On This Day In Stockton
vicar...@hotmail.com
There were 110 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,378 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Battery, Woodbridge: Jeremy Carrel, 24, was arrested for misdemeanor
battery after allegedly cornering his sister in the bathroom of her
home, biting her on the head and tearing a portion of her hair out. The
sister alleged the altercation began when Carrel came into her room,
got extremely close to her face and yelled at her. Carrel was placed
under citizen's arrest and booked into San Joaquin County Jail.
Assault with a deadly weapon, Tracy: Karen Rae Wheelus, 52, of Tracy
was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon late
Thursday night. She allegedly attempted to attack her sister-in-law
with a pry bar following an argument between the two women. The
victim's husband intervened, stopping his sister from striking his
wife. The pry bar was approximately four feet long and weighed between
15 and 20 pounds. Wheelus was booked into San Joaquin County Jail.
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Stockton Police
Shooting: A 46-year-old Stockton man was shot in the leg after an
argument with another man on San Joaquin and Sonora streets. The men
were yelling at each other in Spanish before the suspect walked to his
nearby van and got a handgun.
Assault with a deadly weapon: A 43-year-old Stockton woman reported
being slashed across the abdomen with a box cutter during a fight. No
suspects were identified. The woman was treated and released from
Dameron Hospital.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,214 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. Officers responded to 19
noninjury accidents and six injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested four people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered two stolen vehicles.
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Stockton man denies swindling investors
The 50-year-old father of a former St. Mary's High School football star
pleaded not guilty to charges he offered to invest other people's money
in a variety of schemes without telling them where the funds were
actually going. The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office filed
two felony charges against Fiaaluae "Louie" Tuitama: He is accused of
making false statements to sell securities and of selling unregistered
securities. Some area residents say they gave Tuitama as much as
$40,000 and $60,000 in hopes that lucrative returns on sugar imported
from Central America or an Alaskan land purchase were a few months
away.
Measure E passes
Tracy teachers, administrators and parent campaign volunteers have
reason to rejoice after Measure E - designed to allow the Tracy Unified
School District to sell $51 million in bonds for improvements at its
two high schools - passed convincingly Tuesday. The bond passed 68
percent to 32 percent. Measure E will raise property taxes by $20 per
$100,000 of assessed value to pay to tear down West Building at Tracy
High School and overhaul the school's infrastructure. At Merrill F.
West High School, the bond would build a new stadium, theater, track
and pool.
The voters have spoken
Tuesday's primary election brought the following results:
» Former Rep. Paul N. "Pete" McCloskey's quixotic campaign to unseat
seven-term incumbent Rep. Richard Pombo fell short. Pombo won 62.3
percent of the vote to McCloskey's 32 percent. The race for the
Democratic nomination was closer. Pleasanton energy consultant Jerry
McNerney defeated Danville airline pilot Steve Filson 52.6 percent to
28.5 percent.
» Tracy Unified School Board President Gerry Machado defeated Tracy
City Councilwoman Suzanne Tucker for the GOP nomination in the 17th
Assembly District. Machado finished with 62.2 percent of the vote,
while Tucker had 37.8 percent. On the Democrat side, legislative
staffer Cathleen Galgiani soundly defeated Merced businessman William
Sweet with 76.8 percent of the vote.
» In the Lodi-area's 10th Assembly district, Elk Grove parole officer
Jim Cook defeated Sacramento County carnival owner Kevin Tate for the
Democratic nomination. Cook had 56.3 percent to 43.7 percent for Tate.
Incumbent Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, R-Lodi, will be the favorite in
the general election.
» In the Mother Lode's 25th Assembly District, the nasty race between
Republicans Bill Conrad and Tom Berryhill ended with a whimper.
Berryhill hammered Conrad 68.4 percent to 31.4 percent. Berryhill now
can set his sights on Sacramento; the 25th Assembly District leans
heavily toward the Republicans, although Democrat James Lex Bufford
also is on the ballot.
» Steve Moore and Dennis Lobenberg advanced to a November runoff in
the race for San Joaquin County sheriff. Moore and Lobenberg had 26.1
percent and 24.9 percent of the vote with all 507 precincts reporting.
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Road report -- Published June 11, 2006
For the week of June 11
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San Joaquin County Highway 4 Today
One-way traffic control in both directions between Middle River and
Whiskey Slough, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., for weed control and litter removal.
Expect 15-minute delays.
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Thursday
Eastbound partial offramp closure at Center Street, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
for drilling.
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Highway 12 Monday
Eastbound lane and shoulder restrictions between South Hutchins Street
and Pleasant Avenue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., for drilling. Expect five-minute
delays.
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Highway 26 Today through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Fremont Street and
the Calaveras River, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for chip sealing. Expect
20-minute delays.
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Tuesday through Friday
Lane, median and shoulder restrictions in both directions between
Broadway and Oro avenues, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for bridge construction.
Expect 10-minute delays.
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Highway 88 Tuesday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Comstock and Eight
Mile roads, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for weed control and litter
removal. Expect five-minute delays.
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Highway 99 Today
Full highway closure northbound between Highway 4 and Fremont Street,
11 p.m. to 7 a.m., for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
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Today through Wednesday
Southbound lane, shoulder and median restrictions between Hammer Lane
and Wilson Way, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute
delays.
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Today through Thursday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 88 and Cherokee Road, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening.
Expect five-minute delays.
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Today through Friday
Lane restrictions in both directions between Highway 4 and Mormon
Slough, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for median and miscellaneous work. Expect
10-minute delays.
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Today through Friday
Lane restrictions in both directions between Hammer Lane and Eight Mile
Road, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., for median and miscellaneous work. Expect
10-minute delays.
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Today through Friday
Lane and shoulder restrictions in both directions between Ad Art and
Newton roads, at various times around-the-clock. Expect five-minute
delays.
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Today through Saturday
Ramp closures in both directions at Cherokee Road, at various times
around-the-clock, for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
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Today through Saturday
Long term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, around-the-clock, for interchange
construction.
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Today through Saturday
Long term partial ramp closures in both directions at Highway 120,
around-the-clock, for interchange construction.
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Today through Saturday
Long term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 4 and Hammer Lane, at various times around-the-clock, for road
widening.
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Monday through Friday
Northbound partial offramp closure at Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
for bridge construction.
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Monday through Friday
Southbound intermittent lane restrictions between Hammer and Morada
lanes (on frontage road), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for jack and bore. Expect
five-minute delays.
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Monday through Friday
Southbound lane restrictions between Lodi Avenue and Sacramento County
line, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for rumble strip. Expect 20-minute delays.
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Tuesday through Friday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 4 and the Stockton Diverting Canal, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for
bridge construction. Expect five-minute delays.
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Tuesday through Friday
Full offramp closure southbound at Fremont Street, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.,
for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
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Wednesday
Southbound lane restrictions at Arch Road, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., for
pothole repair. Expect 10-minute delays.
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Highway 120 Today through Saturday
Long term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Button Avenue and Highway 99, at various times around the clock, for
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
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Wednesday and Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions at Spreckels Road, 9:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.,
for bridge maintenance. Expect five-minute delays.
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Thursday
Eastbound lane restrictions between Manteca and Spreckels roads, 1:30
to 5 a.m., for bridge maintenance. Expect five-minute delays.
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Interstate 205 Today
Traffic break in both directions at Paradise Road, 1 to 1:30 a.m., for
utilities. Expect five-minute delays.
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Today through Saturday
Long term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions near
Mountain House, around the clock, for interchange construction.
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Today through Saturday
Long term partial onramp closures in both directions at Patterson Pass
Road, around-the-clock, for interchange construction.
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Today through Saturday
Long term median and shoulder restrictions in both directions between
Hansen Road and Interstate 5, around-the-clock, for road widening.
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Calaveras County Highway 4 Monday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Cherokee Creek and
Angels Oaks Drive, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for ditch and drain
cleaning. Expect five-minute delays.
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Highway 26 Tuesday and Wednesday
One-way traffic control westbound just east of Boston Yale Road, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair. Expect five-minute delays.
Note: Unexpected schedule changes can occur due to weather, equipment
breakdown or scheduling problems. To hear a recording of California
highway conditions, call (800) 427-7623. To view transportation-related
information online, visit the California Department of Transportation
Web site at www.dot.ca.gov.
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San Joaquin County road delays Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cardinal Avenue between Main Street and Weber
Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road improvements.
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Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cherry Road between Highway 12 to Schmeidt Road, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
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Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Kirschenman Road, Bruella Road to end, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m., for road resurfacing.
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Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Lower Sacramento Road between Armstrong Road and
north of Harney Lane, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road improvements.
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Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Schmiedt Road, Cherry Road to end, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
for road resurfacing.
Warlock God of Fortworth
There were 97 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,445 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Narcotics possession, Tracy: Deputies conducted a traffic stop near
Linne Road and MacArthur Drive on a car with expired registration. The
driver gave his name as Victor Pena, and the passenger said her name
was Nicole Rodriguez. A records check led deputies to determine that
the passenger lied about her identity; her true name was Danielle
Michelle Rodriguez. Both Pena and Rodriguez are on parole, deputies
said. After arresting them, deputies searched the car and found vials
suspected of containing methamphetamine and cocaine. They also found a
stolen laptop computer, deputies said. Pena and Rodriguez were taken
into custody at San Joaquin County Jail and booked on a variety of
charges including giving a false name to a peace officer, possession of
narcotics for sale and possession of stolen property.
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Stockton Police
Robbery: Two men entered a check-cashing business on the first block of
West Harding Way and held three employees at gunpoint Monday while they
emptied money from a cash drawer, police said. One of the men was
described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, white, 20, 130 pounds, wearing a
blue bandanna, a hooded gray sweat shirt and blue jeans. He was armed
with a semiautomatic handgun, possibly a .22-caliber, police said. The
other man was described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, Latino, 20, 150
pounds, wearing a dark cloth over his face, a hooded orange-and-tan
sweat shirt and denim shorts, police said.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,253 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to five
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered eight stolen vehicles.
Warlock
There were 87 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, there were 1,414 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
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Stockton Police
Robbery: Two men in a green 1997 Cadillac DeVille were talking to a
46-year-old woman in the 700 block of San Miguel Avenue at 6:05 p.m.
Tuesday when the passenger grabbed her purse and the driver sped off
toward Ponce De Leon Avenue. The victim lost $600 in cash, two credit
cards and her driver's license.
Robbery: A suspect in two robberies of the AM/PM market at 7906 N. El
Dorado St. was recognized by a witness as he was walking north on
Pacific Avenue from Edan Avenue at 7:51 p.m. Tuesday, police reported.
Anthony Deshon Hudson, 21, was charged with two counts of robbery in
connection with the May 29 and June 6 holdups.
Robbery: Three men, ages 20, 23 and 26, were standing in front of their
residence in the 2300 block of Sonora Street when they were approached
by three armed men, who robbed them at gunpoint of approximately $2,200
in cash at 9:39 p.m. Tuesday.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,183 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
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Federal buyout could boost troubled Delta
STOCKTON - The federal government proposes to buy half of the farmland
in California's largest water district to stop a decades-long drainage
problem, a plan that could bolster the ailing Delta.
What environmentalists and local water agencies can't figure out is why
the feds are renegotiating a contract with the same district to send
them even more water, which they say created the problem in the first
place.
"It doesn't make sense," said Dante Nomellini, an attorney for the
Central Delta Water Agency. "If land is going to be retired, the water
ought to be withdrawn."
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, however, says its proposal to buy out
as much as 300,000 acres in the Westlands Water District would
eventually mean less water to the district, not more.
Westlands, a 600,000-acre swath of farmland located just east of
Interestate 5 that spans Mendota to Kettleman City, receives enough
Delta water for 2.4 million families a year. The problem is that the
land drains poorly, leading to a buildup of water beneath the land's
surface that can become contaminated with salt.
The Bureau of Reclamation is negotiating a contract with the district
that would deliver another 30,000 acre-feet of water to the district.
But Jeff McCracken, an agency spokesman, said the district isn't
actually asking for more water since it bought the water from another
smaller, local district. "It's water that would have been delivered
anyway," he said.
Westlands, for its part, isn't happy about the idea.
The district's 600 farms produce about $3.5 billion in agriculture
annually, spokeswoman Sarah Woolf said. Besides potentially cutting the
district's farm income in half, the government's plan would disrupt
water-sharing agreements that local farmers have with each other, she
said.
"Hopefully, Reclamation, Westlands, and other parties involved in the
litigation can come to a better solution," Woolf said.
Since the 1960s, the federal government has looked at ways to drain
farm water from the region, at one point building a drain to the Delta.
But environmental groups complained, and the project was abandoned
after being partially built.
Instead, the water drained at the Kesterson Wildlife Refuge, where the
water-tainted selenium from farm runoff killed birds and left them with
deformities.
The Bureau of Reclamation, which runs the Central Valley Project, is
under a 2000 court order to solve the issue. Buying the farmland is the
leading solution among several options that the agency considered in an
environmental report released last week.
The bureau faces a tough decision, said Hal Candee, an attorney with
the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group that is
opposed to increasing Westland's take of Delta water.
"Will they combine the strategy of land retirement that is recommended
by their own (report) with a reduced water export program, or will they
ignore that recommendation and continue business as usual?" Candee
said.
Environmental groups in general favor decreasing the amount of water
sent south from the Delta, arguing that the exports hurt local water
quality and contribute to the decline of Delta fish.
Nomellini said the federal government should drain the water to the
ocean, since water sent to Westlands will continue to add to the
Valley's growing salt problem. Salt intrusion from San Francisco Bay
contributes to the Delta's poor water quality, resulting in lower crop
yields and lower oxygen levels, which hurt fish.
But Westlands' drainage problem should have been solved before any
water went there at all, Nomellini said.
"There's got to be some kind of balance," he said.
The Sorcerer Warlock of Phoneix
The Sheriff's Office booked 113 people into the San Joaquin County Jail
in the 24 hours that ended at 8 a.m. Thursday. At that time, there were
1,394 people held at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287.
When the jail is beyond capacity, some inmates may be released early.
Armed robbery: Three men entered a Lincoln Center jewelry store
Wednesday morning, brandished a pistol, then used hammers to smash
display cases and ran off with an as-yet-undetermined quantity of
jewelry, sheriff's deputies said. The robbers entered the store around
10:30 a.m. and asked to look at Rolex watches and solitaire jewelry at
Gary J. Long Jewelers, 320 Lincoln Center, deputies said. The men fled
in a dark compact car with paper plates occupied by another man.
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Stockton Police
Attempted kidnapping: A 13-year-old girl told police she was grabbed by
a man while walking through Dentoni Park at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
According to police, the man tried to pull the girl to a car occupied
by two other men until she started screaming and was let go. The main
assailant is described as a white man in his 30s, tall and thin, with
short brown hair and a mustache. The men were in a dark-colored
vehicle.
Shooting: A man and a woman dropping off a friend in the 5300 block of
Carrington Circle on Wednesday night were shot by an unidentified
gunman, police said. According to police accounts, a man armed with a
shotgun emerged after the couple pulled into a driveway. The two sides
exchanged words, then the vehicle began backing out of the driveway
after hearing a gunshot. Both victims were treated at Dameron Hospital
for nonlife-threatening injuries; one of them was injured in the face
and the other in a hand. The gunman is described as an Asian man in his
20s, thin with a light complexion and long hair, police said.
Robbery: Two men, ages 45 and 50, answered a knock at their door and
found two men, one armed with a shotgun, waiting in the doorway, police
said. The assailants struck one of the victims and demanded and took
cash before fleeing, according to police accounts. One of the robbers
is described as a Black man, 5 feet 9 inches, 150 to 160 pounds with a
light complexion. The second is described as a Black man, 5 feet 11
inches, 140 pounds with a dark complexion. Both are in their mid-20s
and wore dark clothing, police said.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol office in Stockton handled 1,179 calls
for service in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. Officers
responded to five noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP
officers also arrested five people on charges of driving while
intoxicated and recovered four stolen vehicles.
vicaro...@hotmail.com
The Sheriff's Office booked 90 people into the San Joaquin County Jail
in the 24 hours that ended at 8 a.m. Friday. At that time, there were
1,392 people held at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287.
When the jail is beyond capacity, some inmates may be released early.
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Stockton Police
Armed robbery: A 39-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint of his cash,
passport and suitcase at about at 9 p.m. Thursday in the 1300 block of
South Center Street. The robber was described as 40-year-old Latino man
with dark blue bell-bottom pants, a checkered red and green shirt and a
camouflage hat. He was carrying a small black revolver and was with
three other men.
Robbery: Several men knocked on a door in the 2100 block of East Sonora
Street at about 9:50 p.m. Thursday and pulled the 15-year-old boy who
answered the door outside and beat him. They took his cell phone.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol office in Stockton handled 1,189 calls
for service in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday. Officers responded
to 12 noninjury accidents and two injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested seven people on charges of driving while intoxicated and
recovered four stolen vehicles.
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Protection OK'd for River Islands development
Jun 17, 2006
STOCKTON - The California Reclamation Board on Friday took a step back
and then a step forward in approving part of a controversial housing
project near Lathrop.
For the second time, the board approved a permit to fill a
300-foot-wide "superlevee" that supposedly would provide the
11,000-unit River Islands project extra flood protection.
Environmental groups strongly oppose the plan, citing its proximity to
the fragile estuary and potential for levees to fail. Stewart Tract,
where River Islands is planned, flooded severely in 1997.
This time, the Reclamation Board approved a slimmed-down version of the
permit
In April, it approved additional items with the permit without
notifying the public beforehand, prompting accusations that the board
violated a state open-meetings law.
Criticism over the board's previous vote caused its Friday meeting to
drag on.
"In effect, we undid it, we reheard it, and then sat there for hours
while everybody had an opportunity to submit their comments," board
member Francis Hodgkins said.
Against the advice of the board's own attorney, board members in April
approved a version of the same permit that included how easements on
the part of the levee would be filled.
The easement issue was not included in the proposed permit. The board
on Friday voted to extend a vote on the easements until later this
month, Hodgkins said.
Board President Ben Carter last month decided the board should
reconsider its vote after receiving concerns that the board may have
violated the California Bagley-Keene Open Meetings Act. The act
requires state boards to notify the public in advance before it
considers voting on a particular issue.
The permit that the board approved Friday lets the project developer,
Walnut Creek-based Cambay Group, fill space between two existing
levees, creating a 300-foot-wide "superlevee." Most levees are 25 feet
wide or less.
The city of Lathrop approved the River Islands project in 2003,
although Cambay must still clear other hurdles from state agencies
before the homes are built.
biloxi...@hotmail.com
There were 93 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, there were 1,419 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Threatening an officer, French Camp: A man who had been released from
the San Joaquin County Jail earlier in the day was arrested Tuesday
after he ran toward deputies with his fists clenched, deputies said.
Tyler Nelson Twitty, 21, was seen walking around a restricted area in
the Sheriff's Office complex. When told to leave, he made obscene
gestures to deputies and began walking away, only to turn and charge
toward them, officials said. He was arrested on suspicion of
threatening and interfering with an officer.
Theft, Stockton: Deputies arrested a 46-year-old man whom they said was
spotted underneath his neighbor's vehicle, where he was stealing truck
parts. Atenogenes Camargo was taken into custody on suspicion of
attempted petty theft.
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Stockton Police
Robbery: Two men arrested on suspicion of a robbery in the parking lot
of a Motel 6 on Navy Drive have been tied to three more robberies over
the past four days, police said. Thomas Welles, 27, and Manuel Tovar,
27, both said to be transients, were held in connection with holdups on
West Hammer Lane, Lower Sacramento Road and Pacific Avenue, officers
said.
Robbery: A 28-year-old man lost his cash, watch and cowboy boots in a
robbery on North Monroe Street just after midnight Wednesday. The
victim parked and went to a store around the corner; when he found the
store was closed, he returned to his car and was confronted by four men
who beat and robbed him, police said. No arrests were reported.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,246 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to 10
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested four people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered six stolen vehicles.
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Unseating Pombo won't be easy, analysts say
SACRAMENTO - Rep. Richard Pombo's win Tuesday may not have been
overwhelming by primary election standards, but political observers say
Democratic nominee Jerry McNerney still must run a perfect campaign to
win in November.
Pombo, a seven-term incumbent from Tracy, captured a comparatively weak
62 percent of the vote in the Republican primary election. By contrast,
Pombo took 87 percent of the vote during his last intramural contest,
in 2002.
McNerney soundly beat his challengers as well, but voter turnout was an
appalling 25 percent in San Joaquin County, the heart of Pombo's 11th
District. Voters interviewed by The Record on Tuesday expressed no
great interest in the race.
Lodi Democrat Lisa Yeagley's reaction was typical. "I was sort of tied
between the two of them," said Yeagley, who declined to reveal who she
finally chose.
More than 2,700 San Joaquin Democrats skipped the congressional race
Tuesday - a number three times as high as that of county Republicans
who ignored the GOP primary.
Pombo campaign manager Carl Fogliani downplayed the totals, noting that
the campaign pulled its television ads in the final days of the race to
save cash.
"I think a 2-to-1 win is fine," Fogliani said. "You don't need to run
up the score."
University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato - one of the
nation's foremost political odds-makers - said he stayed up all night
watching the 11th District returns. He scoffed at Fogliani's notion.
"Oh, please - make me laugh out loud," Sabato said. "That was a very
poor showing."
Pombo's main GOP rival, former Rep. Paul N. "Pete" McCloskey, did
surprisingly well, earning 32 percent of the vote. But since his
campaign focused on attracting nontraditional Republican voters, it is
unclear whether Tuesday's result was a fair measure of the district's
Republican base, Sabato said.
Nevertheless, Sabato and other observers said McNerney must become a
more attractive candidate than he was when he challenged Pombo in 2004;
McNerney took only 39 percent of the vote in that election.
"Democrats must do more than count on the national political climate to
carry their candidate across the finish line," said analyst Amy Walter
of the Washington, D.C.-based Cook Political Report. "Candidates
matter."
Republican political analyst Allan Hoffenblum said now the Pombo camp's
likely next move will be to tie McNerney to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San
Francisco.
Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader who would become speaker if the
Democrats win the House this fall, is rapidly winning the kind of
infamy among Republicans previously enjoyed only by Democrat Sen. Ted
Kennedy of Massachusetts .
But it is the Bay Area where McNerney will find his strongest foothold.
Pombo won the East Bay portion of the 11th District Tuesday with only
53.9 percent of the vote; he even lost to McCloskey in Morgan Hill.
Fogliani said he'd expected as much and suggested that McCloskey's
voters are the same Republicans upset with President Bush. Bush's
approval ratings in California are lower than any president since
Nixon. "They'll come home in November," Fogliani said.
That remains to be seen, said Sabato. He said his assessment of the
race will hinge on what national Democrats do - they opposed McNerney
in the primary - as well as how McNerney emerges to the general public
over the summer months.
"After all, you can't beat somebody with a nobody," Sabato said.
daswa...@hotmail.com
wichita...@hotmail.com
There were 89 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Friday. At that time, there were 1,392 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Stolen vehicle, Acampo: The driver in a stolen vehicle fled deputies
after they approached him at the Collier Road Chevron station. After a
two-mile pursuit, the driver stopped and threw the keys out the window.
Deputies located the keys, which were filed down and did not match the
vehicle. Cody S. Engel, 21, was arrested and charged with car theft,
possession of a stolen vehicle, three counts of possession of burglary
tools and one count of evading a peace officer.
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Stockton Police
Attempted carjacking: A 28-year-old man reported he was working on his
car in the parking lot of his apartment complex in the 1100 block of
North Sutter Street. He told police he was approached by two men who
demanded the vehicle and threatened to burn it if he didn't comply. The
victim refused to give up his car and called 911. One would-be thief
was a Black man in his 20s, 5-foot-7, 140 pounds with no shirt, dark
pants and riding a yellow children's bicycle. The other was a Latino
man in his 20s, 5-foot-4, 140 pounds wearing a black baseball cap,
black shirt with a white inscription on the front and black shorts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,232 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday. Officers responded to four
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested eight people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John C. Chumley
Oct. 8, 1928 - June 22, 2006
Age 77, of Lodi. Cherokee
Memorial Funeral Home.
209-466-6993
Lillian Garfolo
Feb. 13, 1930 - June 22, 2006
Age 76, of Lodi. Cherokee
Memorial Funeral Home.
209-466-6993
Meredith Haines
Sept. 27, 1925 - June 22, 2006
Age 80, of Stockton. Wallace-Martin Funeral Home.
209-466-6993
Tracy Siufun Kwok
Sept. 1, 1949 - June 23, 2006
Age 56, of Stockton. Chapel of the Palms. 209-465-0265
Richard S. Reyes
Sept. 5, 1949 - June 21, 2006
Age 56, of Stockton. Cano
Funeral Home. 209-467-1177
Dead - Tundra
There were 109 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,405 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Assault with a deadly weapon: Members of rival gangs got into a
confrontation about 6 p.m. Friday near the intersection of March Lane
and Kentfield Drive, which led to shots being fired, police said. Two
people from one group suffered minor injuries from flying glass and
debris from bullets being fired into their car. Officers spotted one
involved vehicle and identified suspects, police said. They also
located a gun nearby, police said. Arrested were Kimsu Houth, 18, Ho
Ly, 19, Senaehk Nou, 18, and a 17-year-old boy. All four were known to
be affiliated with a gang, police said.
Assault with a deadly weapon: A 28-year-old man said he was sitting in
the 2100 block of Pock Street early Saturday morning, drinking beer
with two friends, when an assailant approached, said, "This is my
neighborhood" and shot at the victim several times. The victim suffered
injuries in the back and left arm and was taken to San Joaquin General
Hospital, police said, where he was listed in stable condition Saturday
night. The gunman is described as a 6-foot to 6-foot-5 Black man,
approximately 25 to 30 years of age, last seen wearing a yellow or
orange jersey and denim shorts, police said.
Robbery and assault with a deadly weapon: A 23-year-old man said he was
walking with his girlfriend near the intersection of Church and Pilgrim
streets early Saturday morning when two people approached, pointed
handguns at him and demanded money. When he refused, one shot him in
the left leg, police said. The victim was treated at a local hospital
and released in stable condition, police said. The assailants then fled
on foot north on Pilgrim Street, police said. The first assailant was
described as a 5-foot-9 Latino male last seen wearing a yellow and
white ski mask and armed with a large black handgun. The second
assailant was described as a 5-foot-8, heavy-set, Latino man, also last
seen wearing a yellow and white ski mask and armed with a small caliber
black handgun, police said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
University of the Pacific Police
Grand theft auto: A woman said she spotted her 2000 silver Jeep
Cherokee that had been reported stolen two weeks ago on campus about
7:15 p.m. Friday. After locating the thief, who police said was a white
man wearing a short-sleeved gray shirt and shorts, and bleeding from
the head, he fled on foot near Euclid Avenue. After receiving backup
from the Stockton Police Department, the suspect was found hiding in a
garbage can and arrested for several crimes, including the possession
of illegal prescription drugs, police said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,147 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. Officers responded to 30
noninjury accidents and 12 injury accidents. CHP officers also arrested
10 people on charges of driving under the influence and recovered eight
stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget earmarks rail project funds
STOCKTON - The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission on Friday approved
a $14 million budget, which includes money for an afternoon Altamont
Commuter Express train, better train security and rail projects that
will cut back on tardy trains.
The agency also allocated $22 million for capital projects, such as new
signaling along the railroad and revitalizing the Cabral train station
in Stockton.
This year's budget is a 20 percent increase over last year, in part
because the agency plans to invest more money in expanding the commuter
rail service, improving safety and on-time performance. On-time
performance hovered around 85 percent for the year as of April, said
Brian Schmidt, rail program manager for ACE. ACE's on-time performance
goal is 95 percent.
"One of our main focuses this year is what can we do for the trains to
be more reliable for the passengers," said Schmidt. "Train reliability
is (the passenger's) No. 1 issue, getting from point A to point B."
Another huge expense this year is the addition of an afternoon train,
which will cost roughly $1.4 million annually to operate, Schmidt said.
The afternoon train is scheduled to begin service Aug. 28. It will
depart Stockton at 9 a.m. and arrive in San Jose around noon. The train
will return to Stockton by 2 p.m.
ACE operates three daily, round-trip commuter trains between Stockton
and San Jose with stops in Lathrop, Tracy, Pleasanton, Fremont and
Santa Clara. About 1,500 people ride the trains each day.
ACE officials project that revenues will be higher this year with the
help of a 7.5 percent fare increase starting Saturday and an
anticipated boost in ridership with the addition of the fourth train,
Schmidt said.
The higher revenues will offset escalating fuel prices, which are
expected to jump from $950,000 to roughly $1.3 million this year,
Schmidt said.
Commissioners on Friday also approved $275,000 to study expanding ACE
from Modesto to Sacramento as well as through Contra Costa County and
Oakland. Part of that study will include finding better connections to
the Dublin BART station.
"Stockton to Santa Clara are not the only places people go," said Ripon
City Councilman Mike Restuccia, who sits on the rail commission. "Take
(Highway) 99 north in commute times; you hit areas that are as bad as
(Interstate) 205 and (Interstate) 580 in terms of congestion."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Road report -- Published June 25, 2006
For the week of June 25 San Joaquin County
Highway 4
Today
Westbound lane restrictions between Wilson Way and El Dorado Street, 5
to 11 a.m., for bridge maintenance. Expect five-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
One-way traffic control westbound between Woodsbro and Wilhoit roads,
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., for utility work. Expect five-minute delays.
Interstate 5 Today through Thursday
Moving lane closures in both directions between Charter Way and the
Sacramento County line, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for striping. Expect
five-minute delays.
Highway 26 Monday through Friday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions at Escalon
Bellota Road, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for road construction. Expect 20-minute
delays.
Monday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between the Calaveras River
and the Calaveras County line, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for weed control
and litter removal. Expect five-minute delays.
Highway 88 Tuesday and Wednesday
One-way traffic control in both directions at Harney Lane, 8 a.m. to 5
p.m., for utility relocation. Expect 10-minute delays.
Highway 99 Today through Friday
Full highway closure northbound between Highway 4 and Fremont Street,
11 p.m. to 5 a.m., for bridge repair. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, at various times around the clock, for
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term full and partial ramp closures in both directions at Highway
120, at various times around the clock, for interchange construction.
Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Thursday
Lane restrictions in both directions between Lodi Avenue and the
Sacramento County line, 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for rumble strip. Expect
10-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Full and partial ramp closures northbound at Hammer Lane, at various
times around the clock, for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Monday through Friday
Lane restrictions in both directions between Hammer Lane and Eight Mile
Road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for jack and bore. Expect five-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Median and shoulder restrictions in both directions between Highway 4
and Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for road widening.
Monday through Friday
Lane and shoulder restrictions in both directions at the Hammer Lane
overcrossing, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for bridge construction. Expect
five-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Southbound lane, median and shoulder restrictions between Highway 4 and
the Stockton Diverting Canal, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for bridge
construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Partial ramp closures in both directions at Cherokee Road, 9 a.m. to 3
p.m., for road widening.
Monday through Friday
Shoulder restrictions in both directions between Newton and Ad Art
roads, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for road widening.
Tuesday through Friday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions between Hammer Lane and Wilson
Way, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Tuesday through Friday
Southbound offramp closure at Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road
widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Highway 120 Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Button Avenue and Highway 99, at various times around the clock, for
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday and Tuesday
Westbound offramp closure at Yosemite Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
for storm damage repair. Expect 10-minute delays.
Interstate 205 Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions near
Mountain House, around the clock, for interchange construction.
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial onramp closures in both directions at Patterson Pass
Road, at various times around the clock, for underground utilities.
Monday through Friday
Eastbound lane restrictions between Holly and MacArthur drives, 11 p.m.
to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Wednesday through Friday
Partial onramp closure westbound between 11th Street and Hansen Road, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Friday
Eastbound lane restrictions between the Janney Overhead Bridge and
Grant Line Road, midnight to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect
15-minute delays.
Calaveras County Highway 4 Saturday
Full highway closure (detour) in both directions between Country Club
Drive and Moran Road, 9 a.m. to noon, for a special event. Expect
10-minute delays.
Highway 26 Monday
One-way traffic control westbound just east of Boston Yale Road, 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair. Expect five-minute delays.
Note: Unexpected schedule changes can occur due to weather, equipment
breakdown or scheduling problems. To hear a recording of California
highway conditions, call (800) 427-7623. To view transportation-related
information online, visit the California Department of Transportation
Web site at www.dot.ca.gov.
San Joaquin County road delays Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Lower Sacramento Road between Armstrong Road and
north of Harney Lane, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road improvements.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cardinal Avenue between Main Street and Weber
Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for roadway improvements.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Turner Road between Jacob Brack and Davis roads, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
Information: San Joaquin County Department of Public Works, Field
Engineering Division, (209) 468-3022.
Red Rover
There were 89 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. At that time, there were 1,435 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Burglary, Stockton: Samuel Gonzalez, 23, and his girlfriend, Amy
Pickering, 22, were arrested Friday on suspicion of burglary. Gonzalez
and Pickering live with Gonzalez's mother, who rents her garage to two
other people. The tenants in the garage reported they had been
burglarized, and sheriff's deputies said they were given permission to
search Gonzalez and Pickering's bedroom. Deputies said they found items
there belonging to the two who lived in the garage. Gonzalez and
Pickering were each charged with residential burglary and possession of
stolen property.
Drug possession, Thornton: Philip Vincent Alviso, 38, and a 16-year-old
boy were arrested Sunday on suspicion of having more than a half-pound
of methamphetamine. Deputies said they saw Alviso driving near Thornton
Road and Stockton Boulevard with one headlight out. Upon pulling Alviso
over, deputies said they found he was on probation and had him and the
16-year-old get out of the car to be searched. Deputies found a bag
containing 235 grams of methamphetamine on the 16-year-old along with
an additional 6 grams in his pocket. Alviso was charged with possession
of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for sale,
transportation of methamphetamine and a parole violation. The
16-year-old was charged with the same crimes except parole violation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Assault: A 17-year-old told police he was jumped just before midnight
Saturday by three carloads of men and teenage boys. The victim was
standing in front of Food 4 Less, 3434 Manthey Road, when the three
cars pulled up, and one occupant pointed in his direction and said,
"That's him." Then 10 to 15 people, described by police as ages 16 to
25, streamed out of the car and attacked him. One assailant put a
small, black handgun to the victim's face and asked him if he wanted to
die, then hit him several times with the gun. That attacker was
described as 26, Latino, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a
shaved head and a tattoo that reads "Stockton" across his stomach.
Drive-by shooting: A 19-year-old man told police he was hit twice by
shots fired from a passing car around 2:45 a.m. Sunday in the 4900
block of Kentfield Road. The victim said the shots were fired from a
older-model, green Ford Explorer with at least four men inside. The
victim was struck once in his right thigh and once in his left arm
before the assailants drove away, turning east on March Lane.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,239 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. Officers responded to 16
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested 10 people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered one stolen vehicle.
Boise Warlock
There were 82 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,467 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Possession of drug paraphernalia, Stockton: Kimberly Denise Edwards,
25, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of having a crack pipe and
violating her parole. Sheriff's deputies recognized Edwards in the 3700
block of Mourfield Avenue around 1:15 p.m. Sunday. Upon searching
Edwards, deputies said they found a 3-inch glass pipe with a
dark-colored brillo pad on one end; deputies said the pipe is commonly
used to smoke cocaine base or crack. Edwards was charged with
possession of drug paraphernalia and for her parole violation.
Resisting arrest, Stockton: Janette Lynn Payne, 41, was arrested Sunday
on an outstanding felony warrant and on suspicion of resisting arrest.
Deputies said they stopped Payne for jaywalking around 4 p.m. in the
area of North Wilson Way and North E Street. Deputies said Payne
appeared nervous, and a records check revealed her outstanding warrant.
When she learned she would be arrested, Payne ran from deputies and was
tackled in a gravel parking lot across Wilson Way, deputies said. Payne
was charged with resisting arrest in addition to the warrant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Shooting: A 29-year-old man reported he was shot around 10:20 p.m.
Sunday while playing basketball with his friends in the 100 block of
East Eighth Street. The suspects robbed the man and his friends of cash
at gunpoint and shot the victim in his right leg as he was walking
away. Police described one suspect as a 25-year-old Latino man, 6 feet
tall, 240 pounds, clean shaven with a short Mongolian-style haircut; he
was last seen wearing a red T-shirt. The other suspect was described as
a 35-year-old Latino man, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, clean shaven with
short black hair and a tattoo on his right shoulder. The suspects fled
in a car appearing to be an older Chevy Impala, police said.
Stolen vehicle arrest: Cecilio Sanchez Garcia, 28, was arrested Monday
on suspicion of stealing a vehicle. Police said they saw Garcia, a
transient, in possession of a stolen vehicle on the 2100 block of
Mariposa Road around 7 a.m. Monday. Garcia was charged with vehicle
theft and receiving stolen property.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,114 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to five
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered seven stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man sought in attempted murder
The Record
Published Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006
Pharaoh Brooks, 26. Sought in attempted murder.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LODI - A Stockton man is wanted on suspicion of using a baseball bat in
the attempted murder of an acquaintance who is hospitalized in critical
condition.
Lodi police said Pharaoh Brooks, 26, walked into a residence in the 700
block of North School Street at 2:13 a.m. Saturday and attacked Mychal
Angelo Lewis, 28, of Stockton, who was talking with two women inside
the house.
Brooks hit Lewis several times on the head and body with the bat before
fleeing, police said.
Lewis was taken to Lodi Memorial Hospital and then airlifted to another
hospital that police did not identify.
Brooks also is wanted on a burglary charge, police said.
Anyone with information about Brooks' whereabouts is asked to call Lodi
Detective Nick Welton at (209) 333-6879. Callers may be eligible for a
cash reward through Lodi Area Crimestoppers at (209) 333-6771. Brooks
is believed to be driving a maroon 2001 Toyota Sienna minivan with the
license plate 4RKX050.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delta counties work on flood plan
ISLETON - A major flood or other disaster in the Sacramento-San Joaquin
Delta could expose a lack of planning and communication between
different counties, state and federal agencies during evacuations and
flood fights, regional emergency response officials said Monday.
The fragile system of dirt levees, waterways and islands meanders
through parts of five counties, including Sacramento, San Joaquin,
Solano, Contra Costa and Yolo. Each county generally has a hierarchy in
place for local emergency response efforts, but officials say that
coordination becomes more complicated when disasters reach across city
and county lines.
Nearly two dozen emergency response and elected officials from the five
Delta counties met Monday in Isleton to discuss how to better organize
large-scale flood operations. The group hopes the meeting was a first
step toward establishing a regional plan that would improve
communication and establish authority during flood fights, evacuations
and other large responses.
"Hopefully we'll end up with some kind of formal plan," said Ron
Baldwin, San Joaquin County's emergency services director. "The key
will be the follow-up."
Officials at the meeting included: Baldwin and his emergency response
counterparts in the four other Delta counties; elected officials,
including Sacramento and West Sacramento Mayors Heather Fargo and
Christopher Cabaldon; and members of the Delta Protection Commission, a
state agency charged with preserving the 738,000-acre system.
One of the Delta's biggest challenges is that the sprawling system
touches so many different counties that it's easy for agencies to fight
over jurisdiction or fail to communicate when they could be making each
other's jobs easier.
Because of curving county lines, some agencies can respond more quickly
to emergencies by crossing boundaries, Baldwin said. San Joaquin County
flood-fight crews have in the past been forced to travel more than 10
miles to a troubled levee when a crew from Sacramento was situated only
a mile away, he said.
"Some things we can't do as effectively as possible unless we do it as
a region," Baldwin said.
Recent reports suggest the Delta is vulnerable to disastrous levee
failure and flooding should a large earthquake strike the area. A study
released by the state Department of Water Resources in November said a
6.5-magnitude quake would break 30 levees and turn the system into a
inland saltwater sea.
That study, plus recollections of Hurricane Katrina and other recent
natural disasters, led officials at the meeting to expound on a common
refrain: It can happen here. Marci Coglianese, a former Delta
commissioner and Rio Vista councilwoman, recalled how flooding
devastated the region in 1972 and 1986.
Katrina's impact on New Orleans and other Gulf Coast towns and cities
only serves as a more recent reminder that the Valley also is
vulnerable to flood disasters, she said.
"There is no reason to think that we're any safer here than they were,"
Coglianese said.
The Gulf Coast disaster led some cities and counties to begin planning
for similar events closer to home. In Sacramento, a series of community
meetings have been held to educate the public about emergency planning
efforts, Fargo said.
Sacramento and Yolo counties also are drafting animal evacuation and
rescue plans in response to the large number of strays left behind in
New Orleans.
No further meetings have been scheduled to discuss the regional
response plans. Each county emergency services representative is to
discuss the idea with county administrators while Delta commissioners
schedule meetings with area lawmakers to generate support in the coming
months.
Bangor Sorcerer
warlo...@hotmail.com
There were 107 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, there were 1,444 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Criminal threats, Stockton: Braulio Abundiz, 29, of Stockton was
arrested for allegedly threatening a store clerk in the 1800 block of
East Eighth Street. Abundiz allegedly attempted to purchase a $1.50 can
of beer with 50 cents. He left the store and returned shortly afterward
with a stick, threatening the clerk and demanding the beer. He
attempted to strike the clerk but missed.
Grand theft, Tracy: Ismael Jimenez, 24, was arrested for allegedly
stealing a $500 CD player from a car he was paid to detail. Jimenez was
employed by Adesa Golden Gate Auto Auction. His job was to detail the
vehicles before they are sold. The stereo was recovered.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: A purse belonging to a 60-year-old woman was taken from her
lap as she sat at a bus stop on Stratford Circle in Stockton. The
robber fled on foot.
Shooting: Stedvino Mayes, 20, was arrested for allegedly shooting a
Stockton man in the chest with a .22-caliber pistol late Tuesday night.
The victim was reportedly attempting to buy heroin in the 700 block of
E. Fifth St. before being shot. He was taken to a hospital by his wife
and was listed in critical but stable condition.
Stabbing: A 48-year-old Stockton man was stabbed in the shoulder for
unknown reasons on Lincoln Street near Columbus Park. Three assailants
fled on bicycles.
Assault: A 32-year-old Stockton man was assaulted by four men while he
was on an early morning walk Wednesday. The man reported the four men
drove past him in a red car, stopped and got out to take his wallet.
The man fought them off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol did not report calls for service in the
24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Schneider collapses on set
The Record
Published Thursday, Jun 29, 2006
STOCKTON - Actor Rob Schneider reportedly collapsed on the Stockton
film set of the movie "Big Stan" and was taken by ambulance to San
Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp on Wednesday morning.
The Montezuma Fire District confirmed the actor's collapse. Hospital
officials confirmed he was admitted but would not release information
on his treatment, citing the federal Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996.
"I really can't say what happened, but he had an IV stuck in him and he
was being transported to San Joaquin General Hospital," said Montezuma
firefighter Michael Olizas, speculating the actor's collapse was due to
heat exhaustion.
Schneider's publicist did not return phone calls Wednesday.
"Big Stan" is a comedic prison movie being shot on location at the
Northern California Women's Facility on Arch Road, southeast of
Stockton. Olizas said Montezuma fire has been called out to the set for
other heat-exhaustion cases daily since the movie shoot began earlier
this month.
The 42-year-old Schneider plays a con man in prison on fraud charges
who learns kung fu to fend off other inmates.
Schneider found fame starring on television's "Saturday Night Live" and
in movies such as "Duece Bigalow: Male Gigolo,'' and "The Animal."
Denver Warlock
SACRAMENTO - Tracy Rep. Richard Pombo scored a big victory Thursday
when the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 232-187 his bill
that would overhaul the way government oversees offshore oil drilling.
The bill passed after more than two hours of debate.
But Pombo's bill probably would not affect California, where Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state Legislature are vocal foes of
offshore drilling.
The legislation bans oil and gas drilling up to 50 miles offshore -
unless a state petitions for it - and gives states the option to allow
drilling from 50 to 100 miles off shore.
California is highly unlikely to permit drilling in that zone, and
beyond it, the Pacific drops off beyond reach of modern oil derricks.
Drilling could occur beyond 100 miles in the Atlantic states.
At issue is the seemingly intractable matter of expanding domestic
energy supplies.
America's dependence on foreign energy is twice what it was during the
energy crisis of the 1970s, when one-third of American's oil came from
overseas. Now two-thirds does. Congress' Republican majority has fought
for years to open oil and natural gas exploration in Alaska, the
Western oil shale fields and off shore.
Democrats have instead focused on conservation and renewable sources
such as solar, wind and biofuels - ethanol as well as diesel made from
soybeans. Central Valley growers have recently entered this business,
which is dominated by the Midwest.
Pombo, a Republican, said he was especially proud that 40 Democrats
voted with him and said he hoped to craft a compromise with the Senate,
which is debating a narrower bill that focuses solely on the Gulf of
Mexico.
"I'm looking forward to working this out," Pombo said. "I can do this."
Pombo said final talks with the Senate will probably not occur until
autumn.
Most of the opposition to Pombo's proposal came from Democrats who
cited environmental or fiscal reasons. Additionally, the Bush
administration opposes the bill in its current form because it would
siphon money from the federal treasury into states that support
offshore drilling.
By the administration's count, Pombo's bill would reduce federal
revenues by $11 billion over the next decade. Pombo amended the bill to
reduce that to $3.6 billion but added that increased investment by oil
firms could offset any drain on the treasury.
Pombo told The Record that opposition from the Bush administration will
be an obstacle he'll need to overcome.
"Frankly, they're crazy," he said. "These states have been producing
for 100 years. If it had been on (federal) land instead of offshore, it
would have been 50-50.
"I've talked to the president, I've talked to everyone. Getting to the
Office of Management and Budget and the bean counters is the problem."
Merced Democrat Dennis Cardoza, whose district includes Stockton, was
the lone San Joaquin Valley lawmaker to vote against Pombo's bill. He
said he'd be happy to support new drilling, but not without equal
investment in alternatives such as solar and ethanol.
"I will continue to resist a drill-only approach to energy policy,"
Cardoza said.
Rep. Dan Lungren, a Republican who represents the Mother Lode, voted
for the measure.
Pombo says the proposal is a good "first step" toward weaning America
off foreign oil and said his opponents were being shortsighted.
"You can't be 'no' on everything," he said on the House floor.
"Anything that has been proposed, the answer's always been 'no.' "
Rep. Sam Farr, D-Monterey, said expanding oil drilling will do nothing
to break the country's oil addiction. "You don't give an alcoholic more
alcohol," he said. "This bill is an ignorant bill. This bill is a greed
bill."
Others said giving the states more control over drilling, "bribed" with
a share of what had been exclusively federal taxes, amounts to handing
a national resource over to a few coastal states.
Pombo said that's ridiculous.
"I don't care how many times you come down here and rant and rave, but
the fact is the coastal states have something to say about this," he
said.
Elco Warlock
There were 110 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery, Stockton: Police are looking for a white or Latino man in his
20s who robbed Kelly Temp Services on March Lane on Friday. According
to the Stockton Police Department, the man walked into the business and
asked to take a typing exam. When an employee took out a petty cash
box, the man pulled a handgun, stole the money and ran away. Police
describe the man as about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing about 160
pounds, and wearing jeans and a gray hooded sweat shirt.
Attempted robbery, Stockton: Stockton police arrested 20-year-old Happy
Dew of Stockton on suspicion of attempted robbery after he and two
others allegedly tried to rob a man sitting in a car on California
Street on Friday. According to the police, Dew and the two others
demanded the victim's money. The victim refused, and a gunfight ensued
after he grabbed a gun from one of his attackers and began shooting.
The trio fled, but Dew was arrested shortly thereafter. The two men
police are still seeking are described as Black from 18 to 25; one is
about 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 135 to 140 pounds, and the other
is about 6 feet tall and weighs 160 pounds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,155 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested nine people for driving under the influence and recovered six
stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton man arrested at border
El PASO, Texas - A 22-year-old Stockton man wanted in San Joaquin
County on an attempted-murder charge was arrested Tuesday when he tried
to cross into the United States from Mexico, officials said.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers arrested Alfredo Flores
Leanos at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing in El Paso,
according to a Customs and Border Protection statement issued Thursday.
He remained at the El Paso County Jail on Friday awaiting extradition
to California, according to the county's Web site and to the Customs
and Border Protection statement.
Leanos is accused of attempting to murder Yuridia Garcia in June 2005,
according to a criminal complaint.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pact in battle on dam
STOCKTON - Attorneys in the 18-year battle to restore the San Joaquin
River reached an agreement late Friday afternoon that eventually could
bring back one of the largest salmon runs in U.S. history.
What that bodes for the river's future remains on hold. Environmental
groups, water districts, fishing groups and federal agencies involved
in the lawsuit need to approve the settlement before it becomes final.
That could take another month, according to attorneys for the National
Resources Defense Council, which filed the lawsuit in 1988.
"We are hopeful that these approvals will be obtained rapidly," said
Kate Poole, an attorney with the group.
The case centers on Friant Dam, which diverts 90 percent of upper San
Joaquin River water to farmers and towns near Fresno and south - water
that would normally flow down the San Joaquin out to San Francisco Bay.
The dam's construction a half-century ago destroyed bountiful salmon
and steelhead runs and increased salt levels in the Delta, which in
turn lowered crop yields for Delta farmers. It also reduced the San
Joaquin to a slow shuffle through Stockton, which at times turns the
city'swaterfront bright green with stagnant, smelly algae.
Some reports have suggested it would take about 400,000 acre-feet of
water a year to restore the river below Friant. The dam only holds
520,500 acre-feet of water, roughly enough to grow 200,000 acres of
tomatoes or meet the annual water needs of 2.6 million people.
Attorneys working on the settlement have remained tight-lipped about
its progress. A previous settlement effort broke down three years ago.
But in 2004, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled the federal
government destroyed salmon runs and created severe water pollution in
the Delta by drying up the river. Some said the ruling put the federal
government on notice that it might lose a trial, which would have begun
this year.
Details of the proposed agreement will remain under wraps. But in her
statement, Poole said the settlement would hopefully "benefit not just
the environment, but millions of people around the state, including
Northern California salmon fishermen, Delta farmers and Southern
Californians who will drink cleaner Delta water."
Earlier this year, state wildlife and water officials reviewed
restoration plans for the San Joaquin River as part of a proposed
settlement and gave "strong expressions of support" for potential
restoration efforts, according to court documents.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
daswa...@hotmail.com
There were 96 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,384 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Kidnapping: A man went to an apartment complex in the 800 block of
South San Joaquin Street about 5:20 a.m. Saturday to look for a former
tenant, police reported. Armed with a chain and a bat, he allegedly
forced his way into an apartment and confronted a man, who said the
tenant did not live there, police reported. He then went to a second
apartment, where he forced a 12-year-old out of the apartment and
ordered the child to tell him where the tenant lived, police reported.
Other residents then confronted the man and held him for police
officers, police reported. Arrested on suspicion of kidnapping,
burglary, criminal threats and assault with a deadly weapon was Morris
Murray, 37, a transient, police reported.
Assault with a deadly weapon: A 28-year-old woman said her ex-boyfriend
came by her house in the 2000 block of Olivia Way on Friday and refused
to leave, so the woman left in her car, police reported. When the woman
returned and parked near her home, her boyfriend allegedly used his car
to ram the front of the woman's car and threatened to kill her, police
reported. The women drove off, returning Saturday to find her home
vandalized, police reported. Wanted on suspicion of assault with a
deadly weapon, criminal threats and vandalism is Carlos Balanon, 28, of
the 400 block of Rialto Avenue, police reported.
Robbery: Employees of the Sea Market, 2824 E. Farmington Road, reported
at 1:04 p.m. Saturday that a man entered the store and robbed it at
gunpoint, while a second man stood near the door, police reported. The
robbers fled in a blue vehicle with a spoiler on its trunk, police
reported.
Robbery: Two people reported they were walking in the 3400 block of
Manthey Road when four teenagers approached them on bicycles and
battered and robbed them, taking cash and a wallet, police reported.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol did not provide information about its
activity in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Road report -- Published July 2, 2006
For the week of July 2 San Joaquin County
Highway 4
Wednesday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Jack Tone Road and
the Stanislaus County line, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for crack sealing.
Expect 10-minute delays.
Thursday
Intermittent, one-way traffic control in both directions between Middle
River and Maybeck Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for tree pruning and cutting.
Expect five-minute delays.
Thursday
Partial ramp closures eastbound at Lincoln Street, 9 to 11:30 a.m., for
pothole repair.
Friday
Westbound lane restrictions between Interstate 5 and Mormon Slough, 11
a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for bridge maintenance. Expect five-minute delays.
Interstate 5 Friday
Southbound lane restrictions between Buena Vista Avenue and the
Stockton Deep Water Channel, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., for bridge
maintenance. Expect five-minute delays.
Friday
Northbound offramp closure at Turner Road, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., for
overlay. Expect five-minute delays.
Highway 12 Wednesday
One-way traffic control in both directions east of Southworth Road, 9
a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for paving. Expect 20-minute delays.
Highway 26 Wednesday through Friday
Intermittent, one-way traffic control in both directions at Escalon
Bellota Road, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for road construction. Expect 20-minute
delays.
Highway 33 Wednesday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between the Stanislaus
County line and Interstate 5, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for shoulder
grading and repair. Expect five-minute delays.
Highway 99 Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, around the clock, for interchange
construction.
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial ramp closures in both directions at Highway 120,
around the clock, for interchange construction.
Today through Saturday
Long-term median and shoulder restrictions between Highway 4 and Hammer
Lane, around the clock, for road widening.
Wednesday through Friday
Intermittent ramp closure in both directions at Fremont Street, 9 p.m.
to 5 a.m., for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Wednesday through Friday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Highway 26, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.,
for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Wednesday through Saturday
Full highway closure northbound at Fremont Street, at various times
around the clock, for bridge repair. Expect 10-minute delays.
Highway 120 Thursday and Friday
Eastbound shoulder restrictions between Button Avenue and Highway 99, 6
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for utility relocation. Expect 10-minute delays.
Interstate 205 Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions near
Mountain House, around the clock, for interchange construction.
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial onramp closures in both directions at Patterson Pass
Road, around the clock, for underground utilities work.
Wednesday and Thursday
Eastbound lane restrictions between Janney Overhead and Grant Line
roads, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
One-way traffic control in both directions near Corral Hollow Road, 8
p.m. to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
Eastbound lane restrictions between Holly and MacArthur drives, 11 p.m.
to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
Partial onramp closure westbound between 11th Street and Hansen Road, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for road construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
Lane restrictions in both directions near Macarthur Drive, 7 p.m. to 6
a.m., for road construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
Eastbound lane restrictions near Interstate 5, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., for
surveying. Expect 10-minute delays.
Calaveras County Highway 12 Thursday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Central Hill Road
and the north fork of the Calaveras River, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for
weed control and litter removal. Expect five-minute delays.
Highway 26 Wednesday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Saint Andrews Road
and the Valley Springs railroad crossing, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., for weed
control and litter removal. Expect five-minute delays.
Wednesday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Boston Yale Road and
Alabama Hill, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair. Expect
five-minute delays.
Note: Unexpected schedule changes can occur due to weather, equipment
breakdown or scheduling problems. To hear a recording of California
highway conditions, call (800) 427-7623. To view transportation-related
information online, visit the California Department of Transportation
Web site at www.dot.ca.gov.
San Joaquin County road delays Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Acampo Road between Highway 99 and Dustin Road, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for roadway resurfacing.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cardinal Avenue between Main Street and Weber
Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for roadway improvements.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Turner Road between Jacob Brack and Davis roads, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police seize 15 vehicles in effort to crack down on reckless driving
STOCKTON - Police seized 15 vehicles early Saturday that officials said
were used in automobile sideshows, events at which groups of people
take over roads or parking lots and drive recklessly.
"We've had an ongoing and growing problem as the summer's come on,"
Stockton police Lt. Thomas Wells said Saturday. "Spinning around,
donuts, ... dancing in the street, dancing on other people's cars."
Police used videotape of the sideshows to persuade a judge to sign
seizure warrants, Wells said. The vehicles will be impounded for 30
days, he said.
Wells said police are searching for more cars, but he declined to
disclose how many are being sought.
Saturday's action follows an April mission in which 60 people were
cited and 17 people had their cars towed, typically for driving without
a license, police said.
Police reported in May that special enforcement efforts targeting
illegal street racing and other reckless driving over several weeks had
resulted in the issuance of 510 citations, 113 vehicle impounds and 43
arrests on various charges.
The_Warlock_Sorcerer_of_Everett
There were 86 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. At that time, there were 1,401 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
Making criminal threats, Tracy: James William Hogg, 66, was arrested
Saturday on suspicion of threatening a woman. Sheriff's deputies said
Hogg and the woman were arguing outside their residence on the 4800
block of West 11th Street when Hogg threatened to "go back to his room,
get a gun and shoot her in the forehead." He was charged with criminal
threats.
Boating under the influence, Stockton: Eugenio Nion Bettencourt, 47,
was arrested Saturday on suspicion of boating while intoxicated. While
on patrol in the Delta, deputies said they saw Bettencourt operating a
blue and white Ski Centurion with a man riding on the vessel's right
transom. Deputies said Bettencourt failed field sobriety tests and
refused to take a Preliminary Alcohol Screening Test. He was arrested
and later administered two other alcohol screening tests. Bettencourt
was charged with operating a vessel under the influence of alcohol and
with having a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: Three people, ages 24, 25 and 26, reported they were robbed
around 2 a.m. Sunday after leaving Basil's, 2324 Grand Canal Blvd. The
suspects told police they had just gotten into their car when two men
pulled up behind them, blocking the car in. The suspects each were
armed with handguns and stole the victims' wallets, cell phones and
keys, police said. The suspects were described as two Latino men in
their mid-20s, about 5 feet 7 inches tall and 160 pounds. One man was
bald with brown eyes and a goatee and was wearing a white T-shirt. The
other had black hair, brown eyes and was clean shaven and was wearing a
dark baseball cap.
Burglary: Donald Lawrence Gray, 40, was arrested Saturday on suspicion
of burglarizing Victory in Praise Church, 2842 Country Club Blvd.
Police said they responded to an alarm at the church around 9:30 p.m.
and saw Gray walking through a nearby field carrying a tripod and video
camera. Police said Gray ran, but was caught after a short foot chase.
Gray, a transient, was charged with burglary, receiving stolen
property, resisting arrest and a parole violation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol did not provide information about calls
for service in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Sunday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assault with a deadly weapon
Hector Hernandez, 19, is wanted on suspicion of shooting someone in a
May 16 incident on the 3500 block of Michigan Avenue, according to
Stockton police. A warrant charging Hernandez with assault with a
deadly weapon is pending. Hernandez, who also goes by "Tito" is 5 feet,
7 inches tall, 135 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with
information is asked to call police detectives Chris Villanueva or Todd
Kamigaki at (209) 937-8323.
Assault
Jason Honeycutt, 31, is wanted on a $70,000 felony warrant charging him
with assault and a $10,000 felony warrant for drug charges. He also is
wanted on a no-bail felony warrant for parole violation. Honeycutt is 6
feet tall, 190 pounds with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with
information is asked to call police Detective Walt Vancil with the
Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8323.
Attempted murder
An unidentified man is wanted for shooting at someone several times
during a confrontation June 23, according to Stockton police. At about
2:30 a.m., the victim was confronted in the 2100 block of Pock Lane.
The shooter pulled out a gun and shot the victim while yelling, "This
is my hood," police said. The shooter is described as a Black man,
about 30 years old and 6 feet, 1 inch tall with a shaved head and a
thin build. He was wearing a yellow tank top, faded shorts and white
tennis shoes. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ed
Rodriguez with the Stockton Police Department at (209) 937-8323.
Attempted murder
David Contreras-Alonzo, 22, is wanted for attempted murder for slitting
his girlfriend's throat June 26, according to Stockton police.
Contreras-Alonzo is described as a Latino man who is 5 feet, 8 inches
tall, about 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Police say
Contreras-Alonzo should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with
information is asked to call Detective Walter Vancil with the Stockton
Police Department at (209) 937-8323.
Homicide
Police are looking for two men who stabbed two people, including
Vincent Flores, 41, who later died. Flores was stabbed while on the
2200 block of East Main Street on June 17. The men who stabbed Flores
are described as Latino, in their late teens to early 20s. They were
wearing dark clothing and one was wearing a hat. Anyone with
information about this incident, is asked to call detectives Steve
Capps or Robert MacDonald with the Stockton Police Department at (209)
937-8323.
Homicide
Police are looking for the man who stabbed 61-year-old Jeffrey Young to
death June 28. Young was in the area of El Dorado and Sonora streets at
about 8:30 p.m. when he was stabbed. The man who killed Young was
described as a Latino, with medium build and height. He was wearing a
black backpack, black pants, a dirty white shirt and was last seen
fleeing south on foot. Anyone with information about this incident is
asked to call detectives Ed Rodriguez or Bill Hutto with the Stockton
Police Department at (209) 937-8323.
Number of arrests
Law enforcement officials have arrested 45 people and closed 95 cases
this year thanks to tips to Crime Stoppers Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shells, targets too close to home
WEST POINT - Bob Phillips did three tours of duty as a Marine in
Vietnam.
"I know what .50-caliber ammunition is," said Phillips, 63.
He retired to a ranch on Skull Flat Road in the pines outside West
Point on the north edge of Calaveras County. He hoped for peace and
quiet. Instead, he has endured years of gunfire noise echoing off the
granite walls of the North Fork Mokelumne River Canyon behind his home.
The noise - and possibly high-powered bullets, as well - come from an
informal shooting range on public land managed by the federal Bureau of
Land Management just across the river in Amador County.
For years, Phillips and other residents along Skull Flat Road have
written letters and lobbied local and federal officials to close the
shooting range off Black Prince Mine Road behind Buckhorn. BLM
officials tried to block the road to the shooting site with boulders.
The shooters used all-terrain vehicles or other vehicles to get around
the rocks.
Now, the conflict is coming to a head. BLM authorities on June 23
ordered the 240-acre parcel closed to target shooting. BLM rangers and
Amador County Sheriff's deputies will begin seizing weapons used
illegally on the site and recommend offenders for prosecution in
federal court once signs announcing the policy are posted later this
summer.
As annoying as it was to Skull Flat residents, it was not the noise
from the shooting that provided a legal reason for closing the shooting
range.
Shell casings indicating the types of rounds fired at the site and the
location of targets made it clear that bullets from the shooting range
could easily strike the homes of people living along Skull Flat Road,
said Kim Perry, chief law enforcement ranger for BLM's Folsom Field
Office.
"That is how we determined the closure. Basically, we have houses
within half the range," Perry said.
Phillips said the .45-, .44- and .22-caliber shell casings found at the
site do not tell the entire story. He and others on both sides of the
river say they often hear heavier caliber fire, some of it fully
automatic.
Once, during a visit to the site, they found some belt-loaded military
ammunition in which every fifth bullet had a phosphorous tip - tracer
bullets.
"What would it take to put this side of the hill on fire?" said
Phillips, who is president of the board of the West Point Fire
Protection District.
A year ago, BLM sent heavy equipment to clean up the shooting range,
removing the old washing machines and refrigerators that had been used
as targets, as well as thousands of metal bullet casings and plastic
shotgun shell casings littering the ground.
A year later, the litter of spent shells is thick again, and metal
slugs buried in the side of a battered pine offer vivid evidence of the
danger to Skull Flat. Behind the pine - in the same direction in which
those slugs were fired - is only open air and views of homes on the
south rim of the canyon.
Authorities admit they were reluctant to meddle with the shooters until
that danger was clear.
Although California does have a state law against unsafe shooting, it
is weak and difficult to prosecute, Amador County Undersheriff Karl
Knobelauch said. Also, since the shooting site is federal land, federal
authorities have to take the lead in setting rules for it, he said.
For years, that left Skull Flat residents frustrated. Their own sheriff
in Calaveras County had no jurisdiction. When they called the Amador
sheriff, officials there said they could not do anything either.
Things finally started happening last year when another former Marine
living on the edge of the canyon, Rick Robinson, wrote a letter to BLM
that was signed by two dozen of his neighbors.
"I don't like to sit out here in the evening and it sounds like a ...
war going on over there. I don't need that," Robinson said.
Sam Kenyon and Phillips also jumped into the effort. Calaveras County
Sheriff Dennis Downum wrote a letter urging BLM to tackle the problem.
Kenyon sent out another letter this spring telling BLM that the
boulders blocking the road near the shooting site had not solved the
problem.
Calaveras County Supervisor Steve Wilensky, who represents the Skull
Flat area, said local leaders and BLM officials should team up to find
ways to allow legitimate recreational shooting.
"I believe we've got enough room in Calaveras and Amador counties to
put in places with better acoustics than a valley where hundreds of
folks live," Wilensky said.
Both public officials and private individuals who do recreational
shooting on the Amador County side of the river say they have places to
shoot: There are several organized shooting ranges.
Anthony Aquino, 78, a gun collector who lives on Tiger Creek Road not
far from the BLM shooting range, said he uses an old gravel quarry
close to the Tiger Creek Powerhouse.
Even though he has a site close by for target shooting, he says he
hates to see a site that some of his neighbors use closed to the
activity. And he says the echoes off the canyon are part of country
life.
"I don't know how you can stop that," Aquino said. "If you shoot, there
is going to be some noise."
Aquino also worries that the move is just one more restriction placed
on firearms.
"It is getting to where people just don't want you to have them any
more," Aquino said.
But Phillips and Kenyon insist that they are not anti-gun. They both
own firearms, and Phillips uses them to protect his cattle from
predators when necessary.
"I look forward to going to the range," Phillips said. "It's just that
we want them to be more careful and be considerate of others."
Warlock Sorcerer of the Grate Salt Lake
There were 102 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,402 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,287. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
suspicion of stealing cash from a register at McDonald's in the 6400
block of West Banner Street, where he was working. Sheriff's deputies
said a surveillance camera above the drive-through register caught
Seifuddin stuffing bills into his pockets, and sometime between
midnight and 1 a.m. he left the fast-food restaurant with $407 in his
pocket. Seifuddin was charged with embezzlement, grand theft and
possession of stolen property.
Burglary, Stockton: Shawn Allen Brotherton, 34, was arrested Tuesday on
suspicion of burglary. Sheriff's deputies said they caught him around
2:30 a.m. fleeing General Trailer, in the 3900 block of North Wilson
Way, with property a witness later identified as belonging to the
business. Brotherton was charged with resisting arrest, possession of
stolen property and burglary.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: Three people were robbed around 3:30 p.m. Monday near Marsh
and Court streets, police said. The victims, ages 44, 41 and 18, were
walking in the area when four people got out of a car parked on Marsh
Street. One of the four, described by police as a man in his early 30s
with short hair and wearing blue clothing, pulled out a black handgun
and pointed it at the victims. Another assailant punched the
44-year-old victim in the face and stole his yellow wallet containing
$550 in cash; police described that assailant as Black, in his early
30s, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 170 pounds, wearing a tan hat, a black
T-shirt and blue pants.
Auto-theft arrest: Jendy Kham, 18, was arrested Monday on suspicion of
stealing a car and a handgun and possessing methamphetamine. Police
said they spotted Kham getting out of a stolen Acura in front of his
house in the 9300 block of Kirkby Lane around 4 p.m. Upon searching the
car, police said they found a loaded 9 mm handgun that had been
reported stolen. Police said they also found 4.33 grams of
methamphetamine on Kham. He was charged with vehicle theft, driving
without a license, theft and several drug-related charges.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
City still looks for Easter Seals buyer
STOCKTON - After 11th-hour negotiations to keep the city's only
warm-water therapy pool open fell through late last week, city
officials say they're still committed to ensuring the Easter
Seals-owned facility is sold to a nonprofit agency that will serve the
disabled.
Service First of Northern California wanted to pay $1.2million for the
Bianchi Road facility, which Easter Seals Superior had been trying to
sell since November, but the group's bid was rejected, because Easter
Seals found its terms unacceptable, said Gary Kasai, Easter Seals'
chief executive officer.
City officials offered to pay Easter Seals to keep the pool open; the
group says the pool was losing $18,000 per month. Those negotiations
fell through late Friday, but Kasai and city officials are tight-lipped
as to why a deal couldn't be reached.
Easter Seals has reopened bidding for the building, which was put on
the market for an asking price of $1.4million, and is entertaining
offers from a wide range of potential purchasers. The organization
expects to have all bids for the building by next Wednesday.
At least one for-profit company has offered more than the asking price,
Kasai has said, but city officials say restrictions placed when Easter
Seals bought the property in 1978 require it to go to a nonprofit
corporation that will serve the disabled.
The city is prepared to enforce those deed restrictions, said Bob
Bressani, a city program manager who has been negotiating with Easter
Seals. But Easter Seals does not believe it is restricted in to whom it
can sell, Kasai said.
'Manteca Idol' auditions Saturday
MANTECA - Open auditions will be held this month for "Manteca Idol,"
the city's small-scale version of the hit television show that gives
future stars a chance to showcase their talent.
Auditions are planned for noon Saturday at the Boys & Girls Club of
Manteca, 545 W. Alameda St. Contestants also can give it a try at the
same time and location July 15 and 22.
Semifinalists will move on to compete in live shows at Kelley Bros.
Brewery. Eventually, the field will be narrowed to 12, with the winner
bringing home $1,000.
All ages and most singing styles are fair game, but organizers forbid
backup singers, bands, rap and foul language. Information: (209)
239-5437.
Tracy Unified makes five hires
TRACY - Three new principals, an assistant principal and a district
administrator have been hired at Tracy Unified School District,
according to district officials.
Lisa Beeso is replacing longtime district employee Tony Serna as
principal of Villalovoz Elementary School, according to a statement
released by the district. Serna will take a new position on the faculty
of the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education at University of the
Pacific.
Beeso has worked in education since 1993 and had been the assistant
principal at Jacobson Elementary School for the past six years.
Nancy Link will replace the departing principal of Central Elementary
School, Donna Sonnenburg, who became the district's director of
instructional media services. Link began teaching 21 years ago and
started with the district in 1990 at Monte Vista Middle School, where
she served as assistant principal from 1999 until 2005, when she became
the assistant principal of North Elementary School.
The new principal of Bohn Elementary School, Charles Hill, comes to the
district from Hayward Unified School District. He spent 22 of his 26
years as an educator in Hayward. He replaces Linda Boragno-Dopp, who
became the district's director of alternative programs.
Principal Carol Anderson-Woo from South-West Park Elementary School is
replacing Hal Kushins as director of curriculum, accountability and
continuous improvement. Anderson-Woo has been principal at the school
since 1993 but has worked in the district since 1981.
Cindy Sasser has moved from assistant principal at Hirsch Elementary
School to the same position at Kelly Elementary School.
Everett Sorserer
There were 75 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, there were 1,427 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
auto-theft-related charges after someone reported suspicious activity
inside a car parked in the driveway of a Portola Avenue home. Deputies
went to the house about 3 p.m. Tuesday and said they found shaved keys,
a black ski mask and other burglary tools in a car. They arrested
Reginald Winslow, 19; Catriona Schowachert, 18; and Anthony Guary, 22,
all of Stockton.
Theft, Stockton: Moments after a backpack was stolen from her car, a
woman spotted the pack being carried by a man walking in the 2900 block
of Belle Avenue, sheriff's officials said. Deputies went to the scene
about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and arrested Jerry Smith, 18, on suspicion of
grand theft and possession of stolen property.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: Two men armed with black handguns stole a pair of electric
scooters from two 21-year-olds, Stockton police said. The robbery took
place about 6 p.m. Tuesday in the 9000 block of the Highway 99 frontage
road. The robbers pulled up in a car, got out and demanded the
scooters. One robber was described as about 25, 5 feet 8 inches tall
and 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. The other was also about
25, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 150 pounds with black hair and brown
eyes. The car was said to be a 1980 brown Buick.
Residential robbery: Police were searching for a man who entered an
East Market Street home about 9 a.m. Wednesday and held a woman and her
two young children at gunpoint before taking property and leaving on a
green 10-speed bicycle. The man was said to be in his late 30s, 6 feet
tall and 180 pounds with a medium build. Police said they also were
investigating two burglaries later in the day that might have been
committed by the same man.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,243 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested 10 people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Boaters pinched in holiday crackdown
The Record
Published Thursday, Jul 6, 2006
STOCKTON - Sheriff's deputies cited or arrested nearly 90 boaters
on San Joaquin County waterways over the holiday weekend.
Most of those citations were issued for safety violations, sheriff's
deputies said.
However, 17 people were arrested on suspicion of boating under the
influence of alcohol.
An additional 161 boaters were given oral warnings for various
violations.
Three injury accidents were reported as well as one drowning in the
five-day period from Friday through Tuesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stabbing survivor describes his attackers
Published Thursday, Jul 6, 2006
STOCKTON - The surviving victim of a double stabbing last month has
given police new leads toward finding his attackers, officers said
Wednesday.
Robert Ortega helped police with sketches of a pair of bicyclists who
rode up behind him and Vincent Flores while they walked to a liquor
store in the 2200 block of East Main Street about 1 a.m. June 17.
The bicyclists stabbed Ortega, 40, and Flores, 41, before taking off.
Investigators were unable for weeks to learn much about the attack.
Flores died June 26, and Ortega was in no condition to talk, Stockton
police spokesman Pete Smith said.
Ortega was released recently from the hospital and helped sketch
artists prepare drawings of the assailants, described as men in their
early to mid-20s.
The motive for the attack, however, remains a mystery, Smith said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway 99 landmark Pollardville closing (12:10 p.m.)
Published Thursday, Jul 6, 2006
Coming up in Friday's Record:
Pollardville Chicken Kitchen, a Highway 99 roadside attraction that
combined fried chicken, a ghost town and the slappiest slapstick in
local theater since 1957, is closing.
The unique buildings on the 12.4-acre site, including the Palace
Showboat Theatre and the old Islander restaurant building - not to
mention the 8-foot chicken, a landmark towering over Hwy. 99 -- will be
razed or sold off and replaced with stores and homes.
"I been there for 60 years," said owner Neil Pollard, 74. Pollard
actually began working his parents' chicken café across 99 in 1946.
"I think it's just time. We're just wore out."
Escrow on the sale to a "major developer" that Pollard declined to
name is due to close today or Monday. The theater, now a
Country-Western dance club, and restaurant will operate into 2007.
Then the developer will build a 4-acre shopping center on 99 Frontage
road and 10 or so gated homes behind it, Pollard said.
"It couldn't go on through the family," Pollard explained.
"There was nobody who wanted to operate that thing. It's a tiring
thing."
Everett Sorserer
There were 109 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Friday. At that time, there were 1,414 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
night after he attacked two store clerks with a small pole on which
hung an American flag, according to the San Joaquin County's Sheriff's
Office. The man broke a window at J and L Market on the 8100 block of
South El Dorado Street and tried to enter while demanding cigarettes
from the clerks. The clerks said the man jabbed them with the flagpole
until they threw a pack of cigarettes at him, hoping he would go away.
Deputies said they found Joe Levon Havard walking on Matthews Boulevard
and arrested him on suspicion of robbery, burglary, vandalism, petty
theft and assault with a deadly weapon.
Assault with a deadly weapon, Tracy: Deputies arrested a 21-year-old
man Wednesday evening after a shooting incident on Interstate 580. A
woman said she was driving east on the freeway when the man's car
pulled alongside hers and the man fired a handgun at her car,
flattening a tire, according to the Sheriff's Office. After a license
plate check, Rodney Blair Fraser was arrested at his Livermore home on
suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at a inhabited
vehicle and possession of stolen property, according to the Sheriff's
Office.
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Stockton Police
Carjacking: Police are looking for two men who carjacked another man.
The victim said he stopped his vehicle in the 2600 block of Monte
Diablo Avenue when a van pulled up behind him, blocking his path,
police said. One man ordered him out of the car with a gun while the
other took the victim's cell phone and drove away in his car. Police
described one of the suspects as a Latino man in his 20s, about 5 feet
9 inches tall, wearing white jeans, and the other as a Latino man in
his 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, wearing a white shirt and blue
jeans.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,238 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday.
Officers responded to six noninjury accidents and three injury
accidents.
CHP officers also arrested six people on charges of driving under the
influence and recovered four stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Nile found in mosquitoes
STOCKTON - Mosquitoes trapped near Holt tested positive for West Nile
virus, local mosquito and health officials announced Friday.
The mosquitoes were found in a trap in an area near Holt and Roberts
Island, according to officials with the San Joaquin County West Nile
Virus Task Force. They are the first mosquitoes to test positive for
the virus this year.
Nine birds, all found in Tracy this year, also have tested positive for
West Nile virus. No human or horse infections have yet been reported.
West Nile is a blood-borne virus carried by birds and transferred to
humans and horses by mosquitoes. Last year, 36 county residents were
infected with the West Nile virus. Jim Rodgers, an 86-year-old Acampo
man, died from the disease in August.
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Parts of 99 to be closed for work
STOCKTON - Highway 99 will be closed several times next week for
improvements.
Workers will close the road at Hammer Lane from July 10 through July
13, according to the State Route 99 Widening Project.
The southbound lanes and the southbound Hammer Lane offramp will be
closed from 11 p.m. July 10 to 4 a.m. July 11.
The northbound lanes and northbound Hammer Lane offramp will be closed
from 11 p.m. July 11 to 4 a.m. July 12, then again from 11 p.m. July 12
to 4 a.m. July 13.
Except for emergency vehicles, the Hammer Lane overpass will be closed
in both directions while the freeway is closed, although Hammer Lane
east and west of the freeway will stay open.
Wolf Warlock
There were 103 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday.
At that time, there were 1,402 people held at the jail, which has an
official capacity of 1,351.
When the jail is full, some inmates may be released early.
Strong-arm robbery, Stockton: A man attempting to leave the 7-Eleven on
the 3000 block of West Ben Holt Drive with some beer he had not paid
for and assaulted the clerk who tried to stop him, according to the San
Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. The unknown man then fled with the
beer. He's described as a Latino, about 5 feet four 4 inches tall, 125
pounds and wearing a blue and white striped shirt and blue jeans.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Person shot: A 20-year-old man told police he was shot in the groin
while walking in the vicinity of Eighth and D streets at approximately
11 p.m. Friday, according to the Stockton Police Department. A vehicle
pulled up next to the man as he walked down the street. When someone
inside yelled, "Hey," the victim turned around and was shot, according
to police. The victim thought someone went through his pockets, but he
was not sure if anything was taken, and he did not provide information
about the suspect or the vehicle, police said.
Resisting arrest: Officers responding to a report of a disturbance at
the Panda Express on the 5300 block of Pacific Avenue arrested Jeffery
Sibell, 44. Sibell was arrested on an existing warrant and on suspicion
of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and committing battery against
a peace officer.
Resisting arrest: Raymond Asif, 25, of Carmichael, fled police during a
traffic stop at approximately 2:30 p.m., Saturday near the intersection
of Stanislaus Street and Hazelton Avenue, and was later found hiding
behind a stack of tires in a nearby shop, police said. Asif drove away
after it was determined he had an outstanding warrant, police said. He
abandoned his vehicle after about a minute and ran into a GK Tire Shop
on the 600 block of East Charter Way. Asif did not obey commands when
officers found him behind a stack of tires, and police used a Taser on
him and took him into custody, according to police.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,063 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Officers responded to 17 noninjury accidents and three injury
accidents.
CHP officers also arrested four people on charges of driving under the
influence and recovered five stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week in review -- Published July 9, 2006
Published Sunday, Jul 9, 2006
Boy Scouts Nathan Pearlman, 11, left, John Lukach, 11, and Daniel
Goldberg, 12, salute a burning flag at the flag retiring ceremony held
Monday by Troop 515 at Lincoln Park in Tracy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
Retired Stars & Stripes get respectful send-off
Boy Scout Troop 515 burned about 2,000 American flags Monday and
Tuesday. But not in protest. Not by a long shot. The 24-member troop
officially destroyed the Old Glories during a 24-hour service of
compassion to celebrate the Fourth of July at the Rose Garden in
Lincoln Park. The ceremony began with a 21-gun salute at 6 p.m. Monday
and continued through 6 p.m. Tuesday. Flags were placed individually
into a contained fire and Scouts saluted each one until the flag was no
longer distinguishable, said troop member Michael Merrill, 13. Merrill
said he has seen the ceremony before, but this was his first time
participating. He said it might be difficult around 2 a.m. or so. "I
find it interesting that we'll be doing it for 24 hours," he said. "At
our campouts, I can usually wake up at any time as long as someone is
there to help me. We'll be fine. According to federal law, when a flag
is in such condition that it is "no longer a fitting emblem for
display," it should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by
burning. "Each flag will be honorably retired by authorized burning
procedures under honor guard supervision," Assistant Scoutmaster Brian
Green said. "This is a tribute." One highlight of the 24-hour ceremony
was the disposal of a 20-by-40-foot flag that flew for many years over
a Tracy car lot, Green said. Each of the 13 stripes was cut along an
edge and placed in the fire individually before the blue background of
the stars is retired. It is the prescribed way to dispose of large
flags. Otherwise an 800-square-foot piece of material might send the
flames out of control. Several hundred flags were donated for the
ceremony, Green said, and local residents were encouraged to bring torn
or tattered flags of any size to the Tracy Chamber of Commerce by this
afternoon or to Lincoln Park at East Eaton Avenue and East Street
during the ceremony for proper retirement. Owners could participate in
the ceremony and could bring containers to hold the ashes. The flag
retirement ceremony came less than a week after the U.S. Senate voted
66-34 in favor of a constitutional amendment designed to ban the
protest burning of American flags. It was one vote shy of the
two-thirds majority needed to approve amendments. Had it passed, the
issue would have been sent to each state for consideration.
No such thing as a free lunch? Think again
David Garcia, 2, and his brother Junior Garcia, 11, eat lunch at the
Villa De San Joaquin apartments on Thursday in Stockton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
Vanessa Garcia meticulously slurped the last sticky drops of her
grape-flavored slushy from its cardboard container. The lunch it came
with was much like the ones the 7-year-old ate before the school year
ended in June, and much like the ones she'll eat when school starts
again in August. "Chicken nuggets, hot dogs, pizza, sandwich," Vanessa
rattled off, twisting the cardboard to squeeze out even more purple
syrup. That kind of lunchtime predictability is a goal achieved, said
nutrition advocates who want to increase the number of children
receiving free lunches during summer months. Still, they say, too many
children whose parents' low wages make them eligible for free lunches
during the school year are missing out on that meal when classes end.
According to California Department of Education records, 66,420 - or
about 50.3 percent - of public school children in San Joaquin County
come from families with incomes low enough to qualify for free or
reduced-price school meals. The federal government operates a similar
free-lunch program during the summer, this one open to all children,
regardless of family income. But according to recent estimates, only
about 24 percent of the county's needy children participate. Julie
Torres is community manager at Stockton's Villa de San Joaquin
apartments on East Jackson Street. Every day, representatives from
Catholic Charities deliver lunches for Vanessa and about 40 other
neighborhood children, Torres said. "Most of my families are
low-income; they're farm labor," Torres said. "It's awesome to have
this service here." The Stockton Unified School District hosts a summer
lunch program at 29 school sites, feeding about 4,000 children every
day. Lincoln Unified feeds about 1,300 children every day at three
sites.
Thousands celebrate Fourth across county
Ryan Alvarado, left, and Amber Taube, both of Stockton, watch the
fireworks display at the Fourth of July Waterfest celebration at the
Weber Point Events Center in downtown Stockton on Tuesday
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
Patriotic pageantry marked Independence Day throughout San Joaquin
County on Tuesday, as flag-waving spectators gathered at parades and
fireworks shows across the county to mark the nation's birthday. In
Stockton, hundreds of people lined Center Street, crowding into small
patches of shade as they watched the parade organized by the Coalition
of Stockton Veterans. "I had tears in my eyes when the parade went by
and all the veterans went by," said Vivian Fillmore, 71, of Valley
Springs. Tuesday's celebrations carried extra weight for Fillmore, who
is awaiting her grandson's return home in a few weeks from Iraq, where
he is stationed with the Army. "It's the freedom that we're all
fighting for, that we all want to see each other free and equal,"
Fillmore said. Fillmore was one of hundreds of people who started
filing into Weber Point Events Center just after 5 p.m. Tuesday in
anticipation of the evening's fireworks display and performance by the
Stockton Symphony as part of the city's Fourth of July Waterfest.
Stockton police reported the night was relatively quiet, with few
arrests or incidents. The continuing war in Iraq was on the minds of
many visitors at Weber Point on Tuesday. "They're over there fighting
for us so we can be here now," said Stockton resident Pat Harrison, 46,
as she sat with her fiance and neighbor with two small American flags
planted in the ground nearby. Miguel Moscoso, 36, and his wife,
Laquita, 30, lounged in camping chairs under a large umbrella blocking
the 90-degree sunshine.
Library introduces audiobook downloads
Audio books just entered the digital age at the Stockton-San Joaquin
County Public Library. Library patrons can choose from 1,300 books to
which they might want to listen on their computers or on portable,
digital music players. Unlike audio books on tape or compact disc,
these books can be downloaded from home over the Internet. The library
began offering the downloads June 21. "It's a new way of getting
material out to the public," said Christina Walter, administrative
analyst at the library. This is the library's first foray into
delivering books through the Internet. It doesn't check out text
versions of books online, but it does maintain a page on its Web site
that links to other sites that provide both free and fee-based
downloads of books, Walter said. Under the new program, patrons can
download the audio books to their computers and up to two portable
audio devices, such as MP3 players, according to NetLibrary, the
company that provides the subscription service to the library. Books
can be "checked out" until the license that accompanies the file
expires and the book becomes unusable after 21 days. Checkouts can be
renewed to extend the time. Library patrons have made good use of the
library's audio books, possibly because many San Joaquin County
residents have long commutes to out-of-county jobs, Walter said. In the
past year, library users checked out 11,148 books on tape and 24,253
books on compact disc, she said. MP3 players are portable devices
commonly used for listening to music and can be attached to adapters
that allow the devices to be played through car stereos. The devices
have also become popular on radio-station and other Web sites as a
means to deliver portable spoken-word content. However, the computer
files the county library uses to check out audio books are not
compatible with Apple Computer's iPod, the dominant MP3 player, nor can
they be listened to on Apple's Macintosh computers.
Pollardville announces plans to close down
Pollardville Chicken Kitchen, a Highway 99 roadside attraction that
combined fried chicken, a ghost town and the slappiest slapstick in
local theater since 1957, is closing. The unique buildings on the
12.4-acre site, including the Palace Showboat Theatre and the old
Islander restaurant building - not to mention the 8-foot chicken, a
landmark towering over Highway 99 - will be razed or sold off and
replaced with stores and homes. "I been there for 60 years," said owner
Neil Pollard, 74. Pollard actually began working his parents' chicken
café across 99 in 1946. "I think it's just time. We're just wore out."
Escrow on the sale to a "major developer" that Pollard declined to name
is due to close today or Monday. The theater, now a Country-Western
dance club, and restaurant will operate into 2007. Then the developer
will build a 4-acre shopping center on the Highway 99 frontage road and
10 or so gated homes behind it, Pollard said. "It couldn't go on
through the family," Pollard explained. "There was nobody who wanted to
operate that thing. It's a tiring thing." For a full report, read
Michael
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delta salt battle intensifies
Groups sue state water officials over new rules
STOCKTON - The fight over salt in the Delta appears headed to court.
Several groups, including the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, have filed
lawsuits against state water officials over new salt standards. And the
Department of Water Resources, the other main supplier of drinking
water to 23 million Californians, is considering the same.
They are not the first legal actions involving Delta salt levels, which
plague local farmers with lower crop yields. But they are the first
since the state Water Resources Control Board ordered water exporters
to meet a new salt standard or risk losing permits that allow them to
control the bulk of the state's water.
Salt is a problem in the Delta because dams on San Joaquin River
tributaries prevent fresh water from diluting the salty estuary. State
water projects controlled by the Bureau of Reclamation and the
Department of Water Resources that export Delta water south through
large pumps near Tracy make the problem worse.
State water board spokeswoman Liz Kanter said the board was prepared to
defend its orders in court.
"The state water board is committed to enforcing the terms of its water
rights permits and believes the (orders were) an appropriate action to
enforce those terms," Kanter said in a statement.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation had "no comment" on the issue Thursday,
spokesman Louis Moore said.
Although the board issued new standards for salt levels last year, they
have never been violated. Thanks to heavy rainfall over the past two
years, there has been more than enough water in the Delta to dilute the
salt that intrudes from the San Francisco Bay.
The exporters currently manage Delta water quality by coordinating
water releases on dams that feed the San Joaquin River, which flows
from Millerton Lake near Fresno to the Delta. But less water in future
years means the exporters will have trouble meeting the salt standard.
Agencies that buy Delta water also are suing the water board. One of
them, the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, claims the water
exporters are not the only ones responsible for high salt in the Delta.
For example, Delta-area farmers may be contributing to high salt levels
with their irrigation drainage, according to Dan Nelson, a spokesman
for the water agency.
"Our concern is being held responsible for things that are outside of
our control," Nelson said.
The state water board's orders affect the water agency because
exporters may have to release more dam water to meet the salt standard,
Nelson said. That potentially leaves less water for farmers south of
the Delta during drought years.
Delta exporters, meanwhile, have argued a separate project to be built
as soon as 2009 will help them control salt levels. The South Delta
Improvement Program includes high-tech dams on Delta waterways that can
be raised or lowered, allowing exporters to keep enough water in the
Delta at all times to dilute salt. They would replace temporary rock
dams that are used to reduce salt flowing into the Delta and to retain
enough water for Delta farmers.
"It's one factor in this, in terms of helping to address the problem,"
said Jerry Johns, Department of Water Resources deputy director. "We
truly do want to help solve water quality issues in the south Delta."
Several lawsuits were filed against the state Water Resources Control
Board on June 15 in Sacramento County Superior Court. The U.S. Bureau
of Reclamation also has filed a federal lawsuit, a water board
spokeswoman said.
Johns said his agency is discussing solutions with state water
officials but would not rule out legal action.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to that," he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Road report -- Published July 9, 2006
For the week of July 9 San Joaquin County Highway 4 Wednesday through
Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Hollenbeck and
Sonora roads, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for crack sealing. Expect
five-minute delays.
Thursday
Moving closures in both directions between El Dorado Street and Wilson
Way, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., for pavement markers. Expect five-minute delays.
Interstate 5 Monday
Southbound offramp closure at Turner Road, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., for
overlay. Expect five-minute delays.
Monday through Thursday
Northbound lane restrictions between Charter Way/Highway 4 and Church
Street, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for bridge maintenance. Expect five-minute
delays.
Highway 26 Monday through Friday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions at Escalon
Bellota Road, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for road construction. Expect 20-minute
delays.
Highway 99 Today and Monday
Full highway closure northbound at Fremont Street, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.,
for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Shoulder, median and lane restrictions in both directions between
Wilson Way and Hammer Lane, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening. Expect
five-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Full ramp closures in both directions Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for
road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder, median and lane restriction in both directions
between Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, around-the-clock, for
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial and full ramp closures in both directions at Highway
120, around the clock, for interchange construction. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term median and shoulder restrictions between Highway 4 and Hammer
Lane, around the clock, for road widening.
Monday through Friday
Full offramp closure southbound at Fremont Street, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.,
for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Partial northbound offramp closure at Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
for bridge construction.
Monday through Friday
Restrictions on shoulder and sidewalk of local cross street at Mariposa
Road, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for road widening. Expect five-minute delays.
Tuesday through Friday
Full ramp and highway closures in both directions between Hammer Lane
and Calaveras River overcrossing, at various time between 7 p.m. to 4
a.m., for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Tuesday
Northbound lane restrictions between Little John Creek and Front Road,
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., for grinding and digout. Expect 10-minute delays.
Highway 120 Today through Saturday
Shoulder and lane restrictions in both directions between Button Avenue
and Highway 99, around the clock, for utility relocation and
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Interstate 205 Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions near
Mountain House, around the clock, for interchange construction.
Today through Saturday
Eastbound long-term partial onramp and shoulder closure at Patterson
Pass, around the clock, for underground utilities.
Monday through Wednesday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Tracy Road, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.,
for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
One-way traffic control in both directions near Canal Road, north of
Tom Paine Slough Bridge, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road widening. Expect
15-minute delays.
Calaveras County Highway 26 Monday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Boston Yale Road and
Alabama Hill, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair.
Expect 10-minute dela
The Arch Loard Warlock of Radnor
There were 65 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,462 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Domestic violence, Riverbank: Octavio Ruiz, 22, was arrested Sunday on
suspicion of beating a woman. Sheriff's deputies said Ruiz was at Jacob
Meyers Park in Riverbank with his girlfriend of five years. He was
talking to another girlfriend on his cell phone and became upset
because that woman had another man at her house, deputies said. In
anger, Ruiz punched the woman he was with twice in her face, then threw
her cell phone into a body of water when she tried to call 911,
deputies said. Ruiz was charged with domestic violence, battery and
destroying communication lines.
Vandalism, Stockton: Byron Lee Palmer, 24, was arrested Sunday on
suspicion of vandalizing a victim's vehicle. Deputies said Palmer
kicked the car, causing a large dent, ripped off the car's rearview
mirror and stood on its convertible roof. He then threw a telephone on
the ground, causing it to shatter, deputies said. Palmer was charged
with felony vandalism and destruction of a telephone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: A pizza deliveryman told police he was attacked and robbed by
three men while delivering a pizza in the 4800 block of Kentfield Road
just before 6 p.m. Sunday. Police described one assailant as Black, in
his late teens, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 125 pounds, wearing a white
T-shirt and baggy blue jeans. Another was Black, in his late teens, 5
feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, wearing a black T-shirt, police said.
Police did not release a description of the third attacker.
Robbery: A 26-year-old man told police he was robbed while standing in
the 2600 block of Wausa Way around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Police described
one robber as a Black man, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black
hair and brown eyes. The man was clean-shaven and had a 1-inch
Afro-style haircut, and he was riding a red and black mountain bike,
police said. He was accompanied by two teenagers, each about 5 feet 6
inches tall and 130 pounds, who also were riding mountain bikes, police
said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,192 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested seven people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered six stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Rare rabbit gets funds to restore habitat
STOCKTON - Oh, what the collective luck of a few hundred rabbit feet
can do.
An endangered bunny that keeps getting knocked off by floods and
predators has quickly notched $400,000 from a variety of sources to
restore its native stomping grounds along the San Joaquin River.
Dozens of riparian brush rabbits are believed to have drowned when the
river topped its banks in April. They money will be used to build
higher ground for the rabbits as well as thickets they can use for
cover.
"We know what we need, but getting it is expensive," U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service biologist Kim Forrest said. "Getting these big chunks
of funding can really tip the scale for recovering these animals."
Until 40 years ago, brush rabbits thrived in the thick underbrush
alongside the San Joaquin River. But urban and farm growth destroyed
nearly all of the rabbit's habitat, and its population fell from
100,000 to about 200 in 2000. The 1997 Central Valley floods almost
wiped out the species entirely.
In 2000, wildlife officials launched a $2.6million captive breeding
program and began releasing rabbits on two properties along the San
Joaquin River north of Modesto. But dozens more were killed when heavy
rains sent the river over its banks three months ago.
Contrary to the reputation of rabbits in general, the riparian brush
rabbit isn't much of a breeder. And because it serves primarily as a
snack for larger animals, only one in six makes it to adulthood.
Over the past two weeks, however, the rabbits received $100,000 from
Fish and Wildlife headquarters in Washington and $75,000 from other
agency sources. An additional $25,000 came from the U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation. And more than $200,000 came from Manteca and Tracy as a
result of fines stemming from faulty sewage-plant operations.
Chico-based River Partners, a nonprofit that rebuilds wildlife habitat,
will use the sewage-fine money to plant roses, blackberries, coyote
brush and elderberries along two miles of an unused U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers levee. By next year, the rabbits will be able to use the
thickets for cover from predators, River Partners restoration ecologist
Tamara Sperber said.
Sperber, who drove along the levee after the April deluge, said it was
quite the hangout.
"Pheasant, quail, snakes, cottontail and brush rabbits, everything was
pushed up there," she said.
Fish and Wildlife last month also purchased a third, 370-acre property
along the river that will be used for
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Explosions rock two separate apartments over weekend
STOCKTON - Firefighters responded to two unrelated explosions over the
weekend that blew out windows and shook walls of two apartment
buildings but left no one injured.
Just before 3 p.m. Saturday, a 30-gallon propane tank exploded as
workers applied hot tar to the roof of an apartment complex in the area
of El Dorado and Jamestown streets. The tank apparently sprung a leak
and ignited when the propane came in contact with an open flame, fueled
by another 30-gallon tank, that was heating the workers' pot of hot
tar, Stockton Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeff Rodriguez said.
"I was one of the first units on scene; it was quite remarkable,"
Rodriguez said of the explosion that destroyed the roofers' truck and
blew out about a dozen windows in the apartment complex.
Firefighters were amazed that no one was hurt, as the tank exploded
with enough force to embed shards of glass into pieces of plaster
wallboard within some of the apartments, Rodriguez said.
On Sunday, a man living in an apartment in the 1300 block of West El
Monte Street set off a bug bomb while it was sitting atop his gas
stove, Rodriguez said. The aerosol insecticide ignited when it came in
contact with the stove's pilot light and exploded, he said.
That explosion had enough force to blow out all the windows in the
man's apartment as well as a neighbor's windows; it also raised the
apartment's roof and pushed out its walls, Rodriguez said.
Firefighters had to shut off all the utilities to the building, and two
families were forced from their apartments and found temporary housing
through the Red Cross, Rodriguez said. No one was injured in that
blast, he said.
"It's quite unusual to have significant explosions two days in a row,"
he added.
Rodriguez said people should take extra care when dealing with
flammable fluids and should read directions before using insecticides.
Propane tanks should be stored in the shade, he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Curbing child obesity
Program seeks to standardize way fat is measured and also counsel
parents
Valerie Miller, 6, sits with her mother, Catherine Miller, while
waiting for Valerie's pediatrician
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
Valerie Miller can't hopscotch with other girls her age.
Instead, the 6-year-old Morada resident watches them giggle and jump
from square to square while she sits nearby. Valerie tried it once but
found one leg couldn't hold her up. The plain fact is, Valerie is just
too heavy.
At 100 pounds, she weighs more than twice what a girl her age should.
She wants to lose weight, wants to play with the kids from school and
not get teased.
"I want to be skinnier so no one makes fun of me," she said with a shy
drawl.
Dr. Trinh Vu, Valerie's pediatrician, is worried less about playground
popularity than diabetes, heart strain and a shorter lifespan - just a
few things that could follow Valerie into adulthood if she doesn't
address the problem of obesity now.
An estimated 75 percent of all overweight and obese children stay that
way after reaching adulthood. They are more likely to suffer health
problems and injuries. To stem the rising tide of childhood obesity,
California health providers are making sure physicians have the tools
to detect and target kids who may need extra work to reduce their
health risks.
One of those programs, "Taking Measures for Their Futures," aims to
help standardize the way fat is measured and understood within the
context of a child's age, gender and height. It emphasizes the
importance of tracking a child's Body Mass Index or BMI, which
determines whether a child's weight is appropriate and how it compares
to other children.
The Blue Cross of California project also helps physicians talk to
parents about such sensitive subjects as eating habits and lifestyle
problems.
"Doctors do a lot, (but) sometimes they need to have the resources and
the training to do their jobs better," said Harvinder Sareen, the
director of health care management for state-sponsored business at Blue
Cross of California.
The project provides booklets for doctors to use when talking to
parents about obesity risks and counseling. Parents also get practical
information on calories and healthy portions for their child's diet.
Valerie Miller, 6, has her height measured by medical assistant Felicia
Archibeque in the office of pediatrician Trinh Vu in Stockton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
Vu, who often sees patients like Valerie, said parents are a big part
of a successful battle against obesity.
In a controversial move, legislators in Pennsylvania have mandated
schools to send home "fat letters," or report cards of each student's
health outlook based on weight. Other states, including Illinois and
Maryland, are considering similar measures.
No such mandate exists in California, where it is up to doctors and
health care providers to educate parents about their choices.
Catherine Miller never meant for Valerie's weight to get so out of
hand, and she takes responsibility for her daughter's condition. Still,
she acknowledged being a bit overwhelmed by the doctor's orders.
Limiting food intake, preparing healthier meals and exercising more
often are a lot of changes to make in a household that has been the
same for so long.
Valerie is pretty picky and doesn't eat that much, but what she does
get isn't good. Spaghetti from a can, macaroni and chips trump the
nutrient-rich foods essential to a growing child. A lack of exercise
and a genetic predisposition toward heaviness from her father's side of
the family have all contributed to her condition, Catherine Miller
said.
"It's pretty much mommy's fault," Miller added with an uncertain
chuckle. "I've always spoiled her. (But) I want her to be like a normal
child."
Today, she tries to encourage Valerie to try new fruits and vegetables
and limits the portions of less healthy foods. The girl, eager to obey
her pediatrician's recommendations, has begun to play more and runs
laps around the yard.
Vu hopes that with the right tools, the Millers will have a fighting
chance. Setting goals that Valerie can stick to might be enough to
someday get her back in the game.
Warlock Sorcerer of the Grate Salt Lake
There were 95 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,455 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Robbery, Thornton: A man told officers he was pistol-whipped after
being robbed early Monday. The man told police his attacker offered him
a ride after the victim's vehicle broke down. The man told police that
before reaching Lodi, the driver pulled the vehicle over, got out and
demanded the man's wallet. He gave the man his wallet and was left
outside the vehicle after the attacker struck him in the left temple
with the butt of a firearm. The victim described his attacker as a
Latino man, 5 feet 6 inches tall, stocky, bald and wearing a black
baseball cap that read "L.A." A second man riding with the attacker was
described as tall, thin and about 20 years old.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Assault with a deadly weapon: Cynthia Parker, 38, was arrested Monday
night at Oak and Sutter streets on suspicion of assault with a deadly
weapon. A 79-year-old man reported having been struck in the back of
the head with his cane after an argument with Parker over food. The man
was treated for a cut on the back of his head.
Drug possession: Jose Barragon, 31, was arrested on suspicion of
methamphetamine possession Tuesday morning after police responded to a
report of gun in the 2200 block of South Manthey Road. In addition to a
gun, police reportedly discovered a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine on
Barragon and 220 grams at his residence. Police suspect that Barragon
had arrived armed with a gun to collect a drug debt.
Robbery: A 58-year-old man reported being robbed about 11 a.m. Tuesday
by a short, 20-year-old man who simulated a weapon under his shirt and
demanded money at the 10900 block of Trinity Parkway. The robber was
driving a small, white, extended-cab pickup with a tinted back window.
Robbery: A 27-year-old woman told police she was robbed about 2 p.m.
Tuesday by a young woman who simulated a weapon under her shirt. The
victim was loading groceries into a car in the 200 block of East March
Lane.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,238 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to eight
noninjury accidents and five injury accidents.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton council opts to float Iowa plan past consultant
STOCKTON - The City Council voted Tuesday to hire a consultant to study
the Port of Stockton's request for a $10.9 million city subsidy to dock
the historic USS Iowa in the Stockton Deep Water Channel, beginning
what is likely to be a summer of political sparring at City Hall.
Council members thus far have hesitated to pay for turning the U.S.
Navy battleship into a museum, saying they first must review what
consultant ConsultEcon Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., finds. However, even
the council's 6-1 vote to pay that company $42,250 invoked a
preliminary taking of sides.
The dissenter, Councilman Steve Bestolarides, objected to spending any
money on the Iowa without having a formal commitment to the project
from port commissioners, who have yet to endorse it.
"I think we're kind of putting the cart before the horse," he said.
Councilman Clem Lee, the council's most-ardent supporter of the
project, said a consultant had to be signed Tuesday because of a
looming deadline for the port to apply to the Navy for the Iowa. That
bid, due Sept. 29, likely will fail without the city's commitment to
pay to tow the ship to Stockton, restore it and open a museum, port
officials said.
A majority of the council's members, including Bestolarides and Lee,
said they are undecided. Most, however, said the project is at least
worth paying a consultant to review.
Port Director Richard Aschieris said a city subsidy would be a sound
investment, improving the city's image and economy. The port is
investing, too, he said. It will supply a dock, a building and 15 acres
of land, the value of which is at least $33 million, he said.
He suggested the city take the $10.9 million from a fund already
earmarked for development on Rough and Ready Island. He said private
development now in negotiation on the island could more than cover the
cost of the initial investment.
The account he would tap, however, was expected to earn just $6,737 in
2006-07, financed by property-tax revenue earned at Rough and Ready
Island. To pay $10.9 million likely would require the city to borrow
against future property tax, Stockton economic development director
Steve Carrigan said.
The port and its nonprofit Battleship Iowa Museum/Memorial Foundation
are up against a competing group's bid to dock the Iowa at Mare Island
in Vallejo. The battleship is mothballed in Suisun Bay, near Benicia.
Aschieris has said the port commissioners were waiting to see the
consultant's report before voting on the project. Mayor Ed Chavez
directed City Manager Gordon Palmer on Tuesday to ask the commission to
take action as soon as possible. Palmer said he would make that request
today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway 99 construction to last another year (1:05 p.m.)
So you're sick of the traffic jams and daily delays because of
construction work along Highway 99 through Stockton.
Expect another year of it.
Crews are 35 percent done with the $78 million widening project that
will add two lanes to Highway 99 between Hammer Lane and the Crosstown
Freeway.
Drivers can also expect wider, safer interchanges and freeway ramps,
said Dana Cowell, deputy executive director for the San Joaquin Council
of Governments, the county's transportation planning agency.
Read Thursday's Record for the full story.
Tampa Sorcerer
There were 82 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
At that time, there were 1,419 people held at the jail, which has an
official capacity of 1,351.
When the jail is full, some inmates may be released early.
Home invasion robbery, Stockton: San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies
are looking for several armed men who entered a home in the 700 block
of Merced Avenue and robbed its residents at gunpoint. The victims were
forced to lie on the floor as the men took jewelry and cash from their
pockets. No one was hurt. The men left in a white 1980s model Cadillac.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: Police are looking for a couple who punched, kicked and robbed
a man Tuesday evening. The woman had the 28-year-old victim drive her
to a motel at 639 N. Wilson Way, where a man attacked him and stole
$400 from his pockets. The victim described the woman as white, about 5
feet 2 inches tall, about 160 pounds with long blond hair, a tattoo on
her lower back and wearing blue jeans. The man was Black, about 5 feet
9 inches tall, about 220 pounds with short hair worn naturally and
wearing blue jeans, a white shirt with a black design on the front and
white shoes.
Shooting: A 31-year-old woman was shot at least twice in the leg while
picking up her boyfriend in front of Discount Liquors at 1301 E.
Harding Way. Police said the woman's boyfriend got into an argument
with two men in front of the store when one of the men began shooting
at the woman's car. The woman's boyfriend drove her to St. Joseph's
Medical Center and left in her car. Police have no description of the
shooter.
Robbery: Police are looking for two men who robbed a 23-year-old man of
his Nike Air Force 1 basketball shoes at gunpoint late Tuesday night.
The victim said he was dropping his girlfriend off at her car in the
5000 block of Winslow Way when the men approached his car and began
beating him. The men also took the victim's car keys and his wallet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,251 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Officers responded to seven noninjury accidents and four injury
accidents.
CHP officers also arrested seven people on charges of driving under the
influence and recovered six stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wildfire near Patterson continues to spread
Eight buildings burned, dozens of homes at risk
Conditions continued to be good for fire and bad for firefighters west
of Patterson in Stanislaus County on Wednesday.
The Canyon Fire grew from about 9,400 acres to 16,665 acres in 24
hours.
At the end of the day Wednesday, fire was threatening the Santa Clara
County border and Henry W. Coe State Park, said a California Department
of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesman.
Another blaze at Altamont Pass, the Midway Fire, was contained by
Wednesday morning after burning 6,400 acres in Alameda County.
The Canyon Fire was reported Sunday and was 30 percent contained at
about 8 p.m. Wednesday; it had been 45 percent contained earlier in the
day.
CDF removed its previous estimate of Sunday for full containment of
that fire. CDF spokesman Erik Cohen said there is no new estimate for
containment and the fire could claim 20,000 acres before it is out.
Most of the land is rangeland or wildlife habitat, he said. Eight
buildings had been consumed as of Wednesday evening, and fire
threatened 30 more homes and 50 other buildings, including sheds and
barns, Cohen added.
As of Wednesday, $3.05 million had been spent fighting the blaze, with
almost 1,800 firefighters on duty.
Three injuries were reported Monday and Tuesday. Cohen said all were
minor and heat-related.
Evacuations in the Del Puerto Canyon area so far have been voluntary,
he said. Del Puerto Canyon Road is closed due to the fire.
"It kind of blew up with the winds," he said of the fire's growth
Wednesday.
Shifting winds, billowing smoke and difficult terrain were three
problems firefighters faced, Cohen said. Fire crews have had limited
access to water since they began fighting the fire.
As the fire moved into taller trees such as oaks Wednesday, a new
problem - spotting, when flames jump from treetop to treetop -
worsened, he said.
Smoke from a wildfire billows over a hillside in the Diablo Grande
subdivision near Patterson on Wednesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"That makes it very difficult for the firefighters to keep track of and
draw lines," he said.
Crews are clearing a perimeter around the Canyon Fire and removing
underbrush in order to contain it. Cohen said fire crews still had 32
miles of perimeter fire line to scratch out, based on the size of the
blaze Wednesday.
The wildfire is burning in areas that have not seen flames for 50 years
and threatening more land that has not burned in some time, he said.
Threatened areas Wednesday included Orestima, Lion and Gooseberry
canyons. Cohen said it is the largest fire in several years in the CDF
district that includes Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Alameda and Contra
Costa counties.
CDF and U.S. Forest Service firefighters and crews from Stanislaus,
Santa Clara, San Joaquin and Alameda counties were operating 144
engines and 13 helicopters Wednesday. Cohen said CDF is calling for
more engines, helicopters and bulldozers.
"There's extreme potential for growth because of the extremely
difficult terrain," Cohen said.
Already extinguished by Wednesday morning, the Midway Fire was still
affecting commuters. Altamont Commuter Express marketing director Mike
Steenburgh said 1,300 commuters were delayed Tuesday evening and 1,000
rail riders were delayed Wednesday morning and afternoon because of
smoke damage to track signals as well as safety precautions that
required the ACE service between Stockton and San Jose to proceed at a
slow pace.
Steenburgh said ACE operators were able to warn commuters of the delays
before departures both days.
He said ACE hopes to have all track signal repairs completed in time
for normal commute times today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Child Molester shot to death in Stockton home
Disturbance precedes deadly Poplar incident
STOCKTON - Police on Wednesday were looking for two men who shot and
killed a 32-year-old Stockton man in his home.
Neighbors say the victim, whose name was not released, lived at the
house at 1540 E. Poplar St., where emergency crews found his body
shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday.
The shooting followed some sort of disturbance inside the
white-and-blue-trimmed home yards away from a hub of used-car
dealerships along Wilson Way.
"We're not really clear about what happened in the home right now,"
Stockton police Officer Pete Smith said.
The man was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where he was
pronounced dead.
Police say two men were seen running from the house shortly after the
disturbance.
One was described as a Black man in his 20s, about 5 feet 7 inches
tall, with a thick build, braids in his hair from the front to the back
and wearing a dark blue shirt and black jeans. He was seen carrying a
silver snub-nosed handgun.
The other was a Black man in his 20s with a shaved head and wearing a
white T-shirt and blue jeans.
Police questioned another man at the property for about an hour and
then arrested him on an unrelated warrant.
Smith said he did not know whether the man was related to the victim
but that he was not being considered a suspect.
Several neighbors said the victim's house was a center of late-night
activity and drug dealing.
Smith said he was not aware of complaints about drug dealing or whether
police have responded to calls to the neighborhood in the past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Traffic delays ahead
Highway 99 upgrades to take another year
STOCKTON - Residents sick of traffic jams and construction along
Highway 99 through Stockton better get used to it.
It will be another year before crews finish widening Highway 99 between
Hammer Lane and the Crosstown Freeway.
On Saturday, the highway will be closed southbound between Hammer Lane
and the Calaveras overpass near Wilson Way. The highway will begin
closing at 9 p.m., and the Calaveras onramp will close at 11 p.m.
The highway will reopen Sunday at 5:30 a.m., except for the inside
lane, which will open at 9 a.m., officials said.
The $78 million widening project started last summer, forcing drivers
to maneuver along the highway at slow speeds in narrow lanes and around
the occasional detour.
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While the construction work has only compounded the frustrations of
driving along the congested highway, transportation leaders say it will
be worth it once the widening project is complete next summer, said
Dana Cowell, deputy executive director for the San Joaquin Council of
Governments, the county's transportation planning agency.
Aside from two additional freeway lanes, drivers will have wider and
safer interchanges as well as new freeway ramps, Cowell said.
"It is a classic project for relieving congestion. There (are) simply
more cars on that highway than it was designed for," Cowell said.
Highway 99 is a heavily traveled route for commercial truckers and
commuters. About 100,000 vehicles travel Highway 99 through Stockton
daily, according to COG.
But some drivers say adding an extra lane in each direction will not be
enough to ease the route's traffic jams.
"One lane is not going to do it," said Bob Carter, a Brentwood resident
who commutes along Highway 99 every day to get to his body shop
business in Stockton. "It will relieve it somewhat, but it won't cure
it."
The widening project is being paid for with funds from Measure K, the
county's half-cent sales tax voters passed in 1990, state and federal
funds, and developer fees from the city of Stockton.
Transportation leaders across the Central Valley have been pushing to
capture state and federal funds to add more capacity and improve safety
along Highway 99 from Lodi to Bakersfield.
State voters in November will decide whether to approve a nearly $20
billion bond for transportation. About $1 billion of that would go
toward improving sections of Highway 99.
COG officials say they hope to secure some of that funding to widen
Highway 99 from the Crosstown Freeway south to Arch Road. That project
is estimated to cost as much as $120 million.
"It's been in bad shape for years," Lodi resident Candi Valensin said
of Highway 99. "It's good they are fixing it."
da...@hotmail.co.uk
There were 108 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. At that time, there were 1,424 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
block of East Lathrop Road this week, deputies observed two men near a
coin-operated air and water machine. Deputies reported Friday the two
men in possession of burglary tools and a gray bag with more than $200
in quarters. Robert Miller, 42, Robert Vierra, 43, and Donald Vierra,
42, the owner of a nearby car that police said the men used, were
arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and burglary
tools and vandalism.
Stockton Police
Robbery: A 68-year-old man reported being assaulted and robbed by a man
while driving in his car Wednesday afternoon. He was in the 2000 block
of El Dorado Street and pulling away from a business when, he told
police, a man in the back seat of his vehicle choked him from behind.
The man described the robber, who stole cash, as a NIGGER, 5 feet 10
inches and 160 pounds. He said the man had short hair and was wearing a
white T-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. The victim said he let the
assailant out at the 2200 block of South El Dorado Street.
Fighting: Police broke up a fight Wednesday night in the 2300 block of
South Airport Way and arrested Javaar Frazier, 26, of Stockton on
suspicion of fighting and resisting arrest. According to an initial
report, police used a stun gun to subdue Frazier when he would not get
off or stop hitting the other man.
Robbery: Police received a report of a robbery in the 500 block of West
Charter Way just after midnight Wednesday. Police are seeking a NIGGERS
from the ages of 18 to 21 who is 5 feet 9 inches and of average build.
The man is described as cleanshaven and wearing a black hooded jacket
and black baseball cap. According to an initial police report, the man
simulated a handgun in his pocket and fled with cash.
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,341 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
wichita...@hotmail.com
There were 101 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Friday. At that time, there were 1,419 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Shooting, Stockton: Deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the
2200 block of Euclid Avenue and cited and released two teenagers and
arrested Faustino Reyes, 20, on suspicion of negligent discharge of a
firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle and car theft. The teenagers
were cited on the same charges.
Car theft, Thornton: Deputies spotted a stolen vehicle in Thorton on
Thursday afternoon and followed the vehicle in to Elk Grove, where
Shawn James Holcomb, 21, was arrested for alleged possession of a
stolen vehicle, car theft and possession of stolen property.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Carjacking: Police received a report at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday from
an 86-year-old man who said he was at West March Lane and Holiday Drive
when two teenage boys pulled him out of his vehicle and took it. Police
spotted the man's vehicle a few hours later and arrested two boys, 14
and 17, on suspicion of carjacking and car theft.
Assault with a deadly weapon: Police are seeking seven teens in
connection with an assault Thursday night. A 50-year-old man told
police several boys asked him to dial a phone number on his cell for
them. He told police that when he was dialing, one teenager tried to
hit him with a metal pipe, connecting on a second swing. The man
reportedly got control of the pipe, and the teens fled. One was
described as a 13-year-old Latino boy, 5 feet 7 inches, 130 pounds. He
was wearing red shorts and no shirt.
Shooting: Police received a report at about 11:45 p.m. Thursday that a
39-year-old man was shot in the ankle while working on his truck in the
300 block of East Stadium Drive. The man was taken to Dameron Hospital.
Two men are being sought in connection with the shooting.
Burglary: At about 10:30 a.m. Friday, police received a report of a
burglary in the 2100 block of East Mariposa Road in Stockton. Two men
smashed a jewelry case and took jewelry. Lt. Kevin Hatano said at least
one employee followed the men for several blocks before losing track of
them. Police are seeking the two men. One was described as an unshaven
white or Latino man in his 20s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with medium
build and short curly black hair. He was wearing a white sports jersey
with blue numbers, dark pants, and a white or creme-colored bandage
wrapped around his lower right arm. The second man is described as a
Latino man in his 20s, 6 feet, with a thin build and short black hair.
He wore a dark hat, a white sports jersey with burgundy numbers and
dark pants. They drove off in a teal-colored small vehicle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,267 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered four stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warning on court employee scam
San Joaquin County Superior Court is sending out a warning for people
not to release financial information to anybody claiming to be a court
employee.
According to the court Web site, identity thieves claiming to be court
employees are targeting members of the public. According to the alert,
court and jury employees never ask past or prospective jurors for any
financial information.
A court employee said similar reports have been issued statewide and
may not pertain specifically to incidents in San Joaquin County.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Local delegation headed to Capitol
STOCKTON - A Stockton delegation will travel to Washington, D.C., today
to attend the national convention of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.
Six delegates from the Stockton chapter of the NAACP will vote on the
organization's platform and will lobby lawmakers during the conference,
which begins today and ends Thursday.
"We'll have a major onslaught of folks hitting Capitol Hill," said
delegate Bobby Bivens, president of the local chapter. Four to eight
teenagers also will accompany the delegation, he said.
Because of the convention, the local branch's monthly meeting has been
changed from today to next Saturday, when the delegation would inform
the public about the convention and any update from Washington. It will
be at 10 a.m. in the conference room at Robert J. Cabral Station, 949
E. Channel St., Stockton.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Latino group to hold banquet
Hispanics for Political Action will hold a banquet and dance today to
honor Dave Stapp and R.J. Hernandez for their achievements in law
enforcement.
The banquet is from 6 p.m.to midnight at Lee Gong Restaurant on Harding
Way in Stockton. Tickets are available by calling Mike Villanueva at
(209) 957-5133, Louie Gonzales at (209) 464-9205, Corrine Menchca at
(209) 466-1998 or Yolanda Rodriquez at (209) 474-7796.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teen advisory group fills ranks
STOCKTON - For the past eight years, the Stockton City Council has
turned to a group of teens to help address youth issues. As of this
week, the Youth Advisory Commission has 11 new members, filling the
ranks of the 20-member group.
Commission initiatives include the creation of the Gary and Janice
Podesto Impact Teen Center, nearing its second anniversary, Stockton
Parks and Recreation Department staffer Peni Basalusalu said. The
20-member commission meets from 6 to 8 p.m. on the second Thursday of
the month at the teen center, at 725 N. El Dorado St.
That is where the group, with input from the public, shapes its
recommendations to the City Council, Basalusalu said.
In addition to the commission's own monthly meetings, it reports once
each month to the City Council, he said.
Newly appointed members include Christina Cunha of St. Mary's High
School, AlecXander Hardin of Lincoln High School, Ty-Licia Hooker of
Cesar Chavez High School, Curissa Mitchell of Edison High School, Mandy
Wong of Franklin High School and Jessica Williams of Weston Ranch High
School. Each serves a two-year term.
Students appointed this week to one-year terms are Abigail Cua and
Farah Shaheen of Tokay High School, Pao Hang of Edison High School,
Kenecia Kinler of Weston Ranch High School and Loreal Nelms of Franklin
High School.
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Arts commission funds projects
STOCKTON - A master class for student musicians, a photography display
in downtown Stockton and a free holiday performance for underprivileged
youths are among the projects that recently received funding from the
Stockton Arts Commission.
Nearly $50,000 was awarded by the commission this week to support all
or part of seven community arts projects. Three theater groups were
funded with $7,000 and the New Dance Company received $10,000 to bring
Jean Isaac to town to conduct workshops and perform.
Underprivileged youths will be invited to the Nutcracker Ballet at the
Bob Hope Theatre with the help of $10,000 from the commission, and the
Stockton Unified School District's Youth Expressing Sights and Sounds
Festival received $8,200 toward a performance day for students at the
Weber Point Events Center.
The Record's Family Day in the Park received $2,500.
Finally, visitors to downtown Stockton will get a look at the city's
visual history because of a $5,000 grant to Snap Jackson Photography.
Applications for City Endowment for the Arts grants are collected
annually in March by the Stockton Arts Commission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Food available for needy in S.J.
Government surplus food will be available to low-income San Joaquin
County residents Thursday.
Income limits for receiving food have increased: People with a monthly
income of $1,225 or less and couples with a monthly income of $2,075
qualify. For a family of three, the limit is $2,500; it is $2,925 for
four and $2,925 for five.
Food will be distributed at 14 sites in the county. In Stockton,
distribution sites are at the Boggs Tract Community Center, Garden
Acres Community Center, Kennedy Community Center, Taft Community
Center, Northeast Community Center and St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.
Food will be distributed in Tracy at the Larch Clover Community Center,
in Lodi at the Grape Festival Grounds on Lockeford Street, in Lathrop
at the senior center, in Manteca at the Manteca Library, in Escalon at
the CARE Center, in Ripon at the Ripon Community Center and in
Lockeford at the Adventist Community Service.
For more information, call (209) 468-3679. Most distribution sites open
at 8 a.m. and will have food available until all is given out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anime film at Manteca library
MANTECA - In the anime feature "Case Closed," Detective Jimmy Kudo and
his friends untangle a mess of clues to find the man who shrunk Jimmy.
The film will show from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Manteca Branch
Library.
The screening is free with the help of Friends of the Manteca Branch
Library.
The library is at 320 W. Center St. For more information, call (866)
805-7323 or www.stockton.lib.ca.us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legal association monthly dinner
STOCKTON - The Stockton-San Joaquin County Legal Professionals
Association will hold its monthly dinner Aug. 14.
Anyone working in a legal profession is invited. The dinner begins at
6:30 p.m.
Wolf Point Warlock
There were 96 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,408 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
arrest a man suspected of public intoxication at East Perrin Road and
South Airport Way just before midnight Friday when he allegedly struck
out at them, kicking one deputy and biting another, a Sheriff's Office
report said. Robert Vasquez Arroyo, 52, was arrested on suspicion of
battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest and public intoxication.
The report said one deputy suffered a welt to the left biceps due to
the bite, and another deputy had red marks on his left arm from a kick
by Arroyo.
Lodi, possession of drug paraphernalia: A traffic stop at about 2:15
a.m. Saturday led to the arrest of Kyle Anthony Williams, 21, on
suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a
suspended license. According to a Sheriff's Office report, Williams had
two glass pipes with apparent illegal drug residue when he was stopped
for driving recklessly while traveling north on Interstate 5.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Assault with a deadly weapon: A 39-year-old woman told police she was
at the intersection of California and Flora streets at about 6 p.m.
Friday when a man cut her right arm with a box cutter. The woman told
police he had said she owed him money. Police are seeking a Black man
in his 40s, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 165 pounds. He is described as
wearing dark clothing and a backpack.
Attempted assault with a deadly weapon: A couple in the 1800 block of
Gordon Verner Circle told police that at about 10 p.m. Friday they
asked a man who had been staying with them to leave. They told police
the man threatened them with a knife. Police arrested Charles Harris,
39, of Stockton on suspicion of threatening, drawing a deadly weapon
and attempted assault with a deadly weapon. According to an initial
report, one of the two people broke a golf club over Harris' head in
self-defense. Police said Harris was treated at St. Joseph's Medical
Center for a head wound.
Robbery: At 5:30 a.m. Saturday, police received a report from a
19-year-old man who said he had $80 and a cell phone stolen after using
an ATM in the 1500 block of Saint Marks Plaza. Police are seeking a
Latino man in his early 20s who is described as 5 feet 5 inches, 150
pounds and wearing a black hooded sweat shirt, blue shorts, a blue
bandanna and carrying a chrome semiautomatic handgun. Police said he
was driving a 2004 white extended cab pickup. Police said the victim's
brother tried to intervene in the robbery by attempting to run over the
mugger. According to an initial report, the mugger used the 19-year-old
as a shield and then ran to his pickup and drove off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More reports of West Nile surface
STOCKTON - Two pools of trapped mosquitoes and a dead crow tested
positive for West Nile virus Thursday and Friday as reports of the
blood-borne disease continue to increase.
The trapped mosquitoes were found in Manteca and Tracy, while the crow
was discovered in Stockton, according to the San Joaquin County West
Nile Virus Task Force. The positive tests come on the heels of an
announcement late last week that the number of dead birds found with
the disease had doubled in a matter of days.
West Nile is carried by birds and transmitted by mosquitoes to humans
and horses. No human or horse infections have been reported this year.
To report dead birds, call (877) 968-2473 or visit westnile.ca.gov. For
mosquito problems, call (209) 982-4675 or (800) 300-4675. For other
information, visit sjgov.org/oes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the week of July 16 San Joaquin County Highway 26 Monday through
Friday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions at Escalon
Bellota Road, 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for road construction. Expect
20-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway 99 Today
Southbound onramp closure at the Calaveras River overcrossing, 11:30
p.m. to 5:30 a.m., for road widening. Expect five-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today and Monday
Southbound lane and shoulder restrictions between Hammer Lane and
Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening. Expect five-minute
delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Tuesday
Ramp closures northbound at Cherokee Road, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road
widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Friday
Northbound lane, median and shoulder restrictions between Wilson Way
and Hammer Lane, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening. Expect
five-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for
road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, around the clock, for interchange
construction.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial ramp closures in both directions at Highway 120,
around the clock, for interchange construction.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Saturday
Long-term median and shoulder restrictions in both directions between
Highway 4 and Hammer Lane, at various times around the clock, for road
widening.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Thursday
Southbound lane restrictions between the Lodi Avenue overcross and the
Sacramento County line, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for rumble strip work. Expect
20-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Southbound lane, shoulder and median restrictions between Highway 4 and
the Stockton Diverting Canal, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for bridge
construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Lane restrictions between Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, 8 p.m. to 5
a.m., for interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Ramp closures and shoulder restrictions in both directions at Mariposa
Road, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road widening. Expect five-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday through Friday
Southbound highway closure, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for interchange
construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Full offramp closure southbound at Fremont Street, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.,
for bridge construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Northound partial offramp closure at Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for
bridge construction.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway 120 Monday through Friday
Lane and shoulder restrictions between Button Avenue and Highway 99, in
both directions, at various times around the clock, for utilities and
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday and Wednesday
Westbound lane restrictions between McKinley Avenue and Yosemite
Avenue, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for pothole repair. Expect 10-minute
delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday and Friday
Westbound lane restrictions between McKinley and Yosemite avenues, 8:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for pothole repair. Expect 10-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interstate 205 Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions in both directions near
Mountain House, at various times around the clock, for interchange
construction and striping.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial onramp closures in both directions at Patterson Pass
Road, around the clock, for underground utilities work.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calaveras County Highway 4 Monday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Hodson and O'Byrnes
Ferry roads, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for paving. Expect 15-minute delays.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions at Poole
Station Road, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., for tree pruning and cutting. Expect
five-minute delays.
Note: Unexpected schedule changes can occur due to weather, equipment
breakdown or scheduling problems. To hear a recording of California
highway conditions, call (800) 427-7623. To view transportation-related
information online, visit the California Department of Transportation
Web site at www.dot.ca.gov.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Joaquin County road delays Monday
Traffic control on Ash Street between Mathews Road and Fourth Street in
French Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Elm Street between Second and Seventh streets in
French Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Fourth Street between Elm and Ash streets in French
Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on McKinley Avenue between Second and Sixth streets in
French Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Ponderosa Street between Seventh Street and French
Camp Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Second Street between McKinley Avenue and Elm Street
in French Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Seventh Street between Elm and Ponderosa streets in
French Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Sixth Street between McKinley Avenue and Ash Street
in French Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday and Tuesday
Traffic control on Willow Street from Seventh Street to end in French
Camp, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Alice Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road
resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Louisa Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Oak Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road
resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Stockton Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Woodbridge Road between Thornton and Ray roads, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Brandt Road between Tretheway Road and Highway
12/Highway 88, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cardinal Avenue between Main Street and Weber
Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for roadway improvements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Turner Road between Jacob Brack and Davis roads, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spare the Air Day warning issued
Air quality officials issued a Spare the Air Day warning for today in
the area, including San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District forecast an Air
Quality Index of 104 for today. That means active children and adults
and people with respiratory disease such as asthma should limit
prolonged outdoor exertion.
The district also urged Valley residents to help reduce air pollution
levels by postponing unnecessary vehicle trips, sharing rides and
linking errands into one trip; bringing lunch to work to avoid the need
to drive to pick up food; postponing the use of gas-powered yard
equipment; avoiding topping off gas tanks; and checking vehicles' tire
pressures to make sure they are not low.
Tundra killed
There were 81 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. At that time, there were 1,410 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Assault, Lathrop: Roque Chavez Cornelio, 26, was arrested Saturday on
suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. Sheriff's deputies said
Cornelio struck someone on the head, causing a 1-inch cut and possible
unconsciousness. While the assault was being investigated, deputies
said, Roque Cornelio and Miguel Angel Chaves Cornelio, 38, were
uncooperative and resisted arrest. Roque Cornelio was charged with
assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. Miguel Cornelio was
charged with resisting arrest.
Public intoxication, Lathrop: Juan Jose Alvarez, 19, was arrested
Saturday on suspicion of being drunk in public and interfering with a
sheriff's deputy. Deputies said they were responding to a call in the
300 block of East Osage Place just before 10 p.m., and Alvarez
approached them several times as they were dealing with combative
suspects. Deputies said they warned Alvarez to stay away, but he
persisted and at one point appeared as if he might go for a large
kitchen knife sitting on a table outside his home. Deputies detained
Alvarez, who was described as extremely drunk, but he continued to be
uncooperative, and deputies ended up using a stun gun to control him.
Alvarez was charged with wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace
officer and public intoxication.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: A 39-year-old man told police he was beaten and robbed
Saturday afternoon after being forced into his car by two men in the
Fremont Center parking lot, 2517 E. Fremont St., and driving at
gunpoint to a secluded location west of Interstate 5. The man told
police that after driving to the location - possibly Daggett Road, but
he wasn't sure - the two assailants beat him and stole $980 in cash.
Police described one assailant as Black, in his mid-20s, 6 feet tall,
180 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, and carrying a
silver-colored semiautomatic handgun. Police said the other assailant
was Black, in his mid-20s, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, wearing a
white T-shirt and blue jeans, and armed with a kitchen knife.
Stabbing: A 29-year-old man said he was stabbed just after midnight
Sunday while standing in the 300 block of Northbank Court. The man told
police two men got out of a car near him and called out to him. He ran
but tripped over a garbage can and was stabbed in the back as he lay on
the ground, police said. The man didn't give a detailed suspect
description to police.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kidnapping, robbery
Parker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ennis Parker Jr., 35, is wanted on a $1million felony
kidnapping-robbery warrant. Parker is Black, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 225
pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked
to call Detective Robert Faine at (209) 937-8323.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parole violation
Johnson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ulysses Johnson, 38, is wanted on a warrant alleging parole violation.
Johnson is Black, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 190 pounds with black hair and
brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call parole agent John
Hall or parole agent Rodney McLemore at (209) 948-7652.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parole violation
Pringle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marquise Pringle is wanted on a warrant alleging parole violation.
Pringle is 28 years old, Black, 5 feet 10 inches tall and 174 pounds
with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to
call parole agent John Hall or parole agent Rodney McLemore at (209)
948-7652.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of arrests
Law enforcement officials have arrested 49 people and closed 109 cases
this year thanks to tips to Crime Stoppers Inc.
Wanted for tagging and graffiti
Receive up to a $250 reward for information leading to the conviction
of the following taggers:
CELS » KEEPS » NIMFOE » ATIK » COBS » COINS » CRUEL » DAMAGER »
HOEST » KWOTE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire containment expected today
PATTERSON - Firefighters working to contain a wildfire in Stanislaus
County west of Patterson hope to have the blaze under control today,
more than a week after the fire started.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which has
been leading efforts to contain the Canyon Fire, had hoped the fire
would be fully controlled by Saturday evening. As of 7 p.m. Sunday, the
fire was 85 percent contained, and the CDF now says it is hoping for
full containment by 5 p.m. today.
The fire spread over 1,000 more acres of Del Puerto Canyon on Sunday
and has burned 32,933 acres since it started July 9. Eleven homes and
five smaller buildings such as sheds have been destroyed, and 10
structures, including five homes, have been damaged in the fire. Nine
people have been injured.
Del Puerto Canyon Road reopened Saturday for the first time since the
fire started, but the CDF said the blaze continued to move toward Henry
Coe State Park in an area that has not been burned by a wildfire in
more than 50 years.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze.
Anyone who may have seen a person or vehicle between mile markers 12
and 13 on Del Puerto Canyon Road around 4 p.m. July 9 or may know
anything else about the fire's cause is asked to call the CDF at (800)
468-4408.
The cost of fighting the fire was up to $11million by Sunday. Nearly
2,000 fire personnel were working the scene Sunday, with 28 bulldozers,
148 fire engines and 14 helicopters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two men die at Galt house party
GALT - Two men died Sunday in an early-morning shooting after a house
party in Galt, police said.
The shooting broke out around 3 a.m. in a house on the 1000 block of
Bay Shore Drive. Police found Alejandro Bautista, 26, and Xavir
Rodriguez, 27, dead inside the house, and each had suffered multiple
gunshot wounds. Both men are from Sacramento.
Police arrested 29-year-old Mario Bautista, also of Sacramento, at the
party. He has been charged with murder and booked into the Sacramento
County Jail. Mario Bautista was not injured in the fight or shooting,
and police believe he is related to Alejandro Bautista, Galt Police
Sgt. Chris Smith said. Smith said police recovered a handgun at the
scene believed to be the homicide weapon.
Witnesses told police that the men were among guests at a party that
had been going on for several hours before they got into a fight. One
of the men apparently was armed with a handgun, police said, but it's
not clear how the fight started.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Son jailed, father flown to hospital
LINDEN - In an unusual and allegedly violent attempt at father-son
bonding, a man is in jail while his father lies in a hospital bed after
the two spent Friday evening trying to instigate fights outside a
Linden bar, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's deputies said Gary Summers Jr., 23, and his 52-year-old
father were driving around Silver's Bar, 19012 E. Highway 26, trying to
pick fights with patrons arriving at and leaving the bar around 5:30
p.m.
At some point in the evening, deputies said, Summers also sprayed
pepper spray into the air in front of the bar's entrance.
After a few failed attempts, the father and son called two other men
"queers," and a fight began, deputies said. Just as quickly, it ended,
leaving Summers injured and his father unconscious.
The 52-year-old was flown to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento,
where he was listed in stable condition. Summers was extremely
intoxicated, deputies said, and attempted to fight off medical
personnel trying to assist him.
Summers was arrested and charged with public intoxication, interference
with medical staff in the performance of their duty and unlawful
discharge of pepper spray.
Warlock of Fire
There were 84 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,444 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Auto theft, Stockton: Francisco Trinadad Martinez, 24, was arrested
Sunday on suspicion of stealing a vehicle. Sheriff's deputies said
Martinez was found Sunday in possession a stolen car. The car was
parked outside his house in the 9100 block of East Mariposa Road around
1:40 p.m. Martinez was arrested and charged with vehicle theft and
possession of a stolen vehicle.
Robbery, Stockton: Antwain Boner, 27, was arrested Sunday on suspicion
of reaching into a stopped car, slapping a man and demanding his wallet
at 10th and B streets just after midnight while the victim was being
driven home. Deputies said the victim identified Boner as the
assailant, and Boner was arrested in the 1600 block of Carpenter Road
after he ran from deputies who showed up at his house. Boner was
charged with robbery and resisting arrest.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: A 38-year-old woman told police her purse was stolen from her
car as she sat at a traffic light at Eighth and El Dorado streets
around 10:30 a.m. Monday. The woman told police a man pulled up next to
her at the light, got out of his car to close the trunk, then snatched
her black purse from inside her car as he was walking back to his car.
The woman's ATM card has since been used several times in Stockton,
police said. Police described the thief as white, in his mid-20s, 6
feet tall and husky, with short, blond hair and blue eyes. Police said
the man was clean-shaven and was wearing a white, long-sleeve T-shirt
with a design on the sleeves.
Robbery: A 19-year-old man told police four men stole his Sony PSP
handheld video game as he waited for a bus at Hammer Lane and Tam
O'Shanter Drive around 2:30 p.m. Monday. The victim told police the
robbers asked to see the game, and he gave it to them, at which point
they began to walk away. When he followed them to a parking lot in the
800 block of Hammer Lane, the robbers knocked him unconscious and fled
on foot. The victim was treated at Dameron Hospital for a concussion
and bruises to his face. Police described the thieves as four Black men
in their late teens or early 20s. One was 5 feet 5 inches tall, 140
pounds and wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt and black pants; another
was 5 feet 6 inches tall, 160 pounds, with black hair and wearing a
black, button-up shirt and black pants; the third was 6 feet 2 inches
tall, 180 pounds and wearing a long, white T-shirt and black pants. The
victim did not give a detailed description of the fourth robber, police
said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,157 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and two injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered three stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 acres burn near Micke Grove
At least 10 acres of an abandoned vineyard near Micke Grove Regional
Park burned Monday afternoon in a fire that was under control within 20
minutes and didn't cause any injuries or major damage to buildings,
firefighters said.
The fire started around 5 p.m. on a county-owned parcel at North Micke
Grove and East Armstrong roads; its cause was still under
investigation, said Fire Chief Mike Kirtle of the Woodbridge Fire
District.
Smoke continued to rise from the earth, and small flames licked the
landscape more than an hour after the fire started.
Although firefighters had the blaze contained by about 5:20 p.m.,
Kirtle said they had several more hours of work ahead of them to
extinguish all the flames fully.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Firefighters hope to contain blaze
Firefighters hope this morning will bring full containment of a
wildfire that continues to burn in Stanislaus County west of Patterson.
The Canyon Fire started July 9 and has burned 34,217 of land in and
around Del Puerto Canyon. The fire was 95 percent contained by 7 p.m.
Monday, when the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
again pushed back its target to have the fire completely under control.
Full containment was expected by 8 a.m. today.
The CDF's original projection called for full containment by Saturday
evening, but the fire has spread over about 1,000 additional acres each
day since then. The fire has destroyed 11 homes and five smaller
buildings, such as sheds, and damaged one home and five other
buildings, the CDF said. Ten people have been injured.
The cost to fight the fire had grown to $12.8million by Monday, when
1,883 fire personnel worked the scene.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHP will check child car seats
The Stockton office of the California Highway Patrol will check that
child safety seats are installed correctly and safe to use from 4:30 to
6:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3330 N. Ad Art Road in Stockton.
Last year, during a similar program, the CHP properly installed 40
child safety seats.
Information: Officer Adrian Quintero, (209) 943-8666.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start Smart class for teen drivers
Young drivers who want to learn safety tips from the California Highway
Patrol can take the CHP's Start Smart class from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday
at the Stockton CHP office, 3330 N. Ad Art Road.
The Stockton office is one of only three across the state offering the
class.
Information: Officer Adrian Quintero, (209) 943-8666.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
99 to be closed two nights for work
MANTECA - Highway 99 southbound will be closed Wednesday and Thursday
nights at Yosemite Avenue because of road construction.
Closures will begin at 8 p.m. each day and continue until 5 a.m. the
next day. Drivers will be routed around the closure via the off- and
onramps for Highway 120/Yosemite Avenue. Officials say motorists should
expect 15 minute delays.
The eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 120 also may be closed
during these times, causing delays up to five minutes.
During the closures, crews will be erecting girders for the new Highway
99 bridge.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton's NAACPreschedules meeting
STOCKTON - The Stockton chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People has rescheduled its regular meeting this
month because of conflicts with the organization's national convention.
warlock знахаря boston
There were 98 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,452 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton police
Car theft: A woman reported to police that she saw her stolen Honda
Accord about 11 p.m. Monday. Police spotted the car near Louis Park and
arrested the driver and passenger. Jose J. Luna, 26, of Stockton was
driving the car and was arrested on suspicion of car theft, fleeing a
pursuing police officer, failing to remain at an accident, possession
of stolen property, conspiring to commit a crime and obstructing a
peace officer. The passenger, Benito A. Soto, 25, of Stockton, was
arrested on suspicion of car theft, possession of stolen property,
conspiring to commit a crime, obstructing a peace officer and
possession of burglary tools.
Shooting: A 26-year-old man told police that he was in his car about
noon Tuesday near Star Way and Bess Place when he was approached by two
men. One of them got into the car and demanded his money, shooting the
victim in the leg when the victim tried to get out of the car. Police
are seeking a Black man, 24, 6 feet tall, thin with a mustache. They
are also seeking a man about 6 feet 2 inches tall with a thin build,
wearing a black baseball cap and blue jeans and armed with a black
handgun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,237 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
Hit-and-run: A 54-year-old Stockton man was driving a 2006
Harley-Davidson motorcycle south on Interstate 5 on Monday when he hit
the rear of another vehicle. The motorcyclist skidded to the ground.
After he got to his feet, he reportedly was hit by a vehicle whose
driver who did not stay at the accident. The motorcyclist suffered
major injuries.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton shooting victim identified
STOCKTON - A south Stockton resident who was shot to death shortly
after midnight Friday has been identified as 20-year-old Samuel
Martinez.
Martinez was found outside his home in the 2300 block of Scribner
Street. Police have said they believe the shooting did not occur in
front of the home. Police are investigating the shooting as a homicide.
"They definitely have people they're looking for," Stockton police
Officer Pete Smith said Tuesday. "Nothing we're prepared to release
right now."
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Del Puerto Canyon fire contained
A fire that blackened 34,000 acres of rural Stanislaus County in Del
Puerto Canyon was fully contained Tuesday morning after having burned
for 10 days.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported
having spent $14.5million to contain the fire since it started July 9.
Before it was contained, the fire destroyed 11 homes and five
outbuildings. Ten injuries to crew members were reported over the
course of the fire.
Crews will continue to look for hot spots in the area. As of Tuesday,
the fire was expected to be completely controlled by tonight.
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Study backs police focus on crime areas
STOCKTON - A study commissioned by the Stockton Police Department calls
its crime-fighting efforts sound but recommends more police officers
and gang-outreach workers.
According to the report, Stockton topped the state for violent crime
last year, with a 10 percent increase over 2004.
The study was completed by Harvard University lecturer Anthony Braga
and included six recommendations for expanding policing programs.
Police Chief Wayne Hose said the study is one component of the mayor's
Crime Suppression Initiative and cost the city about $20,000.
"It's more in-depth than anything we have the time or the resources to
do," Hose said.
He presented the study to City Council on Tuesday, emphasizing the
relationship Braga found between crime and gang activity. According to
Braga's report, about 52 percent of homicide suspects are known gang
members, as are 37 percent of their victims.
"Obviously, his summation is gangs are central to Stockton street crime
and violence," Hose told the council.
In addition to increasing staffing, the study called for continued
focus on high-crime areas.
Hose said that in the past year, the department has been devoting
additional officers and time to specific areas of the city, some just
several blocks around, which generate a disproportionate amount of the
city's crime.
"You just don't keep responding to an area that's having drive-by
shootings, robberies or what have you. You take it further and ask more
questions and try and take care of the problem," Hose said.
It's an approach Hose told the council he believes is working.
As for adding officers, voters approved a measure last year to add 40
police officers. Hose told the council that building the force to the
level that has been allocated, 429 officers, will take time. The
department has 403 officers now, he said. In the next year, he
anticipates 19 retirements and resignations and will have just a few
more than that number coming out of or finishing training.
Officer Dave Reeder, president of the Stockton Police Officers
Association, said adding officers is the only solution.
"All these programs are great," Reeder said of the work to target
high-crime areas. "The problem is, without the police officers, without
being adequately staffed, when you build these impact teams, you take
officers out of patrol. ... You're just kind of playing a shell game.
What needs to happen is we need to say this is the number of officers
we're going to have."
Braga's study found that Stockton has about 1.46 officers per 1,000
residents - a lower ratio than Oakland, Sacramento and Fresno have, and
comparable to Bakersfield and Modesto. Nationwide, in 2003, the average
was 2.5, the study said.
For Stockton to start to approach that, with a ratio of 1.9, it would
need to add 122 officers at a cost of $18million, the study said.
Hose said he is working with the city to devise a plan for continuing
to add officers. Before the recent allotment for 40 additional
officers, the city's force had not grown for several years, he said. In
that time, Stockton's population has continued to grow.
"There's no big indication it's going to slow down anytime soon," Hose
said. "We need to plan for beyond these 40 officers."
Hose also presented a quarterly report on crime to the City Council. He
called a 4.5 percent reduction in car theft over the same quarter last
year a "ray of good news."
Bad news, aside from a jump in violent crime, included an 11 percent
growth in burglaries. While crimes of several varieties increased last
quarter, it was a slower growth than was reported last year, he said.
Hose also told the council about a new crime, ''sideshow missions,'' in
which participants hold a rave-style party in city streets late at
night, performing reckless driving moves. Hose said the police have
responded to 14 sideshow missions since April, including one that
involved 200 vehicles.
While crimes are changing, so is police response.
Hose said additional surveillance cameras in the city, a helicopter
patrol and a program to bait car thieves with cars that can be
controlled remotely are all new ways the police are finding to fight
crime.
The Erie Vicar
Armed robbery: A 19-year-old woman reported to police that about 10
p.m. Tuesday in the 1800 block of Kentfield Road, she was approached by
four teens, one of whom pointed a shotgun at her and demanded her
wallet and purse. Police later spotted four boys fitting her
description and, after losing sight of three, arrested a 14-year-old on
suspicion of robbery, conspiring to commit a crime and resisting
arrest.
Robbery: At about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, three men armed with chrome
revolvers entered a business in the 2300 block of East Market Street in
Stockton. According to a report, the men ordered the two employees to
the ground while they removed $2,000 from the cash register and stole
$260 from the employees.
Carjacking: A 31-year-old man told police early Wednesday morning that
he was in the 1700 block of East Anderson Street in Stockton when a man
ordered him into the passenger seat of his car. A woman then got into
the driver's seat, and a second man also got into the car. They drove
awhile then told the owner of the car to get out. Police are seeking a
Black man in his early 20s, about 6 feet tall and 165 pounds, wearing a
black or gray football jersey and baggy jeans; a Latino woman in her
early 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 155 pounds, blond hair in a
ponytail and wearing a red shirt and blue jeans; and a Latino man,
early 20s and 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 175
pounds, wearing a red T-shirt. The stolen vehicle was a white,
four-door, 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier with the license plate number
4MSA465.
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Highway Patrol
Drunken driving: A pickup burst into flames after veering from the road
at about 8 p.m. Monday at River Road east of Sawyer Avenue in Oakdale.
Officers arrested the driver, Gino A. Farinelli, 21, of Escalon on
suspicion of drunken driving. According to a crash report, Farinelli
suffered minor injuries. Passenger Richie Allan Hall, 18, of Salida was
ejected from the pickup and sustained major injuries, the report said.
Jimmy Mikkelsan, 20, of Modesto was also a passenger and suffered
moderate injuries.
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,186 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to five
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. Officers also arrested
five people on charges of driving under the influence and recovered
five stolen vehicles.
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Bullet may have grazed man's head
Stockton police responded to a report of a shooting in the 8000 block
of Barnay Way at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Stockton police Detective Bill Hutto was at the scene Wednesday and
said a man had been taken to a hospital suffering from a grazing
gunshot wound. Hutto said he was trying to confirm a report that the
man was shot in the head.
A neighbor said he was home but did not hear any gunshots. He said the
man he saw loaded into an ambulance did not live in the neighborhood.
He said the man was able to talk to emergency personnel who responded.
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County to pay woman $100,000
A woman injured in 2002 when her car was rear-ended by a car driven by
a San Joaquin County employee will receive $100,000 from the county.
The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved the settlement
Tuesday.
Katherine Simmons was stopped in her car when the vehicle driven by
Scott Barnes struck her from behind, according to a report prepared for
the board. Simmons claimed both bodily injury and property damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thornton branch library closed
The Thornton branch of the San Joaquin County Library will be closed
from Aug. 1-16.
Library officials said July 29 will be the last day for residents to
pick up or check out materials before the Thornton library, located at
26341 N. Thornton Road, closes for interior paint and re-carpeting
work.
The branch will reopen on Aug. 17. All materials checked out from the
library in July are due back that day.
Materials can be dropped off at the outdoor book drop or at another
branch of the San Joaquin County Library system before Aug. 17.
For more information, call the library at (866) 805-7323.
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Measure K goes to November ballot
San Joaquin County voters will decide in November whether to renew a
half-cent sales tax for widening roads, fixing potholes and funding
other transportation projects.
The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved Measure K's
placement on the Nov. 7 ballot by a 3-2 vote, with Chairman Dario
Marenco and Supervisor Steve Gutierrez - both vocal critics of the
transportation tax - dissenting. The action was largely symbolic,
because most of the county's cities already have approved taking the
renewal plan to voters.
If voters extend the tax, it will generate as much as $2.5billion for
transportation over the next 30 years, supporters say. Originally
adopted in 1990, it has paid for widening of Highways 120 and 99, and
new interchanges on Interstate 5.
Measure K dollars also sped the I-205 widening process recently after
the San Joaquin Council of Governments loaned millions of dollars to
the state for the project.
But critics, led by Marenco, say the original Measure K failed to
deliver a timely regional developer fee and did not make I-205 a
priority. The developer fee, originally scheduled for adoption 15 years
ago, was not established until this year, largely because planners
couldn't agree on a fee amount.
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Finance office to open during lunch
STOCKTON - The city finance office, which handles business licenses and
utility bills, among other things, will remain open during the lunch
hour for a one-month trial period that began Monday.
The office, which normally is closed from noon to 1 p.m., will be open
continuously from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The office is on the first
floor of City Hall, 425 N. El Dorado St., Stockton.
New organ donor cards at DMV
The California Department of Motor Vehicles has teamed up with the
Donate Life California Registry to improve the state's organ donor
system.
Previously, drivers could affix a small pink sticker to their licenses
to show their donor status. If a donor was killed in an accident, a
card accompanying his license would say what organs he would volunteer
to a needy patient.
Now, that information will be entered into a database, and donor status
will be printed on the card. California Transplant Donor Network
spokesman David Heneghan said the new system will make it easier for
willing donors to help ailing patients. When drivers go to get or renew
a license, they can join the registry, he said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dentist decides to retire after arson
MANTECA - A dentist whose office was razed by arson two months ago has
decided to retire, according to his wife and office manager.
Even before the fire, Dr. Michael Corley, 60, had considered retiring
in a couple of years, Kalleen Corley said.
The longtime Manteca dentist decided it would be too difficult to
replace all the equipment lost in the May 10 fire at his Center Street
office.
Patients are being referred to Dr. Vimala Vontela, who has a practice
just a couple of blocks east of Corley's property.
Fire officials said the early-morning blaze was set intentionally.
Manteca police said Tuesday that there are no suspects or leads in the
case.
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Preschool options still available
MANTECA - Parents in Manteca, Lathrop, French Camp and the Weston Ranch
neighborhood of Stockton who have not enrolled their students in
preschool for the upcoming school year have many free options still
available, said early-education officials at the Manteca Unified School
District.
Enrollment is free. Openings in the state-funded preschools require
families to meet income eligibility requirements, but some of the
openings are in grant-funded classes free to all, regardless of family
income, said Nancy Leal, district school readiness coordinator.
In all, there are almost 30 morning and afternoon preschool classes in
the district with openings, Leal said.
In Weston Ranch, there are openings in 10 classes. Two of the classes
have family income requirements, but the rest are free to everyone, she
said.
State preschools are open to everyone who lives within the district's
boundaries, but the grant-funded preschools serve those who live in the
attendance areas of particular schools.
Interested parents can call the district to see what classes are
available for their children. The number is: (209) 825-3200, ext. 848.
Classes begin on Aug. 18, but parents can still enrol after that date,
Leal said.
Everett Sorcerer Warlock
There were 115 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. At that time, there were 1,422 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
about 9:55 a.m. Thursday and arrested a man for allegedly hitting his
father over the head with a ceramic coffee cup. Deputies arrested Steve
Rendon III on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. According to
an initial report, Rendon's father suffered a 6-inch cut to his head
due to a blow with the cup. The report also said Rendon disconnected
the phone so his father could not call for help.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: At about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, a 14-year-old boy was walking
through Gibbons Park when a man grabbed him and demanded money, leaving
with $7. The man is described as Black, in his 20s, 5 feet 7 inches
tall and last seen wearing a white T-shirt and baggy pants.
Strong-arm robbery: A 37-year-old woman told police that at about 9
p.m. Wednesday she was in the 100 block of West Adams Street with her
children when a man pushed her to the ground from behind, pulled her
purse off her arm and fled north. The man is described as Black, 19
years old, 6 feet tall and 150 pounds with short hair. He was last seen
wearing a white polo shirt and blue jean shorts.
Carjacking: A woman told police that at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, she
was at El Cajon Street and Paloma Avenue when two men approached the
driver's side of her car. One man asked her for a light, then reached
into her car and grabbed her arm. When she got out of the car, the
second man pointed a shotgun at her. The two men took her car, driving
south on El Cajon. One man is described as Black, about 20 years old, 5
feet 9 inches and thin. He was last seen wearing a dark beanie cap, a
dark hooded sweat shirt and dark baggy jeans. The second man is
described as about the same age, race and build, last seen wearing a
dark sport jacket and dark baggy jeans. The stolen car is a pink 1995
Mercury Mystique, license plate number 3LGW589.
Strong-arm robbery: A 78-year-old man told police he was in the 400
block of East Miner Avenue at about 10 a.m. Thursday when a young man
grabbed his wallet. The robber is described as 16 or 17 years old,
Black, 5 feet 7 inches, 150 pounds, with a medium complexion. He was
last seen wearing a white T-shirt, light blue jeans, with his hair in
"twisties."
Assault with a deadly weapon: A 24-year-old man told police he was
walking near Victory Park at about 12:45 p.m. Thursday when two men
approached him, knocked him down and punched him. He had cuts to the
back of his head, possibly from a knife. One attacker is described as a
Latino man, 5 feet 8 inches and 210 pounds, last seen wearing a red
shirt and a baseball cap. The other attacker is described as a Latino
man, 5 feet 8 inches and 180 pounds, last seen wearing a red shirt and
baseball cap.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,263 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to five
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested four people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered six stolen vehicles.
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Lodi OKs credit to bolster utility
LODI - Lodi's City Council on Wednesday approved a $3 million line of
credit with F&M Bank to bolster available cash for its struggling
electric utility.
The City Council voted 4-1 to establish the credit line. Fitch Ratings,
which rates the creditworthiness of businesses, told city leaders the
credit line would boost the rating agency's confidence that the utility
can pay its bills and continue to meet its obligations to repay bond
debt. Councilwoman JoAnne Mounce voted against the credit line because
the draft agreement between the city and Lodi-based F&M Bank contained
a typographical error.
Council members also voted to accept water studies for the Reynolds
Ranch, Westside and Southwest Gateway annexations. The studies show
Lodi can meet new demand for water from those projects through a
combination of wells, Mokelumne River water, conservation and treated
water.
The study for Reynolds Ranch, which would include a new call center for
Blue Shield, was approved 3-2, with Mounce and Mayor Susan Hitchcock
opposed. Mounce cast the lone vote against approving the findings of
the water study for the Westside and Southwest Gateway projects west of
Lower Sacramento Road.
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Grass fire burns near Diamond XX
COPPEROPOLIS - A grass fire blackened 135 acres near the Diamond XX
subdivision Wednesday, but no homes were lost, the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported.
The Hub Fire was extinguished at 9 p.m., about six hours after it
started. Two storage buildings were destroyed.
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BART is free today for Spare the Air
Bay Area Rapid Transit is free today for a second consecutive Spare the
Air Day.
Free service begins at 4 a.m. today and lasts until 1 a.m. Saturday.
Spare the Air Day is a project of the Bay Area Air Quality Management
District. Six Spare the Air Days have been declared this year.
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Stanislaus forest bans any, all fires
SONORA - The Stanislaus National Forest has ordered a ban beginning
today on fires of all kinds in portions of the forest below 6,000 feet
elevation. The ban covers campfires, welding, explosives and smoking
anywhere except inside an enclosed vehicle or building, or in an area
at least 3 feet in diameter that has been scraped clear of all
flammable matter.
The ban also includes briquette barbecues.
The fire restrictions will be in effect until fire season ends with
heavy rains in the fall.
Other local agencies are also restricting fires. The California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has suspended all burning
permits for its areas in Tuolumne, Calaveras, eastern San Joaquin and
eastern Stanislaus counties. The CDF burning ban does not include
campfires in organized camp sites open to the public.
For information on fire restrictions in the Stanislaus National Forest,
call (209) 532-5601.
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CDF names new operations deputy
SAN ANDREAS - The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
has named Andy McMurry as deputy chief of operations for the
Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit based in San Andreas. He replaces Mike Schnarr.
McMurry's role will be to oversee the day-to-day operations of the
unit's fire engines, equipment and facilities at 15 CDF fire stations,
14 Tuolumne County fire stations, the Columbia Air Attack Base, and the
Baseline and Vallecito Conservation Camps, where inmate crews are
housed.
McMurry previously served as an assistant fire warden in Tuolumne
County.
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Mountain Ranch Day in the Park
MOUNTAIN RANCH - The Mountain Ranch Community Club is inviting families
to chow down on beef in a barrel and enjoy other festivities from 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 26 at Mountain Ranch Day in the Park.
The Community Club has been running Mountain Ranch's only park since
1980. The park is a volunteer operation that receives no government
funding.
Dinner tickets are $9.50. Serving begins at 4 p.m.
Visitors can work up an appetite by touring the car show on the
baseball diamond outfield, playing in a horseshoe tournament, joining
the tug of war or purchasing raffle tickets. This year's raffle prize
is a large stainless steel barbecue grill.
Youth from the local 4-H club will sell hot dogs, and the Mountain
Ranch Scholarship Fund will sell ice cream.
Information: (209) 754-3030.
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'Wild Things' at Micke Grove Zoo
Wild things comes to Lodi's Micke Grove Zoo.
Alligator, beaver, porcupine, elk, bald eagle and California desert
tortoise presentations are on the ''Wild Things'' schedule for noon and
2:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with sea lion feedings at 10:30 a.m. and
3 p.m. both days.
This is the first in a summertime series of such presentations.
The zoo is at 11793 N. Micke Grove Road in Lodi. For more information
and a weekly summer schedule, call (209) 331-2010 or visit
www.mgzoo.com.
The Erie Vicar
Vicar_Warlock_of_Everett
There were 108 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
At that time, there were 1,423 people held at the jail, which has an
official capacity of 1,351.
When the jail is full, some inmates may be released early.
Attempting grand theft, Stockton: Deputies received a report at about 9
a.m. Thursday that a man had tried to cash a fraudulent payroll check
valued at $431. Deputies arrested Huga Navarrete, 24, on suspicion of
attempting grand theft.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Strong-arm robbery: At about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, police received a
report from a 58-year-old man who said he was at Church and Sutter
streets when two men had approached him, one from behind. The one
behind him hit him, and the two took $10 from his wallet and fled.
Police are seeking a Black man in his mid-30s, 5 feet 7 inches and 160
pounds. He was last seen wearing all black. Police are seeking a second
mid-30s Black man, 5 feet 4 inches, 150 pounds, with beaded hair, last
seen wearing a football jersey.
Assault with a deadly weapon: Police received a report at about 9:45
p.m. Thursday that a 25-year-old man had been stabbed during an
argument with another man in the 1300 block of South Pilgrim Street.
The man who was stabbed was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Francisco Hernandez, 48, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a
deadly weapon, disorderly conduct and drawing a deadly weapon.
Strong-arm robbery: Police received a report at about 9 a.m. Friday
that a 69-year-old woman had her purse snatched by a man on a bicycle
while she was in the 2800 block of Country Club Boulevard. The woman
did not give police a complete description of the man.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,298 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday.
Officers responded to eight noninjury accidents and five injury
accidents.
CHP officers also arrested six people on charges of driving under the
influence and recovered three stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loard Sorcerer of Fairbanks
There were 98 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,412 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Weapons arrest: At about 9 p.m. Friday, police arrested Anthony
Martinez, 19, a transient, on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon,
carrying a loaded firearm and resisting arrest. According to an initial
report, Martinez ran from police and attempted to discard a loaded
.38-caliber revolver.
Armed robbery: A pizza deliveryman told police he was robbed at
gunpoint at Eleventh Street and Ida Avenue at about 11:25 p.m. Friday.
Police are seeking a 15-year-old Black boy, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 110
pounds, with black hair, wearing a white T-shirt and khaki pants and
armed with a chrome pistol. Police are also seeking a boy who was with
the robber with the same physical description and who was last seen
wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans shorts.
Sideshow: Police responded to various locations Friday night and issued
63 citations, towed 17 vehicles and made 10 arrests in connection with
traffic crimes and loitering associated with sideshow activity.
Shooting: Police at about 5 a.m. Saturday responded to a call in the
1100 block of West Lever Boulevard, where a 24-year-old man had
suffered multiple gunshot wounds after an argument with another man.
The wounds did not appear to be life-threatening. Police are seeking a
Black man, 40 to 50 years old, thin, with black hair and brown eyes. He
was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and he fled in a
dark green car.
Robbery: At about 1:42 p.m. Saturday, police received a report from a
67-year-old man who told them two people had punched him and stolen his
wallet. Officers arrested two suspects, Juan Jose Buzo, 50, and
Patricia Rodriguez, 44, both of Stockton. Both are held on suspicion of
robbery.
Robbery: At about 2:22 p.m. Saturday, police responded to a fight in
the 2400 block of Kentfield Road, where one man reportedly hit another
man with a bottle. Police arrested Ernest Mack, 22, on suspicion of
robbery.
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Grieving mom shines light on suicide tragedy
Tucked in a quiet corner of Nancy Kettner's back yard is a garden.
Tomatoes bulge on the vine, dime-size daisies brighten the day, and
orange blossoms draw butterflies. But it's the sunflowers, twisting
their necks toward the sky, that make this a sacred place for Kettner.
"Annie's garden" is a living memorial to Kettner's daughter, who
committed suicide less than two years ago at age 29. Annie loved
sunflowers, how they faithfully find the sun each morning and follow
its course to the western hills. Kettner's own course since her
daughter's death has been, at times, one of darkness and despair. But
unlike some families that bury a tragic past, she has grappled with her
grief painfully and publicly in the hope that Annie's story might bring
life for someone else.
"Every day you're asking why. Why?" Kettner said. "You still ask.
You'll never get an answer. It's hard, but I don't like to hide things.
I'd rather honor her life and memory by trying to help others."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Restaurant funds OK'd
The City Council voted Tuesday to pay at least $2.5 million to lure a
fancy restaurant to downtown's Hotel Stockton despite an objection from
the city's top economic development official, who said it was
exorbitant. The council's 5-2 vote confirmed the majority's willingness
to maintain momentum in its campaign to rebuild the city's
once-dilapidated core. A Sacramento-based Paragary's Restaurant Group
bar and grill is expected to open at the hotel by spring 2007.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
West Nile diagnosis
A woman in southern San Joaquin County was diagnosed with West Nile
virus Wednesday, marking the mosquito-borne disease's first human
infection in the area this year. The unidentified woman has symptoms of
the more serious neurological form of the disease, said Michael Hill,
director of disease control and prevention for the county's Public
Health Services office. Officials would only say the woman is an adult
younger than 65 who lives in the south county area. It is not known
what her condition is or whether she has been hospitalized. Last year,
36 San Joaquin County residents tested positive for West Nile, which is
carried by birds and transmitted to people and horses through mosquito
bites. In August, 86-year-old Jim Rodgers of Acampo became one of 19 in
California who died from the disease in 2005. So far this year, only
five human infections have been reported in the state. A 19-year-old
woman in Stanislaus County is also hospitalized with West Nile, health
officials announced Wednesday.
Aaron Devencenzi, a spokesman for the San Joaquin County Mosquito and
Vector Control District, said bug spraying has increased in areas where
dead birds and trapped mosquitoes tested positive for the virus. The
district is also part of a task force, along with the county's public
and environmental health agencies, that aims to educate the public
about the disease. It is more important this year than ever to spread
the word about West Nile because of weather patterns from recent
months, Devencenzi said. Heavy rains and flooding in April left more
standing water than usual across the county, leaving mosquitoes ample
space to speed up breeding once temperatures reached their summer peak.
"We were set up with a perfect storm for another season of mosquito
abundance and West Nile virus," Devencenzi said. "Knowing that, we've
done everything we can to reduce those populations and warn the
public." About one in five people who contract the virus will develop a
flulike West Nile fever, which can last for months and leaves patients
feeling fatigued and achy, officials said. Around one in 150 will
develop severe symptoms of neurological disease such as confusion,
coma, tremors, convulsions and paralysis.
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Reporter gives his account of a harrowing escape
Writer, photographer confronted while covering sideshows
STOCKTON - It's 4 a.m. last Sunday, and I'm at a gas station in south
Stockton, surrounded by a growing group of men convinced I am a police
officer.
"You sound like a cop," one rather imposing man tells me, his face just
a few inches from mine.
It looks like the group closing in on me is full of guys who have seen
their fair share of fights - whereas I've seen none - and were looking
for another one. And I know that being told I "sound like a cop" is the
furthest thing from a compliment one can hear in this situation.
Yikes.
A freelance photographer and I spent last weekend trolling Stockton's
gas stations and parking lots looking for sideshows, which police are
trying to shut down because they say the shows breed violence,
drunkenness and reckless driving, although some participants say they
are harmless fun. (Read the entire story, if you haven't already.)
Earlier in the night, we had gotten some wary looks and were accused of
being "narcs," but when we explained that our purpose wasn't to get
anyone in trouble we were tolerated for the most part. After a couple
hours, though, that ceased to be the case.
"Tell me I'm lyin'," the same guy says, "You a cop."
I produce my press pass and try to convince him I'm not who he says I
am, but by this point my adrenaline has spiked, my heart is racing and
all I can think about is whether I've gotten in over my head.
The photographer and I begin moving towards the car, slowly, but the
throng that has formed - attracted by ever louder accusations of who we
work for - continues to move toward us.
We make it to the car and are able to squeal off before things worsen.
As we drive down Charter Way and onto Interstate 5, I can't take my
eyes off the rear-view mirror.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CSI: S.J. County
Court's ringside regulars part of growing mania for crime drama
They vacation in Las Vegas together, take cruises to Alaska and saddle
up their horses for trail rides in the foothills.
Trekking to watch the federal corruption case of Lathrop's Monte McFall
is yet another pastime that absorbs two San Joaquin County residents
who have hardly missed any of the convicted former lawman's court
dates.
"I come up here because I want to know what's going on," Lathrop
resident Della Todeschini said Thursday during a lunch-time break in
McFall's most recent hearing on the 15th floor of the towering federal
building in Sacramento.
Liz Staples of Linden added that she only missed one afternoon's
testimony in McFall's case. That was to attend a funeral.
"And it was a good afternoon," she said with a twinge of regret in her
voice. "I don't remember now what it was, but I heard it was good."
The two do not claim a command of the law, but they can narrate from
memory every twist in the sweeping case that led to McFall's conviction
and brought down former-Sheriff Baxter Dunn and then-county Supervisor
Lynn Bedford.
Their rapt attention to San Joaquin County's largest corruption case is
part of a growing trend, said Los Angeles jury consultant John Buffini,
who founded Complete Trial Services.
"It's happening more and more," said Buffini, adding that he first
noticed crowds gathering in throngs holding signs outside the Los
Angeles murder trial of O.J. Simpson.
Fueled further by the legal woes of Martha Stewart and Michael Jackson,
the trend has reached a "pandemic" level, he said. The 24-hour news
broadcasts and a flood of dramas about crime scene investigators have
saturated the culture, he said.
Some simply want to be a part of what they see unfolding on TV, he
said.
"Their heart rate increases because they think they're going to be
inside the drama themselves," he said.
Todeschini said her interest in McFall's case is a bit different.
She is a neighbor of McFall's Frewert Road horse ranch in Lathrop and
has known him personally for 40 years. Her feeling for McFall turned
frosty over a neighborly dispute, but she thinks it's sad that McFall
let himself get into this position.
U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England last week denied McFall's
request for a new trial and ordered him to appear in October for
sentencing on 17 public counts. McFall faces a lengthy prison sentence.
Aside from living next door to federal prosecutors' No. 1 figure in the
case, she knows a lot of the other players. Each day after court, she
called some of them who relied on her daily reports before the
newspaper stories landed on their doorsteps the next morning.
"The trial got interesting, because it dealt with everybody we knew,"
she said. "It was hitting us right here at home."
Staples said she never personally knew McFall but felt a connection
because she had worked at the Port of Stockton, which played a large
part in the case. McFall was accused of illegal lobbying for a power
company to build a plant at the port. The plant was never built.
She said the federal trial reminded her of a very simple lesson she
learned as a little girl from her mother.
"What I learned is that you better keep yourself honest," Staples said.
"You pull stuff, you're going to get caught sooner or later."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Road report -- Published July 23, 2006
For the week of July 23 San Joaquin County Highway 12 Today
One-way traffic control in both directions at Peatland Road, 10 p.m. to
9 a.m., for pothole repair. Expect 15-minute delays.
Highway 99 Today through Friday
Southbound lane and shoulder restrictions between Hammer Lane and
Wilson Way, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Hammer Lane, at various times
around the clock, for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for
road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Wednesday
Northbound lane restrictions between Hammer Lane and Eight Mile Road, 9
a.m. to 3 p.m., for jack and bore. Expect five-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Southbound lane restrictions between Highway 12 and East Pine Street
overcrossing, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for rumble strip work. Expect
five-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between Highway 4
and Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for road widening.
Wednesday through Friday
Northbound full highway closure, lane, median and shoulder restrictions
between Wilson Way and Hammer Lane, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., for road
widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Highway 120 Today through Tuesday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Yosemite Avenue, 7 p.m. to 5
a.m., for bridge deck treatment. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Westbound shoulder restrictions between Spreckels Road and Highway 99,
7 a.m. to 6 p.m., for concrete and curbs.
Monday through Friday
Eastbound shoulder restrictions between Vasconcellos and Button
avenues, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., for utility relocation. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Monday through Friday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions between Second
Street and Harrold Avenue for utility tree work. Expect five-minute
delays.
Highway 132 Monday and Tuesday
Eastbound connector ramp closure, around the clock, for bridge deck
treatment. Expect 10-minute delays.
Interstate 205 Today and Monday
Eastbound lane restrictions at Grant Line Road, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., for
road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Today and Monday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Corral Hollow Road, 9 p.m. to 6
a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Today through Wednesday
Lane restrictions in both directions at MacArthur Drive, at various
times around the clock, for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Monday and Tuesday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Tracy Boulevard, 9 p.m. to 6
a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Monday and Tuesday
Westbound lane restrictions between Holly Drive and Paradise Road, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Lane restrictions in both directions near Mountain House, at various
times around the clock, for interchange construction. Expect
five-minute delays.
Tuesday through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions between Naglee Road and Holly Drive, 9 p.m.
to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Maple Avenue, at various times
around the clock, for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Thursday and Friday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Tom Paine Slough, 9 p.m. to 6
a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Thursday and Friday
Westbound lane restrictions between 11th Street and Grant Line Road, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Interstate 580 Monday and Tuesday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Hospital Creek Bridge, around
the clock, for bridge deck treatment. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Wednesday
Ramp closures in both directions at Corral Hollow Road, at various
times around the clock, for bridge deck treatment. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Tuesday through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions at Valley View Drive, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
bridge deck treatment. Expect 10-minute delays.
Tuesday through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions at West Valpico Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
bridge deck treatment. Expect 10-minute delays.
Calaveras County Highway 4 Monday through Thursday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Hodson and O'Byrnes
Ferry roads, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair. Expect
15-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Blue Mountain Road
and the Cabbage Patch maintenance station, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., for
shoulder grading and repair. Expect five-minute delays.
Sorcerer of Littel Rock
There were 68 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,438 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Jail escape, French Camp: Jared Michael Thomas, 25, was arrested Sunday
on suspicion of escaping from the men's Honor Farm and hiding out with
his girlfriend in a Stockton hotel room. Sheriff's deputies said Thomas
walked out of an open front gate at the Honor Farm and caught a ride to
Manteca, where he met his girlfriend, and the two went to Stockton.
Deputies found Thomas hiding in the attic of a motel room on El Dorado
Street and arrested him. He was charged with escape from jail and
resisting arrest.
Grand theft, Stockton: Steven Tomak, 44, was arrested Monday on
suspicion of stealing more than $600 worth of gasoline from Pacific
Pride Fuel Pumps, on the 4400 block of East Highway 88. Deputies said
Tomak was seen around 3 a.m. Monday pumping 194.2 gallons of unleaded
gasoline into four 55-gallon tanks in the back of his pickup. After
speaking to a representative of the gas station, deputies determined
Tomak was not an employee and should not have had access to the gas
pumps. He was arrested and charged with grand theft.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Shooting: A 50-year-old man told police he was shot Sunday night while
standing in his driveway on the 9500 block of Knight Lane. The man told
police a shotgun-wielding man approached just before 11 p.m. and told
him to go inside. The victim started questioning why, and the two began
to argue, at which point the victim grabbed the barrel of the gun, and
it went off. The victim received a minor grazing wound to the side of
his head and refused medical treatment. Police said the man with the
gun was Black, 6 feet tall, thin, in his mid-20s and wearing a brown
jacket.
Robbery: Henry Rodriguez, 20, of Stockton was arrested Monday on
suspicion of stealing backpacks from two women, ages 47 and 49. The
women told police they were assaulted by two men in different cars
around 2:45 a.m. in the 900 block of West Weber Avenue. Officers saw
the two vehicles driving away and were able to stop Rodriguez's car;
the other car was a cream-colored Cadillac. Rodriguez was charged with
robbery.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,167 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered six stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slain woman's family to speak
STOCKTON - The mother and siblings of a noted Stockton tennis player
shot to death in an impassioned quarrel with her husband last year are
expected to make statements during Wednesday's sentencing in San
Joaquin County Superior Court.
Robert Gay, 54, could spend six to 21 years in state prison after a
jury in June found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter with a gun for
the July 31, 2005, death of his wife, Peggy Spencer.
According to trial testimony, the two struggled in their Spanos Park
West home over a handgun that went off. Both sustained gunshot wounds,
but Spencer, 52, who had changed her last name shortly before her
death, died from her injuries.
Spencer's mother, who traveled in from Florida for the court date, and
four other relatives of the dead woman had prepared to speak during the
sentencing, originally scheduled for Monday, San Joaquin County Deputy
District Attorney Valli Israels said.
Superior Court Judge K. Peter Saiers changed the court date at the
request of Gay's private attorney, Randy Thomas, who said the couple's
two children had been delayed in their return home from a cruise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway 99 to close for 2 nights
STOCKTON - Highway 99 between Wilson Way and Hammer Lane will be closed
for construction Wednesday and Thursday nights. The highway will close
at 11 each night and re-open at 5 a.m. the following day.
Northbound and southbound on- and offramps at Wilson Way and Hammer
Lane are scheduled to close overnight this week as well. Ramps will
close at 9 p.m. and re-open at 5 a.m. the next day, but ramps will not
all be closed simultaneously.
Some lanes in both directions of the highway will close from 9 p.m.
Sunday, Monday and next Tuesday to 6 a.m. the next day, but at least
one lane will be open to traffic in each direction during those times.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Construction will close I-205 lanes
MOUNTAIN HOUSE - Construction will close eastbound and westbound lanes
of Interstate 205 at Mountain House Parkway overnight Wednesday and
Thursday.
Eastbound I-205 will close for bridge demolition from midnight
Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday. Westbound lanes will be closed from 10
p.m. Thursday to 3 a.m. Friday.
The Sorcerer Warlock of Phoneix
There were 100 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,453 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Stabbing, Stockton: Deputies responded to a call at about 1:50 a.m. and
found a 31-year-old man with several stab wounds to his back and neck.
According to an initial report, the man was in the 3000 block of North
Wilson Way when somebody threw a rock at his car. The man got out of
his car and approached two men when a third man, described as bald,
tall and 30 and 40 years old, stabbed him and fled. The victim was
taken to a hospital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: Two men in their mid-20s were at Park and Pilgrim streets
about 4:30 p.m. Monday when they were approached by two assailants. One
of assailants hit one of the men in the back of the head with a gun.
The assailants stole $6. Police are seeking a white man, 18 to 25 years
old, about 6 feet tall and 185 pounds, with short, black hair, a
muscular build and a clean-shaven face. He was last seen wearing a
green-and-white vertically striped shirt and black pants. Police also
are seeking a second man in the same age range, about 5 feet 9 or 5
feet 10 inches tall and 170 pounds with short, black hair who was last
seen wearing a white tank top and red shorts.
Assault with a deadly weapon: About 11 p.m. Sunday, somebody reported
having been hit in the face and head with a gun or other metal object.
At 8 p.m. Monday in the 8800 block of Kelley Drive, police acting on a
report from a witness found a suspect in the attack. Police arrested a
16-year-old boy on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
Robbery: At 8 p.m. Monday, a 51-year-old man told police he was pushing
an ice cream cart at Marsh and B streets when four men knocked him down
and kicked him in the head several times. The men took $60 in cash.
Police are seeking a Latino man, 19 or 20 years old, 5 feet 7 inches to
5 feet 10 inches tall, with brown eyes and brown hair in a ponytail. He
was last seen wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts. Police also are
seeking a man 19 to 22 years old, 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall with
a thin build and a man in his early to mid-20s, 5 feet 10 inches to 6
feet tall with a muscular build. Witnesses did not give a complete
description of the fourth attacker.
Robbery: An 18-year-old man told police that he was at Pock Lane and
Eighth Street about 11 p.m. Monday when three young men approached him.
At least one punched him, and they held him down, kicking him, he told
police. The assailants told him to take off his pants, then took his
money, cell phone and black mountain bike. He did not give a complete
description of the attackers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,241 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested seven people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered four stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police can seize, sell vehicles in sideshows
STOCKTON - The City Council empowered police Tuesday to seize and sell
vehicles that are involved repeatedly in reckless driving or
''sideshows,'' roaming parties of youths who spin doughnuts and ''burn
rubber'' in parking lots and streets at night.
Council members originally were scheduled to vote on the seizure
ordinance and two related measures next week, but City Manager Gordon
Palmer decided Friday to have them consider it sooner. The council in
turn ruled the city's sideshow situation is so dire it requires
immediate action, enacting the ordinances at once and forgoing the
normal process by which they would take effect 30 days after approval.
The council voted 6-0 to let police seize and sell at auction almost
any car that is driven recklessly by someone who has been convicted
previously of a similar crime. It also would make it a misdemeanor to
be a spectator at a sideshow and would allow police, with council
approval, to close some streets at night that are prone to sideshows.
Councilman Clem Lee was absent.
Police occasionally have seized and sold vehicles used in prostitution
cases, but they have not had the same authority to sell cars used in
sideshows, Deputy Chief Mark Helms said. The ordinance the council
adopted Tuesday is similar to ordinances enacted by some other
California cities, which have been challenged but upheld in court.
"There's a little urgency to it," Helms said. "Summer is here; activity
is at its peak."
Police have been taxed in recent months to respond to parking lots and
streets where youths spin doughnuts, drink alcohol and dance on top of
cars. Despite issuing 1,448 citations, making 124 arrests and
impounding 343 vehicles since April, police have been mostly unable to
curb the phenomenon, Helms said. The ordinances likely will help, he
said.
The council watched a video recording of sideshow antics before voting
on the measures. Mayor Ed Chavez called the situation dangerous, and
City Attorney Ren Nosky said it requires the city's immediate action.
Opponents of such sideshow ordinances have said they are too severe,
and some in other cities have said they target minorities. No one made
such a claim Tuesday.
The council also adopted an unrelated ordinance limiting where
convicted sex offenders may loiter, not only where they may live. That
ordinance will not take effect until next month but also was brought to
the council's attention earlier than originally planned. It would make
it a misdemeanor for sex offenders to loiter within 300 feet of a
school, park or other place where children regularly congregate. Other
cities have adopted similar ordinances.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two arrested in July 8 homicide
The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office arrested two men Monday in
connection with a July 8 homicide.
The body of Juan Carlos Arelleano, 19, was found in the 1800 block of
North Tretheway Road in Lockeford with several stab wounds.
Sheriff's deputies interviewed two men Monday and arrested Nester
Arevalo-Patino, 32, and Jesus Flores, 35, both on suspicion of murder,
attempted murder and torture, a Sheriff's Office spokesman said. No
information about the nature of the men's alleged crimes was available
Tuesday.
The Sheriff's Office initially did not name the stabbing victim,
because family could not be located. He originally was described as a
20-year-old.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suicide watch delays arraignment
LODI - Arraignment was delayed a day Tuesday for Timon Joel Pool,
accused of killing his girlfriend, because the suspect was under a
suicide watch at the San Joaquin County Jail.
Judge Ronald Northup rescheduled Pool's arraignment for 1:30 p.m. today
in the Lodi branch of San Joaquin County Superior Court.
Pool, 28, is accused of strangling Lillian Best to death early Sunday
at his home in the 11600 block of East Peltier Road, then waking his
mother, who called authorities. Sheriff's deputies found Best, 20, dead
at the residence.
An autopsy revealed Best was pregnant, but medical examiners have yet
to rule on the cause of her death, San Joaquin County Sheriff's
spokesman Les Garcia said Tuesday.
The couple were in the midst of an amicable break-up, according to a
woman who identified herself as a friend of Pool's mother outside the
Lodi court.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cigarette caused Canyon Fire
A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection investigation
has determined that a cigarette caused the Canyon Fire, which burned
more than 34,000 acres of Stanislaus County grassland and cost the CDF
more than $14.5million to fight.
According to a CDF statement, forensic evidence is being examined to
determine who was responsible. The investigation identified several
people who were in the area before the fire ignited. The investigation
continues.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the CDF at
(800) 468-4408.
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Remains may be those of missing girl
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office believes it has found the remains
of a 12-year-old Concord girl who went missing a month ago. The girl,
identified as Veronica McEvoy, disappeared after the canoe she, two
friends and a friend's father were paddling overturned. The man and the
two other children swam to safety.
According to a Sheriff's Office news release, the identity of the
remains will be determined with scientific testing, either through
dental records or DNA analysis.
A man kayaking Monday found human bones and a blue life vest near the
confluence of Corral Creek and the Tuolumne River, about five miles
downstream from where Veronica and her party had gone canoeing last
month.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police operation targets prostitution
STOCKTON - The Stockton Police Department vice unit is targeting
prostitution this week with nightly street patrols.
The operation is scheduled to continue through Friday evening with a
focus on street prostitution, a Police Department news release
indicated.
The Arch Loard Warlock of Radnor
There were 95 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, there were 1,437 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: According to police reports, a man in his 40s walked into a
liquor store in the 700 block of East Charter Way at about 11:28 a.m.
Wednesday and took two beers without paying for them. The man was
confronted by a clerk, who grabbed the man's shirt. The man reached for
his back pocket, causing the clerk to believe the man was armed. The
clerk pulled out a 12-inch chain and swung it at the man. During the
struggle, the man dropped both beers and ran from the store. He was
described as a Black man standing about 6 feet tall, weighing about 160
pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing black shorts and
a gray shirt.
Auto theft arrest: Officers at about 4:16 p.m. Tuesday spotted a
vehicle in the 2500 block of Jordan Court that had been reported stolen
and arrested the two people in the car. Arrested were Peter Lor, 24,
and Moua Her, 22, both of Stockton. They were arrested on suspicion of
vehicle theft and drug violations.
Robbery: A woman in her late teens or early 20s walked up to a taco
truck near the intersection of Mosswood Avenue and Lincoln Street at
about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and ordered a taco while an accomplice, also in
his 20s, opened the unlocked driver's side door and pointed a gun at
the employee. The employee then ran out of the truck. The man grabbed
the cash box, and the man and woman were seen running away on Lincoln
Street. The first robber was described as a Black woman in her late
teens or early 20s, about 5 feet 1 inch tall, with a thin build. The
other robber was described as a Black man in his 20s, about 6 feet
tall, with a thin build and last seen wearing a black and white
checkered shirt, dark blue jeans and armed with a black, semiautomatic
handgun.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to more than 1,000 calls for
service in the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded
to six noninjury accidents and two injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered three stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PG&E: Brace yourself for shocking power bills
People who have yet to pass out from the extended heat wave may
collapse when they get the bill.
With electrical lines and power grids flowing almost at full capacity,
someone will be left holding the invoice when it comes due in a month
or so.
According to Pacific Gas and Electric Co., the energy provider has
delivered record levels of power throughout the past two weeks. The
mercury topped out at 105 degrees Wednesday at Stockton Metropolitan
Airport, the 12th consecutive day of triple-digit heat. Two more days
above 100 and the Central Valley oven will officially tie the record
for the longest such hot spell. National Weather Service forecasters
say it may reach the century mark every day through Sunday.
PG&E estimates customers have increased their power usage by at least
15 percent. It stands to reason that many clients may see a rise in
their next statement of an equivalent or even higher amount.
But it doesn't have to be that way, said PG&E spokeswoman Emily
Barnett.
"It really is dependent on whether and how customers choose to
conserve," she said. "And customers have done a great job conserving
since the call went out."
The California Independent System Operator Corp., the controlling
agency of the state's wholesale power grid, expected a high of 49,471
megawatts of electricity to be used Wednesday.
That's enough energy to power 32.15 million households, but less than
the state record of 50,270 megawatts used during the peak 4 p.m. hour
on Monday.
ISO spokesman Greg Fishman said people ought to be aware that public
utilities use a multitiered rate system that begins at a low level and
increases as more energy is used throughout a given month. Bills begin
to mushroom dramatically when consumers reach the thresholds for the
higher tiers.
"When it is as hot as it has been, more of us will get into those
levels," he said. "You pay dearly for those."
Barnett said PG&E has several assistance programs for lower-income
individuals and families that may be feeling the heat of their bills.
The CARE program provides a 20 percent discount for qualified
households.
The Family Electric Rate Assistance program, or FERA, allows large
families to save by charging Tier 2 rates for Tier 3 usage.
And the Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help, or REACH,
program is a one-time grant administered by the Salvation Army.
Qualified individuals and families can receive up to $200 to pay a
past-due amount.
In Stockton, interested people can call (209) 948-8955 on Tuesday or
Thursday mornings to speak with a REACH coordinator and set up an
appointment.
Lodi Electric Utility also provides several similar programs, said
Sondra Huff, the city's senior rate analyst. Huff said 2,463 customers
are collectively enrolled in plans that save them from 5 percent to 30
percent of regular residential rates.
Both utilities also provide balanced-payment strategies that allow
customers to pay the same amount each month over a 12-month period.
Bills are thus not subject to the zenith of summertime and wintertime
use, officials say. "I'm on that myself," Barnett said.
Many residents and businesses are trying to conserve where possible.
Kellie Jacobs of Tracy said her family has turned the thermostat to 80
degrees, darkened rooms and spent more time at the community pool to
cope with the heat.
On the other end of the scale, California Natural Products, a
Lathrop-based producer of rice and soy food ingredients, pays $250,000
in monthly energy costs.
President Pat Mitchell said a 10 percent to 15 percent rise in next
month's bill is expected because the company's processes involve
heating, then cooling, various products.
As the temperatures stay hotter, it takes more energy - and money - to
cool them off.
Meanwhile, the San Joaquin County coroner's office has been called to
six possible heat-related deaths since Saturday, and initial findings
indicate that four of them died of hyperthermia, or abnormally high
body temperatures.
According to sheriff's spokesman Les Garcia, the victims include two
women, ages 65 and 95, and four men who ranged in age from 35 to 54.
The coroner's office confirmed Tuesday that Kenneth Dean Camper of
Stockton died Monday afternoon from hyperthermia after working on his
car outside. Garcia said the names of the other victims should be
released today.
Garcia said the coroner's office has borrowed an auxiliary
refrigeration unit from Sacramento County to deal with the unexpectedly
high number of recent fatalities.
In Stockton, more than 100 residents of the Beverly Healthcare Center,
at 4545 Shelley Court, will be allowed to return to the care home after
state regulators certified the facility's air conditioner.
Spokeswoman Amy Knapp, of the Golden Gate National Senior Care in Fort
Smith, Ark., said residents will begin returning on Friday, and it will
take several days before all residents are back.
Beverly Healthcare was shut down early Sunday morning after losing the
use of its air conditioner.
In Manteca, Police Department officials activated 22 members of the
Community Emergency Response Team to visit 500 mobile homes in town to
check if anyone living in them needed assistance. CERT is a national
program of volunteers specifically trained to handle senior
emergencies.
Within an hour of beginning the citywide sweep, one unidentified
elderly woman was taken to Doctors Hospital for treatment of
heat-related stress.
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State urged to boost efforts for vanishing wildlife
Action plan would safeguard species habitat
SAN ANDREAS - Tricolored blackbirds would have been a good choice for
California's state bird, say biologists who study them.
The blackbirds with the distinctive white and red stripes on their
wings once flocked by the millions from San Diego to the Oregon border.
And unlike the actual state bird - the valley quail, which lives in
several Western states and even in introduced populations in New
Zealand and Chile - 99 percent of all tricolored blackbirds live in
California, biologists say, effectively making the species endemic to
the state.
Now, instead of millions, there are a few hundred thousand tricolored
blackbirds left, and they've largely disappeared from San Joaquin
County, which was once the heart of their range. Despite efforts to
restore the wetland nesting habitat that the tricolor prefers, the
largest flocks of tricolors these days are found nesting in silage
crops, such as triticale, where their fledglings get ground up by
harvest machinery about a week before they are ready to fly.
That makes the tricolored a good poster bird for why California should
finish its Wildlife Action Plan and follow the plan's recommendations,
biologists say.
"We have to have a strategy so we have a way to deal with crises," said
Robert Meese, an ecologist with the University of California, Davis,
who studies the tricolored blackbird.
Now, Meese and others depend on soft money, including a $1,000 donation
from the San Joaquin County chapter of the Audubon Society, to come up
with cash to pay farmers to delay harvest when a large flock of
tricolored blackbirds moves into a field.
One major recommendation of the Wildlife Action Plan is that the state
should strengthen its ability to respond to wildlife conservation
matters and to help property owners and local governments. Dozens of
other recommendations address everything from reducing the threat posed
by trout to rare frogs in high Sierra lakes to planning for healthier
river flows for fish.
State biologists, environmental advocates and scientists say that the
Wildlife Action Plan, scheduled for completion this year, is a chance
to look at all the pressures facing thousands of species of California
birds, bugs and animals and to set guidelines for how state government,
local governments, private groups and property owners can protect them.
"It is outlining at a broad level what needs to be done," said Dale
Steele, the program manager for Species Conservation and Recovery
Program at the California Department of Fish and Game.
In 2000, the federal government ordered all states to complete wildlife
action plans. If the plan doesn't get finished, then California could
lose about $3 million a year in federal funding that goes to aid the
survival of California species such as the burrowing owl, bats and the
sage grouse.
California recently got a one-month extension on its deadline to finish
the plan, to Sept. 15, so state officials would have time to review a
flood of comments from groups and individuals with suggestions or
concerns.
Many of the action plan's recommendations are things already on the
radar of state officials and preservationists - among them the need to
increase the number of habitat conservation plans, such as the one that
sets aside a specified amount of protected habitat in San Joaquin
County for every acre of land that gets developed. Many fast-growing
counties in the Sierra Nevada, including Calaveras County, do not yet
have any system to make up for habitat lost to development.
In the case of the tricolored blackbird, however, conserving wetland
nesting habitat is not enough, Meese said. That's because the birds
also need other habitat nearby, usually grasslands or grain fields full
of juicy bugs, for foraging. He said that the loss of nearby foraging
habitat is likely why the bird has largely disappeared from San Joaquin
County.
"What now surrounds the wetlands is suburbia. There is nothing for them
to eat," Meese said.
The Wildlife Action Plan addresses that by recommending that state and
local officials work to preserve the continuity of habitat by making
corridors that connect now-isolated areas. The plan also calls for
regional coordination of habitat preservation to better serve
wide-ranging species, such as the tricolored blackbird, that may be
gone in some areas but are able to survive elsewhere in a region.
Waldo Holt, a member of the San Joaquin County Audubon Society chapter
that donated to Meese's effort to preserve the tricolored blackbird,
said he remembers seeing a small colony of the birds only a few years
ago on the eastern edge of San Joaquin County just south of Highway 12.
Holt was a founding member of the advisory board for San Joaquin
County's multispecies habitat conservation plan. He said he is pleased
that the state has taken a comprehensive look at how to ensure the
survival of California's wildlife, but that it is up to the state
Legislature and local governments to decide whether to follow through.
"They can identify the needs, but if the actions that are called for
aren't implemented, then it will come up short."
Replies to This Message
The Arch Loard Warlock of Radnor
There were 100 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. At that time, there were 1,425 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
deputies responded to a call in the 4300 block of South Roberts Road.
According to an initial report, a man picked up a large tree branch and
hit a woman in the back of her left thigh, causing a 12-inch bruise.
Deputies arrested William Edward Justice, 49, on suspicion of willful
infliction of corporal injury, assault with a deadly weapon and
criminal threats.
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Stockton Police
Armed robbery: At 4:10 p.m. Wednesday, police received a report that an
employee at taco truck at Turnpike Road and Third Street was robbed at
gunpoint. According to police, a man with a gun robbed the taco truck
employee while another man watched for police. Police are seeking a
Black man, 27 years old, 5 feet 8 inches and 170 to 180 pounds. He is
described as having short black hair, brown eyes and a medium skin
tone. Police are also seeking a Latino or white man, 27 years old, 5
feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, 200 to 250 pounds with straight brown
hair.
Weapons arrest: Police made a traffic stop at 5 p.m. Wednesday at
Sierra Nevada and Walnut streets and arrested Joshua Corona, 23, of
Stockton on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a
loaded firearm. According to an initial report, Corona had a
.25-caliber handgun.
Car theft: At about 9:15 a.m. Thursday, police found a suspect in eight
car thefts in the 9400 block of Hickock Drive. Police arrested Kakada
Thor, 24, of Stockton on suspicion of car theft and trade in metals
used in public utility service, as well as on two warrants.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,351 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered four stolen vehicles.
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Union votes to back ex-CHP boss
STOCKTON - The union representing San Joaquin County's 240 correctional
officers voted this week to endorse retired California Highway Patrol
Chief Dennis Lobenberg in the November election.
Scott Thomas, president of the county Correctional Officers
Association, said Lobenberg received 81 percent of the vote, but he
declined to give the actual count. It is the third major county law
enforcement union to back Lobenberg over Assistant Sheriff Steve Moore
in the race to become the next sheriff-coroner.
"They just want a change," Thomas said.
Unions representing sheriff's deputies and the one representing the
department's captains and lieutenants also voted to endorse Lobenberg
in recent weeks.
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Horse dies after getting West Nile
STOCKTON - A horse in Tracy died Wednesday after contracting West Nile
virus, San Joaquin County health and mosquito officials said.
Also, the county Mosquito and Vector Control District announced
Thursday it would increase mosquito spraying to prevent the virus'
spread. Some of that spraying will be applied from airplanes. It is not
clear over which areas aerial spraying will occur, although the
district in the past has typically kept planes over rural areas only.
The horse is the first to test positive for the virus in the county
this year, officials said. Last year, 19 horses tested positive and
nine died.
It is not clear whether the horse died from the disease or was
euthanized.
While there is no vaccine for the mosquito-borne virus for humans or
birds, one exists for horses. Owners are encouraged to have their
horses vaccinated and to watch for such symptoms as stumbling,
weakness, muscle twitching and inability to stand, officials said.
Last week, a south county woman became the first person this year to
test positive for the disease.
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Tickets for Hall of Fame ceremony
STOCKTON - Tickets are available for next month's Mexican-American Hall
of Fame award ceremony at the Elkhorn Golf and Country Club.
Tickets are $40 per person and include a tri-tip dinner along with the
awards program. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a no-host cocktail
gathering.
Five people will be inducted into the hall this year: Dora L. Martinez
in the education category, Judi Auwinger for community service, Carol
J. Ornelas for business, Jessie Ornelas for women's issues and Mike
Torres Sr. for fine arts.
To buy tickets, call Irenemarie Castillo at (209) 462-0682. For more
information, call Hall of Fame President Gracie Madrid at (209)
952-0256.
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Home organizing class for seniors
TRACY - Seniors who want to reduce clutter in their homes can go to a
support group/class being offered by home organizing expert Mary Anne
Sullivan beginning Tuesday.
The class will cover tips and strategies for de-cluttering as well as
strategies to keep from gathering all the stuff in the first place.
Sullivan will hold the first meeting at 6 p.m. at Summerville at
Heritage Place, 355 W. Grant Line Road in Tracy. The group will then
meet each Tuesday in August.
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Podesto calls for probe of jury
STOCKTON - A civil grand jury's blistering report on the financing and
construction of Stockton Arena and Stockton Ballpark is so biased and
untrue that the current jury should investigate the previous panel,
former Stockton Mayor Gary Podesto wrote in a letter to the San Joaquin
County civil grand jury.
"I find it disgusting that the jury would totally ignore fact and draw
its conclusions from unsubstantiated, biased and misleading statements
by individuals with a clear personal agenda," Podesto wrote in the
letter last Friday to jury foreman Larry Mills.
The grand jury's report was published last month and scolded the City
Council for giving then-City Manager Mark Lewis almost total control
over the Stockton Events Center project, the cost of which increased
from $115.4 million to about $131 million. The waterfront ballpark and
arena opened in 2005.
Podesto, who until he left office in 2004 was the council's most
influential advocate of the project, said Thursday that the jurors
"didn't understand what they were talking about," and he said they got
caught up in a raft of ill-founded criticism of Lewis and the project.
"Typical," said Councilman Steve Bestolarides, a critic of the
project's financing and the brother of a member of the jury that
compiled the report. "(Podesto is) an admitted bully who hasn't lost
his touch since he's been off the council."
Bestolarides and one juror reached Thursday defended the report.
John Thoming, a member of both the prior and current grand juries, said
the previous grand jury was not biased and that its report was the
product of hours of interviews.
"It was a fair inquiry," the Tracy farmer said.
Like the grand jury's report, Podesto's letter rehashed many of the
same claims and responses to claims of mismanagement that have dogged
the project since 2004. A city-paid auditor and a retired city finance
chief both issued reports before the grand jury's report. None so far
has settled public debate.
Podesto wrote that cost overruns were not the result of design changes
approved by Lewis. The increase was the fault of, among other things, a
complicated building process undertaken in an effort to open the venues
in 2005 instead of a year late, a delay that might have cost the city
even more, Podesto said.
He also said the council did not abdicate its responsibility by
assigning power to Lewis. He criticized the grand jury's statement that
the arena cost more than $99 million. Podesto said it cost $59.9
million.
Both Podesto and the grand jury are incorrect, according to one
official. The arena cost about $70 million, a figure that includes the
arena's share of a $4.2 million settlement with the city's contractor
on the arena and ballpark, project manager Gary Ingraham said.
The City Council, which is required to reply to the grand jury's
report, is likely to consider that response in August or September.
Officials are drafting the response.
Podesto said Thursday that he complained to the grand jury because
"there's enough wrong with it, and it was such a poorly written
report."
Bestolarides said the report was measured and appropriate. He said
Podesto's letter is an attempt to preserve his legacy, "protect what he
feels is the truth."
Podesto said the truth is that the arena and ballpark were a bargain.
He criticized the grand jury's use of the words "possible" and
"appearance," saying the jury should have relied solely on facts.
Mayor Ed Chavez, who had received but not reviewed Podesto's letter,
said it would be a "different twist" if one grand jury were to
investigate its predecessor.
Mills, the jury foreman, could not be reached for comment late
Thursday, and Thoming said he could not comment on matters before the
current jury, which are confidential.
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S.J. homeless: 'We're surviving -- barely'
Foul weather can hit needy the hardest
Most everybody in San Joaquin County has had something to complain
about in the two-week-long, record-breaking heat wave that has pushed
the mercury as high as 115 degrees. High power bills, canceled outings
and general discomfort are common gripes. ~
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Triple-digit temperatures have been difficult for Fay Brown, 56, and
her husband, Burl, who have lived in a tent beneath a bridge in central
Stockton since their motor home was stolen. The two among an estimated
2,500 homeless in San Joaquin County keep cool by taking water from a
hose at a nearby bar.
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~ Credit: Michael McCollum/The Record
Fay Brown's main complaint: the fleas.
Brown, 56, and her husband, Burl, 54, are among the county's homeless,
estimated to total about 2,500. The two have been camping beneath a
bridge in central Stockton, taking water from a hose behind a nearby
bar. It has been their home for the past month, since their motor home
was stolen, Brown said.
Last week, things got very uncomfortable.
"The heat brought out the fleas," she said.
Sitting at her daily perch, her back to the couple's tent, Fay Brown
keeps watch over their belongings with a small hatchet by her side. She
said she has the better end of the deal. She spends most of the day in
the shade, while Burl is out looking for work, pedaling a bicycle
around the city.
"We're surviving - barely - but we're making it," she said.
The National Weather Service removed its hazard warning this week, and
temperatures are expected to drop below 100 degrees today for the first
time in 13 days. Highs are expected from 94 to 98 degrees in northern
San Joaquin County.
During the worst of the heat, the Stockton Fire Department responded to
several calls for heat exhaustion from area homeless people, one
resulting in an ambulance ride to San Joaquin General Hospital.
Countywide, heat is suspected to be a contributing factor in nine
deaths, Sheriff's Office spokesman Les Garcia said. In Stanislaus
County, 15 deaths were declared heat-related. At least another 15 also
may be blamed on the heat in that county.
Social service providers know temperatures are likely to rise again and
hit the homeless the hardest.
San Joaquin County has declared a local emergency and convened a
coalition to focus on the heat wave, county spokeswoman Elena Reyes
said. One result is a hot line people can call for transportation to a
cooling center or for information about what centers are open. That
number is (800) 367-7433.
She said the homeless and poor will be the targets of the coalition's
efforts.
At St. Mary's Interfaith Dining Room, co-director Edward Figueroa said
he has noticed more people spending the day nearby. The dining room is
open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Normally, it closes between meal times,
he said, but the doors have stayed open on the hottest days. Even when
the doors have closed, people seem lethargic, and they don't go far, he
said.
Cups are needed most at the Stockton Shelter, Executive Director John
Reynolds said. In any extreme weather, more people come to the shelter.
In the heat, the shelter gives out a lot of water and a lot of cups.
Reynolds said he just ordered 30 more sleeping mats for when space is
made in the drop-in room, when the shelter's 150 bunks are full.
Some of the work helping the homeless survive the heat has been
anonymous, from people who drive around the city handing out water.
Connie Ramos, 47, said she has been helped out by people at apartments
near the downtown hedge she has made her temporary home. She said a
woman driving a van brought her and others water, and a volunteer at
St. Mary's said she has seen a man come by with water, too.
Ramos said the heat is preferable to jail - she was recently released -
but it has made her feel sick. "I'm just sick to my stomach," she said.
Reyes said the county's heat-wave coalition will try to keep more
homeless people cooler if and when temperatures rise again. The
National Weather Service predicts temperatures below 100 degrees for at
least the next week.
Warlock
There were 90 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,416 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Child abuse, Stockton: At about 3:30 a.m. Saturday, deputies responded
to a call about a disturbance in the 2200 block of Del Rio Drive.
According to a report, a man admitted to hitting a child several times
and threatening the child that he would beat the child more if the
child did not sleep. Deputies arrested Anthony Gniech, 38, on suspicion
of child abuse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: At about 8 p.m. Friday, police received a report of a
32-year-old man who said he was robbed while pushing his ice cream cart
near Washington and Union streets. He reported that several people
approached him, one simulating a gun and carrying a stick, and robbed
him of $34. Suspects were identified in the area, and a 15-year-old and
two 14-year-olds were arrested on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy
to commit a crime. Joseph Dominguez, 21, was arrested on suspicion of
the same crimes and on four outstanding warrants. Rudy Macias, 33, was
arrested on suspicion of those crimes, as well as driving under the
influence and endangering the welfare of a child.
Carjacking: At about 9 p.m. Friday, police received a complaint from a
21-year-old woman who said a man walked up to her car while she was in
it at Pershing Avenue and Rosemarie Street and took it at gunpoint,
taking her purse as well. Police are seeking a Black man, 20 years old,
last seen wearing a black baseball cap, black shirt and blue jeans. He
was reportedly armed with a handgun.
Attempted robbery: At about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, police received a
report from a 57-year-old man who said he was approached by two men at
the intersection of Sutter and San Joaquin streets. The men demanded
money and then pistol-whipped him when he said he had none, an initial
police report said. The man was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital
suffering a serious injury to his left eye.
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Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,374 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. Officers responded to 26
noninjury accidents and five injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested 11 people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
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Cleanup event in French Camp
STOCKTON - Comerciantes Unidos, a Spanish-speaking business
organiz-ation, will host a community cleanup event at the San Joaquin
General Hospital campus in French Camp Aug. 12.
The event will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include gardening and
trash pickup duties. Lunch also will be provided to all volunteers who
participate.
The organization, which translates in English to United Merchants,
takes on a community service project each year.
Volunteers can call Samuel at (209) 547-0320 or (209) 471-0517 and must
bring their own equipment and safety gear. Garbage bags will be
provided.
Senior center open for cooling down
TRACY - City officials have declared the Lolly Hansen Senior Center a
"cooling center" when temperatures reach 95 degrees or more for two
consecutive days.
On those days, the center, at 925 E. Ninth St., will be open from 8:30
a.m. to 10 p.m. Residents who wish to utilize the space to escape the
summer heat are encouraged to bring games, reading material or other
items to pass the time, as the center will not be adding to its current
schedule of activities. Daily decisions will be made according to the
latest National Weather Service forecast.
When the temperatures revert back below 95 degrees, the senior center
will revert to its normal schedule, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday.
Residents also are reminded that the Tracy Branch Library, at 20 E.
Eaton Ave., is open throughout the week, as is the West Valley Mall and
various fire stations, which all serve as cooling centers. All are
accessible public shelters.
Talk to be held on jobs in Mexico
A Mexican social worker and priest will speak Monday to Stockton farm
workers and anyone else who is interested about opportunities for new
jobs in Mexico that could reduce immigration to the United States.
The Rev. Marcos Linares is working on building cooperative farms in his
native state of Michoacan where farm workers can earn living wages and
support their families instead of risking their lives crossing the
border into the United States, according to Luis Magaña, a Stockton
activist who is organizing the forum.
"He opens the door for people in Mexico to stop immigration using the
support of the migrants," Magaña said.
The forum will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday at La Jamaica Community Center,
609 S. Lincoln Street, Stockton.
Information: (209) 465-4265
Sustainable housing project
Those who are interested in helping build sustainable housing in
blighted urban areas of the Philippines and other nations can attend a
reception and press conference Tuesday in Modesto or a musical show and
film screening at the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton at the end of
August.
The goal is to build 700,000 homes in 7,000 communities in seven years,
and those involved with the 3-year-old Gawad Kalinga program have more
than 680,000 homes to go.
The project is based in the Philippines but also covers struggling
communities outside these islands.
California's Central Valley, with its large Filipino population,
provides a sizable volunteer base for the project, according to
regional coordinator Letty Javier.
"Gawad Kalinga" means "taking care of each other." The goal is to
revive depressed communities in rural areas by building houses as well
as services like schools and businesses.
"It's not only building homes, it's building a sustainable community,"
Javier said. "The Philippines is a beautiful country, but it's a Third
World country still."
The reception and press conference with Gawad Kalinga's national
director will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Parish Church, 1813
Oakdale Road, Modesto.
The musical show at Bob Hope Theatre with Filipino songs will be at 8
p.m. Aug. 26 at the Bob Hope Theatre, 242 E. Main St., Stockton.
For more information, call (209) 832-9183.
Calaveras budget cover contest
SAN ANDREAS - Calaveras County officials are inviting photographers to
submit images for the annual county budget cover contest. The winner
will be featured on the front of the 2006-07 fiscal year budget.
County Auditor-Controller Linda S. Churches asks that the photographs
depict historical places, people or memorabilia emphasizing the riches
of Calaveras County. Last year's winner was a photograph of the
Calaveras Cement Bridge over Highway 49 taken by Kara Anson, a former
Valley Springs resident now serving in the Coast Guard in Florida.
Anson shot the image during a family visit.
The Cement Bridge narrowly edged out a photograph of a rainbow over
Valley Springs, indicating that natural beauty might have a chance to
trump concrete architecture the next time supervisors vote on a budget
cover.
Images can be hand delivered, mailed to the government Center, 891
Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas 95249, or e-mailed to Churches at
lchu...@co.calaveras.ca.us. Entries must arrive by Aug. 31.
Information: (209) 754-6343.
- The Record
Mosquitoes have West Nile virus
SAN ANDREAS - Mosquitoes collected just off Highway 12 between Wallace
and Burson have tested positive for West Nile virus, the first found
carrying the virus here in 2006, Calaveras County officials announced
Friday.
The mosquitoes are being sent to a state laboratory for confirmation of
the results.
County officials urged residents to avoid infection by eliminating
standing water where mosquitoes can breed, applying insect repellent
when outdoors and avoiding time outdoors when mosquitoes are active.
Officials also ask residents to report significant mosquito
infestations to the county's Environmental Health Department at (209)
754-6383.
Chance to get rid of electronics
STOCKTON - Anybody hoping to get rid of defunct electronics taking up
space and collecting dust around the house or office can drop them off
them in an upcoming event at San Joaquin Delta College.
On the weekend of Aug. 12 and 13, residents can take old TVs,
computers, VCRs, microwave ovens, radios and phones from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. to Delta's Shima 2 parking lot at the campus' northwest corner.
A law enacted in February banned many electronic devices from household
trash because they contain toxic substances. The free service is
organized by the San Joaquin County Public Works Department. No large
appliances will be accepted.
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Road report -- Published July 30, 2006
For the week of July 30 San Joaquin County Interstate 5 Tuesday through
Friday
Intermittent lane and median restrictions in both directions between
March Lane and Eighth Street, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for median and
miscellaneous work. Expect five-minute delays.
Friday
Northbound lane restrictions between Monte Diablo and Telegraph
avenues, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., for slab replacement. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Highway 26 Monday through Friday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions at Escalon
Bellota Road, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., for road construction. Expect 20-minute
delays.
Highway 99 Today through Friday
Lane, median and shoulder restrictions in both directions between
Hammer Lane and Wilson Way, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., for road widening. Expect
10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Hammer Lane, at various times
around the clock, for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at the Calaveras River, 9 p.m. to 5
a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for
road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Northbound lane and shoulder restrictions between Cherokee Road and
Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Monday
Northbound ramp closure at the Mokelumne River, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,
for crack sealing. Expect five-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Charter Way and Fremont Street, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening.
Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Partial ramp and lane restrictions in both directions at Mariposa Road,
at various times around the clock, for road widening. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Monday through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Highway 120, 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., for
pothole repair. Expect 10-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between Highway 4
and Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for road widening.
Highway 120 Monday through Friday
Eastbound shoulder restrictions between Pestana and Button avenues, 6
a.m. to 4 p.m., for utility relocation. Expect 10-minute delays.
Interstate 580 Today through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions at Lone Tree Creek, around the clock, for
bridge deck treatment. Expect 20-minute delays.
Today through Thursday
Eastbound ramp closure at Corral Hollow Road, 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., for
bridge deck treatment. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions at West Valpico Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
bridge deck treatment. Expect five-minute delays.
Monday and Tuesday
Lane restrictions in both directions at Hospital Creek Bridge, around
the clock, for bridge deck treatment. Expect 20-minute delays.
Monday through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions at Valley View Drive, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
bridge deck treatment. Expect five-minute delays.
Calaveras County
Highway 4 Tuesday and Wednesday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Hodson and O'Byrnes
Ferry roads, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., for striping. Expect 15-minute delays.
Highway 26 Monday through Wednesday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Boston Yale Road and
Alabama Hill, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair.
Expect five-minute delays.
Thursday and Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Alabama Hill and
Ridge Road, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for shoulder grading and repair.
Expect five-minute delays.
Note: Unexpected schedule changes can occur due to weather, equipment
breakdown or scheduling problems. To hear a recording of California
highway conditions, call (800) 427-7623. To view transportation-related
information online, visit the California Department of Transportation
Web site at www.dot.ca.gov.
San Joaquin County road delays Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Alice Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road
resurfacing.
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Brandt Road between Tretheway Road and Highway 12
and Highway 88, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Louisa Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
road resurfacing.
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Oak Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road
resurfacing.
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Stockton Street in Thornton, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for
road resurfacing.
Monday through Friday
Traffic control on Turner Road between Jacob Brack and Davis roads, 8
a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cardinal Avenue between Main Street and Weber
Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for roadway improvements.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Schulte Road between Mountain House Parkway and
Hansen Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
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Among the 16 cars that derailed Saturday was a tanker carrying
chlorine, but there were no reports of spills.
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Train derailment
Chemical cars among 16 in crash; no reports of spills
Safety officials expected to spend all of Saturday night and most of
today clearing a 16-car train derailment that occurred at about 6 p.m.
Saturday in north Stockton.
Cars containing sulfuric acid and chlorine were expected to require
special attention, Stockton Fire Department Capt. Robert Tuitavuki
said.
He said no chemicals spilled during the crash. No injuries were
reported as of Saturday night. The cause of the derailment was still
under investigation.
"Right now, we're formulating a plan with (Burlington Northern Santa
Fe) officials, Union Pacific officials and the Stockton Fire Department
haz-mat team on how to best take care of the derailed cars," Tuitavuki
said Saturday evening.
It was a quiet Saturday evening for teenager Lashanda Roberts, who was
in her house near Swain Road and West Lane washing dishes when the
crash occurred just feet from her back yard. Some backyard fences were
knocked down by the crash behind the West Gate Town Homes where she
lives.
Roberts said she went to a window and saw the train appeared to have
folded in on itself.
"I think it freaked me out when I went to the back yard and saw how it
had jackknifed," neighbor Cheryl "Shay" Carter said about her first
glimpse of the overturned cars.
The boxcars involved in the derailment rose high into the air just
beyond a window in Carter's home. She said she was shaken up at first,
though relieved to hear there was no chemical spill.
"I was really shaky at first," teenager Brianauh Chester said. She said
she had to go sit down after first hearing and seeing the derailment.
Other neighbors took their children and left, Carter said.
The train involved in the derailment is operated by BNSF Railway, city
spokeswoman Connie Cochran said. The track is operated by Union
Pacific.
Police were blocking traffic and setting up a command center near the
scene of the accident Saturday night to oversee cleanup. Police asked
residents and onlookers to stay inside or leave the area.
"Now that we've basically got a handle on it, we just want people to
stay away from the derailment part of it, but they can conduct their
normal business," Tuitavuki said. "There's not any mandatory shelter
(order) in place."
Sid V.
There were 79 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. At that time, there were 1,430 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Carjacking, Stockton: Sheriff'sdeputies arrested two men Saturday night
on suspicion of carjacking at the Open Air Mall at 3550 Wilson Way.
Deputies were investigating a carjacking that occurred Saturday
morning. The car that was stolen was a 1986 blue Chevrolet Camaro,
which was the vehicle used later in a jewelry-store burglary in Manteca
and an auto burglary in Modesto, according to sheriff's reports.
Anthony Laforet, 24, was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle
and possession of stolen property. Fernando Valenzuela, 22, was charged
with carjacking, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen
vehicle and charges contained in warrants.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Stabbing: Police arrested a 30-year-old Stockton man on suspicion of
stabbing a 16-year-old at a barbecue Sunday morning in the 2000 block
of Del Rio, according to police reports. A man stabbed the victim in
the stomach after a fight, police said. The victim was taken to San
Joaquin General Hospital for treatment, according to police. Officers
arrested Lath Yoeung, 30, on suspicion of stabbing the victim.
Homicide: A 29-year-old man was shot to death Sunday morning while
sitting in his car, according to Stockton police. About 1:30 a.m.,
officers received reports of a shooting in the 1800 block of East 10th
Street. When officers arrived, they found Damonday Damekrey Jackson,
29, sitting in his car with a gunshot wound. He was taken to San
Joaquin General Hospital, where he died, according to police reports.
Robbery: Police arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of robbing a
woman in her Hammer Lane apartment Sunday morning, according to police
reports. Officers were called to the apartment in the 600 block of
Hammer Lane on reports of a woman screaming. The 39-year-old victim
told police that two men knocked on her door. When she opened her door,
the men forced their way into her apartment, and one of them took a
shotgun from under his clothing and demanded money. The robber hit her
with the shotgun, according to police reports. The robbers then took
the woman's purse and left in her car. Officers alerted other police
agencies. A University of the Pacific officer spotted the stolen
vehicle. When officers stopped the driver of the vehicle in the 4300
block of Manchester, the three occupants tried to run away, according
to police. One of them was detained by University of the Pacific
officers, and the other two escaped. Officers arrested Felton Butler
Watson, 19, on suspicion of robbery. Police are looking for a Black
man, 18 to 20 years old, 6 feet tall and 160 pounds. He has a medium
complexion and a very young-looking face and was last seen wearing a
black sweat shirt and black pants. Police also are seeking a Black man
or youth, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 17 or 18 years old, with a medium build
and a dark complexion. He was last seen wearing a black sweat shirt and
black pants. Both took off their sweat shirts as they were fleeing,
police said.
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Manteca Police
Hit-and-run: A 28-year-old man was hit by a car Saturday night at
Yosemite Avenue near Washington Street, police said. The man was
crossing the street when he was hit. The driver got out, looked at the
man and drove away, police said. The victim was in critical condition
Sunday at San Joaquin General Hospital with broken bones and bruises on
his arms. The vehicle was described as a green Ford Ranger with damage
on the front passenger side.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, Jul 31, 2006
Baker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Battery
Police are seeking Michael Anthony Baker, 26, on a $50,000 felony
warrant charging him with two counts of battery and contempt of court;
a $25,000 warrant and a $20,000 misdemeanor warrant charging him with
battery and violation of a court order; and a misdemeanor no-bail
warrant charging him with battery. Baker is Black, 5 feet 11 inches
tall and 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with
information is asked to call Stockton police Detective Matt Smith (209)
937-8323.
Possession of stolen property, car theft
Stepp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police are seeking Richard Wayne Stepp, 51, on a $50,000 felony warrant
charging him with auto theft, traffic violations and possession of
stolen property, as well as a $50,000 felony warrant charging him with
car theft. Stepp is white, 6 feet tall and 165 pounds with red hair and
blue eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call Stockton police
Detective Mike Perez at (209) 937-8323.
Homicide
Bradley (victim)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police are seeking information in the killing of 22-year-old Donnell
Bradley. At 11 p.m. April 22, police officers responded to a shooting
in the 7900 block of North El Dorado Street. Bradley had been shot and
was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police are seeking three or
four men who fled in a white car. Anyone with information is asked to
call Stockton police Detective Ed Rodriguez or Detective Bill Hutto at
(209) 937-8323.
Possession of stolen property
Nguyen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police are seeking Son Ngoc Nguyen, 27, on a $100,000 felony warrant
charging him with possession of stolen property. He is Asian, 5 feet 6
inches tall, 125 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with
information is asked to call U.S. Postal Inspector Phillip Hirsch at
(209) 983-6465.
Brandishing a weapon, drug charges
Parker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police are seeking Kenneth Martel Parker, 22, on a felony no-bail
warrant charging him with illegal possession of a weapon and
brandishing a weapon; a felony no-bail warrant containing drug charges;
a felony no-bail warrant charging him with car theft; three misdemeanor
no-bail warrants charging him with vandalism; and a $5,000 misdemeanor
warrant charging him with vandalism. Parker is described as Black, 6
feet 5 inches tall, 230 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone
with information is asked to call Stockton police Detective Patricia
Padula at (209) 937-8323.
Robbery
McKnight
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police are seeking Bryant Lamont McKnight, 18, on a $50,000 felony
warrant charging him with robbery. McKnight is Black, 5 feet 10 inches
tall, 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Anyone with
information is asked to call Stockton police Detective Kathryn Nance at
(209) 937-8323.
Number of arrests
Law enforcement officials have arrested 50 people and closed 115 cases
this year thanks to tips to Crime Stoppers Inc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
205 bridge to be demolished
The old bridge over Interstate 205 will be demolished Wednesday while
the highway is closed to traffic.
All lanes of westbound I-205 will be closed at Mountain House Parkway
from 10 p.m. today to 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Eastbound I-205 will be closed from midnight Tuesday to 5 a.m.
Wednesday. Drivers will be directed to use detours around that area.
The steel girder will be removed from the old bridge tonight and
Tuesday night.
Chance to get rid of electronics
STOCKTON - Anybody hoping to get rid of defunct electronics taking up
space and collecting dust around the house or office can drop them off
them in an upcoming event at San Joaquin Delta College.
On the weekend of Aug. 12 and 13, residents can take old TVs,
computers, VCRs, microwave ovens, radios and phones from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. to Delta's Shima 2 parking lot at the campus' northwest corner.
A law enacted in February banned many electronic devices from household
trash because they contain toxic substances.
The free service is organized by the San Joaquin County Public Works
Department. No large appliances will be accepted.
Businesses are welcome by appointment only at (209) 234-7994. For more
information, visit www.sjgov.org/solidwaste.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I-205 bridge to be demolished
The old bridge over Interstate 205 will be demolished Wednesday while
the highway is closed to traffic.
All lanes of westbound I-205 will be closed at Mountain House Parkway
from 10 p.m. today to 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Eastbound I-205 will be closed from midnight Tuesday to 5 a.m.
Wednesday. Drivers will be directed to use detours around that area.
The steel girder will be removed from the old bridge tonight and
Tuesday night.
Chance to get rid of electronics
STOCKTON - Anybody hoping to get rid of defunct electronics taking up
space and collecting dust around the house or office can drop them off
them in an upcoming event at San Joaquin Delta College.
On the weekend of Aug. 12 and 13, residents can take old TVs,
computers, VCRs, microwave ovens, radios and phones from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. to Delta's Shima 2 parking lot at the campus' northwest corner.
A law enacted in February banned many electronic devices from household
trash because they contain toxic substances.
The free service is organized by the San Joaquin County Public Works
Department. No large appliances will be accepted.
Businesses are welcome by appointment only at (209) 234-7994. For more
information, visit www.sjgov.org/solidwaste.
4th anniversary of Amber Alert
Today is the fourth anniversary of the state's Amber Alert Program,
which is overseen by California Highway Patrol.
Through the program, media and law enforcement team together to
publicize child abductions. In the 90 Amber Alerts issued in four
years, all 118 children have been recovered, a CHP news release said.
It said 63 people have been arrested as a result of the alerts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Teen girl killed in car accident
STOCKTON - One teenage girl was killed and another has major head
trauma as the result of an early-morning car accident in Stockton on
Sunday involving four teens, according to the California Highway
Patrol.
Both girls were passengers in a 2005 Toyota Matrix driven by an
18-year-old Stockton girl. The vehicle flipped after the driver veered
off the road when turning a corner along Howard Road at high speed,
according to the CHP.
The driver had minor scrapes on her left arm, and a male passenger, 19,
had no injuries, according to the CHP.
The teen killed was a 17-year-old Stockton girl whose identity was not
released Sunday. The other passenger, a 16-year-old Stockton girl, was
taken to San Joaquin General Hospital with major head trauma, according
to the CHP.
Officers concluded that drugs and alcohol had no role in the accident.
Driver dies after being ejected
LOCKEFORD - An unidentified man was killed Sunday morning in what the
California Highway Patrol is calling a hit-and-run car accident.
The man was driving a 1987 Chevrolet east on Frazier Road near Tully
Road, close to Lockeford, when he attempted to pass an eastbound
Toyota, according to the CHP.
Both drivers lost control, and the Toyota hit an electricity pole,
causing the vehicle to overturn. The Chevrolet's driver was ejected
from his car and died, according to CHP reports.
It was not known if the driver of the Toyota was injured.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Communication 911
Disagreements, concerns surround new ambulance dispatch system
STOCKTON - Reports of mistakes, miscommunication and other problems
received by San Joaquin County's Emergency Medical Services agency have
increased more than 4,000 percent since the May 1 launch of the area's
new 911 ambulance dispatching system.
The complaints - called "unusual occurrence reports" - are filed by
hospitals, police and fire agencies, and ambulance companies when
something goes wrong during a 911 medical emergency.
The county's emergency ambulance dispatching splintered three months
ago, with 911 calls going to either the Stockton Fire Department or
American Medical Response's Stanislaus County call center. Since then,
the county has received 263 of the reports, said Dan Burch, the
county's EMS administrator.
In 2005, the county took only 15 such complaints, Burch said.
The vast majority of the reports have come from the Stockton Fire
Department, which is tangled in a lawsuit with the county over the
city's role the new system. Burch, AMR and other county officials said
last week that the dramatic increase should be placed in the context of
the messenger.
"They're our biggest critic," AMR spokesman Jason Sorrick said. "It's
not surprising to see that the majority of complaints come from them."
But Stockton fire officials say they are concerned more with public
safety than with sour grapes. The new system, which made AMR the sole
911 ambulance provider throughout most of the county, has shut down
vital communication between AMR paramedics and the fire departments
charged with responding first to medical emergencies, Stockton Fire
Chief Ron Hittle said.
The agencies work on incompatible radio frequencies, adding layers of
communication to situations in which paramedics and firefighters have
to talk to one another. Firefighters on the scene of accidents and
other emergencies also are not told from where ambulances are coming or
how many there will be, causing some confusion over how to handle
patients, Deputy Fire Chief Carl Eck said.
"We don't know when AMR dispatches their ambulances anymore," Eck said.
"We don't know when or if or who they've dispatched."
AMR has also flooded the area with less-experienced paramedics and
dispatchers who do not know the area, Eck said. The ambulance company
has dispatched fire engines to addresses in Granite Bay, El Cerrito,
Turlock and Modesto, he said, and AMR paramedics sometimes get lost on
the way to calls.
But county officials say the city agencies are exaggerating routine
problems that in the past would have gone undocumented. Burch believes
the city's antagonistic approach also has heightened tensions at
medical scenes, where paramedics are afraid to bounce questions off
first responders out of fear of being written up.
"It's harder to communicate with people who don't like you and are out
to get you," Burch said.
Both sides agree on one key point: The dual dispatching slows the
county's new 911 ambulance system. Emergency calls originating in
Stockton, Lodi, Manteca and Tracy, as well as all such calls made from
cell phones, are directed to the Stockton Fire Department's downtown
dispatch center. Calls dialed from the county's unincorporated areas
are dispatched through AMR's Lifecom center in Salida.
Each time an ambulance is needed - roughly 3,000 times a month - the
two dispatch centers have to call each other with locations and other
details on the situation. The process takes precious seconds that could
be used to save lives, Hittle said.
"I hope and pray every day that there isn't an incident where someone
gets hurt by this system," Hittle said.
Eck claims AMR has missed its county-imposed response-time deadlines
1,100 times since May 1. But Burch said those numbers are not accurate,
because the city does not have the data to measure how quickly
ambulances are responding.
The county will present the actual response times to the Board of
Supervisors in the coming weeks. Burch declined to give those numbers
before that meeting.
Sorrick said any concerns about AMR's dispatching abilities should have
been resolved with the evacuation of Stockton's Beverly Healthcare
Center after the building's air conditioning failed during the recent
heat wave. Dispatchers directed the transportation of more than 100
elderly residents in less than three hours, bringing in fire
departments from as far as San Francisco and Sacramento, Sorrick said.
"Any claim that there's confusion or that the system doesn't work was
certainly nullified on that occasion," Sorrick said.
The county believes the system would work more smoothly if the Stockton
Fire Department gave up and allowed AMR to take all the county's 911
medical calls. Burch said the Fire Department no longer should be
allowed to be involved in such calls, because it is no longer
recognized by his agency as a medical dispatcher.
Fire officials say relinquishing dispatching duties would go against
their oath to protect the public. Eck believes the Stockton Fire
Department's system and dispatchers are more qualified to respond to
911 ambulance calls than the department's newer, less-experienced
competitors.
"When you have people that have done this for more than 27 years as
opposed to six months, there's a real difference there," Eck said.
Wichita Sorcerer
There were 81 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,460 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Drug possession, Acampo: A 24-year-old man was arrested on multiple
drug charges after sheriff's deputies reportedly found 1.5 grams of
marijuana, 1.8 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale in his
vehicle. According to police accounts, Juan Ramirez Jr. was searched
after being found in the same vehicle with a person who holds a
restraining order against him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calaveras Sheriff
Assault, West Point: Two men and a juvenile were arrested on charges of
assault with a deadly weapon after deputies say they injured a man
during a fight in West Point. According to Sheriff's Department
reports, Alex Daniel Burley, 19, Robert Ramirez Jr., 32, and an
unidentified juvenile, all of West Point, fought Jason Larry Weeks, 32,
at Main and Pine streets in West Point on Saturday. Weeks was flown to
a hospital in Sacramento with head injuries and was released Sunday,
police said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Carjacking: A 17-year-old boy reportedly was carjacked near Swenson
Golf Course on Monday afternoon by the same man who had helped him
earlier after the teenager had locked his keys in the vehicle, police
said. The carjacker offered to help the victim as the teen tried to
open the car door to get his keys just after noon, according to police
accounts. Once inside the vehicle, the carjacker asked for a ride, then
pulled a handgun and ordered the victim from the car. Police describe
the carjacker as Latino, 20, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with four dots
tattooed on the knuckles of one hand and a black-and-white handkerchief
on his head. The car is a white 1994 Ford Taurus.
Robbery: Two teenagers robbed a 63-year-old ice cream vendor of $100
Sunday evening, police said. The man was pushing his ice cream cart
near California and Lindsay streets at 6:20 p.m. when the two robbers
assaulted him from behind, took the money and ran south on California,
according to police accounts. The robbers are described as boys ages
15-16 in red shirts and black pants.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,241 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to eight
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wolf Warlock
There were 98 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, there were 1,424 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Burglary, Tracy: At 10:42 a.m. Tuesday, deputies received a report of a
burglary in progress in the 8100 block of West Eleventh Street. A
Sheriff's Office K-9 found a man hiding in the rafters of a building
there, a report said. Deputies arrested Robert Mario Bobadilla, 36, on
suspicion of burglary.
Brandishing a weapon, Lathrop: At about 9 p.m. Tuesday, deputies
responded to a report of a fight involving eight to 10 teens in the
17400 block of South Stone Cellar Way. Deputies learned that during the
fight, a 17-year-old had brandished a sawed-off shotgun, which deputies
recovered. Deputies arrested the 17-year-old on suspicion of
brandishing a weapon and possession of a short-barrelled shotgun. The
boy was released to his mother.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Robbery: At about 10 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a call from a
40-year-old man who said he had been asleep in the cab of his truck in
the 1200 block of Navy Drive when two men, breaking in with a piece of
concrete, had assaulted him and took a black leather wallet with $3,400
cash. The man did not give a complete description of the robbers.
Shooting: At 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a call from a man
who found bullet holes outside his home after hearing gunshots. Two
rounds entered the bedroom of a home in the 2400 block of Phelps
Street, a report said.
Car theft: At about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, police spotted a stolen
vehicle in the 2300 block of West Hammer Lane and found a man sleeping
inside. Police arrested Misitonise Tiatia, a 29-year-old transient, on
suspicion of car theft and possession of stolen property.
Car theft: At about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, police found a suspected car
thief in the 1600 block of South Turnpike Road and arrested Jennifer
Ann Reilley, 27, of Stockton on suspicion of car theft and possession
of stolen property.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,332 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Wednesday. Officers responded to 10
noninjury accidents and seven injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested eight people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered four stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Published Aug. 2, 2006
Sheriff's Office
There were 81 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,440 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Car theft: About 5 p.m. Monday, police on Hammer Lane and Kelley Drive
spotted a reportedly stolen car and arrested the occupant. Kenneth
Deshawn Bailey, 26, of Stockton was arrested on suspicion of car theft,
possession of a stolen car and impersonation.
Car theft: About 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, police received a report that two
people had detained a boy while he was trying to break into one of
their cars. Police arrested a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of unlawful
entry.
Assault with a deadly weapon: About 4 a.m. Tuesday, a 56-year-old man
was at El Dorado Avenue and Harding Way when a man reportedly struck
him on the forehead with a metal flashlight during an argument. Police
are seeking Ronnie Lewis Thomas, 41, a transient who is described as
Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 210 pounds. Thomas was last seen
wearing a blue-and-white checkered shirt and blue jeans with a
brown-and-blue design on the back of the right leg. Thomas is wanted on
suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,064 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to 11
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested three people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered 12 stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RTD adds 6 hybrid buses to fleet
San Joaquin County's public transit just got a little greener.
Six new diesel-electric hybrid buses joined the San Joaquin County
Regional Transit District's fleet Wednesday, a step in combating poor
air quality in the region.
The buses, which run on a diesel-electric hybrid propulsion system, are
20 percent to 54 percent more fuel efficient than standard diesel
buses, according to GM Allison, a division of General Motors that
manufactures the engines.
Hayward-based Gillig Corp. assembled the buses, which also reduce
emissions of nitrogen oxide, a major smog-forming compound, by up to 50
percent, GM Allison reported.
The buses will help the transit agency meet the state's strict
clean-air requirements for buses operating in urban areas.
San Joaquin RTD General Manager Donna Kelsay, local officials and
representatives of General Motors gathered at Stockton Arena on
Wednesday morning to introduce the fleet.
The six new buses are the first of 50 the transit district is buying.
It's unclear when the six new buses will go into service and when the
remaining buses will arrive.
Representatives of the transit district and GM Allison did not return
calls requesting comment.
Anchorage Sorcerer
There were 117 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. At that time, there were 1,420 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Drug possession, Stockton: Narcotics detectives served a search warrant
at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the 1700 block of Berkeley Avenue.
According to a report, detectives found 6 ounces of heroin and a
handgun. They arrested 38-year-old Jorge Rodriguez of Stockton for
alleged possession of a controlled substance for sale and possession of
a firearm while in the possession of a controlled substance. Detectives
also arrested 32-year-old Lilia Rodriguez on suspicion of possession of
a controlled substance for sale.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Car theft: Police spotted a stolen vehicle at about 5 a.m. Wednesday in
the 2600 block of North Wilson Way and arrested Henry White, 28, and
William Rhodes, 24, both of Stockton, on suspicion of car theft and
attempted car theft.
Car theft: Police officers at about 9 a.m. Wednesday spotted a stolen
car at American and 5th streets and arrested Christine Souza, 28, a
transient, on suspicion of car theft and possession of stolen property.
Police also arrested Trina Jamito, 27, on suspicion of the same
violations and possession of a drug pipe.
Car theft: Police officers at about 11 p.m. Wednesday spotted a stolen
car in the 1600 block of South Turnpike Road and arrested Jorge
Quintoa, 20, and Amber Barbour, 19, both on suspicion of car theft and
possession of stolen property.
Bank robbery: Police at about 11:20 a.m. Thursday received a report of
a bank robbery at Guaranty Savings in the 8100 block of North West
Lane. According to a report, as many as four people entered the bank
and demanded money. Police located a car believed to be used in the
robbery and interviewed four suspects. No more information was
available Thursday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,198 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered three stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two arrested for alleged elder abuse
STOCKTON - San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a
woman and her daughter-in-law on suspicion of elder abuse Thursday
after a mobile home park manager raised concerns about a resident, a
report said.
According to the report, deputies received a call from a mobile home
park manager in the 3400 block of Marfargoa Drive who was concerned
when the check from a normally steady resident bounced. Deputies were
told that the woman had $30,000 taken from her by neighbors who would
open her mail and give it back with items missing.
Deputies arrested both Linda Bernadette Mayorga, 25, and Victoria
Webbe, 51, on suspicion of elder abuse, 25 counts of forgery, burglary,
using someone else's personal information without authorization,
conspiracy, theft and grand theft, all felonies, and misdemeanor theft.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Girl, 11, calls police during break-in
STOCKTON - At about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Stockton police received a
call from an 11-year-old girl who was home alone and watching several
men trying to break into her home.
According to an initial report, the girl was at home in the 900 block
of Bear Creek Road and watched one man ring her door bell. She called
police and told them she did not know the man and did not answer the
door.
About 10 minutes later, the girl heard the door bell ring again and
peered through a peep hole at the man with a second man and called
police a second time.
The girl saw the second man removing the screen to a window at the
front of the house. While on the phone with police, the girl said she
heard a front window break. According to the report, the girl was told
to lock herself in a bedroom.
When officers arrived, the men were gone.
Police were told by a witness the men were nearby. Police located the
men and arrested Dareon Briggs, 20, Lamont Cooper, 18, and a
17-year-old, all on suspicion of attempted unlawful entry, conspiracy
and resisting arrest. The police report did not indicate where the
third man was during the attempted break-in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bats inhabiting local bridge die from heat
STOCKTON - Dozens of bats, weakened by record heat that recently
scorched the city, fell from their roost under a bridge in south
Stockton.
They died or were killed once they landed.
The Mexican free-tailed bats, which do not pant or sweat, regularly
emerge from their roosts to hang in a cool breeze. They likely fainted
or were pulled down by other bats that fainted, said Dharma Webber, the
director of a Placerville-based bat rescue group.
About 75 dead or near-dead bats were collected in two days last week
from under a Center Street bridge adjacent to the Greater Stockton
Emergency Food Bank on Scotts Avenue, city Animal Control supervisor
Tom Ramirez said. Across the city, officials typically collect one or
two bats each month, he said.
The bodies and excrement that landed on the hoods of cars parked below
tipped officials off to the roost.
"Baby bats have been falling all over this state, and they're falling
in Stockton," Webber said.
The county Environmental Health Department ordered the city last week
to prepare a plan to evict the surviving bats.
Had the weather not been so hot, the bats likely would have stayed
inside and avoided detection, officials said.
It was unclear Tuesday how many bats remained. Ramirez said there are
likely more than 1,000 in the Center Street bridge.
Bats are beloved for their appetite for insects, especially
crop-assaulting ones.
They are removed from public places because of concerns about rabies.
Evictions are typically effected by nets that allow bats to escape but
prevent their return.
The county's call for the bats' removal alarmed Webber, the director of
the California Native Bat Conservancy. The season's young are still
unable to fly and could be trapped inside the nets, she said.
She added that dying pups would call for their mothers, which would
beat themselves against nets in a vain attempt to return. "They'll beat
the ends of their wings off trying," Webber said.
The colony won't be ousted until pups can fly, said Laurie Cotulla,
assistant director of environmental health. The city has until next
Friday to prepare an eviction plan for county officials to consider,
Stockton Deputy Public Works Director Gordon MacKay said.
Food bank Executive Director Tim Viall said he hasn't seen any bats
since the weather cooled.
Patrick Foy, a biologist and spokesman for the state Department of Fish
and Game, fielded numerous calls about falling bats from several cities
when it was hot. He said he has heard of no problem since the weather
cooled.
Tundra killed
There were 117 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Car theft, Lathrop: Deputies spotted a stolen vehicle at about 11:40
a.m. Thursday and arrested Carlos Cervantes Torres, 36, on suspicion of
car theft and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Drug arrest, Thornton: Deputies spotted two people at about 6:45 p.m.
Thursday at the railroad tracks. Deputies searched them with permission
and found a glass pipe and a white plastic container that deputies
suspected held methamphetamine, an initial report said. Deputies
arrested one of the two people, 41-year-old Charles Ernest Morris, on
suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug
paraphernalia.
Stockton Police
Robbery: A woman told police that she was at her house in the 1300
block of El Monte Street with her boyfriend's sister and two men when
she was knocked unconscious at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday. She awoke to
find someone going through her bra and pockets looking for money. The
woman told police $250 was stolen. Police arrested Antoiniette White,
28, and Michael Johns, 39, both of Stockton, and Jerry Marshall, 31, a
transient, all on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy.
Car theft: Auto theft detectives stopped a stolen car at Miner and
Hunter streets at about 2:45 p.m. Thursday and arrested Rudolph Delsie,
20, a transient, on suspicion of carjacking and parole violation, and
Juanita Torres, 20, of Stockton on suspicion of possession of a stolen
car and a warrant.
Robbery: Stockton police at about 5 p.m. Thursday received a call from
a 44-year-old woman who said she was robbed when she went to meet
somebody to sell a laptop at Monte Diablo and Occidental avenues. The
woman told police she was contacted by another woman interested in
buying the computer. When she went to the location they agreed on, a
man was there. He tried to enter the car first on the passenger side,
then confronted the woman on the driver's side. She told police he was
holding a silver handgun and robbed her of the computer and cash.
Police are seeking a white man, 25 years old, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 180
pounds and bald.
Assault with a deadly weapon: Stockton police at about 6:30 p.m.
Thursday received a report that a 36-year-old man was stabbed while
under the El Dorado Street overpass near Hazelton Avenue. The man was
taken to San Joaquin General Hospital and was described as
uncooperative. Police are seeking a Latino man, 18 years old, 5 feet 3
inches and 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,151 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Friday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and four injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested six people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Railroad fixtures allegedly stolen
STOCKTON - Stockton police at about 5:15 a.m. Friday received a report
from a Union Pacific employee about a possible theft at 800 E. Eighth
St.
The employee told police he was almost run down by two men in a white
van, according to police reports.
Officers located the van at Wilson Way and Hazelton Avenue and found
400 to 500 pounds of aluminum and copper railroad fixtures, including
signal covers, scaffolding, fuse boxes and metal supports. Police
arrested Tommy Mack Robinson, 49, on suspicion of grand theft and
trespassing on railroad property, and on one warrant. Richard Daniel
Stanley, 56, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, assault with a
deadly weapon and trespassing on railroad property.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police arrest 3, recover drugs
STOCKTON - The Stockton police SWAT team at about 7 a.m. Friday served
a search warrant in the 600 block of Hudson Drive for the Narcotics
Unit, made three arrests and recovered a half-ounce of suspected
illegal drugs and two firearms.
Police arrested Jesus Beltran, 44, Ruperto Laija, 35, and Maria
Hernandez, 36, all on suspicion of possession of or purchase for the
purpose of sale of a controlled substance; possession of certain
controlled substances while in possession of a firearm; conspiracy; and
child endangerment.
Sorcerer Wizzard
The day of the sun god. Helios, Apollo, Ogmios and Mithras, or the sun
goddess, Phoebe. Tan Hill
A celebration of the Celtic deity of fire, Tan Hill.
Thoth is honoured this day. (Egyptian)
Magickal Intentions: Sunday is the best time to deal with such matters
as: Health, Success, Careers Goals, Ambition, Personnel Finances,
Advancement, Drama, Fun, Authority, Figures, Law, Fairs, Crops, Totem
Animals, Volunteer and Civic Services, Promotion, Men's Mysteries,
Children, Buying, Selling and Speculation.
Also used for Physical Strength, Achievement, Healing Energy and
Divination. Not a bad day at all as the Moon resides entirely in the
sign of Capricorn. You may feel slightly depressed but that's how this
Moon teaches us to look at life realistically so that we don't make
silly, over zealous mistakes. This is the time to look at your life
with the overview of a wise seer. If the feeling of heaviness doesn't
leave, you have permission to throw your hands up and grab a beer (or
other legal beverage unless you are a recovering alcoholic). Try to
laugh, it can be really helpful.
Incense: Lemon, Frankincense
Planet: Sun
Sign: Leo
Angel: Michael
Colors: Gold, Yellow, Orange and White
Herbs/Plants: Marigold, Heliotrope, Sunflower, Buttercup, Cedar, Beech,
Oak
Stones: Carnelian, Citrine, Tiger's Eye, Amber, Clear Quartz and Red
Agate
Oil: (Sun) Cedar, Frankincense, Neroli, Rosemary
Planet: Birch....Protection, Exorcism, Purification, Oak....Protection,
Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck,
Marigold....Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers
Sunday
6 August 2006 Pacific Daylight Time
SUN
Begin civil twilight 5:16 a.m.
Sunrise 5:52 a.m.
Sun transit 1:15 p.m.
Sunset 8:37 p.m.
End civil twilight 9:12 p.m.
MOON
Moonrise 6:31 p.m. on preceding day
Moonset 1:49 a.m.
Moonrise 7:27 p.m.
Moon transit 11:12 p.m.
Moonset 3:01 a.m. on following day
Mabon
47 days left 'til our Next Sabbat - Sept. 22
- MABON -
- 2nd Harvest -
- Fall Equinox -
- Equality -
- Weaver's Festival -
(Fall Equinox, Sept. 20-23, dependent on actual astronomical event) A
lesser holiday, this is not widely celebrated and is most come with
pure Wiccan groups, especially those who are based in the works of
Starhawk and other Dianic sects. This is the weavers festival, and a
braiding of cords are done in the process of casting a spell to add to
ones life from what it is, each person weaving unto themselves what
they wish and the coven as a whole weaving all the cords together to
unite the power and efforts symbolically. The autumn equinox is the
completion of the harvest begun at Lammas. Once again the day and night
are equal as the God prepares to leave the body and the begin the great
adventure into the unseen, toward renewal and rebirth of the Goddess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 29 - August 12 Thorn defense ascendant powers, orderliness
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hazel (Coll) 5 August-1 September
The Hazel tree was seen as feminine in nature, and with the Hazel Moon
falling at the end of autumn it came to represent the growing wisdom as
the Goddess gradually turned from living mother to wise old crone.
As the hazel moon begins to wan, go out doors to a place where can see
the crones waning crescent riding low in the sky. Take with you some
diluted rosemary oil or rosemary water. Rosemary is an herb associated
with knowledge and protection. Face the waning moon ask the crone
Goddess to bless you with her wisdom as you anoint yourself with the
rosemary.
"Hag of night, bless me with wisdom's sight (anoint forehead)
Crone of the Moon, grant me your instinctive boon (anoint stomach)
Goddess of might, help me think clear and right (anoint head)
Mother of all, please answer my call." (anoint heart area).
The Hazel tree was seen as feminine in nature, and with the Hazel Moon
falling at the end of autumn it came to represent the growing wisdom as
the Goddess gradually turned from living mother to wise old crone.
As the hazel moon begins to wan, go out doors to a place where can see
the crones waning crescent riding low in the sky. Take with you some
diluted rosemary oil or rosemary water. Rosemary is an herb associated
with knowledge and protection. Face the waning moon ask the crone
Goddess to bless you with her wisdom as you anoint yourself with the
rosemary.
"Hag of night, bless me with wisdom's sight (anoint forehead)
Crone of the Moon, grant me your instinctive boon (anoint stomach)
Goddess of might, help me think clear and right (anoint head)
Mother of all, please answer my call." (anoint heart area).
According to Celtic lore, Fintan 'the White Ancient' was able to take
the form of animals, one of which was the salmon. Salmon are associated
with the Hazel in Irish legend, swimming in the River Boyne under the
overhanging hazel tree from which the nine nuts of petic wisdom fell.
These were eaten by the salmon who absorbed the inspiration they
encapsulated. The Hazel is also strongly associated with meditation and
mediation. The Druids were the inheritors of the knowledge of
measurement and calculation of the earlier 'dodmen', the prehistoric
surveyors of the ley lines and trackways portrayed in the ancient
chalk-cut figure of the Long Man of Wilmington, shown holding staves or
rods. Also skilled in the law, the Druids were called upon to mediate
in disputes concerning property and land bounderies, much as
present-day surveyors.
Magickal Associations: Manifestation, spirit contact, protection,
fertility
Russian Sorcerer
There were 53 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,457 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Guns, Stockton: Two men and a juvenile were arrested on gun charges
Saturday after they reportedly fired an estimated 100 rounds from
several guns in a rural area off Bacon Island Road. According to
police, Carlos Tirado Avilan, 48; Daniel Tirado Avilan, 26; and a
15-year-old boy were found with two handguns and two rifles after
sheriff's deputies responded to complaints about the gunfire.
Stockton Police
Shooting: A 38-year-old man was grazed in the shoulder by a bullet
Sunday evening while he and another man ran from a group of armed
assailants, police said. According to police accounts, three assailants
exited a dark purple four-door car at Park and Union streets around 4
p.m. and told the two victims in Spanish to stop. One victim was shot
when he and the other man fled after seeing one of the assailants
holding a handgun. Police described the assailants as a Black man in
his 30s, 6 feet tall and 150 to 170 pounds with short hair; a Black man
in his 30s, 5 feet 6 inches tall with brown eyes and a blue bandanna
covering his face; and a man in his 30s, unshaven with short hair.
Robbery: A 19-year-old Stockton woman was arrested on charges of
robbery, carjacking and conspiracy after police said she helped two
others rob a business Sunday afternoon. According to police accounts,
Alexis Jones of the 1600 block of Tyrol Lane was driving a red Ford
Thunderbird that dropped two people at Central Valley Sprint, 8014
Lower Sacramento Road, just after 4 p.m. Sunday. The two passengers
forced employees at gunpoint to hand over cash, personal belongings and
the keys to a black Dodge Durango before fleeing, police said. They
have not been found, but the stolen vehicle was discovered near Ponce
De Leon Avenue a short time later.
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,125 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to five
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered three stolen vehicles.
Oak Creek Warlock
There were 87 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,458 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Drug arrest: Stockton police at 3 p.m. Mondayin the 1700 block of West
Swain Road uncovered 56 marijuana plants, psychedelic mushrooms and
$6,300 cash, an initial report said. Police arrested Lance Powell, 22,
of Stockton, on suspicion of unauthorized cultivation of marijuana,
possession for sale of marijuana and possession for sale of a
non-narcotic drug.
Shooting: Police at 9:15 p.m. Monday received a report about a
16-year-old boy who was out jogging with his cousin near the 300 block
of South Filbert Street when they were chased by two other teens. The
16-year-old was shot in the chest and taken to San Joaquin General
Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. Police are seeking
a Hispanic boy, 16-years-old, 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall,
120 to 130 pounds, last seen wearing a gray zippered, hooded
sweatshirt. Police are also seeking a Hispanic boy, 16, same height,
140 to 150 pounds, last seen wearing a white T-shirt and black pants.
Shooting: Police at about 10:30 p.m. Monday responded to the 2300 block
of South Airport Way for a report about a fight. According to an
initial report, 50 to 75 people were there when officers arrived.
Police remained at a parking lot there when a shooting occurred about
20 minutes later, the report said. Police responded to nearby Ophir and
Ninth streets and found a 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old man, both
with gunshot wounds. Both were taken to St. Joseph's General Hospital.
A 19-year-old man who was also wounded arrived at the hospital in a
private car, the police said. Two of the men were reported in stable
condition and the third, the 24-year-old, was in critical condition
Monday.
Shooting: Police at 1:17 a.m. Tuesday received a report that a
52-year-old man walking at San Joaquin and Church streets was
approached by a man who claimed the 52-year-old man knew who was
responsible for a break-in at his house. According to police, the man
shot the 52-year-old three times in the abdomen, back and left arm. He
was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital where he was listed in stable
condition. Police are seeking a white or Hispanic man, 30 years old,
with short black hair, a stocky build, and last seen wearing a red and
white basketball jersey and black shorts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,292 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered six stolen vehicles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Body ID'd as man from Stockton
STOCKTON - A body found last month in Santa Clara County has been
identified as that of Walter Wade White, 50, of Stockton. Santa Clara
County sheriff's Deputy Serg Palanov said the death is being
investigated as a homicide.
The body was found by loggers July 29 on Highway 152 between Gilroy and
Watsonville. Palanov said the announcement of White's death was delayed
when it took a couple of weeks to find family members.
Santa Clara County is asking for the public's help. "If anybody has any
knowledge of him, we'd sure like to know," he said.
The toll-free number for the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office is
(800) 211-2220.
Arrest made in dynamite incident
STOCKTON - Police have arrested a man they suspect of transporting a
stick of dynamite last month in the back of his Chevrolet El Camino.
Jason Flynn of Stockton was arrested on suspicion of possession of a
destructive device and was imprisoned as a parolee in violation of his
parole.
A hit-and-run accident July 26 led police to West Lane and Pyrenees
Avenue, where they reportedly found a stick of dynamite in the back of
an El Camino involved in the crash. Several roads were blocked off for
hours while the county bomb squad removed the dynamite.
Third arrest made in elder abuse case
STOCKTON - San Joaquin sheriff's deputies have made a third arrest in a
case of suspected elder abuse.
Jessica Martinez, 36, was arrested on suspicion of 25 counts of felony
elder abuse; felony forgery; felony burglary; felony possession of
stolen property; felony unauthorized use of someone's personal
information; three counts of felony conspiracy; felony theft; felony
grand theft; and misdemeanor theft.
According to the Sheriff's Office, an investigation into claims that
two women living in the 3400 block of Marfargoa Drive, southeast of
Stockton, were stealing from an elderly neighbor led to the arrest of
the third woman. Earlier this month, the Sheriff's Office had received
a report from a mobile-home-park manager who was concerned when a
resident's check bounced. The manager told deputies the woman had said
her neighbors were stealing from her, taking her mail and returning it
with items missing.
The woman also told the manager that the neighbors had removed her
telephone cord.
Arch Vicar Warlock of Elco
There were 103 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. At that time, there were 1,395 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
sheriff's deputies that she was in the 800 block of West Benjamin Holt
Drive at about 9 p.m. Wednesday when her purse was stolen. According to
an initial report, the woman struggled with a young man over the purse.
She did not give a complete description of him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Car theft: Police spotted a stolen car at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
while in the 5600 block of North Pershing Avenue. Police arrested the
driver of the car, Jamie Miller, 25, on suspicion of car theft, illegal
drug possession, possession of a stolen car, illegal entry, possession
of burglary tools, possession of an illegal weapon, and use of a
firearm while committing a felony. Police also arrested the passenger,
Nicholas Richers, 25, on suspicion of car theft and possession of a
stolen vehicle.
Assault with a deadly weapon: Police received a report at about 7:30
p.m. Wednesday from a 33-year-old man who told them he was in the 300
block of South El Dorado Street when he was stabbed with an 18-inch
pipe. The man reportedly suffered a punctured lung and was unable to
provide much information. He was listed in stable condition at San
Joaquin General Hospital. Police are seeking a 25-year-old Latino man,
5 feet 7 inches tall, with a thin build, short, dark hair, wearing a
blue T-shirt.
Robbery: A man went into a business in the 4700 block of North Pershing
Avenue at about 11 p.m. Wednesday and demanded money, according to
police. The man carried a black semiautomatic handgun and fled with
cash from the cash register after being told employees could not open
the safe. Police are seeking a black man, about 20 years old, 5 feet 9
inches tall, 160 pounds, with long dread locks, dark eyes, and last
seen wearing a dark baggy jacket, blue jeans, dark leather gloves and
sunglasses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,251 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Thursday. Officers responded to seven
noninjury accidents and five injury accidents, arrested seven people on
charges of driving under the influence and recovered five stolen
vehicles.
Everett Sorcerer Warlock
There were 93 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,421 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Domestic violence: Police arrested a 45-year-old Stockton man Wednesday
after he allegedly choked his 50-year-old girlfriend unconscious during
a fight and also had bitten one of her ears. The man also allegedly
refused to let her leave after the attack. Police arrested Donald Rhine
at about 6 p.m. Friday in the 5000 block of East Fremont Street. Rhine
was arrested on suspicion of partner abuse, threatening, false
imprisonment of another and mayhem.
Stabbing: A 56-year-old man walked into a firehouse at 1825 W. Hammer
Lane on Friday evening with a stab wound to his left shoulder. The man
told officers his girlfriend had stabbed him and then fled in a green
Ford van. Police are seeking 20-year-old Christine Harris.
Robbery: Police on Friday evening arrested 19-year-old Savann Or on
suspicion of robbery and bribery in connection with a July robbery
reported on Jill Circle.
Robbery: Stockton police made an arrest at 1 a.m. Saturday on a San
Joaquin County Sheriff's Office armed robbery warrant. Rolls of braided
copper wire were reportedly found in the pickup of transient Steven
Wade Netz, 42.
Carjacking: A 62-year-old man told police that he pulled over his car
at about 9:30 a.m. Friday at Washington and Hunter streets to check on
an engine noise. The man reportedly left the car running and had walked
to the passenger side of the car when a man ran up to him holding a
silver handgun and ordered the man onto the sidewalk before leaving in
the 1991 blue Mercury Cougar. The man told police the car was new to
him and he did not know the license number. He did not give a complete
description of the man who took it.
Robbery: An ice cream vendor was reportedly beaten up and his cart
stolen at about 12:30 p.m.Friday in the 2900 block of Peachtree Drive.
The man did not give a complete description of the five or six teens he
said stole the cart, along with his cell phone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,293 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. Officers responded to 12
noninjury accidents and 10 injury accidents. CHP officers also arrested
10 people on charges of driving under the influence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Joaquin County
For the week of August 13
San Joaquin County
Highway 4 Monday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Tracy Boulevard and
Bacon Island Road, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., for paving. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Monday through Friday
Shoulder restrictions in both directions between Argonaut Street and
Interstate 5, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for electrical and signals.
Wednesday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between B Street and Walker
Lane, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., for paving. Expect 20-minute delays.
Interstate 5 Wednesday and Thursday
Moving lane closures in both directions between Stanislaus County line
and Highway 120, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for sweeping. Expect five-minute
delays.
Highway 12 Today through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Highway 88 and
Putnam Ranch Road, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., for electrical and signals. Expect
15-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Cluff Avenue and
Knoll Street. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., for overlay. Expect 20-minute delays.
Highway 99 Today and Monday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Cherokee Road and Wilson Way, 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for road widening.
Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Thursday
Lane restrictions in both directions between Eight Mile Road and South
Lodi overcrossing, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., for median barrier construction.
Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Southbound lane restrictions between Highway 4 and Charter Way, 9 p.m.
to 5 a.m., for median barrier construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Hammer Lane, at various times
around the clock, for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at the Calaveras River, 7 p.m. to 7
a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Full onramp closures in both directions at Wilson Way, 9 p.m. to 7
a.m., for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Lane and shoulder restrictions in both directions between Ad Art and
Newton roads, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road widening.
Today through Friday
Ramp closures in both directions at Cherokee Road, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.,
for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Wilson Way and Morada Lane, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., for road widening. Expect
10-minute delays.
Today through Friday
Northbound lane restrictions between Highway 12 and East Pine Street, 8
p.m. to 5 a.m., for rumble strip. Expect 20-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 120 and Cottage Avenue, at various times around the clock, for
interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term ramp closures in both directions at Highway 120, at various
times around the clock, for interchange construction. Expect 10-minute
delays.
Monday through Thursday
One-way traffic control southbound on frontage road, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,
for road widening. Expect five-minute delays.
Monday through Friday
Median and shoulder restrictions in both directions between Highway 4
and Hammer Lane, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for road widening.
Monday through Friday
Lane, shoulder and median restrictions in both directions between
Highway 88 and Wilson Way, for road widening. Expect 10-minute delays.
Highway 120 Monday through Friday
Westbound lane restrictions between Button Avenue and Highway 99, 8
p.m. to 7 a.m., for interchange construction. Expect 10-minute delays.
Interstate 205 Today through Tuesday
Westbound lane restrictions between Paradise Road and Tom Paine Slough,
9 p.m. to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Today through Thursday
Eastbound partial ramp closures at Grant Line Road, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.,
for road construction and striping. Expect 15-minute delays.
Today through Thursday
Eastbound lane restrictions between Holly and Macarthur drives, 11 p.m.
to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Today through Saturday
Long-term shoulder and median restrictions at Mountain House, around
the clock, for interchange construction.
Today through Saturday
Long-term partial ramp closures in both directions at Patterson Pass,
at various times around the clock, for interchange construction.
Monday through Wednesday
Westbound lane restrictions between Paradise Road and Holly Drive, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Tuesday through Thursday
Westbound lane restrictions between Grant Line Road and Holly Drive, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Wednesday and Thursday
Moving lane closures in both directions between Alameda County line and
Interstate 5, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for sweeping. Expect five-minute
delays.
Wednesday through Friday
Eastbound lane restrictions between Janney overhead and Grant Line
Road, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., for road construction. Expect 15-minute
delays.
Thursday through Friday
Eastbound partial ramp closures at Macarthur Drive, 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.,
for road construction. Expect 15-minute delays.
Thursday and Friday
Westbound lane restrictions between 11th Street and Grant Line Road, 9
p.m. to 3 a.m., for slab replacement. Expect 15-minute delays.
Calaveras County Highway 26 Monday through Friday
Intermittent one-way traffic control in both directions at Escalon
Bellota Road, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road construction. Expect 20-minute
delays.
Wednesday through Friday
One-way traffic control in both directions between Higdon Road and the
north fork of the Mokelumne River bridge, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., for
shoulder grading and repair. Expect five-minute delays.
Note: Unexpected schedule changes can occur due to weather, equipment
breakdown or scheduling problems. To hear a recording of California
highway conditions, call (800) 427-7623. To view transportation-related
information online, visit the California Department of Transportation
Web site at www.dot.ca.gov.
San Joaquin County road delays Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Cardinal Avenue between Main Street and Weber
Avenue, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for roadway improvements.
Monday through Saturday
Traffic control on Schulte Road between Mountain House Parkway and
Hansen Road, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for road resurfacing.
Information: San Joaquin County Department of Public Works, Field
Engineering Division, (209) 468-3022.
Loard Warloc of New Westminster
There were 121 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. At that time, there were 1,396 people held
at the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
a 19-year-old man who said he was at a parking lot in the 8300 block of
East Highway 26 when two men approached him. One held a knife to his
side and demanded the keys to his 2007 Dodge Ram while another man was
a lookout, he reported. The first man was described as Latino, in his
20s, 6 feet tall with a thin build, acne scars on his face, a mustache,
black hair and wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. The second man
was described as Latino, in his mid-20s, 5 feet 5 inches tall with a
heavy build wearing a black baseball cap and a white T-shirt.
Stockton Police
Robbery: Police received a report Saturday morning from a 35-year-old
man who said he was robbed in the 1800 block of South San Joaquin
Street when he went to drop off a car with an acquaintance. He said
four people were armed with a knife, bat and hammer, and took the man's
cash and video equipment. Police are seeking Robin Goodel, a
44-year-old San Joaquin County woman. They are seeking a Latino man
named "George" who is 43 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 170 pounds,
with collar-length black hair, brown eyes and a goatee. Police also are
seeking a 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old Latino woman, 4 feet 11
inches, 90 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Robbery: Police responded to a call at 10 a.m. Saturday from a
59-year-old man reporting that two men assaulted him and took his
money. Police received information that the two were on a bus and
arrested them when they got off and after a foot chase. Police arrested
Carlos Rodriguez, 19, a transient on suspicion of robbery and illegally
stealing or transporting the carcass of an animal. Police arrested a
16-year-old boy on the same charges.
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,282 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Saturday. Officers responded to 18
noninjury accidents and 16 injury accidents. CHP officers also arrested
15 people on charges of driving under the influence.
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Victims of S.J.'s fatal heat wave had so many things in common
SACRAMENTO - No one can remember California being hit with a heat wave
deadlier than the storm that killed at least 159 people last month.
One-hundred and twenty-one victims lived here in the Central Valley,
where searing summers are as sure a thing as the sight of khaki fields
or verdant fruit-laden orchards. A 100-degree day is a commonplace. So
are three in a row, or even a week's worth.
It was nothing they couldn't handle. But experience betrayed them.
In account after account, victims of the heat storm were certain they
could withstand day after day of temperatures soaring past 110 degrees.
Many were young and strong. Many others had lived in the Valley for
decades.
They died by the score.
A Record investigation involving dozens of county coroners' reports,
published accounts as well as state and local data shows most of the
victims fit a pattern: They lived alone, many in trailers. Most had
underlying health problems.
Many were too poor to afford air conditioning. And a number refused to
use what air conditioning they had.
Stockton octogenarian Charles McReynolds was one of at least 19 cases
in which a victim was found with their air conditioning not on. In some
cases, the residents refused to turn on their air conditioning.
McReynolds died in his bedroom July 25, a day when temperatures reached
113 degrees. His son, Charlie McReynolds, said he had urged his father
to use his wall-mounted air conditioner. But the elder McReynolds said
it wasn't hot enough.
After all, he'd been a Ranger in the Pacific during World War II and
had endured 40 years' worth of summers on Burkett Avenue.
"He never plugged it in," Charlie McReynolds said last week. "He went
through the Depression. They think differently than younger people do."
Frugality born of a childhood spent in the Depression may have
contributed to the deaths of many of those 19 cases: All but three of
these victims grew up in the 1930s.
Lodi resident Wilma Horning was one of those three, but she and her
sister Hilda learned their thriftiness from the privation caused by
war. Natives of Germany, they fled the country in 1945 and came to
Lodi.
Hilda Horning said her younger sister was a demanding, strong-willed
woman with a love for soap operas. Hilda cared for Wilma Horning, who
was an epileptic.
It was at least 100 degrees inside their home on Maple Street when
Wilma fell.
"I couldn't lift her up, and all she said was 'Why can't I get up?' "
Hilda Horning said. "We don't have air conditioning. We have fans, but
Wilma hated them. She hated turning them on. She just would drink ice
water all day long."
In Hilda Horning's heart, she believes her sister suffered a stroke
July 23. Her health had been declining in recent years, and she doesn't
personally attribute the heat to her sister's death.
"I tried to help all I could, but I couldn't," Hilda Horning said.
Wilma Horning struggled to drag herself into the kitchen, and then into
the bathroom. Wilma Horning, the more domineering of the sisters,
refused to let Hilda Horning call 911. She died on the bathroom floor.
John "Chris" Barron was among the heat wave's younger victims.
The 46-year-old Stocktonian was found dead July 27 in his studio
apartment on Pacific Avenue by his mother, Leonora. She went to his
place to check on him after not hearing from him for several days.
Leonora Barron said the stifling hot apartment's swamp cooler had not
been turned on.
Barron had been a talented musician whose love of music ranged from
Bach to the Beatles to modern pop, his mother said. He lived a quiet,
happy life despite struggling with an anxiety disorder since he was a
teenager, his mother said.
"He never asked for more than what he had," Leonora Barron said. "He
just accepted it."
McReynolds, Horning and Barron were just three in a torrent of victims
with similar stories:
» Fresno's Richard Helmuth died shortly after operating a tractor on a
raisin farm he had worked for decades; his boss said in all the years
he had been on the farm, Helmuth never asked for shade or water. It was
113 degrees that day.
» A 77-year-old Portuguese immigrant died July 23 at the Merced home
he shared with his two older brothers. They told coroners they never
used their air conditioning.
» Salida resident Raymond Holmes died in the house he shared with his
mother. Holmes had prior health problems, but the house was 110 degrees
inside when officials arrived.
Those three fell during a horrific five-day stretch July 23-July 27
that claimed 118 lives, overwhelming coroners' offices and forcing
counties such as Fresno to stack bodies two to a gurney just to keep up
with the flood.
Overall, the two-week heat storm caused an estimated $1 billion in
agricultural damage, sent the state's power grid to the edge of
collapse and killed more people than the past two major earthquakes
combined.
The 159 deaths documented by The Record nearly equals the 174
heat-related deaths state Department of Health records show occurred
during the five years spanning 1999 to 2004.
More deaths still could emerge as the bodies of the isolated or the
lonely are found.
During the heat wave, state and local officials focused their efforts
on nursing homes and low-income residential hotels, such as the Hotel
Stockton, because in Eastern heat waves, that's where the bulk of
victims die, state officials said
Their efforts succeeded to some extent; only nine deaths occurred in
the hotels, and no deaths occurred in nursing homes. Women who died in
nursing homes in Stockton and Lodi were later found not to have died
from heat-related causes.
Something else was at work: Californians die differently from their
Eastern cousins. A life lived in the Valley or the desert blinded them
to the daily toll 100-plus degree days have on the body, especially the
body of a senior citizen.
"It comes down to reserves," said Dr. Mark Horton, state public health
officer. "Elderly individuals have significantly limited resources -
they can't stay at that level for as long a time as a younger person."
Hot nights are even more damaging. Deep in the Valley, away from the
Delta Breeze that cools Stockton and Tracy, nighttime lows remained in
the 90s. Horton says it is this prolonged exposure to heat that kills,
which is one reason the state set up air-conditioned cooling centers at
county fairgrounds. Few people used them.
"These people have lived in this Valley forever, but because of the
extent of the heat, they couldn't see the warning signs before it was
too late," said Sue Norris, who oversees the coroner's office in Merced
County.
Reaching a population of proud people who feel capable of handling the
heat without using air conditioning is difficult, but not impossible,
experts say.
A 1995 heat wave in Chicago killed 739 people. In the aftermath, the
city has hammered away with public service announcements warning of the
dangers of high heat and of the importance of checking in on neighbors
and relatives who may be at risk.
Another tactic that appears to work is a "Reverse 911" directory, in
which people sign up to get calls from emergency officials in time of
need.
"You can't get to everyone," said professor Eric Klinenberg of New York
University, an expert on heat waves. "But there are a lot of people who
die who are not shut-ins, and there are a lot of people who are willing
to put their names on a list.
"You have to do outreach. You have to be aggressive."
San Joaquin County public health officer Karen Furst says her county
will be just that.
San Joaquin had 20 heat-related deaths during the heat storm, among the
highest in the state. Furst said the county is developing an emergency
response plan for the next time such a heat wave hits.
And everyone involved in emergency response expects to see another
soon; all 10 of the hottest years in recorded history have occurred
since 1990.
"We cannot assume this was a once-in-a-lifetime event," said state
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kim Belshe. "We have to plan for
another heat crisis of this magnitude."
Belshe says the state is compiling a more detailed version of The
Record's investigation as a way to guide their efforts.
She says it will be work convincing people such as McReynolds or
Horning to go to a cooling center or use their air conditioners.
"Can the state per se get people to turn their air conditioners on?"
she said. "I think that would be a challenge."
Record staff writers Greg Kane and Keith Reid, and staff researcher
Delailah Little contributed to this report.
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Wall of flames engulfs Stockton's Valley Glass
Smoke and flames billow from the roof of Valley Glass on San Joaquin
Street near Hazelton Avenue in Stockton on Saturday as a fire guts the
building.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
STOCKTON - A fire that gutted a downtown Stockton business and four
apartments above it threatened the lives of firefighters and knocked
out power to 15,000 Stockton customers when it burned out of control
for a time Saturday.
The moment the fire that destroyed Valley Glass on San Joaquin Street
went from routine to dangerous was "a bright blur," Stockton Fire
Chief's Operator Paul Farris said.
The fast-moving fire started about 2:30 p.m., and firefighters battled
the blaze and mopped up well into the evening.
The two-alarm blaze broke out in the building's second story, among
mattresses stacked vertically in a back stairwell, Deputy Chief Carl
Eck said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Residents in
the upstairs units left safely
The two-alarm blaze broke out in the building's second story, among
mattresses stacked vertically in a back stairwell, Deputy Chief Carl
Eck said. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Residents in
the upstairs units left safely.
A Stockton firefighter operates a water cannon from the back of a
firetruck Saturday while battling the blaze at Valley Glass.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resident Liz Wallace said a man and woman who do not live in the
building had an argument in an upstairs apartment earlier Saturday
afternoon, shortly before the fire.
She said she believed the woman might have started the fire purposely
in retaliation.
Firefighters battling the fire were hit with a one-two punch. First,
flames began to show through the roof near where firefighters were
trying to cut holes in order to release heat from the structure and get
water to the hot spots.
As fire captains scrambled to order the roof crew off the two-story
building, the same flames that endangered them broke a guide wire on an
antenna on the building's roof.
The 20-foot-tall metal structure toppled onto a Pacific Gas & Electric
transmission line next to the building, snapping a couple of live wires
and causing electricity to arch not only there, but a block away as
well.
"We thought the whole building might have been energized," Eck said.
Any of the 30 firefighters who were still in, on and near the building
at the time could have been killed, he said.
Battalion Chief Kim Olson said once the building was cleared, a safety
check was initiated wherein every captain accounted for each of his or
her crew members to ensure everybody was out of the building.
"Once that happened, I could breathe a sigh of relief," Eck said.
Fighting a fire in an old wood frame structure can be a challenge, he
said, adding that firefighters had not expected the antenna above the
building to be a threat so soon, though it had been a concern.
The fire had gotten away from firefighters when it spread into an area
of the attic that they could not reach, he said.
Valley Glass' history dates back to the 1920s, and glass installer
Mike Crane said the company's 13 employees will show up Monday and
"see where we stand.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
"Every once in a while you get one like this where you just can't get
into it (because) they've remodeled it so many times," Eck said.
After clearing the building, firefighters fought the fire from outside,
spraying water through the windows and onto the roof from ladder
trucks.
Firefighter Greg Domingo was sent in an ambulance to a local hospital
with heat exhaustion unrelated to the downed power line. Injuries to
firefighters could have been much worse, Eck said.
Power was to be restored to about 12,000 of the customers affected by
the outage by Saturday evening, ending a three-hour blackout that took
out traffic signals downtown.
Stockton firefighters spray water into a window at Valley Glass on
Saturday to battle a two-alarm blaze that gutted the building.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
A couple thousand customers closest to the San Joaquin Street fire were
expected to be without power even longer, Pacific Gas & Electric
spokeswoman Emily Barnett said.
Power to those customers would not be restored until the Fire
Department cleared PG&E crews to move in, she said. That had not
happened by early evening Saturday.
Valley Glass is a business that dates back to the 1920s, business
controller Leticia Huggins said when she arrived at the scene.
"It's a landmark," she added.
Stockton firefighter Greg Domingo is wheeled away from the site of
Saturday's fire for heat exhaustion. Considering the circumstances of
the fire, officials said injuries could have been much worse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
Valley Glass employees were upset and exchanged hugs as they watched
their workplace burn.
"It's part of the shop, so I have some affection for it," glass
installer Mike Crane said.
Huggins said Valley Glass has had contracts with the city of Stockton
and installed glass at Patterson City Hall and the Modesto Police
Department.
"We have several contracts that are still ongoing, so we'll keep doing
business one way or another," she said.
The danger surrounding the building was significantly increased when
flames broke an antenna guide wire on the roof, toppling it onto a
nearby PG&E transmission line and bringing live wires into play.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Credit: CLIFFORD OTO/The Record
The business employs 13 people, she said.
"We're going to show up Monday and see where we stand," Crane said.
Wallace said her five neighbors already were receiving help from the
Red Cross. She and her husband waited at the Stockton Police Department
Saturday night for help.
"This is the only pair of shoes I have now," Wallace said, looking down
at a pair of sandals.
Warlock
There were 128 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. At that time, there were 1,449 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Shooting, Stockton: John Edward Delacuesta, 49, was arrested Saturday
on suspicion of threatening the son of a man he hired to fix a fence
and firing a shotgun into the air. Sheriff's deputies said Delacuesta
went to the victim's home on the 2300 block of East Ninth Street around
4 p.m. and threatened to blow up the victim's house. Delacuesta then
fired the shotgun into the air above the home and fled, deputies said.
Delacuesta was charged with making criminal threats and discharging a
firearm at an inhabited dwelling.
Battery, Stockton: Matthew William Graves, 22, was arrested Saturday on
suspicion of breaking a home's sliding glass door, hitting three people
and ripping a phone from the wall while a woman was trying to call 911.
Sheriff's deputies said Graves picked up a small, white chair and hit
the front door of a home on the 2500 block of East Harding Way before
breaking the glass door and beating a 19-year-old man and 19- and
45-year-old women at the home. When the 19-year-old woman tried to call
the Sheriff's Office, Graves ripped the phone out of the wall, deputies
said. Graves was charged with vandalism, three counts of battery, being
drunk in public and destroying a phone or telephone line while someone
was attempting to contact emergency services.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Shooting: A 23-year-old man was shot Sunday when he ran from three men
demanding his money. The victim told police the men pulled up to him in
a Chevrolet Blazer as he was walking in the area of Pilgrim and
Washington streets around 2:20 a.m. When he ran, the men shot him in
the stomach and back. The man was taken to San Joaquin General
Hospital; he was intoxicated and was unable to provide a detailed
description of the suspects, police said.
Attempted robbery: Eduardo Contreras, 35, was arrested Saturday on
suspicion of trying to rob a 64-year-old man at his home. The victim
told police that Contreras punched him and demanded money but drove
away when the victim went back into his home. When officers attempted
to stop Contreras as he was driving a vehicle that matched the
description given by the victim, Contreras tried to escape on foot but
was caught, police said. Contreras, of Stockton, was charged with
robbery, resisting arrest and driving under the influence.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,117 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Sunday. Officers responded to nine
noninjury accidents and six injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested 17 people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered no stolen vehicles.
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Arson suspected in Valley Glass fire
STOCKTON - A blaze that caused more than $1million in damage when it
gutted a downtown Stockton business and four apartments Saturday is
being investigated as an arson, according to the Fire Department.
"Right now it's kind of suspicious," Stockton Fire Department Battalion
Chief Bryan Florence said of the two-alarm inferno that tore through
Valley Glass, 702 S. San Joaquin St., on Saturday afternoon.
Florence said the Police and Fire departments have opened an arson
investigation and are looking for least two people who were seen
arguing in an apartment above the business just before the fire started
around 2:30 p.m. Saturday. He wasn't sure whether investigators had
spoken with the people.
The fire started on the building's second floor, among mattresses
stacked in a back stairwell, Florence said. A woman who lives in the
building, Liz Wallace, told The Record on Saturday that she saw a man
and a woman who do not live in the building arguing in an upstairs
apartment shortly before the fire started. Wallace said she believed
the woman started the fire on purpose.
The fire also caused 15,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers to
lose power Saturday afternoon when a 20-foot-tall metal structure
toppled onto a PG&E transmission line. All those customers had their
power restored by 8 p.m. Saturday, said Emily Barnett, a PG&E
spokeswoman.
The fire caused about $750,000 in damage to the building and destroyed
$300,000 worth of goods inside, Florence said. One firefighter had to
be taken to a hospital with heat exhaustion Saturday, but there were no
other injuries, he said. Two people who were in the upstairs apartments
when the fire started escaped safely.
Biloxi Warlock
Aug 23, 2006
There were 97 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. At that time, there were 1,464 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Sheriff's Office
Aug 22, 2006
There were 67 bookings at the San Joaquin County Jail in the 24 hours
ending at 8 a.m. Monday. At that time, there were 1,468 people held at
the jail, which has an official capacity of 1,351. When the jail is
full, some inmates may be released early.
Carjacking, Stockton: Asencion Vicente Romero, 22, was arrested on
suspicion of carjacking, possession of a stolen vehicle and evading
officers at 11:57 p.m. Sunday near Oro Avenue and Fremont Street,
deputies said. Officers spotted a vehicle being driven with its
headlights off. Deputies learned it had been reported stolen and had
been involved in a carjacking. The driver refused to stop for deputies,
leading a pursuit through numerous stop signs, deputies said. The car
finally stopped, and several occupants bailed out. After a search of
the neighborhood, Romero was arrested, deputies said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stockton Police
Aug 23, 2006
Kidnapping: Police received a report at 5:45 p.m. Monday from a
31-year-old woman who said she was walking near Wilson Way and Main
Street when a man grabbed her from behind, forced her into his vehicle
and drove away. She was able to escape when he pulled into a gas
station at Highway 99 and Eight Mile Road. The vehicle was a 1980s teal
Toyota pickup. The man is described as black, in his 40s, 5 feet 10
inches tall, 250 pounds with a mustache and was wearing a blue hat,
blue shirt and blue jeans.
Robbery: A 32-year-old woman told police at 3 a.m. Tuesday that she was
near the 800 block of Navy Drive when she saw a man begging for money.
She said she drove to an address in that block and was carrying some
food into her rented room when the man she had seen revealed a
silver-colored handgun, forced her into the room and robbed her of her
purse and jewelry before fleeing on foot. Police are seeking a
35-year-old black man, 6 feet 2 inches, 250 pounds, muscular, wearing a
gray, hooded nylon jacket and black nylon pants.
Robbery: A 39-year-old vendor told police he was making a delivery
about 1 p.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of South Union Street when two
men approached him, one armed with a silver-colored revolver. The two
men robbed him and fled in a gray pickup with no plates, he told
police. One man was described as 23 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall,
180 pounds, wearing a sweater and jeans, with a black shirt wrapped
around his face. The second man was described as 23 years old, 5 feet 7
inches tall and 180 pounds.
Stockton Police
Aug 22, 2006
Robbery: Two people operating a taco truck reported that a man robbed
them with a knife at 7:20 p.m. Sunday at Hunter Street and Charter Way,
police said. The robber was described as a 25-year-old white man, 5
feet 10 inches tall and between 200 and 240 pounds. He wore a white
T-shirt and blue jeans and had black hair, police said.
Person shot: Two robbers who held up a man at gunpoint at Aurora Street
and Charter Way early Monday shot him in the back after telling him to
walk away, police said. The 36-year-old victim was walking home around
1:55 a.m. when the two robbers confronted him. One held him at gunpoint
while the second rifled through the victim's pockets, finding a small
amount of cash. The robbers told the victim to walk away. He began to
run when he heard gunshots and felt the bullets hit him. At home, the
victim called for help and was taken by ambulance to San Joaquin
General Hospital, where he was treated for gunshot injuries to the
lower right back and right forearm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Highway Patrol
Aug 23, 2006
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,198 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Officers responded to six
noninjury accidents and three injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested three people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered five stolen vehicles.
Highway Patrol
Aug 22, 2006
The California Highway Patrol responded to 1,258 calls for service in
the 24 hours ending at 8 a.m. Monday. Officers responded to eight
noninjury accidents and six injury accidents. CHP officers also
arrested five people on charges of driving under the influence and
recovered seven stolen vehicles.
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Big rig drives off 99, crashes into house (11:20 a.m.)
A big rig went out of control this morning on Highway 99 and drove off
the road, crashing into the garage of an Acampo home.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACAMPO - A big rig hauling apple juice drove off northbound Highway
99, taking out a power pole and crashing into the garage of an Acampo
home at 9:02 this morning.
Narinder Grewal, 40, was on his way from Fresno to Sacramento in his
Peterbuilt big rig, owned by Bains Trucking. He said he lost control of
his truck, causing him to drive out of control.
The truck overturned into the garage of a modular home in the 22000
block of East Highway 99 Frontage Road.
According to Woodbridge Fire Capt. Ken Harris, power lines are down
across Highway 99 from East Frontage Road to West Frontage Road. PG&E
workers were on the scene at about 10 a.m. to begin cleaning up the
power lines and are not expected to be finished until this afternoon.
The damaged modular home is owned by Angie Coberly. She simply
expressed relief that her babysitter and three children in the home,
ages 2, 1 and 8 months, were unharmed. Coberly was not in the home at
the time of the crash.
"I just heard a very loud noise and saw smoke," said Balentia
Somberes, 28, Coberly's babysitter.
Read Thursday's Record for the full story