Pumpkins

That last thing from the city manager was kinda depressing, so let’s just look at some pictures from last week’s Pumpkin Fair.

 

      

Politician training simulator

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The ReDistricting Game

Video shows Manteca cop drinking, shoving at party

The Manteca Bulletin and the Sun Post both viewed the video from the party a few weeks ago where a fight broke out that involved an off-duty Manteca policeman and his son. The Bulletin article stresses that the video showed officer Kirk Doty only "shoved" a party-goer but didn't hit anyone with his fists. An opinion piece by Bulletin editor Dennis Wyatt yesterday defends Doty, again stressing that he didn't "hit" anyone, just some shoving or pushing. The focus of the article is on the underage drinking that apparently went on at the party and Wyatt places blame equally on everyone 21 or over who was at the party for allowing it and says that Doty was probably guilty of "bad judgment." At least one person had to go to the hospital and have reconstructive dental surgery as a result of events at the party, but the Bulletin thinks that's a minor incident...heck, boys will be boys.

The Sun Post article is more objective and provides an interesting time-line of events. According to the video, Doty arrived at the party around 1:45am. The Sun Post says Doty was called to the party by his daughter to "regulate" things. At 2:06am the video shows Doty shoving a young man to the floor. What I find most interesting about the time-line is that the really big fight where someone was beaten unconscious didn't occur until 2:53am when the Manteca police were called "about a large fight in the street." Doty was at the party for an hour before things got really ugly. I thought he was there to make sure things didn't get out of hand? What happened?

Manteca turns 90!

Manteca was incorporated 1918 -- 90 years ago. Manteca city officials had a small party at the "Civic center" government compound.

Highlights include persons more than 90 years of age getting certificates. A short interview with a fellow named Bologna (named after the city not the sandwich, as he explained). He and a friend are looking for their names on a photograph of a wall showing veterans of the 2nd World War. Notice when I ask "what did they call you in the army?" You can almost see the thoughts of far away places well up when he answers. Also included is the music and refreshment served and some of the displays of historic items. Lastly, included is a rare and personal interview with the City Clerk of Manteca about how her family travelled to and settled in the California's central valley. Even her father chimes in, it's like an oral history!