10 years ago
October 12, 2006
A suspect literally drove himself into the hands of the Manteca Police Tuesday morning, but not before causing multiple damages to the police station’s brand-new security fence.  The electronically controlled two gates on Cherry Lane were totaled. The suspect, 43-year-old Frank Martinez of Tracy, was reportedly driving a Chevy S-10 Blazer under the influence of methamphetamine when, for unknown reasons, he drove his white sport utility vehicle through the police station’s security fence in three places.
About 20 people learned the hard way Wednesday why it’s unsafe to cross railroad guards when they‘re down. They now have to pay $271 tickets. The Manteca Police Department joined forces with the Union Pacific Railroad Police, the Amtrak Police, the Ripon Police and the San Joaquin County Probation Department in the annual Operation Lifesaver sweep aimed at educating the public about the dangers of crossing railroad tracks when trains are approaching.

Voters in the Manteca Unified School District can continue checking off their favorite candidates regardless of area. The school board recently flirted with the possibility of adopting an alternative method other than the current at-large process based on concerns about the escalating cost for the candidacy filing fee. Trustees dropped the idea of changing the process at their Tuesday meeting.

20 years ago
October 15, 1996
Some 18,500 jobs are one carrot Gold Rush City proponents are dangling before local commissioners who will vote on the massive project Friday in Stockton. Norman Jarrett, managing partner of the 6,600-acre theme park and housing project west of Lathrop, predicts 1,500 construction jobs starting with the groundbreaking late in 1997 and continuing the next 13 years.

30 years ago
October 13, 1986
More than 21,000 people enjoyed the warm weather this weekend enough to attend the Pumpkin Fair, sponsored by the Sunrise Kiwanis. A total of 12,620 attended Sunday, the second day of the fair, adding to Saturday‘s attendance figure of 9,321. Ethan Ives and Larry Madoski, co-chairmen of the fair, extended the 6 p.m. closing time, due to the large number of people still in the park.

40 years ago
October 13, 1976
The “enthusiasm” and “attitude” of Manteca city officials was cited by Moduline International Inc. representatives this week as a major reason for locating their 10th plant in Manteca. The plant will be built on a nine-acre site in the city’s Industrial Park. Other factors that determined the site selection were the city’s geographical location and excellent labor availability, said Moduline president L. C. Merta.

50 years ago
October 12, 1966
Minor discrepancies held up for a least a week City Council acceptance of this city’s newest fire station on South Powers Avenue. City Manager Angelo Bressani recommended that councilmen wait until minor repairs are made to the $92,541 fire station that was inspected by a group composed of Mayor Ed Pitts, Councilman Cliff Parr, architects and contractors Monday afternoon.

60 years ago
October 11, 1956
During a freak thunderstorm a week ago yesterday, an incident, rare in this area, occurred at the Mrs. Susie Theiler Ranch on Manteca Road, four miles south of town. At 5 a.m., lightning struck the TV antenna, traveling down two of the guy wires to the roof, knocked off several shingles and on into the TV set, almost completely demobilizing it. In addition to minor damage inside the home, telephones in other nearby homes were put out of operation.

70 years ago
October 10, 1946
The Young Women’s Service Club met in the high school cottage Monday night, with 41 members present and Dora Mortensen presiding. Sixteen letters were received in answer to the recent YWSC letter sent to all organizations inviting expression of opinion on the advisability of building a community hospital in Manteca. All were very much in favor of the project, as were the doctors in town.

80 years ago
October 15, 1936
M. M. Bobson, owner and operator of the Manteca Cleaning and Dyeing Works, will open a modern new plant on the corner of Main and Edison Streets within the next 60 days. It will house the latest in cleaning and dyeing equipment and Bobson declares he will be able to give his customers a finer and more perfect service than heretofore. The equipment from the present plant, located at 226 West Yosemite Avenue, will be moved to the new building.

90 years ago
October 14, 1926
The Board of Supervisors at the meeting Monday approved plans and specifications for the improvement of four and a half miles of Union Road and two miles on Louise Avenue. The total cost is $80,000. The Union Road will be improved from Yosemite Avenue to the French Camp highway and Louise Avenue from the Hogan Road east to the Austin Road. The two roads have been badly in need to improving.

100 years ago
October 13, 1916
Tonight at the Manteca Grammar School, every farmer in the South San Joaquin is asked to, and should make a point to, be present. Serious consideration of what it means to the district as a whole to have an association based on broad lines assisting in the problems which confront the farmer at every stage from preparing the land to the marketing of the crop is worth the consideration of everyone.