Commentary: Balancing justice and survival in rural California
Across California, rural counties are under mounting strain. Persistent workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, rising costs, and limited access to healthcare and public services weigh heavily on these communities, all while they operate with far smaller tax bases than their urban counterparts. They are accustomed to doing more with less, stretching every dollar to maintain schools, […]
Book Talk: Caleb Carr, ‘Surrender, New York’
While “Surrender, New York” (2017, 608 pages in hardback format) is a “who done it,” written in a style that is reminiscent of a century ago, Caleb Carr provides us with a good deal of the history of New York. However, it has nothing to do with the Big Apple “crying uncle.” The novel is […]
National Hot Dog Day
Coming up on July 21, is National Hot Dog Day. Lately, I have had a craving for hot dogs, so this was a welcome discovery. I am picky about hot dogs, though, and can’t get too excited about certain ones. For example, if it says chicken or turkey on the label, I just can’t go […]
Judge Conley didn’t impress this crowd
If they ever establish a Madera County Hall of Fame, Judge William M. Conley will surely be near the top of the list. He became the first Superior Court Judge of Madera County after the election of 1893, and remained on the bench until he retired in 1921. At the time of his election, Conley […]