MUSD hears student voices loud and clear
Bringing more ‘rigor and relevance’ into the classroom After years of reading statewide reports of achievement and school climate gaps among California’s students, in 2017, Madera Unified School District’s school board decided to feel the pulse of its own students. It ordered an assessment of student perceptions of the relevance of their classroom instruction to […]
Chukchansi Tribe and Madera County reach agreement to expand services
Agreement will bring additional 24/7 Sheriff, fire emergency response OAKHURST — The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians celebrated the execution of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Madera County that will expand Sheriff and fire services to Chukchansi tribal land and the surrounding community. Under the new MOU, the tribe will increase funding […]
Dog grooming to Indy
After winning the FFA State Championship in Vet Science, Madera FFA advisor and veterinary science pathway teacher, Kristin Sheehan, had to develop a plan to raise funds of more than $5,000 to get four team members to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in late October. Then, it hit her: Why not use the skills […]
Walbridge is sixth winner in Madera
Jadan Walbridge became the sixth different winner of the 2021 Nut Up Pro Late Model Series, with the 16-year-old earning the $5,000 Summer Speedfest victory at Madera Speedway. Walbridge’s victory Saturday night also places him squarely in the points fight with three rounds of the MAVTV-televised stock car series left to go. “It feels really […]
Opinion: It’s not always easy to compare schools
Originally published Friday, Aug. 6, 2004. Here’s something to ponder: In Washington, D.C., public schools spend about $11,000 per pupil, while Catholic schools serving the same area spend about $5,500. Yet, the Catholic school students on average consistently score better than public school students, are more likely to go to college and are far less […]
Opinion: Covid surge boosts case for vaccine passports
While cowardly politicians run as fast as they can from the concept of requiring vaccine passports to enter most public spaces, the midsummer surge of COVID-19 spurred by the disease’s Delta variant here and around the nation strongly boosts the argument for such passports. Around largely reopened California, where masks until very recently were officially […]
Have a saucy summer
A lot of people are cooking on an outdoor grill this time of year. I haven’t had much time for grilling this year, but I do love it, especially when we have baby back ribs and grilled veggies. Most folks have a favorite barbecue sauce, and I have several. I grew up with my dad’s […]
Preciado’s escape from prison
When Madera County voters chose Charles Preciado as their tax collector in 1910, he became California’s youngest elected public official. For almost four years, he served in that capacity, and then in 1914, he geared up to be re-elected. Although Horace Macon, a popular, formidable opponent, had announced that he was out for Preciado’s job, […]