[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4778]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MIKE DE LA CRUZ

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2007

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest of pleasure that 
I rise today to honor a renowned reporter from my district, Mike De La 
Cruz, who retired from the Merced Sun Star on December 29, 2006 after 
more than 37 years on the beat.
  Mike De La Cruz was the authority in and around Merced on news 
relating to law enforcement. He developed a great relationship with 
local authorities and earned the reputation of being a knowledgable and 
ethical reporter. He chronicled Merced County's criminals in a style 
that mixed straight news with a tone of mild bemusement at how people 
ended up on the wrong side of the law.
  Throughout his career, Mike has had his share of memorable moments 
such as the time he broke his ankle jumping over a fence while 
attempting to cover a police raid on marijuana growers. Or the time he 
suffered a terrible sunburn after waiting for hours in an orchard for 
deputies to bust a cock-fighting ring. Whatever the situation, Mike 
utilized his extensive contacts to ensure his stories were accurate, 
and at the same time to assure the people of Merced that law 
enforcement was looking out for them. Over the 37 years that he put pen 
to paper, Mike always garnered respect for his balanced reporting.
  Madam Speaker, journalism in Merced will never be the same without 
the quick witted and balanced reporting of Mike De La Cruz. He will be 
missed by local law enforcement and the faithful readers of the Merced 
Sun Star. I want to take this time to express my sincere thanks to Mike 
De La Cruz for his many years of dedicated service and for all that he 
has done for our community. I certainly hope his future is as colorful 
and rewarding as his past. My fellow colleagues, I ask that you please 
rise to join me in honoring Mike De La Cruz.

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