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Mother nature strikes Courthouse Park, uprooting an oak tree.

Photo by: Wendy Alexander

Juan Belmontes kneels before the photograph of his brother, Jose Belmontes, murdered on Halloween night 2003. The Belmontes family were among those who attended the march at the state capitol in support of victims' rights.

Photo by: Ramona Frances

Two smashed cars sit by the side of the road, the result of an eight-car chain -reaction collision that tied up State Route 99 from early morning until the afternoon on Jan. 28, 2005. A Madera man died as a result of the crash.

Photo by: Tami Jo Nix

Following the 10 guilty verdicts against him, Patrick Booth is handcuffed and led from the courtroom. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9 2006.

Photo by: Wendy Alexander

January

Jan. 1

Students departed for Texas to begin a 30-day wagon train trip guided by the diary of William Huff, an 1850s gold prospector.

Fourteen students from Valley schools and chaperones left from the Courthouse Museum for Texas, where they retraced the route of Huff, who came through Madera to Mariposa from 1850 to 1853.

Sierra Vista sixth grade teacher and historian Bill Coate, cofounder of the Madera Method of teaching, which includes the wagon train trips, led the expedition.



Jan. 4

Eric Wyatt, former assistant district attorney, made the determination that an Oakhurst man accused of killing a 9-year-old and stuffing his body in a concrete culvert would face the death penalty if convicted of the murder.

Derek Keldon Smith, 21, faces murder charges in the death of Kristopher Turner, who was reported missing May 23, 2004. His body was later found inside the culvert that diverts the Fresno River beneath State Route 41 in Oakhurst.



Jan. 8

Heavy and prolonged rain soaked Madera County, creating traffic problems and flooding.

About a quarter mile of newly constructed cinderblock fencing was destroyed by high winds, gusting up to 31 mph, at the La Jolla North development at Ellis and Merced streets.

Fish Camp saw 32 inches of snow within two weeks.

The Fresno River ran fast and deep through Oakhurst because of melting snow. In Madera, water flowed through the river, a rare sight in the winter months.



Jan. 25

Oakhurst resident Anita Sharen, 64, was arrested on suspicion of murder. She was charged with the death of her husband, 68-year-old George Sharen.

George Sharen was killed by a single gunshot outside their Stephanie Way home.

Sharen was later found not guilty.



Jan. 27

A wrong-way driver believed to be intoxicated is charged with causing an eight-car pileup on State Route 99, killing a Madera man and injuring several others.

The driver of a Ford heading north in the southbound lanes of 99 triggered a chain-reaction of collisions that resulted in eight vehicles, including two big rigs, becoming tangled on the highway, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The multiple car collision with multiple pin-ins was the result of the Ford Explorer colliding head-on with a Ford Taurus. Officers said that as other drivers tried to avoid the original crash, they collided in the same general vicinity.

A Madera man, 20-year-old Joseph Paul Rodriguez, was driving the Taurus, and was killed in the crash.

February

Feb. 3

Three gang members were found guilty in Madera Superior Court for beating an inmate at the county jail. They were inmates at the jail at the time of the incident.

Inmate Larry Santillanez was beaten Aug. 31, 2004 and left in a coma. He suffered brain damage and, after coming out of the coma, required assistance and lost most of his memory.



Feb. 16

National Guard soldiers returned from Iraq to the welcoming arms of their families.

Soldiers of the 185th and 149th Charlie Company, Army National Guard, returned home after week-long debriefings at Camp Roberts.

Among the soldiers was Sgt. William Spears, a Madera police officer. Spears was greeted by his wife, Kabrina, and sons William and Preston Spears.

Chaplain Marc and Linda Unger of Exeter also attended the welcoming ceremony in memory of their son, SPC Daniel Paul Unger, who was killed May 25, 2004. Unger died in the line of duty in a mortar attack.



Feb. 17

A man accused of killing a 9-year-old boy and stuffing his body in a concrete culvert in Oakhurst entered a plea of not guilty by reason on insanity.

Derek Keldon Smith, 22, is accused of killing Kristopher Turner May 23, 2004. A grand jury indicted Smith on the



arges after examining the evidence against him.

Smith had been released from state prison just days before the murder.



Feb. 19

More rain causes flooding in Madera, and homeowners rush to the city for sandbags to save their homes.

Cars were axle-deep in rainwater in northern Madera. Heavy rain and clogged drainage pipes attributed to the flooding.



Feb. 24

Madera Unified School District makes the decision to convert Ripperdan school into the district's second continuation high school.

The decision came after two public hearings, during which residents in the Ripperdan district voiced their displeasure with the idea.



March

March 8

The third trial for North Fork Resident Charles Shrabel, accused of the murder of 21-year-old Jamie Putman in September 1998, got underway.

Shrabel was initially convicted of Putman's death, but that conviction was overturned by the appellate court. His second trial ended with a hung jury.



March 9

Two children of a murdered woman spoke for the first time after their mother's death.

The half sisters, Jeanie Westergaard and Theresa Velasco, were raised apart after their mother, 32-year-old Theresa Eleanor Velasco, was killed 20 years earlier.

The girls were ages 12 and 1 year at the time of their mother's death.



March 15

A teenage boy was killed in a gang shooting outside Dominic's Bar on south Gateway Drive.

Jesus Simon Morales, 16, was killed by a single gunshot wound, police reported.

Before firing, the gunman shouted the word "Norte," short for the criminal street gang Norte'o.



March 16

A juvenile was shot in what police say was an act of retaliation by gang members. He was shot in the head.

The incident occurred in the 600 block of East Sixth Street at about 9:40 p.m.

An adult with the juvenile also suffered a gunshot wound, police said.



March 17

A 58-year-old Raymond man was shot and killed Monday in what sheriff's deputies are calling a drug deal gone bad. His name was withheld pending notification of family members.

The house where the victim was found was about 100 yards off of Road 612, between roads 415 and 600, Stuart said.



Community members joined together to discuss Madera's growing gang problem following two gang-related shootings in the city.

Gang specialist Jason Dilbeck said while some business and political leaders didn't want to admit there was a problem, there are people who want resolutions.



March 18

Madera City Council members called for the formation of a countywide, multi-agency gang task force to fight the growing gang problem. The call for action came following stories in The Madera Tribune about recent gang activity.

Council member Sam Armentrout took a firm stand on the belief that the city and county should be proactive in fighting the problem, not reactive, and called the formation of a countywide task force "long overdue."



March 19

Murder suspect Nick Montemayor was arrested in Fresno for the murder of Jose Belmontes, killed Halloween night, 2003.

Belmontes was shot to death outside the Madera Avenue Market.

Police searched for a year and a half for Montemayor. A family member, who felt Montemayor would be safer in police custody, turned him in.



A 92-year-old Madera woman died as a result of a hit-and-run crash outside the VFW hall on Sixth Street.

Beulah May Garner was struck down as she was leaving the hall after a dinner, according to police reports.



March 22

A Raymond man was shot to death in his home in what sheriff's deputies called a drug deal gone bad.

The man was later identified as 58-year-old Theodore Michael Betts.

Four people were later arrested, including a 17-year-old girl.



March 26

Charles Shrabel, accused of killing 21-year-old Jamie Putman, was found guilty of manslaughter.

Putman's body was found Sept. 5, 1998 by fishermen near Gray's Mountain Campground. She died from a combination of blunt force trauma to the head and drowning.

Shrabel was later released on time served.



March 30

County supervisors jumped on board the gang task force wagon in an off-agenda discussion. Supervisor Ronn Dominici, a former highway patrol officer, initiated the discussion.

Dominici expressed what he sees as a need for immediate action to fight the growing gang problem in and around Madera.

Sheriff John Anderson addressed the board, as did District Attorney Ernie LiCalsi, saying the need to fight the problem was urgent, and a task force should be formed immediately.



April

April 8

A man was shot and killed inside his car near 12th and A streets in what was determined to be a gang-related incident.



April 11

Sisters Jeanine Westergaard and Theresa Velasco were reunited after being separated 20 years ago following their mother's murder.

The sisters, who had spoken on the phone earlier this year, saw each other for the first time in a reunion organized by Sheriff John Anderson.

The girls were ages 12 and 1 year when their mother, Teresa Velasco, was killed March 13, 1985.

Marilyn Barker, grandmother of Velasco's youngest daughter, co-conspired with her son Frank Barker to kill Velasco, according to sheriff's reports. The children were separated, the youngest girl going to live with the Barker's until their involvement in the crime had been uncovered.



April 14

Maderans who lost loved ones to violent crime attended a rally at the state capitol. Among those were family members of Jose Belmontes, gunned down outside the Madera Avenue Market Halloween night, 2003.



April 15

City officials brought neighborhood revitalization specialist Charles Buki of Florida to help create a long-range vision of what Madera could look like.



April 21

The suspect in a 24-year-old murder case decided enough was enough, and confessed his crime to correctional officers in a Washoe County, Nevada.

The homicide occurred in Chowchilla in 1981.

Jonathan Logan Slaten, 69, was considered a suspect after the death of his nephew, 28-year-old Ricky Steele Sagaser, but because of lack of evidence, the case was abandoned.

Slaten later confessed to the murder.



April 22

A construction worker was killed when the side of a trench collapsed on Road 28.

Workers were inside a 10-foot-deep trench installing a pipeline for a new development when the dirt walls collapsed, killing Mario Del Puerto Romero of Fresno.



April 27

District Attorney Ernie LiCalsi and Sheriff John Anderson addressed the growing gang problem following the death of 18-year-old Jonathan Richey Ochoa, shot and killed outside his family's home on Road 18 1/2.

The suspect arrested for the shooting that left Ochoa dead is 15 years old. The driver of the car is 16 years old.



May

May 5

A portion of State Route 99 was named for fallen sheriff's deputy Stephen Lindblom, who died in the line of duty 30 years ago.

Lindblom was killed Aug. 16, 1975 after a domestic violence situation on Lake Street migrated to a a standoff at the Last Chance Grocery across the street from James Monroe Elementary School.

Lindblom's wife, Judy Lindblom, who never remarried, attended the dedication ceremony held in Courthouse Park.



May 6

Madera saw 1.38 inches of rain which caused the roof of Rite Aid on I Street to collapse.

A 20-foot by 20-foot section of the roof fell into the store after a drainage pipe failed and water built up on the roof.

No one was injured.

The rain caused city-wide flooding after three of the city's pumps failed. State Route 99 was under several feet of water, and traffic had to be diverted through town along Gateway Drive. Traffic signals failed as floodwaters rose above the curbs and into buildings.

The offices of the Madera Tribune saw several inches of water throughout the building.



May 10

Oakhurst hosted the Gathering of the Tribes at Yosemite High School to benefit the Eastern Madera County SPCA.

Performers from throughout California gathered to dance, drum and sing. Included in the evening's entertainment was the Tanjora Tribal Fusion Bellydance troupe and interpretive dancer Micah Reed, all of Fresno.



May 12

The city's redevelopment agency revealed its plans to improve the inner-city property in order to make them more competitive to commercial developers.

The agency has the authority to carry out redevelopment of blighted areas that are not likely to be turned around solely by private enterprise.

May 16

A five-car crash left three people injured, and two people arrested on drunken driving charges.

The crash split a car into two pieces on State Route 99 near Avenue 13. A 23-year-old Merced man suffered major injuries when he drove his Honda into the center divider.

A second car struck the Honda and a Fresno police motorcycle officer was injured when he collided with the two cars. He lost control of the motorcycle and slid about 150 feet.



Relay for Life, an annual fundraising event that supports the American Cancer Society, raised more than $100,000 during the weekend-long event in Town and Country Park.

Hundreds of people turned out for the Walk for a Cure and related events in the park, which included a candle-lighting ceremony in honor of those lost to cancer.



May 17

More than 600 people found help through the Yosemite Visitor's Bureau in Oakhurst after floodwaters kept them from their Yosemite Valley destination. Reservations had to be rearranged and plans altered to accommodate Nature's unexpected change of events.

Dan Carter, president of the bureau, said they helped visitors find lodging and activities in the area rather than see them go elsewhere, increasing the business to Madera County.



May 21

City council members asked the county supervisors and city officials to help fight the city's increasing gang problem.

The city agreed to donate law enforcement personnel, and asked the county to do the same, as well as dedicate a deputy probation officer to the force.

The Gangbusters Bill, passed by congress, allows for extra funding for federal, state and local law officials to fight gang violence. The question was if this bill would benefit Madera.



May 24

Most of the county supervisors agreed that they need to wage war on Madera's gang problem.

Supervisors gave District Attorney Ernie LiCalsi the go-ahead to apply for a $200,000 three-year grant, with options to renew, through the Office of Emergency Services,

Supervisors discussed several options of where the money to fund the task force could come from, including the proposed North Fork tribe's casino. Supervisor Gary Gilbert pointed out that the board had already signed a memorandum of understanding that would, if the casino should be built, provide $100,000 for "unspecified projects."

LiCalsi and Sheriff John Anderson asked the board to ome up with about $230,000 for the project.



June

June 10

The Madera Redevelopment Agency approved plans to use redevelopment funds for the design and construction of a restoration of Swimming Pool Park.

Executive Director Jim Taubert said at Wednesday evening's agency board meeting in city hall council chambers that the park has been a trouble area for quite some time. The park has become dominated by activities that would discourage use by families, he said, referring to people drinking and dealing drugs in the park, which is bounded by Flume, 5th and High streets, and the Fresno River.



June 14

Accused serial killer Jose Guerrero was ordered to stand trial for three murders and one attempted murder after Superior Court Judge John DeGroot listened to testimony Tuesday during a preliminary hearing.

Guerrero, 31, was held to answer on nine counts involving the murders, attempted murder and numerous counts relating to sexual assault. DeGroot also found the evidence supported the special allegation of multiple murder, which allows District Attorney Ernie LiCalsi to seek the death penalty.

The most intense testimony came from Evelyn Estrada, the woman who survived an attack with a grape knife. She pointed out Guerrero in the courtroom as her attacker.



July

July 1

The City Council unanimously adopted the proposed budget for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, which includes an additional four police officers equipped with cars and gear.

Included in the budget is an additional 15 full-time positions, including the four police officers, City Administrator David Tooley said.

The budget also includes money for the fire department to get a new ladder.

Council member Sam Armentrout commended the staff for purchasing 15 vehicles at a low cost to the city. Due to other sources of funding, the 15 vehicles will only cost the city between $26,000 and $28,000.



July 12

District Attorney Ernie LiCalsi settled an ethics case with the state bar, entering a plea of no contest to allegations that he violated ethics codes when he accepted payment from a man who ran into his son's car.

LiCalsi, who intended to turn the case over to the state attorney general's office for prosecution, dropped the matter when the man, Honorio Quiroz, offered to pay LiCalsi's $500 deductible.

Quiroz struck LiCalsi's son's car on Oct. 16, 2003, resulting in property damage



July 13

Supporters of the Madera Animal Shelter expansion project received the news they have been waiting almost two years to hear at Tuesday morning's meeting of the Board of Supervisors.

The expansion of the shelter, which will include a 4,000-square-foot addition, will finally begin construction now that the money is available and the bid for the project has been approved.



July 15

A 4-year-old Chowchilla boy fights for his life while waiting for a bone marrow transplant donor.

Parker Bockhop suffered from a rare form of leukemia.

His parents mortgaged their home for $70,000 to pay for a vitro process in an attempt to find a genetic bone marrow match, but the attempt proved unsuccessful.



July 18

A boating event was held at the Berenda Reservoir near Chowchilla to benefit 4-year-old Parker Bockhop, who fights a rare form of leukemia.

The bone marrow transplant Bockhop needs costs between $75,000 and $125,000.

The boat race event, sponsored by Craig Lung, owner of Action Movers in Clovis, raised about $6,000 to help Bockhop get the transplant he needs.



July 19

Hugo Madrigal, 28, plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the shaking death of his 3-month-old daughter, Mariah Madrigal. He was sentenced to 11 years in state prison.

Superior Court Judge Edward Moffat handed down the maximum amount of time the plea allowed.

Moffat denied probation and imposed the sentence in addition to various amounts to be paid in restitution due to the seriousness of the crime.

Mariah suffered a fractured skull and bleeding of the brain.

The jury petitioned the court to reduce the sentence or the charge, saying they did not feel the punishment fit the crime and would have revoked their finding of guilty to voluntary manslaughter if they had known it carried an 11-year sentence.



Madera property owners received letters in the mail notifying them of one of the largest increases of water, sewer and refuse fees for quite some time.

The increases amount to a little more than $20 a month.

The City Council will hold a public hearing Sept. 7 in council chambers, 205 W. 4th St., where the council will consider the proposal to increase the rates.

The increase in sewer fees refers to the need to upgrade the city's wastewater treatment facility in order to ad ress needed improvements for existing users and to meet stringent environmental discharge guidelines that are mandated by the state of California.



July 20

Crows all over Madera have been dying as a result of West Nile Virus. Two birds were picked up at Town and County park, and both tested positive for the virus.



July 26

More than 1,000 acres burned near Quartz Mountain after a car went off the roadway and sparks ignited dried grass.

The fire began near Longview Lane East and Quartz Ridge Court.

About 100 homes were threatened, but no homes were lost to the fire.



August

August 3

Part of the civil case against a Madera police officer who shot and killed a handcuffed suspect in the back of a patrol was dismissed by a federal judge. The family is planning a protest against this decision.

Everardo Torres, 24, was killed Oct. 27, 2002 when officer Marcie Noriega drew her 40-caliber Glock instead of her taser and fired a single shot into Torres' chest.

The case was scheduled to be heard in federal court in Fresno Aug. 9. The Torres family filed a $10 million suit Nov. 4 through attorney Arturo Gonzalez. The family later switched lawyers, hiring the late Johnny Cochran.

The suit, filed on behalf of Torres' parents Melchor and Maria Torres and brothers Ramon and Melchor Jr., cited negligence, excessive use of force and violation of Torres' civil rights. The part of the suit that was dismissed was the violation of civil rights.

Aug. 4

A bone marrow match has been found for a 4-year-old Chowchilla boy who suffers from a rare form of leukemia.

Parker Bockhop was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia when he was 21 months old.

Two matches were found. Parker's mother Elizabeth Bockhop said she has been waiting for a match to increase Parker's chances of survival.

Doctors found what they believed to be cancer cells in Parker's blood, and decided to speed up tests needed before Parker could undergo the transplant.



A man was found dead inside a car near the Days Inn in northern Madera. He had been beaten to death, sheriff's deputies reported.

Sheriff John Anderson said he thought the man had been there all night, but with the roar of nearby semi trucks, no one heard anything.



Aug. 6

A sheriff's deputy was arrested early Sunday after he drew his service weapon during a dispute outside a local bar.

Deputy Ryan Cosyns, 34, argued with someone inside Back Street Bar and Grill in the 1900 block of Howard Road about 11:30 Saturday, left the bar, and returned in the early morning hours of Sunday with his service weapon, police Det. Sgt. Ken Alley said.



Aug. 16

A new middle school opened in the Madera Ranchos, the ewest campus in the Golden Valley Unified School District.

The facility opened after 120 days of construction.



Aug. 17

After more than two hours of comments from community members and tribal representatives, county supervisors approved the proposed a casino project planned for the Valley floor.

North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians signed a memorandum of understanding Aug. 16, 2004 with the county. Since, they have worked placing a 305 acre plot of land between avenues 17 and 18 north of Madera into federal trust and signing a compact with the State of California.



After years of discussion and searching for ways to fund the project, city officials broke ground on the new Madera Police Department Wednesday.

The current 7,500 square foot police station, on Fourth Street adjacent to City Hall, was dedicated Oct. 2, 1978. At that time, the department had 32 full time sworn officers, 15 reserve officers, and 15 civilian personnel.

The new building will be more than 17,000 square feet and is expected to cost $4,833,000



Aug. 18

A shortage of farm labor workers has some farmers worried about getting their crops harvested in time.



Aug. 19

A group of citizens from all across the state marched to the police department to protest against police brutality. While the intent of the protest was centered around the shooting death of Everardo Torres in October 2002, the event was used to express everything from racism and violation of civil rights.

Torres, 24, was killed while handcuffed in the back of a police car Oct. 27, 2002 when officer Marcie Noriega drew her 40 caliber Glock instead of her taser and fired a single shot into Torres' chest.

Torres had been arrested after nine officers were dispatched to a disturbance in the 1900 block of Schnoor Avenue. Police reports showed that Torres was attempting to kick out the windows of the patrol car. Noriega intended to subdue Torres with her taser, and shot him instead.

The crux of the protest centered around the fact that Noriega was not charged.

In May 2003, Eric Wyatt, former assistant district attorney, announced that there would be no charges brought against Noriega because the case lacked the elements of intent and aggravation needed to sustain charges.

An attorney for the family filed a $10 million civil suit against the City of Madera claiming negligence, excessive force and violation of Torres' civil rights. The civil rights portion of the suit was dismissed by a federal judge.



Aug. 20



The city expressed concern over a shortage of water to fight fires, and discussed expanding its water wells beyond plans already set in place.

The city has 16 wells that runs at a minimum average of 45 pounds per square inch. Keeping the system at that pressure during dry months is difficult, especially if one or more of the wells need to be shut down for repairs.



Aug. 25

A code enforcement sweep of a county nursery Wednesday uncovered what the state fficials called "egregious working conditions" and numerous other violations, including wages and chemical use.

New Century Trading had been cited for violations of wage claims, workers' compensation, and health and safety standards in the past, state officials said.

New Century Trading is a general partnership between Maderans Don Ly and Mark Lee.

Jose Millan, deputy secretary for the state labor and workforce development, said they did an inspection based on the previous violations the employer had. These violations, he said, related to nonpayment, minimum wage, and overtime.



Aug. 30

A deputy arrested last August outside a bar has resigned from the sheriff's department.

Ryan Cosyns, 34, resigned from the department shortly after his Aug. 29 arraignment, when he learned that the charges against him had been changed from misdemeanor to felony charges, Sheriff John Anderson said Wednesday.

District Attorney Ernie LiCalsi recused his office from prosecuting Cosyns, and a representative from the state office was present at the arraignment.

Cosyns pleaded not guilty to the five charges, three felonies and two special allegation enhancements. Cosyns faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, and drawing a gun on a peace officer. The special allegations charge that he used a gun in the commission of a felony or an attempted felony.

Cosyns is accused of pulling his gun during a personal dispute outside the Back Street Bar Aug. 7 after he was told to leave, according to police reports.



September

Sept. 1

The local American Red Cross campaigned for volunteers to help victims of hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast.

They launched the largest mobilization of resources in the organization's history for a single natural disaster.



Sept. 2

A Madera woman launches a search for her missing relatives, who lived in Louisiana and Mississippi. Communication stopped when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in late August.

Gloria Brown had family living in New Orleans, the area hardest hit by the storm.



Sept. 3

County supervisors hosted a groundbreaking event to launch construction of a new government center.

Construction crews barricaded the center's parking lot, and those using the center and its courts were given the option of parking at the Wal Mart center and riding a bus, or finding space elsewhere.

The new government center will be a four story structure and will cost about $24 million.



Sept. 10

A man accused of committing a brutal home invasion and holding the family hostage for about 24 hours was returned to Madera to stand trial.

Patrick Booth was arrested in Nevada shortly after the July 2004 break-in.

Booth was charged with beating Darren Baker with a baseball bat and injecting the Baker's 11-year-old son with methamphetamine.



Sept. 11

Patrick Booth, 36, plead not guilty to nine counts, including attempted murder. He also faces charges of robbery, burglary, assault on a child and false imprisonment. Bail has been set at $1 million. Judge Edward Moffat appointed public defender Craig Collins to represent Booth.

Booth is accused of breaking into the home of Darren and Chastity Baker in July 2004, and holding them and their 11-year-old son hostage for about 24 hours.

During this time, Booth allegedly injected the child with methamphetamine and beat Darren Baker with a baseball bat.



Sept. 14

Youth center advocates will go before the Redevelopment Agency tonight to show board members that there is community interest in building a youth center in Madera.

Youth Center Committee members went before the City Council in June and went to the RDA Aug. 24 to show that a number of organizations are interested in operating programs in the proposed youth center.



A high school student was caught on campus with a 9mm Ruger handgun he said he carried for protection.

The 16-year-old, whose name was not released, was taken into the vice principal's office at Madera High School's south campus Sept. 14 after the principal learned there was a gun in the student's backpack, police Det. Sgt. Ken Alley said.



Sept. 17

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for a 62,000 square foot factory, California Tomato Machinery, at the corner of Granada Drive and Industrial Avenue.

The city purchased the site in the southwest industrial park for the company, a division of Westside Equipment Company.



Sept. 21

Madera County Sheriff John Anderson received state recognition for a program he developed to help keep track of at-risk people.

Out of about 200 applications, the State Association of Counties chose Anderson's program, Operation Lost and Found, which provides at-risk individuals, such as those with Alzheimer's, a bracelet that emits a signal when they wander from their homes.



Sept. 22

Madera City Council members met with strong opposition to the increase in water, sewer and garbage fees. They raised the rates by 40 percent.

A large crowd showed up to protest the increase. The meeting was held at the Bergon Senior Center.

Three votes were taken, one for an increase of each service.

The water increase would pay for improvements in the city's delivery system and for the installation of new wells.

Sewage rate increases would pay for improvements in processes that would raise the quality of effluent flowing from the treatment plant, and provide for greater capacity.

The increase in garbage collection fees would allow for a third can to be use for recycling.



Sept. 23

A car crashed into a school bus and the driver of the car, a Chowchilla resident, died on Avenue 24.

The car pulled in front of an oncoming bus, and the bus ran over the car, dragging it about 135 feet before the car burst into flames.



Sept. 30

A photography studio manager was charged with taking illicit photos of young girls, the police reported.

Yuni Espitia, 25, of Fresno, was arrested at the Q Image Studio on Country Club Drive after a 16-year-old told police that she believed Espitia had taken illicit photos of her, Det. Tom Burns said.



October

Oct. 4

A police sergeant has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Sergeant Kevin Weaver, who started excavating a glacier-entombed corpse that is believed to be a World War II airman who died in a 1942 plane crash.

Two ice climbers spotted a frozen head, shoulder and arm while climbing the glacier on the side of 13,710-foot Mount Mendel in the Sierra Nevada on Sunday, park spokeswoman Alex Picavet said. The body was 80 percent encased in ice, and still wearing an Army-issued parachute.

Madera police organized a "crime suppression sweep" that resulted in the arrests of 40 people, the department reported.

The suppression team consisted of 48 officers from six state and local law enforcement agencies. Their targets, Sgt. Matt Wiles of the Madera Police Department reported, were wanted parolees, probationers, registered sex offenders, drug registrants, and gang members.

As a result of the sweep, 40 arrests were made, 29 for felony warrants and 25 on misdemeanor charges.



Oct. 21

The city decided against the much-debated garbage increase that would have set recycling cans throughout Madera.

They decided to delay the fee increase and recycling program for six months, and the estimated fee could be lower than first expected.