Public Health Order for Madera County
The current data reflects that community spread of infection in Madera County is of increasing concern. In addition to the impact on the general population, community spread increases the likelihood of expanded transmission of COVID-19 in congregate settings such as nursing homes, homeless shelters, jails and prisons. Infection of these vulnerable populations in these settings […]
St. Joachim welcomes principal
When the 2020-2021 school year begins students and parents of St. Joachim of Madera will be greeted by a new addition to the staff. Heather Forcey, 45, nee Hartman has been appointed the school’s new principal. The Chowchilla native is the daughter of Sharon and the late Don Hartman. She and her husband of 17 […]
Madera’s school doors to stay closed
Gov. Gavin Newsom puts the county on a ‘watch list’ Madera Unified School District has announced that its schools will not hold classes at their school sites due to a July 17 directive from Governor Newsom. In his communication, the Governor announced the creation of a “COVID-19 Monitoring List and ordered that any school district […]
Arts Council seals deal with new executive
Madera County Arts Council has hired Jim Kocher as its new executive director. The appointment was effective July 1. Kocher has been fulfilling the role of Interim Executive Director since January 2020. “During the past six months of what has been a very challenging time, both for the arts and the world, Mr. Kocher has […]
CIF State release calendar for this year
SACRAMENTO — The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has determined, in collaboration with our 10 Sections, that education-based athletics for the 2020-2021 school year will begin with a modified season of sport schedule. Our calendar reflects the season for each CIF sport and the last date for Section Championships and Regional/State Championships in those sports where […]
Central Section announces latest notices
I hope that you are your families are physically and mentally healthy. Here is the latest information regarding the 2020-2021 sports calendar and related topics. For the past several months section commissioners and state office leadership have been working on several different scenarios and contingency plans for the 2020-2021 sport calendar. Obviously, the situation we […]
Opinion: Why the country may be in trouble
A D.C. ‘airport ticket agent’ offers some examples of why the U.S. is in so much trouble! I love this, as the ticket agent actually names names. 1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman (Carol Shea-Porter) ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn’t get messed up by being near the window. (On […]
Commentary: Love in the time of Coronavirus
When Gabriel Garcia Marques wrote “Love in the Time of Cholera,” he probably could not have imagined 2020 as recreating the ontology of his 1985 fantasy novel becoming a near reality. As did his storied lovers, we are floating down a river in time isolated in our own river-boats, while the world hunkers down under […]
The coolness of fresh mint
Due to pesky gophers, my garden is limited to container gardening on my deck. I have been amazed this year at the lush growth of my fresh spearmint plants growing in a water-filled plastic tub. I have grown it for many years but for some reason it really went crazy this year, so I am […]
Richard Thomas: Madera’s 3rd fallen police officer
The pallbearers lifted the coffin from the hearse and carried it to its final resting-place in Arbor Vitae Cemetery. Anger and sorrow filled the air as they prepared to say goodbye to one of their own. Upon reaching the grave, Shirley Bollinger, Elmer Pavey, Ernie Fernandez, Woodrow Hefner, Denny Shannon, and Virgil Van Curen put […]