SSJID marks 100 years of service

It was a good reason to party. The South San Joaquin Irrigation District marked its first century of service this month prompting nearly 500 people to make their way to the district headquarters in Manteca for an open house on Wednesday. They were celebrating much more than just a milestone. The SSJID's reservoirs and coffers are both full while other irrigation districts in the state struggle to weather the drought and economic firestorm. The success ...

Waterford opens heart to Vietnam vet

When Phil Waterford got home from the Memorial Day drama events that he emceed on Saturday, he couldn't sleep.

Apartment fire causes $483,000 in damages

Manteca Police officer Stephen Dowswell on routine patrol Wednesday afternoon spotted heavy smoke coming from an apartment complex in the 400 block of Acacia Avenue – made a radio call for fire department response -and rousted its residents.

Manteca adds Saturday & private lessons

It's time to get into the swim of things again. Manteca Parks and Recreation – which provided 1,800 youth swimming lessons last summer – is getting ready to offer its standard week-day group sessions plus add Saturday lessons as well as private lessons. "We already have a few people who want private lessons," noted Toni Lundgren of Manteca Parks and Rec. She said the one-on-one classes are ideal for people who have children who need ...

DeMolay hosts omelet breakfast this Sunday

Manteca DeMolay is hosting an omelet, biscuits and gravy breakfast on Sunday, May 31, from 8 a.m. until noon at the Masonic Temple, 212 N. Powers Ave. in Manteca.

Hall of Fame inductees run from visionaries to coaches

Mike Morenzone – the marathon man of Manteca coaching – has amassed a career win-loss record of 538-172, 17 league championships and two Sac-Joaquin Section crowns.

Manteca Historical Society donates name plaque to East Union Cemetery

There was a time when cows grazed freely in East Union Cemetery among the gravestones of such Manteca pioneers as Joshua Cowell and J.Walter Graves.

Ladder truck serves as Manteca’s fourth full staffed fire engine

Wal-Mart. Doctor's Hospital. Food 4 Less. Bass Pro. Costco. Name any of the large buildings within the Manteca city limits and you will be describing buildings that would require an aerial ladder to extinguish a large fire. Do you frequent any of these establishments?

BLD plaza honors Charles Palmer

Sammy Davis walked the halls of Manteca High a generation before Charles Palmer III. The two men never met. Davis went on to serve America in the Vietnam War where his valor while facing death to save the lives of men in his Army unit eventually led to his receiving the Medal of Honor. Palmer enlisted in the Marines after graduating from high school and served from 1990 to 1994. Then 12 years later in ...

From fighting in America’s bloodiest battle to working as doorman to the stars

Earl "The Pearl" Watson - a survivor from America's bloodiest engagement at the Battle of the Bugle during World War II where 80,000 United States soldiers died - is the last man standing in his old segregated regiment that once numbered 1,800 strong. Watson was in Manteca Monday to address those gathered to remember the fallen during the Memorial Day ceremonies at East Union Cemetery. "This is one of the most patriotic cities I've seen," ...

Manteca MP earns NCO of the Year honors

Staff Sergeant Ronald "Chad" White – a 2003 graduate of East Union High School – is the U.S. Army Stuttgart, Germany garrison's non-commissioned officer (NCO) of the year. Presentation of his award took place earlier this month at his current duty station in Stuttgart, during the Army's year-long celebration of The Year of the NCO. Sgt. White – an Army military policeman (MP) – has served two combat tours in Iraq as a gunner and ...

Union Crossing targets build out by end of 2014

The conversion of the remaining space at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley – plus some yet to be built - into premier outlet stores with the first expected to open by mid-2010 is creating the need for more nearby commercial. Commercial real estate agents note that big retail draws such as regional malls, outlet malls and ultra-retailers such as Bass Pro Shops create traffic that tends to attract other commercial. Bass Pro Shop has ...

Union Crossing targets build out by end of 2014

The conversion of the remaining space at the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley – plus some yet to be built - into premier outlet stores with the first expected to open by mid-2010 is creating the need for more nearby commercial. Commercial real estate agents note that big retail draws such as regional malls, outlet malls and ultra-retailers such as Bass Pro Shops create traffic that tends to attract other commercial. Bass Pro Shop has ...

Recruiting swim party this Sunday for Cub Scouts

Arnold Urbina III is looking forward to that day when he's officially a member of the Boys Scout of America. As a Cub Scout, the local 10-year-old is working up the ranks. He's currently a Webelos 1. From there, Urbina and others in Pack 423 will soon become Webelos 2, which is the level before becomingx a Boys Scout. He and others climbed up the same ladder, going from Tigers to Wolves; Wolves to Bears; ...

Ready to power Manteca’s future

South San Joaquin Irrigation District is posed to play a pivotal role in Manteca's future prosperity just as its creation 100 years ago gave the community economic strength.

RELAY FOR LIFE

It wasn't the weather that brought Virginia Zore to California. It wasn't Disneyland or Hollywood or San Francisco or any of the other trappings of The Golden State. It was cancer. It was the Relay for Life. After flying clear across the country to visit friends in Manteca, Zore - who was diagnosed with lung cancer on Oct. 12 – represents the fighting spirit that the event promotes and the tenacity that one person can ...

(Almost) 50 shades of green