The 2026 Madera District Fair, presented by Valley Children\u2019s Healthcare, is bringing entertainment beyond the main stage as part of its \u201cAll American Party!\u201d celebration September 10-13. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the four-day fair, guests can enjoy a free lineup of magicians, animal performances, characters, live music, interactive shows and specialty attractions appearing throughout the fairgrounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guests can find daily entertainment throughout the grounds, giving families plenty to see and experience between rides, food, exhibits and other fair activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the Patio Stage, Zany Zoe will bring high-energy magic and audience participation to the fairgrounds, keeping guests laughing, participating and amazed from start to finish. Hypnotist Tina Marie will also take the Patio Stage, inviting audience members to become the stars of the show through hilarious performances and imaginative adventures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over in Home Arts, Frank Thurston will showcase his whimsical magic and illusions in performances designed to entertain audiences of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fair will also feature Shawn Eric Magic, whose interactive performances invite guests to participate while witnessing astonishing tricks, as well as Flo the Clown, who will bring colorful antics and fun-filled routines to fairgoers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Kids Town, families can meet Kiddle Karoo and her kooky animal pals during the interactive \u201cBarnyard Bash,\u201d where little buckaroos can join in a country-themed celebration filled with family fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kids Town will also be home to the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, where fairgoers can watch the pigs compete in a one-of-a-kind racing spectacle featuring a 100-yard dash and 50-yard high hurdles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a different kind of performance, the Red Light Brass Band will stroll the fairgrounds throughout the event. Southern California\u2019s premier brass band brings New Orleans-style grooves and Los Angeles swagger directly to the fairgrounds, creating a moving musical experience for guests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Wilder Show will also appear daily, combining unicycling and juggling in a high-energy performance that puts a thrilling twist on traditional circus acts. BC Characters will add to the family atmosphere with playful appearances and interactions throughout the fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The entertainment continues after the sun goes down with a drone show every night following the evening\u2019s headline concert. The show is best viewed and heard from the Estrella Jalisco Stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With performers spread throughout the fairgrounds and multiple acts appearing each day, guests can encounter something new around every corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2026 Madera District Fair runs September 10-13. Fair hours are 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $15 at the gate, with pre-sale tickets available for $10 through September 9. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening Day Thursday is free for everyone, courtesy of Valley Children\u2019s Healthcare and Kids 12 and under are free every day of the fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the complete entertainment schedule and additional information about the 2026 Madera District Fair, visit the Madera District Fair website or follow the fair on social media.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The 2026 Madera District Fair, presented by Valley Children\u2019s Healthcare, is bringing entertainment beyond the main stage as part of its \u201cAll American Party!\u201d celebration September 10-13. Throughout the four-day fair, guests can enjoy a free lineup of magicians, animal performances, characters, live music, interactive shows and specialty attractions appearing throughout the fairgrounds. Guests can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":49504,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,16,19],"tags":[29,32],"class_list":["post-49534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above-the-fold","category-entertainment","category-news","tag-community","tag-culture"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49534"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49535,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49534\/revisions\/49535"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49530,"date":"2026-09-09T07:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49530"},"modified":"2026-09-08T17:05:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T00:05:30","slug":"salters-breaks-ground-for-warehouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/salters-breaks-ground-for-warehouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Salter\u2019s breaks ground for warehouse"},"content":{"rendered":"
Salter\u2019s Distributing in Chowchilla is expanding its warehouse, and adding new offices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
David and Cheryl Salter, owners of the company, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on September 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Salter welcomed everyone to celebrate this new expansion, noting how blessed they feel, and how grateful they are to be in Chowchilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told the story of how they found the piece of property at 711 S. Third Street in Chowchilla nine years ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe feel like God brought us to Chowchilla, and it\u2019s been a great nine years so far. We\u2019re looking to the rest of the time here,\u201d he said. \u201cI say it\u2019s a God thing, because when Cheryl found this place for sale, I told her there\u2019s no way in hell I\u2019m moving to Chowchilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThree months later, I found it for sale. And I said, \u2018look at this place I found.\u2019 So, when it was my idea, we bought the place,\u201d he said, smiling at Cheryl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the ceremony began, Salter asked Pastor Tomas Portillo to to pray for the business, for their community, and for the employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Portillo first spoke of the Salters\u2019 strong faith and relationship with God, and that they have prayed much over their business. He quoted a passage from Psalms 127, which is often used for the family and home. \u201cUnless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain, and unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.\u201d The passage is Psalm 127:1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd we don\u2019t want to do anything that the Lord has not blessed,\u201d Portillo said, before he prayed the Lord\u2019s blessing over the groundbreaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Rogers County Supervisor for District 2, who lives in Chowchilla, presented the Salters with a certificate of recognition from the Madera County Board of Supervisors. He began his speech with the title of the song, \u201cOh, What a Beautiful Morning!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here on a beautiful morning to celebrate an achievement that is kind of rare in Chowchilla,\u201d he said. \u201cAbout 10 years ago the Salters decided to move their operation to Chowchilla with about, plus or minus 30 to 40 employees. Today, they\u2019re at 99.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rogers spoke of how amazing it is that Salters Distributing has grown so much in such a short time, and how unusual these entrepreneurs are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I could describe them, David could sell refrigerators to the Eskimos, and probably could sell canteens to the lizards, too. This guy is great at sales. And then Cheryl is the brains and brawn behind the sales. She is the business mind,\u201d he said. \u201cTogether, they are a perfect couple. God brought them together for a reason,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the Salters, he said. \u201cGod has really blessed you. He\u2019s going to continue to bless you because you do the right things. You\u2019re honest people. You\u2019re good people. You\u2019re fighting for the right things. And you\u2019re just going to continue to prosper. Thank you for your service for our community. And may you continue to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joe Ballas, district representative from the office of State Senator Anna Caballeros, also presented the Salters with a certificate of recognition for their growth, and congratulated them on their groundbreaking of about 20,000 square feet of expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mayor of Chowchilla, Kelly Smith, made a few comments to the Salters about the business they have built in Chowchilla, congratulating them on their investment in their business and in the city of Chowchilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one thing to build a business in a community, but it\u2019s another thing to make your family here in the city. You guys chose to live here. You served the community as much more than just a business. You made Chowchilla your home. We\u2019re so proud to have you as members of this community. Thank you for choosing Chowchilla,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheryl Salter welcomed everyone, thanking them for coming to celebrate this expansion. She gave a brief history of how the company came to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy husband, David Salter, was a father at 17. He dropped out of high school and went to work for Valley Sales in Modesto. His first job was blowing up balls in a warehouse. They soon moved him to a delivery truck and he began to learn the distribution business,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, after working for a few different distribution companies, David knew he wanted to work for himself, and build his own company. He moved to Fresno so he would not compete with his former employers, and he opened Salters Distributing in 1990 with $200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe used the $200 to buy toy inventory, sold his 1970 Chevy Chevelle to buy his first delivery truck and went to work,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She spoke of how the company kept growing, expanding from selling toys to selling general merchandise. The company now sells toys, work gloves, bandanas, hats, sunglasses, mops and brooms, stationary tools, batteries, summer inflatables, winter hats and gloves, flashlights, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salter\u2019s Distributing now has several lines of its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Salters have immersed themselves in the community. David has served on Madera Workforce Investment Board for six years. He currently serves on the board at the Trinity Pregnancy Resource Center and is a member of the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
David and Cheryl were married in 1998, blending their families. They raised their four kids together. They moved to Madera Ranchos, and built the business there for 17 years. The business continued to grow, and they ran out of space on that property. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2017, they purchased the warehouse in Chowchilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The company now services over 3,200 stores in the Central Valley and the Central Coast. The Salters run the company along with their son-in-law Billy Lawson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They have been in business now 36 years, and they are thankful to God, their staff, and the city of Chowchilla for their success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Salter spoke of the expansion itself, but first talked about how he began the business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen I first started it, I was living on my brother\u2019s couch for a few weeks between his couch and another friend\u2019s couch. I was couch surfing because I only had $200 worth of merchandise,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019d already tried getting the business going once. It wasn\u2019t working, and I was cleaning carpets for a living. My dad called me, and he said, come get these toys out of my garage and sell them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If it hadn\u2019t been for those couple of pushes, he may not have gotten started. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He rented a house out in the country, working out of a three-car garage, and he met Cheryl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe loves business. I love business. We hit it off real quick,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I told her, now if you marry me, I\u2019ve got dreams.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two of them got married, and he said he has been blessed all his life. It all started with $200. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve just been blessed with friends and family for 36 years,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
David spoke of his son-in-law starting at 18 years old, and now he\u2019s 37, running the company with him. He shared a couple of stories of others who have been with him for many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI could sit here and tell you story and story and story about it. all my different guys working on this team. We don\u2019t just have employees. We got teams,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just before the groundbreaking, David Salter gave a quick explanation of what the expansion will be. The warehouse will expand, and they are building 3,900 square feet of new offices, with warehouse room above the offices to store seasonal items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re building it and designing it so everything will flow a lot easier. And maybe in nine years, we\u2019ll expand again. We\u2019re on 10 acres, and we love it out here.,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their motto for this expansion, \u201cHere we grow again,\u201d was printed on the backs of all the t-shirts of the staff who were present at the groundbreaking ceremony.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Salter\u2019s Distributing in Chowchilla is expanding its warehouse, and adding new offices. David and Cheryl Salter, owners of the company, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on September 2. David Salter welcomed everyone to celebrate this new expansion, noting how blessed they feel, and how grateful they are to be in Chowchilla. He told the story of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":49503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,19],"tags":[26],"class_list":["post-49530","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above-the-fold","category-news","tag-business"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49530","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49530"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49530\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49531,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49530\/revisions\/49531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49530"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49530"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49530"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49525,"date":"2026-09-09T07:07:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49525"},"modified":"2026-09-08T16:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T23:58:33","slug":"progress-made-in-downtown-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/progress-made-in-downtown-construction\/","title":{"rendered":"Progress made in downtown construction"},"content":{"rendered":"
Caltrans recently released an update on the construction project in Downtown Madera.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThe contractor continues to make steady progress on the project, with work advancing across all four segments,\u201d said Caldrons in the statement released September 1. \u201cConstruction activities remain active throughout the project area, and crews are working to complete improvements as efficiently as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The contractor has completed the demolition and reconstruction of six curb ramps along Yosemite Avenue north of High Street. Grind and overlay operations are anticipated to begin in the coming months.<\/p>\n\n
The contractor has replaced and newly installed several hundred feet of sidewalk and has also completed the replacement of several driveways along the corridor. Work in this area continues to progress steadily.<\/p>\n\n
The contractor has sawcut approximately nine curb ramps in preparation for demolition. This work is anticipated to proceed following completion of the South Segment.<\/p>\n\n
Temporary K-rail has been installed to close the west side of the roadway, with northbound and southbound traffic currently shifted to the east side.<\/p>\n\n
Within this segment, several curb ramps, curb and gutter sections, and sidewalk areas have either been demolished or saw-cut in preparation for demolition. Crews are actively grading, forming, and pouring new curb and gutter.<\/p>\n\n
The contractor has also completed installation of most of the conduits for the decorative street-lighting system on the west side of the roadway and continues to install the underground electrical system and pull boxes. All traffic signal mast arms along this corridor have been removed.<\/p>\n\n
The current construction sequence in the downtown area is focused on completing underground improvements first, including electrical and irrigation work, before proceeding with the remaining hardscape improvements, such as curb and gutter, sidewalks, and curb ramps.<\/p>\n\n
Construction activities and traffic control measures will continue to change as work progresses. Please slow down, use caution, and remain alert when traveling through the construction and cone zones. We appreciate the community\u2019s patience and understanding as this work moves forward. The contractor will continue working diligently to complete the project as efficiently and safely as possible.<\/p>\n\n
Overall, the project continues to move forward at a steady pace, with significant progress being made across all segments.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Caltrans recently released an update on the construction project in Downtown Madera. \u201cThe contractor continues to make steady progress on the project, with work advancing across all four segments,\u201d said Caldrons in the statement released September 1. \u201cConstruction activities remain active throughout the project area, and crews are working to complete improvements as efficiently as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":49501,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,19],"tags":[26,29,30],"class_list":["post-49525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above-the-fold","category-news","tag-business","tag-community","tag-construction"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49525","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49525"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49525\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49529,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49525\/revisions\/49529"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49525"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49525"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49525"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49523,"date":"2026-09-09T07:06:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49523"},"modified":"2026-09-08T16:38:19","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T23:38:19","slug":"most-significant-journalism-bill-nears-finish-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/most-significant-journalism-bill-nears-finish-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Most significant journalism bill nears finish line"},"content":{"rendered":"
News outlet owners, journalists and coalitions of organizations that have come together to support the nation\u2019s most important journalism legislation to date were still in scramble mode this week, even as supermajorities in the California Legislature passed the Community NEWS Act, authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This historic legislation, which would provide meaningful support for the free press and the public\u2019s right to know at the local level, is on the verge of becoming law. California news outlets, journalists, and advocates for civil liberties and government transparency are holding their breath as they wait for Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign Assembly Bill 2222 into law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Estimates indicate the law would direct more than $40 million a year to California local news outlets, including print, broadcast and digital operations, regardless of whether they operate under a for-profit or nonprofit business model. The funding would be distributed through tax credits based on the number of journalists employed by each outlet. The structure is designed to serve smaller newsrooms first, as they would receive $20,000 per full-time journalist. That amount would decrease to $15,000 per journalist for newsrooms with greater than five, and with additional funding available for new hires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are one step away from making sustainable local news a reality. However, concern over the governor\u2019s signature is well founded. Newsom has until September 30 to sign the popular bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This moment brings the California Independent News Alliance full circle. I founded CINA in 2024 after we lost the battle over SB 1327, a similar bill introduced by former state Sen. Steve Glazer that would have been funded by Big Tech. When Big Tech, chain news and other powerful lobbies came out hard against it, Newsom refused to support the bill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was that summer that many independent news outlets fully realized our interests were not being represented by any trade association or organization. We were being picked off one by one as we watched the number of journalists decrease across our regions and the amount of corruption and misinformation in local communities and municipal governments increase. We joined hands in an alliance in hopes our voices would be heard and our newspapers saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the surface, AB 2222 looks much like the Glazer bill. But this legislation is financed through a measure that would end corporate tax breaks for executive compensation above $1 million, aligning California\u2019s tax rules with federal law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The news industry is crumbling in California, and the 200 independent newspapers that remain are feeling the heat. This legislative season, CINA has been an important voice and a key connector among the huge coalition built throughout the state and nation to breathe life into our sagging industry.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
News outlet owners, journalists and coalitions of organizations that have come together to support the nation\u2019s most important journalism legislation to date were still in scramble mode this week, even as supermajorities in the California Legislature passed the Community NEWS Act, authored by Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego). This historic legislation, which would provide meaningful […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[26,37,39,43,46],"class_list":["post-49523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-business","tag-finance","tag-government","tag-law","tag-organizations"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49523"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49524,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49523\/revisions\/49524"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49520,"date":"2026-09-09T07:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49520"},"modified":"2026-09-08T16:17:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T23:17:17","slug":"new-district-ad-brings-different-perspective-to-madera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/new-district-ad-brings-different-perspective-to-madera\/","title":{"rendered":"New district AD brings different perspective to Madera"},"content":{"rendered":"
When Madera Unified School District Director of Athletics Marty Bitter retired, Jesse Hardwick saw an opportunity to come to a city, and a district that he respected from afar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bitter created the position 12 years ago, and retired from it earlier this year. Enter former Fresno State football player, and athletic director at Clovis and Sanger high schools, Hardwick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always liked Madera when I came out here for games,\u201d Hardwick said. \u201cMadera was introduced to me very early in my career. Mark Barsotti (Fresno State teammate) talked about Madera. My second year at Fresno State, we came to Madera for a chili cook-off. One of our graduate assistants participated in the arm wrestling competition. Even when I was coaching at Sanger, we were in the TRAC together. I got to know Madera a lot through that. I had an appreciation for Madera. When you went against Madera, you knew you were in for a battle. We had some battles with them. Every game was a dogfight. I always had a deep appreciation for Madera schools. When learned more about this position, it sparked an interest in me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hardwick took over for Bitter on July 1, and had been coming to Madera to sit in on meetings. The biggest adjustment was not seeing students running around a campus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the first time in 30 years I have not been on a school site,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a little different coming here. For the past 20 years, I\u2019ve had the opportunities to go to the office, go to the gym, see kids and see staff. Do I enjoy what I\u2019m doing? 100 percent. I just haven\u2019t gotten used to it. Eventually, I will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hardwick grew up in Garden Grove in Orange County, and went to Bolsa Grande High School, where his team won a Section Championship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe had a pretty loaded team,\u201d he said. \u201cWe ran the veer option with not a lot of passing. We rushed for more than 4,500 yards and three backs with more than 1,000 yards. We broke the county record. I was All-Conference both years. I was first team All-County and made the All-State team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After high school, Hardwick received inquiries from USC, UCLA and Colorado. However, he had to settle for mid-majors like Fresno State, San Diego and Utah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFresno State was my last recruiting trip,\u201d he said. \u201cI went on five recruiting trips five weekends in a row. It was a lot different back then. I was flying out on a Friday, and coming on Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hardwick was recruited by then-offensive line coach Pat Hill and played under Jim Sweeney. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never been to Fresno in my life,\u201d he said. \u201cI never even passed through Fresno. If I went up north, I used to fish in the Eastern Sierra. I never went through the Valley. I enjoyed my experience and decided to come to Fresno State to play for the Bulldogs. I came in the fall of 1988. It was quite an experience. It was a lot hotter here than down south, and we did three practices a day. As an incoming freshman, I was wondering what I got myself into.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hardwick redshirted in 1998, and played for the Bulldogs from 1989-1992. Madera legend Barsotti was his quarterback for his first three years, and then played with Trent Dilfer. His last Fresno State game was the 1992 Freedom Bowl where Fresno State defeated USC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was a neat deal because I got to go back home. My final home was beating USC at home in Anaheim,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hardwick had a cup of coffee with NFL camps and CFL teams, but eventually made his way back to Fresno State to finish off his degree with one more semester. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe plan was to go into law enforcement,\u201d he said. \u201cOver the course of that semester, I got contacted by James Gambrell (now the MUSD Director of Community Athletics and Recreation). He was an assistant coach at Sanger, and I didn\u2019t know him. I met with him and (Sanger Apaches football coach) Chuck Shidan. I said I\u2019ll help out for a season (1996). I fell in love with it, and it got me hooked into coaching and education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was at Sanger until 2000, and then coached, and taught, at Clovis West for a couple of years, and returned to Sanger in 2004 to teach in a different position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2006, the athletic director position opened up, and Hardwick threw his hat in for the job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDuring the time when I was at Clovis West, I went and got my masters in administration education. I knew I wanted to do something like that, but didn\u2019t know when,\u201d Hardwick said. \u201cDan Chacon (Sanger High School principal) reached out, and asked if I was interested. In that time, Sanger went through three athletic directors in a year. It was a big learning curve from the get-go. I loved dealing with it. I felt like I knew the community. I enjoyed doing the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eight years later, the athletic director position opened at Clovis High School in 2014. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy three daughters were going to Quail Lake, which feeds into Sanger,\u201d he said. \u201cI literally lived across the street from Clovis High. My oldest daughter was about to enter middle school. She was already involved with a number of travel team with players from Clark, which feeds into Clovis. I decided to go for it, and got the job. I spent the last 12 years at Clovis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy plan was to have my kids go to where I was, whether Sanger or Clovis. I knew it was going to be difficult for me to be a dad. Being the athletic director, you are gone a lot. My kids were getting to an age where I wanted to be there. If I was going to stay as an athletic director in Sanger, and they went to a different school, I was going to miss a lot. It just worked out. That was the great thing about doing that. Sanger is a great community, but this was a family decision, at the time. I enjoyed every bit of my daughters at Clovis. All three daughters were at Clovis at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, Hardwick heard about Bitter retiring, and the job perked some interest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve known Marty for a number of years. We\u2019ve had a lot of league meetings and with me coming out here for games. I was involved with him with CIF,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Madera Tribune talked to Hardwick about some of his thoughts and things he brings to the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Madera Tribune:<\/strong> How has the learning curve been?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesse Hardwick:<\/strong> The learning curve is a little gradual. I feel like I have a deep knowledge of sports programs. There\u2019s also systems. They are all a little different, but they are all set to accomplish the same goals. Getting to know the community, the district systems and my own knowledge, and blend it together to make this better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n MT:<\/strong> How nice are the MUSD athletic facilities?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n JH:<\/strong> I have not been in school district where every middle school who has an all-weather track, lights and a snack bar. Clovis doesn\u2019t have that. Fresno doesn\u2019t have that. Not every large school districts have their own football stadiums. This is very unique. There\u2019s an investment in athletics and facilities. That\u2019s the hook. You get kids into athletics to help them better their education and make them better people for society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MT:<\/strong> What kind of philosophies do you want to implement?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n JH:<\/strong> I want to help the growth of programs. How are we able to make sure we continue the articulation model of our K-6 to middle school to high school to make sure it\u2019s valued? Our head coaches are connecting with our middle school coaches to make sure they are all coaching the way they want their program to grow. There\u2019s a model for that, but it\u2019s ensuring it\u2019s happening. It\u2019s about supporting the people at the sites that it will help their program. It\u2019s about continually being competitive, year in, year out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MT:<\/strong> What do you consider your strengths?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n JH:<\/strong> Where I\u2019m at in my career, I have a good knowledge base, by being in a few districts, of knowing how things work. This is my third school district in 30 years. I\u2019ve learned a lot. I\u2019ve learned from my mistakes and successes. Taking that knowledge and passing to others make them better. My strengths are being diligent, hard working and loyal. I\u2019m someone who is always going to the end goal of things. There\u2019s always something you\u2019re going for, and you are never getting it. You continue to chase it. You set the bar higher. That\u2019s something that\u2019s been embedded in me since I was an athlete. My goal is to help the people around me better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n MT:<\/strong> What advantage do you have of being a high-level athlete?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n JH:<\/strong> I try to look at the high school kids. Two of my three kids played college athletics. I dove into that a little. The way I see kids nowadays with athletics is night and day than what I went through. To be able to educate kids and young coaches to navigate and keep kids engaged is what I want to do. I\u2019ve had an opportunity to be a part of championship-level teams. The thing I valued most were the relationships. Once you build a relationship with a kid, and they trust you, they will run through a wall for you. I encourage every coach to be like Chuck Shidan. Kids would run through a wall for him. There are some great coaches out there. They are not measured by their record, but are measured by how they transform students. This is education-based athletics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n MT:<\/strong> You\u2019ve been in the job for a couple of months, what has been the biggest change?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n JH:<\/strong> It\u2019s a little different coming here. For the past 20 years, I\u2019ve had the opportunities to go to the office, go to the gym, see kids and see staff. I will get out to some events. I\u2019m making sure to get around. There\u2019s a lot to pick. Before, there was just one school. Now, there\u2019s elementary, middle school and high school athletics. I get to fill my plate a little bit. I went to my first flag football game. Clovis doesn\u2019t have flag, yet. I enjoy going to events and seeing kids participate and succeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardwick has been married for 26 years. His wife works at Fresno State in facilities management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe grew up in the same area,\u201d he said. \u201cShe went to Valencia and we beat Valencia in the section championships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He has three daughters \u2014 Julia, Jessica and Jada. Julia was a COVID graduate from Clovis. She was the B\u2019nai, B\u2019rith winner, which is given to the top female scholar\/athlete in the Fresno\/Clovis area. She played soccer at Fresno State, and earned her master\u2019s degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Daughter Jessica graduated from CSU Monterey Bay with an environmental science degree. She works for the Department of Interior studying fowl in the Bay Area. Jessica played golf at Clovis, and was the school mascot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Youngest daughter Jada is a senior at CSU Monterey Bay where she is on the women\u2019s soccer team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have one more year of being a soccer dad,\u201d Hardwick said. \u201cShe will graduate with a kinesiology degree in May.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hardwick cherishes his free time because he hasn\u2019t had a lot of it in the past few years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was a site AD at Clovis so we had a lot of things going on,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen I wasn\u2019t doing that, I was watching my kids play sports. This fall, I will watch a lot of my daughters\u2019 games. I enjoy going to sporting events. It\u2019s been a part of my life. When I can, I like to go fishing. I haven\u2019t done that in a while. I like to travel and get out of the Valley. If I can watch a football game or a Fresno State game, I\u2019ll do that. I\u2019ll follow the Dodgers and Rams.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Madera Unified School District Director of Athletics Marty Bitter retired, Jesse Hardwick saw an opportunity to come to a city, and a district that he respected from afar. Bitter created the position 12 years ago, and retired from it earlier this year. Enter former Fresno State football player, and athletic director at Clovis and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":49502,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,23],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-49520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above-the-fold","category-sports","tag-schools"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49520","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49520"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49520\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49522,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49520\/revisions\/49522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49520"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49520"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49520"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49518,"date":"2026-09-09T07:04:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49518"},"modified":"2026-09-08T15:31:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T22:31:29","slug":"commentary-an-ounce-of-evidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/commentary-an-ounce-of-evidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary: An ounce of evidence"},"content":{"rendered":" Chuck Wieland\u2019s recent letter, \u201cAn Ounce of Prevention,\u201d contains plenty of political insults: \u201cTrump the Whiner,\u201d \u201cArt of the Squeal,\u201d and a \u201cvoter suppression bill.\u201d That language may entertain readers who already agree with him, but sarcasm is not evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The serious questions are these: Should citizenship be verified when someone registers to vote? Should voters provide identification? Are mail-in ballots adequately protected against fraud?<\/p>\n\n\n\n These are separate issues. Noncitizen voting concerns eligibility. Mail-ballot fraud concerns identity misuse, improper collection, coercion or fraudulent submission. Neither should be dismissed merely because documented cases are uncommon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only citizens may vote in federal elections. Yet the federal registration form generally relies on applicants checking a citizenship box and signing an affirmation. Supporters of the SAVE America Act ask a fair question: Why should citizenship \u2014 the fundamental qualification for voting \u2014 be assumed when it can be verified?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Evidence does not show that millions of non-citizens voted or that such votes changed the 2020 presidential result. But \u201crare\u201d does not mean \u201cnonexistent.\u201d Michigan identified 15 apparent non-citizens who cast ballots in 2024 and referred 13 cases for possible prosecution. A North Carolina audit after 2016 found 41 legally present non-citizens who had voted. The numbers are small, but documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mail-ballot fraud is also real and documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Iowa, a federal jury convicted Kim Phuong Taylor on 52 election-related charges for fraudulently generating absentee votes during her husband\u2019s 2020 campaigns. In Atlantic City, a political organizer admitted procuring, casting and submitting fraudulent mail ballots in 2022 and received a two-year federal sentence. In Bridgeport, Connecticut, a judge ordered a new 2023 Democratic mayoral primary after evidence showed serious absentee-ballot irregularities. The candidates were separated by only 251 votes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These cases do not prove that mail ballots changed the 2020 presidential election. They prove something more limited but still important: Mail-ballot fraud is not imaginary and can threaten a close election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wieland cites voting-machine defamation settlements. Those settlements matter, but they do not decide whether citizenship should be verified or mail voting needs safeguards. One dispute about machines does not settle every election-security question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mail voting creates opportunities for ballots to be requested under another identity, intercepted, collected improperly, influenced or mishandled outside official custody. That does not make every mailed ballot fraudulent. It means every ballot deserves protection. A responsible system should verify citizenship and identity, restrict unauthorized collection, document the chain of custody, prevent duplicate voting and preserve paper ballots for audits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Opponents reasonably ask how document requirements would affect elderly, naturalized, disabled or low-income citizens. A fair law should provide identification without charge, help citizens obtain documents, allow reasonable alternatives, protect eligible voters from mistaken removal and offer provisional ballots while questions are resolved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Election security and voter access do not have to be enemies. Eligible citizens should be helped to vote, while ineligible votes and fraudulent ballots should be stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The answer is not \u201cTrust Trump.\u201d It is not \u201cTrust California.\u201d It is not even \u201cTrust Chuck or Rick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Verify citizenship. Verify identity. Protect mail ballots. Audit the count. Then show the public the evidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is an ounce of prevention worthy of a constitutional republic.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chuck Wieland\u2019s recent letter, \u201cAn Ounce of Prevention,\u201d contains plenty of political insults: \u201cTrump the Whiner,\u201d \u201cArt of the Squeal,\u201d and a \u201cvoter suppression bill.\u201d That language may entertain readers who already agree with him, but sarcasm is not evidence. The serious questions are these: Should citizenship be verified when someone registers to vote? Should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[39],"class_list":["post-49518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-government"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49518"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49519,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49518\/revisions\/49519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49516,"date":"2026-09-09T07:03:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49516"},"modified":"2026-09-08T15:17:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T22:17:24","slug":"book-talk-cavanagh-two-kinds-of-stranger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/book-talk-cavanagh-two-kinds-of-stranger\/","title":{"rendered":"Book Talk: Cavanagh, \u2018Two Kinds of Stranger\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":" When I started this column, six years ago, I looked for authors who were new to me. By that, I meant authors who had published their debut novels after 2010, and whose work I had not previously read. Some of the works that I read were self-published; some authors already had publishers. Of course, during the year, I also read my favorite authors whenever their new novels became available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the year, I looked only at the \u201cnew authors,\u201d trying to decide which I liked best. There were many good authors from which to choose, but \u2014 honestly \u2014 there was no contest. The winner was Steve Cavanagh, an Irish lawyer. His first novel was \u201cThe Defence\u201d (British spelling), published in 2015. His protagonist was Eddie Flynn, a con man who got his law degree but never forgot his grifting origins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although The Defence (2015) was set in New York, there were many British expressions in the text; words, like \u201cboot\u201d for a car\u2019s trunk; and British spellings, like \u201ckerb\u201d for curb. A new novel followed almost annually, and each featured Eddie Flynn. Also, fewer Britishisms were used as the author\u2019s work became more \u201cAmericanized.\u201d \u201cTwo Kinds of Stranger\u201d (2026, 390 pages in hardback format) is the tenth book in the Eddie Flynn series, and Cavanagh has also written a few stand-alones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This episode in Eddie\u2019s life centers on Ellie Parker, who is an Internet influencer and advocate of people performing RAKs, Random Acts of Kindness. Ellie\u2019s fans love her and probably envy her perfect life. She has a reputation for doing a RAK every day. And she has a beautiful home and a wonderful husband. Until\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During one of her programs, she\u2019s in her kitchen, unloading her groceries, some of which, she tells viewers, will be used to make brownies for her husband James. She also reveals that she and her \u201cbestie,\u201d Harriet, are set for a \u201cgirly\u201d night on Thursday. Then, she hears a \u201cbumping\u201d noise in her house. The camera follows her as she investigates. She opens the door to her bedroom to discover a man and a woman. They are on her bed, and they\u2019re naked. The camera, on a live feed, catches Ellie as she turns pale and shouts, \u201cOH MY GOD! How could you? How could you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a flashback, Ellie encounters a stranger on the subway. He\u2019s performing a RAK, saving a sleeping woman\u2019s bag of noodles from falling out of her grocery bag. One of his legs is in a cast, he\u2019s on crutches, and he has a yellow suitcase. He can\u2019t manage the suitcase and the crutches to get up the stairs to the street level, so Ellie helps him. This random encounter leads to circumstances that lead to her being charged with murder, and the cards are stacked against her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no possible defense theory either to prove that she is innocent or to establish reasonable doubt in the minds of the jury. However, this is just the kind of case that Eddie and his team take on. But Eddie\u2019s ex-wife and her husband are on trial at the same time. Maybe that\u2019s a complication that even Eddie Flynn can\u2019t handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puede contactar a Jim Glynn en j_glynn@att.net.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I started this column, six years ago, I looked for authors who were new to me. By that, I meant authors who had published their debut novels after 2010, and whose work I had not previously read. Some of the works that I read were self-published; some authors already had publishers. Of course, during […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[44],"class_list":["post-49516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-literature"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49516"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49517,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49516\/revisions\/49517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49514,"date":"2026-09-09T07:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49514"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:53:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T21:53:57","slug":"master-gardener-checklist-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/master-gardener-checklist-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Master Gardener checklist"},"content":{"rendered":" If you don\u2019t have a fall or winter garden, prepare for spring planting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tareas:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Repair damaged spots in cool-season lawns (such as tall fescue) by scratching with a rake, seeding, and covering with mulch. Keep moist until the new grass seedlings are well established. Warm-season lawns like Bermuda grass will soon be entering their dormant season, so bare patches should be covered with mulch to discourage winter weeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Use spent vegetable plants and summer annuals to start a compost pile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Poda:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Divide and thin perennials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Sharpen your pruning tools in preparation for fall pruning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fertilizaci\u00f3n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 To avoid a flush of new growth late in the growing season, do not apply fertilizer to citrus, avocados, or other frost-tender plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Siembra <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 If the weather is cool enough, plant spring bulbs and annuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Annuals: calendula, Canterbury bell (Campanula), pansy (Viola)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Perennials: catmint (Nepeta), dianthus, fortnight lily (Dietes), Lantana<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Fruits and vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, parsley<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Trees, shrubs, vines: barberry (Berberis), redbud (Cercis), fringe tree (Chionanthus), chitalpa<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Tender leafy vegetables are best planted later in the month, and even then may require daily watering until they are well established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disfruta ahora:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Annuals and perennials: fibrous begonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Bulbs, corms, tubers: cyclamen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Trees, shrubs, vines: beautyberry (Callicarpa), bottlebrush (Callistemon), chitalpa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Fruits and vegetables: garlic, gourds, grapes, peaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Fall color: Raywood ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), maidenhair (Ginkgo biloba).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cosas en las que pensar:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Cover remaining tomato and pepper plants with a garden blanket to extend the harvest season into November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Limit the size of fall vegetable gardens to avoid over-production. Plant only the varieties that you know you will use and enjoy, or that you can share with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fuente: Adaptado de *A Gardener\u2019s Companion for the Central San Joaquin Valley*, 3.\u00aa edici\u00f3n, disponible actualmente a trav\u00e9s de los Master Gardeners del condado de Fresno por $30. Se pueden adquirir en nuestro jard\u00edn de demostraci\u00f3n \u2014Garden of the Sun, 1750 N Winery (McKinley\/Winery)\u2014, abierto los lunes, mi\u00e9rcoles y viernes de 9 a. m. a mediod\u00eda, y por correo electr\u00f3nico en mgfresno@ucanr.edu. Tambi\u00e9n respondemos preguntas sobre jardiner\u00eda en mgfresno@ucanr.edu. Elaborado por Terry Lewis, Maestro Jardinero de UCCE del condado de Fresno.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you don\u2019t have a fall or winter garden, prepare for spring planting. Tasks: \u2022 Repair damaged spots in cool-season lawns (such as tall fescue) by scratching with a rake, seeding, and covering with mulch. Keep moist until the new grass seedlings are well established. Warm-season lawns like Bermuda grass will soon be entering their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[25,36],"class_list":["post-49514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-agriculture","tag-environment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49514"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49515,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49514\/revisions\/49515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49509,"date":"2026-09-09T07:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49509"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:49:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T21:49:35","slug":"hot-cha-cha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/hot-cha-cha\/","title":{"rendered":"Hot-cha-cha"},"content":{"rendered":" Younger folks probably will not make the connection, even if the more accurate version of \u201cHot-cha-cha\u201d was presented (which is \u201cHa-cha-cha-cha-cha\u201d). This was one of the great Jimmy Durante\u2019s famous catch phrases during his time.<\/p>\n\n The morning of writing this, I decided to have a little snack of a fresh jalape\u00f1o pepper, with a slice of roasted garlic French bread. I washed it, cut off the stem, sliced it in half lengthwise, cleaned out all the seeds and membranes, and (insert drum roll here) took a bite. I actually exclaimed, \u201cHa-cha-cha-cha\u201d because I was certain that flames were shooting out of my mouth. It was funny, but the humor did not lessen the mouth burn.<\/p>\n\n I will have to do some research into this type of pepper, because sometimes they are surprisingly mild, and other times they are, well, HOT. I know that many people love them to be that hot, and I respect that. I just wish I knew of a way to tell which ones have a super-high heat level and which ones are mild.<\/p>\n\n There is one grocery store where I can consistently find mild ones, but it is a two-hour drive one way, so there goes that plan. I still love jalape\u00f1o peppers, though, and am happy to share some of my favorite recipes that use them.<\/p>\n\n Hope you are all enjoying the mornings that have a touch of fall in the form of cooler temperatures.<\/p>\n\n 5 ears corn, shucked<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Vegetable oil, for brushing<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Kosher salt<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 2 tablespoons unsalted butter<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/2 red onion, finely diced<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1 red bell pepper, seeded and finely diced<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 green bell pepper, seeded and finely diced<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, finely diced<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1 paquete (226 g) de queso crema, a temperatura ambiente<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/2 taza de mayonesa<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/2 cup sour cream<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1 pound (about 4 cups) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (Pepper Jack is good, too)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 2 green onions, thinly sliced<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 can (4-oz.) diced green chiles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n Chili powder, for garnish<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Tortilla chips, for serving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1. Heat a grill pan over medium heat (or preheat an outdoor grill). Brush the corn with vegetable oil, sprinkle with a little salt and grill, turning, until slightly charred, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.<\/p>\n\n 2. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add red onion, garlic, bell peppers and jalape\u00f1o. Stir and cook the vegetables until they are soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.<\/p>\n\n 3. Cut the corn kernels off the cobs. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream and two-thirds of the Monterey Jack. Mix on low speed until combined. Add the scallions, vegetable mixture, corn and canned chiles in their liquid. Mix until just combined.<\/p>\n\n 4. Spread the mixture in a 3-quart baking dish and sprinkle with the rest of the Monterey Jack and a little chili powder. (At this point, you can cover the pan with foil and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Just let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.)<\/p>\n\n 5. Preheat the oven to 350. Bake the dip until bubbling and golden, 20 to 22 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm with tortilla chips. Makes 12 to 16 servings.<\/p>\n\n Allow some time, at least 30 minutes or more total, for air-drying in between steps of the coating process.<\/em><\/p>\n\n 12 ounces cream cheese, softened<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 package (8-oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 tablespoon cooked, crumbled bacon<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1\/4 cucharadita de ajo en polvo<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 12 ounces fresh jalape\u00f1o peppers, split and seeded<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 taza de leche<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 cup all-purpose flour<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1 cup dry bread crumbs (seasoned or plain)<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Oil, as needed for frying<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1. In a medium bowl, mix cream cheese, Cheddar cheese, bacon crumbles and garlic powder until smooth and well blended. Spread mixture into the jalapeno halves.<\/p>\n\n 2. Place 3 small bowls on work surface. In one, add the milk. In another, add the flour. In the last bowl, add the bread crumbs.<\/p>\n\n 3. Dip the stuffed peppers in the milk, then the flour, making sure they are well-coated. Transfer to a plate or rack with a wire grid, and allow to dry for 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n 4. Dip the peppers in milk once more, then roll them in the bread crumbs. Allow to dry for another 10 minutes. Repeat the dipping in milk and rolling in bread crumbs once more, allow to dry.<\/p>\n\n 5. Heat oil to 365 in a medium skillet (or use a deep fryer). Working in batches, fry the poppers until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Serve hot. Makes about 20 servings.<\/p>\n\n I find that the heat mellows out a bit the longer the candied peppers are kept.<\/em><\/p>\n\n 1 pound fresh jalape\u00f1o peppers<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 cup apple cider vinegar<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 1\/2 cups sugar<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 cucharadita de sal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1 teaspoon pickling spice, optional<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1. Remove the pepper stems, then cut each pepper into 1\/4-inch-thick coin shapes.<\/p>\n\n 2. In a medium saucepan, combine cider vinegar, sugar, salt and pickling spice, if using. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.<\/p>\n\n 3. Add the jalape\u00f1os and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer until the pepper rings look slightly shrunken and glossy, about 5 to 6 minutes.<\/p>\n\n 4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the peppers to a pint-sized canning jar or other heat-proof container. Bring the liquid back to a boil and cook until it is reduced to a syrup and is about 1 1\/2 cups, about 8 to 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n 5. Pour the syrup over the jalape\u00f1os, pressing the peppers down so they remain submerged. Cool to room temperature before sealing and storing in refrigerator. They will last at least 1 month in refrigerator. Makes about 2 cups.<\/p>\n\n 1\/4 cup fresh lime juice<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/4 cup chopped red onion<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 cucharadita de sal kosher<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 4 whole ripe avocados<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1\/2 cup diced tomatoes (drain if too juicy)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1\/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1 fresh jalape\u00f1o pepper, seeded and minced<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Tortilla chips and fresh veggies, for serving<\/strong><\/p>\n\n 1. In a medium bowl, mix lime juice, onion and salt. Set aside for 5 minutes.<\/p>\n\n 2. Meanwhile, scoop out the avocado flesh, placing it into the bowl with the lime juice, onion and salt. Using a fork, mash the avocado to the texture you prefer. (Leaving a few small chunks is a good idea.)<\/p>\n\n 3. Add the diced tomatoes, cilantro and jalape\u00f1o, mixing well. Serve with tortilla chips and your choice of fresh veggies, such as bell pepper, jicama, celery or carrot sticks. Makes about 3 cups.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Younger folks probably will not make the connection, even if the more accurate version of \u201cHot-cha-cha\u201d was presented (which is \u201cHa-cha-cha-cha-cha\u201d). This was one of the great Jimmy Durante\u2019s famous catch phrases during his time. The morning of writing this, I decided to have a little snack of a fresh jalape\u00f1o pepper, with a slice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":49505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,18],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-49509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above-the-fold","category-lifestyle","tag-food"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49509","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49509"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49509\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49513,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49509\/revisions\/49513"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49509"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49509"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49509"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":49507,"date":"2026-09-09T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maderatribustg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=49507"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T21:31:13","slug":"lumber-flume-meant-work-and-fun-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/lumber-flume-meant-work-and-fun-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Lumber flume meant work and fun"},"content":{"rendered":" During the 33-year existence of the flume, which gave birth to Madera, more than one billion feet of lumber, floated down the big trough from the mountains toward the mill near where Millview School now stands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Built in 1876, by the California Lumber Company, the V-flume followed along mountainsides, through steep canyons, and often had to utilize trestles that were more than 60 feet in height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Falling into disrepair, the flume was rebuilt in 1899, after being acquired by the Madera Sugar Pine Lumber Company. The new structure ran from Sugar Pine, south to Fresno Flats (Oakhurst) and from there down to Madera, over a 54-mile route.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At 4 p.m., on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27, 1900, the citizens of Madera celebrated the completion of the rebuilding project with a community barbecue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the work week, the loading crews which were primarily Chinese and Mexican, strapped the rough cut lumber into bundles at the mill in Sugar Pine, and a force of about 35 \u201cflume herders\u201d then shepherded the \u201cflocks\u201d of timber down the V-shaped trough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The herders remained at the flume during the entire lumber season. They lived in little cabins, which were called flume houses or stations. Their main responsibility was to keep the lumber from jamming up and to watch for leaks or breaks in the flume. Each herder had a section of the flume for which he was responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were 10 flume houses along the 54-mile route, and they were spaced from 2 1\/2 to 7 miles apart. Some of the stations housed only one herder, while in others, eight or ten men spent the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Sugar Pine, the flume stations were located in such exotic places as Salt Springs, Poison Switch, Confidence, Zuber, Ellerbrock, French Graveyard, Ralls, Chinese Store, 12 Mile house, and Six Mile House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flume tender\u2019s life was most of the time simply lonely, but at times there was danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trying to walk on the slippery catwalk that ran along the flume was treacherous. Sometimes the herder found himself 60 feet or more above the ground, and it didn\u2019t take much for a herder to be dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Several tenders lost their lives this way. A telephone line was strung along the length of the flume to keep the herders in communication with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the end of the season, which was sometime after Thanksgiving, the flume herders closed up shop and packed their bags. They put their gear into a \u201cflume boat\u201d and proceeded to Madera with the last of the lumber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flume boats were a common sight in the Sugar Pine flume. In addition to the herders, repair crews and lumberjacks were known to enjoy quick, cheap transportation to some point below. For the most part, these excursions took place in the evening hours, after all of the lumber for that day had been transported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A ride down the flume would surely rival the best that the modern day amusement park has to offer. In order for the flume to perform its task, it had to carry water in a uniform manner, and it was determined that the fall had to be one inch per 16 feet or 27 feet per mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On some of the grades, the speed reached 50 miles per hour. Sometimes the flume boat would literally outrun the water, in which case the boat hit dry boards, only to be soon engulfed by the force of the water which was so close behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Male workers were not the only ones to ride the flume. On one occasion the daughter of Return Roberts, one of the directors of the lumber company, took a 16-mile trip on the waters of the flume. Occasionally young boys would gain the nerve to try this giant water slide. History even records the time in 1910 when a cow rode the flume to Madera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most dangerous part of their journey came on the way to Salt Springs; the flume crossed \u201cChew Grade\u201d at that point. This half-mile long descent was so named because it crossed the land of one Ah Chew, a Chinese tenant farmer. The flume ran across a deep ravine on a 65-foot high trestle there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Salt Springs, jam-ups were fairly common. Sometimes a nail would work up through the bottom of the trough and make the ride a bit rough. At other times the culprit might be a loose board or a weakened timber. All in all, however, the lumber flume did its job. It was a very efficient means of transporting lumber out of the mountains, and it gave many adventurous teenagers the ride of their lives.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" During the 33-year existence of the flume, which gave birth to Madera, more than one billion feet of lumber, floated down the big trough from the mountains toward the mill near where Millview School now stands. Built in 1876, by the California Lumber Company, the V-flume followed along mountainsides, through steep canyons, and often had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":49500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,17],"tags":[26,32,36],"class_list":["post-49507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above-the-fold","category-history","tag-business","tag-culture","tag-environment"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49507"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49508,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49507\/revisions\/49508"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maderatribune.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]Hot corn dip<\/h3>\n\n
Jalapeno poppers<\/h3>\n\n
Candied jalapeno peppers<\/h3>\n\n
Guacamole with jalape\u00f1os<\/h3>\n\n