The initial step toward consolidating the school districts surrounding Manteca into a strong Union High School District was taken Wednesday night at the luncheon served by the Board of Trade to the trustees of the eight districts at the Waukeen Hotel. All the trustees reported that they were in favor of the plan.

The annual membership dinner of the Manteca District Chamber of Commerce, held jointly with the Lions Club Ladies Night held at Hotel Manteca last Thursday night proved to be one of the most enjoyable affairs ever held in this city. Mrs. A. Kleinman, manager of the hotel where the affair was held, is to be highly commended for the splendid turkey dinner prepared for the gathering.

Robert Edward Leventon, 75, former mayor of Manteca and highly respected citizen of this city for more than 25 years, died at the San Joaquin General Hospital about 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. His health had been failing for two or three years, forcing him to retire from his blacksmithing business.

As in a similar situation several weeks ago, the board of directors of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District met in another stormy session Tuesday morning. As before, there was a large crowd of about 300, who attempted unsatisfactorily to have the meeting adjourned to the Manteca Ballroom. Director L. W. Barry’s motion died for lack of a second.

A group of Manteca landlords submitted a written petition to the city council Monday night, asking that controls on rental housing in Manteca be lifted. City Attorney John Wilson stated that the city council would have to pass an ordinance recommending decontrol.

The title “Outstanding Young Man of the Year” was given to 34 year-old Ted Gregory at the annual Junior Chamber of Commerce awards dinner Wednesday night at the FESM Hall. Raymond Quaresma, 28, a dairyman of South Union Road, was named “Young Farmer of the Year” and Erik Gustafson, 31, was named “Jaycee of the Year”.

The rising San Joaquin River has caused the evacuation of the Mossdale and Wetherbee Lake trailer parks. Wetherbee is reported to completely under water and 25 mobile homes were moved from the area.

Mantecan and Lathrop native Carlon C. Perry has taken out filing papers to run for the Manteca City Council. Perry, 34, is circulation manager for the Manteca Bulletin.

The Manteca Unified School District’s share of the more than $1 billion in state lottery receipts earmarked for education goes toward various staff salaries, purchasing equipment and the implementation of several programs, according to Jim Thomas, MUSD’s assistant superintendent of business services. “It’s not a large portion of our expenditures, but we consider the lottery money to be very important,” said Thomas.

Califia’s Farm World project, formerly known as Gold Rush City, is a step closer to reality. The Lathrop City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with EDAW Inc. This is the first step toward the preparation of an environmental impact report for the planned 50-acre highway commercial and recreational development. This would be the first of the proposed multi-billion dollar resort and theme park project, including an estimated 11,000 housing units, envisioned by Califia to rise at the largely agricultural 10.3 square mile spread west of the San Joaquin River.