days of jury duty this week – especially when four of us just happened to go out to lunch together on Thursday.

May 03, 2013 | Glenn Kahl | Local Columns


Kentucky Derby’s horse tie to French Camp

FRENCH CAMP – It's a funny thing, this horse racing business.

May 03, 2013 | Jason Campbell | Local Columns


Guns: Being judged by 12 instead of being carried by 6

She's a single mom in her early 30s. She lives in an old farmhouse in an almond orchard five miles east of Manteca. The closest neighbor is a quarter mile of a way but the trees make it impossible to see their home.

May 03, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Want a safe environment for vacation? Then stay out of Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is not Disneyland.

May 02, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Perhaps Manteca should work with Wal-Mart to create a homeless park

The aging RV was parked under a stately tree providing relief from the 90-degree midday heat.

May 01, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Count your blessings that disco didn’t survive the ‘70s

Bell bottom pants. Flare-leg pants. Men's rayon tie scarves. Polyester suits.

April 30, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


California makes sure car buyers pay the price twice in taxes

Call it farmer smarts

April 27, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


Beware of sugary drink tax: It might end up killing you

How many calories are in 16 ounces of orange juice? Try 220 calories.

April 26, 2013 | Dennis Wyatt | Local Columns


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