Pogue awarded by military department
Better late than never for Melissa Pogue. She earned a commendation for her work as an analyst II for the State Military Department for the Army National Guard a couple of months ago. However, gathering for an awards ceremony took a little longer than anyone thought. Finally, Pogue was given her award at the Madera […]
Madera Police seize 2,800 pounds of fireworks
The Madera Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit conducted an enforcement operation targeting illegal fireworks and explosives throughout the community last week. As part of this operation, investigators served four search warrants, seized approximately 2,800 pounds of illegal fireworks, seized 11 firearms, arrested three individuals for felony possession of illegal fireworks and arrested an individual for […]
Adult missing
70-year-old Rondy Earl Packard Sr. was last seen on June 28, at 8 a.m. when he left his residence in the area of Pinedale in Fresno to go fishing in an unknown location. Packard is an African American male, bald, 5’8,” 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red-and-white sweater and tan shorts. He […]
911 call leads to DUI arrest
A concerned motorist’s call may have prevented a tragedy. A motorist called 911 to report a silver Toyota Tacoma driving recklessly northbound on State Route 99 in the Madera Area at about 2 a.m. on Sunday. The vehicle exited the freeway, drove over a raised median within the city, then re-entered northbound SR-99. Moments later, […]
Coyote legacy to play on East Coast
Madera Coyote baseball player Zach Sanchez is signed, sealed and delivered to play for Eastern University in Delaware County Pennsylvania. The son of a former football and baseball player and a former softball player, playing baseball was in his blood from the beginning. Sanchez, a three-year varsity player, earned first-team All-County/Metro Athletic Conference honors, and […]
Former Coyote ace continuing career
Coming out of Madera High School in 2023, Madera Coyote baseball ace Jaydian Chavira only had one offer from a four-year school to continue his baseball career. He was thinking his baseball career was over. However, a last minute call from West Hills College in Coalinga has changed Chavira’s baseball trajectory. “Coming out of high […]
Opinion: Semiquincentennial — our presidents mirror us, as a nation
Throughout the 250-year history of our great country, our presidents have represented us to the rest of the world as our primary spokesmen. Some have been eloquent statesmen, others have had a more “down home” approach to expressing their philosophies, hopes, and dreams. George Washington “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant […]
Celebrating George and Martha’s garden
Today, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and, as gardeners, what better way than to remember George and Martha Washington’s gardens at Mount Vernon? George Washington was not only our first president, but he was also a passionate horticulturist who designed his 18-acre Virginia estate grounds to balance beauty with utility. […]
Fireworks memories
The Fourth of July was always an exciting time for my family, as I was growing up. We celebrated this holiday at the city park, having a picnic with other families, and ending the day with the grand display of fireworks. The show seemed to go on for a very long time, and each explosion […]
Madera’s conscience
The Rev. William B. McElwee was an ecclesiastical workhorse. He and his wife, Emily, came to Madera in 1891 to pastor the local Presbyterian Church. He had been born in Missouri in 1838 and ordained into the Christian ministry when he was 35. Although the Rev. McElwee was 53 years old when he assumed the […]