- Madera Tribune

Wendy Alexander/Madera Tribune File PhotoMadera Unified School District board members gather for a meeting in March. MUSD Chief Financial Officer Arelis Garcia laid out a plan that will get the district through the next school year without major disruptions, but she is not taking bets on the two […]

I found a home in Seattle in 1963 to finish college at the University of Washington and look for a job.I moved to Seattle from Missouri, and the contrast was stunning. Seattle’s climate was excellent, compared to the heat and humidity of Missouri. The food was terrific (especially if one […]

Madera County Historical SocietyRichard Curtis Jay, shown here in his band uniform, buried Madera Civil War veteran Alexander Stevens in 1917. Jay and one other person were the only ones present to say thank you to the old soldier.This is a rather sad story. It’s about a man who took up arms […]

This weekend our great country, our homeland is celebrating its 244th year of greatness. Because of the current difficulties, this should be the most sedate Independence Day seen in recent years with the population sheltering in place. I fear it will be another weekend of horror.It is a safe bet […]

I was recently drawn to Lawrence Lihosit’s letter to the editor entitled “Column has very strange logic.” It was a commentary on a recent piece by Tribune columnist Tami Jo Nix, entitled “Old Glory is more than a scrap of fabric.” I dived into Lihosit’s letter […]

For The Madera TribuneMadera South’s first Champs For Life female award winner Sherry Ramirez shows off her Physical Therapy Assistant program’s Valedictorian certificate at her pinning ceremony last June.When Madera South High School first started athletics, its ultimate award was […]

Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune File PhotoFormer Madera Coyote standout Katherine Grow puts down a kill for UC Santa Cruz during her final collegiate match against UC Merced in 2012. Grow was a Div. III Independent College Most Valuable Player in 2011. In this match, Grow faced off against former […]

Although some progress is being made in the battle against the coronavirus locally and nationally, coronavirus cases are continuing to grow in number.On June 25, the U.S. recorded around 40,000 new COVID-19 cases in one day, “a number that’s continued to climb since,” according to […]

In a letter received by Madera Community College Center president Angel Reyna, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges has given the Madera Center initial accreditation.That puts the Madera Center one more step toward becoming an independent junior college. At its meeting on […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Yvette Herrera of the Madera County Library hands a book order to John Rodriguez as Concepcion Rodriguez, 9, left, and Samantha Rodriguez, 8, look on. Books can be ordered and an appointment for pickup can be made by calling 675-7871.Madera County Library’s […]

Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune File PhotoJenny Barber gets ready for a pitch during the 2007 Central Section championship game. Former Liberty Hawks softball standout Jenny Barber is back at home after 13 years away to wait out the COVID-19 pandemic with the rest of her family. “The last few […]

Courtesy of Jason WedehaseBuddy Shepherd takes the checkered flag to win Madera Speedway’s Nut Up Pro Late Model season opener Saturday night.Withstanding challenges from 2019 Southwest Tour champion Cole Moore over a series of late race restarts, two-time Nut Up Pro Late Model champion Buddy […]

I am appalled by the scathing attack on my people by Joyce Aguirre in her letter published in the June 20 issue of the Tribune. Not only was I appalled by her attack, I was amazed that she just dove right into the deep end of a subject about which she is very unqualified to speak; much less pass […]

Tami Jo Nix’s article (Old Glory is more than a scrap of fabric, 06-20-2020) has a very strange logic; the flag is good, people with a dark hued skin are loathsome and I loved my father. The Black Lives Matter movement “incites riots?” They are “Domestic terrorists … […]

Stu Spivack, Wikimedia CommonsChips are a great accompaniment for your favorite homemade tomato salsa.The reason I chose salsa as a subject this week is because my daughter-in-law and son came to visit and shared their homemade tomato salsa. It was my favorite food during the four days of their […]

Madera County Historical SocietyHaynes family photo, date unknown. Naaman Haynes is at the far left on the top row.The Rev. Naaman Haynes must have been a dynamic community leader. In addition to his ministerial duties at Madera’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he was vice president of the Madera […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Former Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney, left, congratulates newly appointed Sheriff Tyson Pogue after Varney administered the oath of office during the Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 16.Throughout his 19-year tenure with the Madera County […]

Madera County Historical SocietyNello Barsotti is seen here standing beside his father, Domenico Barsotti.Nello Barsotti sat in his hotel on F Street enjoying a brew with a couple of friends and looking forward to the dawn of a new year — 1915 — just a few days away. He wasn’t […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera TribuneMadera Tribune editor Chuck Doud watches as Mayor Andrew Medellin cuts the ceremonial ribbon on video for the city’s new transit center.With the City of Madera experiencing a surge in population, so has its need to provide expansive services for safe and […]

The law mandates that we wear safety belts when we travel in cars and trucks. Smoking in restaurants is outlawed. People are required to wear helmets when riding motorcyclesWhy? Public safety. Were these laws first met with immediate, universal acclaim years ago? No. People made the same arguments […]

This week Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben and the Eskimo Pie guys were fired by the parent company that owns the brands. The company, Quaker/PepsiCo, is making what they describe as a long-overdue change as the images promote racial stereotypes. I can’t help but wonder if the man with the nice hat on […]

For The Madera TribuneMadera South 2016 graduate Jonnie Montano celebrates her graduation from Fresno Pacific University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in conflict and peacemaking. Montano was a four-year cross country and track standout for […]

On Tuesday, we had an earthquake. The office of The Madera Tribune shook for a few (long) seconds, as several of us gasped and shrieked. We quickly checked the Internet (that great and reliable source of information), and found that the center of the earthquake was in Lone Pine, Calif., and it was […]

For The Madera TribuneSara Wilkins.Veteran Madera County School Board member, Sara Wilkins, resigned her position Thursday after a howl of protests erupted on social media over a message she allegedly posted on Facebook.Against a picture of the Confederate battle flag, the post reads, […]

The 2020 championship battles in the MAVTV-televised Nut Up Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models begin Saturday night at the Madera Speedway, driving the one-third mile asphalt oval into the heart of its 48th season of racing. Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros will also join the action with their […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera TribuneLeading by example, ASB President Samantha Ford and the rest of her 2020 classmates move the tassel from the right to the left to signify graduation.While there wasn’t a band to play “Pomp and Circumstances,” the 2020 Liberty High School […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune The John W. Wells Youth Center gymnasium is currently being used as a cooling center due to current temperatures in Madera.Due to anticipated excessive heat, the following City of Madera Cooling Center location is scheduled to open through Friday:John W Wells […]

Madera Tribune File PhotoFormer Madera Coyote most Valuable Player Austin Wade rises up for a shot attempt during the 2016 season. He signed a National Letter of Intent in April to play at Concordia College in Irvine. Former County/Metro Athletic Conference boys water polo Most Valuable Player […]

Courtesy of Jason Wedehase/Madera SpeedwayJeremy Doss celebrates his victory Saturday night in the Nut Up Pro Late Models race at The Madera Speedway. He edged out Joey Iest for the win at the line.The Madera Speedway has been the scene for many photo finishes and throwdown last laps in the […]

The Madera Speedway has released a revised schedule for the remainder of its 48th season of competition at the one-third mile oval. Among the changes are calendar changes for the MAVTV-televised Nut Up Pro Late Models and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Model Series, along with their young counterparts in the […]

The Los Angeles Times and some other newspapers have decided to start referring in news stories to the race formerly known as “blacks” as simply “Blacks” when referring to people of African descent in news stories.Believe it or not, such a simple change has been debated for […]

Patio seating is more popular than ever at restaurants that reopened when governments relaxed precautions against the spread of COVID-19, one feature of the during- and post-pandemic world. Senior hours at some grocery and big box stores are no longer strictly enforced, with sprinklings of […]

Gary Stevens, Wikimedia CommonsA platter of old-fashioned fried chicken is sure to be popular at family gatherings this summer.There are many ways to celebrate our Fourth of July holiday, but being that this is a food column, we will mostly focus on how good food contributes to our traditional […]

Madera County Historical SocietyIn 1916, Madera County’s District Attorney, Stanley Murray (Later, Superior Court Judge), had the responsibility of investigating the death of John Kerr whose body was left in the Sierra Nevada Mountains after he was killed in a February snowstorm that […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Former Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney, left, administers the oath of office to newly appointed Sheriff Tyson Pogue during the Madera County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday.From his days chasing ambulances with the Madera Police Department with Madera […]

A little less than a month ago, the Madera District Fair Board of Directors announced the cancellation of all of the livestock shows and auction at the 2020 Madera Fair. At that time, it was a possibility that the fair would be cancelled as well, but (the board) felt the need to hold off on that […]

FRESNO — Several local United Way chapters — with the help of Wells Fargo — are working to address COVID-related loss of income for vulnerable families and individuals living in the Central Valley. The financial institution donated $145,000 to support COVID cash aid relief efforts […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Nicole Gibbs works at Eye Candy Fashion Boutique which is currently open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.Below is a list of Madera establishments that are open. Let’s support our local businesses, Shop Madera.47th Place Carpet, 674-4621Braga […]

COARSEGOLD — Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino received one of AAA’s highest levels of standards for cleanliness, comfort and hospitality as a AAA Four Diamond Program recipient. This is the first time Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino has attained this prestigious honor.Chukchansi […]

For The Madera TribuneErica Magarian, Estate manager at Fäsi Estate Winery, stands in the tasting room.Under the guidance of state and county public health authorities, winery tasting rooms along the Madera Wine Trail began re-opening June 12.The re-opening will provide visitors the […]

Madera County Historical SocietyThis water fountain was set up on the corner of Yosemite Ave. and D Street by the Womens Christian Temperance Union in 1908, the year in which the saloon crowd fought the anti-saloon group for control of Madera’s City Council.Madera’s first City Council […]

Crisis can bring a community together or tear it asunder. Faced with the unknown, we can be paralyzed by hopelessness or aimlessly strike out without purpose. Last Friday, hundreds of Maderans of every stripe stood up and stepped up, joining in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, to protest the 400 […]

I keep reading, absolutely everywhere, articles about “Black lives matter.” I do not dispute the fact that Black people matter and I do not think any rational American person would.Around the world, we have multi-cultural people. We have oppressed neighborhoods everywhere. We have above […]

Last week, I spent this space dedicated to my mother’s birthday and my 25th anniversary at The Madera Tribune. What I failed to recognize is that last Sunday was both Flag Day and President Donald J. Trump’s birthday. I’m sure the anti-Trump forces found his birthday on this very […]

Have you ever heard about the many health benefits of eating garlic? Google it sometime, if you haven’t already done that, and see the list of reasons why you need to incorporate this great plant into your meal plan, and also into your medicine cabinet.A few days ago, I was feeling quite […]

For The Madera TribuneMadera South three-sport standout Jared Guglielmana is joined with his parents Steve, who is also the coach of the Stallions boys volleyball team, and Danene after signing his National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at UC Merced.Like his late older brother did more than […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera TribuneMadera South’s Sebastian Moreno rises up for a kill against Clovis North in the only home match the Stallions were able to play this season.Madera South’s Sebastian Moreno became the second member of this year’s Stallions boys volleyball team to […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Representatives from World Financial Group gather with staff members of Madera Rehabilitation & Nursing Center for a photo op after donating 2,000 masks to the facility on Sunday.For Omair Javaid, a financial professional with World Financial Group, helping […]

A couple of days ago, something reminded me of the school teacher I had in the third grade. I cannot tell you what led me to thoughts of Miss Martin, but it began an entirely new admiration for her as I reminisced about this woman who taught me when I was 8 years old.I don’t remember what […]

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Ila Schoettler, left, picks up an order from Sherry Schoettler, owner of The Sub Shop & Deli. The Sub Shop is open from 8 a.m-3 p.m., Monday-Friday. To place an order, call 673-2665.Driving around Madera this past week, I noticed a majority of restaurants are […]