Courtesy of the Ransom Family Dr. Dow Ransom, shown here, returned to Madera from the Army just in time to take part in another fight in 1920 — the flu epidemic. Only the family and a few friends were allowed into the church for the funeral. The monster that had taken the 2-year-old Hubbard twins was still on the prowl, seeking someone else to devour. Lying in pretty, white caskets, the girls were taken to the cemetery and buried in the same grave, side by side. Then their parents went home to hide from the demon that had stolen their daughters. In fact, the whole town was hiding. The Spanish flu had returned to Madera in 1920. The warning had come in September, 1919. The epidemic that had k

With many events throughout the country being canceled, the 2020 Madera County Academic Pentathlon was not one of them. The middle school competition was held May 1 and moved to an individual online format. Students were able to compete from home. Medals were sent to students at their home and a video awards announcement was released on the Madera County Superintendent of Schools Student Events Facebook page for students and families to view. The Pentathlon was held in coordination with other counties throughout the state that elected to continue with a modified event. County coordinators worked together to create a state-wide Pentathlon day. Students took tests in the areas of fine arts, li

I almost miss strangers during this stay at home, shelter-in-place time in our lives. I could go full bore and emphatically say that I miss strangers. However, that would not be true. I don’t miss that woman who sat behind my wife and me last year at a Gary Allan concert in Stockton who “sang” along with him during almost every song. I found myself wishing that a cat in heat trying to claw a chalkboard would drown her out. I don’t miss that guy seated in front of me on the plane who reclines his headrest as soon as he gets comfortable making my space that much smaller in a plane that’s designed to be the human version of a cattle car cramming as many passengers on board that will “fit.” I do

So many things have changed lately, yet one thing that hasn’t changed is cancer. We were unable to have our annual Relay For Life event on May 2-3, but we are still fundraising! Many programs offered to our cancer fighters have been suspended and we need to help fund the ongoing needs of our cancer patients! If you’d like to make a donation, go to http://www.relayforlife.org/maderaca. You can choose a team or an individual and donate. You may also mail a check made out to American Cancer Society to 2222 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 201, Fresno, CA 93711. Please note Madera Relay in the memo section of your check. Another thing that hasn’t changed is the generosity of our Madera community! I’d like to

There’s something fishy that doesn’t add up. There’s definitely something that doesn’t stack up. Wuhan to Shanghai = 839km Wuhan to Beijing = 1,152km Wuhan to Milan = 15,000km Wuhan to NY = 15,000km The coronavirus started in Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million people, yet there is no effect of coronavirus in nearby Beijing or Shanghai but many deaths in Italy, Iran, European countries and USA. All business areas of China are now safe. America is not blaming China without a reason. Even today, India is locked down but all the cities of China are open. China has also announced the opening of Wuhan. Not a single leader in China has tested positive for the deadly Coronavirus. The virus has ru

For The Madera Tribune Madera Coyotes cross country and track runner Linda Perez will continue her career at Minot University. Madera Coyotes cross country and track runner Linda Perez is using the little-known pipeline to North Dakota for her collegiate years. She signed a National Letter of Intent to Minot University in North Dakota. In addition to Perez, Kris Bueno (football, Madera) and Victor Ochoa (cross country, Madera South) are also on campus from Madera. Perez said Minot reached out through social media. “They were looking at California schools,” she said. “They said they had other kids they were recruiting. I think their coach saw my times and reached out on social media.” In addi

For The Madera Tribune Accomplished Madera Coyotes cross country and track runner Unique Ford will run for CSU Fullerton next season. Two-time Div. II Central Section cross country champion Unique Ford is through tormenting the Central Valley. Instead she will try to do put Big West Conference foes in her rear-view mirror running at CSU Fullerton. “I just liked their campus and environment,” Ford said. “I feel like I can grow there.” Ford is one of the more accomplished runners to come through Madera, following in the historic footsteps on one of the better cross country programs in the section. She won two straight Div. II individual championships, the most recent by 12 seconds. She also pl

For The Madera Tribune Vincente Velarde. UC Merced Executive Director of Recreation & Athletics David Dunham has officially announced that Vicente Velarde will be the head men’s and women’s cross country coach for the Bobcats. Velarde has served as the program’s assistant coach for the past five years and as the interim head coach since Feb. 1. “Velarde has been a consistent part of our cross country program for the past five years and has been an integral part of recruiting and building the success of our program,” Dunham said. “His commitment to UC Merced and to the Central Valley is evident in everything he does. We are excited to have Velarde step into the leadership role for our teams a

Courtesy of the Hill Family From left, Rocky, Tami Jo, Brian, seated Quo Vada and Ralph Hill. Mother’s Day is here. Blessing to all mothers reading this and a special tribute to the women who mothered me in my life. People who reach adulthood and still have their mothers, alive and healthy are blessed beyond understanding. Children’s joy derived from loving their grandmothers is intense. I have noticed how otherwise rational people seem to lose their minds when a baby enters the room. That doesn’t happen to me. Do you want to hold the baby? Is one of the scariest questions ever asked. I never want to, and that will often offend the little tyke’s parents. I knew from a fairly young age that m

When the COVID-19 crisis hit and Governor Gavin Newsom began to talk about “stay-in-place” orders for California, Superintendent Todd Lile saw what was coming. It was just a matter of time until Madera Unified’s schools would close, the students would have to stay home. On March 13, 2020, the school board made that inevitable decision, and the district’s staff moved decisively to meet the challenge. Madera’s kids still had to be educated. Meeting the enemy took the form of a two-pronged attack. First, teachers and students would have to use the Internet to conduct classes. This meant that every household would require Internet access and computers. Second, the district would have to have an

For The Madera Tribune Halle Freitas uses her 3-D printer to make ear savers for first responders. Freitas says she’s happy to know her efforts are helping to make a difference in the community. When Christmas rolled around a few months ago, Halle Freitas wanted a 3-D printer and she received it. Now, she is putting her printer to good use, providing helpful tools to first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I noticed that a lot of people were low on resources and not enough people were helping,” said the 15-year-old Chowchilla Union High School sophomore. “My mom told me about the ear savers and the 3-D printer so that’s how it got started. It’s been going good and I’ve been happy doi

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Velma Hansen watches a parade go by at Cedar Creek in celebration of her 104th birthday. In 1933, Madera High seniors marched onto the school’s athletic field to receive their high school diplomas, and for the first time in Madera’s history, its graduating class wore caps and gowns. Eighty-seven years later, the valedictorian of the class of 1933, Velma Hansen, was honored on her 104th birthday celebration at the Cedar Creek Senior Living complex in Madera. The festivities began on Thursday when Velma was brought out to the sidewalk entrance to Cedar Creek, accompanied by her family (all practicing social distancing). Suddenly the siren from a Pistoresi amb

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Premier Brick Oven Pizza owner Bal Singh, left, and Ashok Sharma. Premier is open for take out and delivery, Sunday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Friday and Satruday, from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. They are at 1628 Howard Road. To place an order, call: 395-4322 Madera restaurants are ready to serve you and your family for takeout or order online. Some restaurants are offering delivery or curbside pick up. Call individual restaurants for details. If you have or know of a restaurant that is not on this list, email Corrie Valdez, at cvaldez@maderatribune.net. New names will be added weekly in Wednesday’s edition of The Madera Tribune newspaper. Thank you to our Farm

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune From left, Madera Martial Arts owner Chris Arias and his wife Annalicia, and CrossFit Madera and Miracle Realty owner Beau Miracle stand in front of Grocery Outlet where they are helping families in need. Arias, Miracle and the owners of Grocery Outlet, Sean and Tiffany Tharp, have helped more than 50 families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. What started as an idea blossomed into a donation drive that has fed more than 50 Madera families and has raised more than $7,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Crossfit Madera and Miracle Realty owner Beau Miracle, alongside Madera Martial Arts owner Chris Arias, teamed with Grocery Outlet owners Tiffany and Sean

While the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted the day-to-day life of its communities, Camarena Health has remained optimistic and committed to keeping the doors open to serve its nearly 47,000 patients and the many Madera County residents who lack access to care during this unprecedented time in the nation’s history. Camarena Health has continued to provide most services either in health centers or over the phone with one of its many medical and dental providers. Camarena Health has also recognized that it is especially important to care for the whole person — mind and body — during this challenging time. Camarena Health’s Behavioral Health and Health Education clinical team have been successfully

Courtesy of Madera High School/John Fernandez Madera Coyotes water polo player Lola Gill will head to West Virginia to play for the Salem University Tigers. She is one of four Coyote water polo players that will play at a four-year college next year. Unlike some of her teammates who chose to stay close to home, Madera Coyotes water polo player and swimmer Lola Gill wanted to get as far away as she could. Gill singed a National Letter of Intent to play water polo at Salem University in West Virgina. “I’ve always wanted to go out of state for college,” she said. “They had contacted me because I am registered in the NCAA. Their coach saw my profile on their website. He told me I looked like a p

For The Madera Tribune Madera’s Emily Lopez-Ibarra will continue to play water polo next season with the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds. When it came time to choose a college to attend, Madera Coyotes water polo player and swimmer Emily Lopez-Ibarra made the easy choice — Fresno Pacific University. “I loved being close to home,” she said. “That’s why I chose Fresno Pacific. It was close to home and close to my friends here.” Lopez-Ibarra was ecstatic that the school she really wanted to go to was also interested in her, as well. “I emailed a bunch of colleges during water polo season,” she said. “Fresno Pacific was one that emailed me back. They went to one of my games and we arranged a visit. It w

A path towards the opening of the 2020 racing season at Madera Speedway has been approved, speedway officials announced on Saturday after extensive discussions with Madera County. Phase one — limited competitor practice — has been given the go-ahead immediately at the one-third mile oval. Race operations ceased on March 12th, just two days before the scheduled MAVTV-televised Late Model opening night, as a result of the worldwide COVID19 Pandemic. “I want to say thank you to the Madera County Supervisors who have been wonderful to work with during this very difficult time,” promoter Kenny Shepherd said. “Our proposal has been approved to get back to some operations at Madera Speedway. We wil

Mr. Mayor and Mr. Chair of the Board of Supervisors, City Council members and Board of Supervisors members: as you know the City and county already are hurting for tax revenue, and we will not recover from unfunded liabilities that are already taking too much income out of municipal revenues. With the federal monies coming in and getting employees back to work, now you have a small chance to recover. Let the Madera City and County businesses decide on how they control their own businesses through this now-political virus. Give them the guidelines to follow. We are financially breaking our privately owned Hospital, as you know. Our governor is trying to push his Socialist agenda in California

This pandemic has cost so many lives. Caused so much grief to the survivors. This virus is not the only one to have darkened the earth. Spanish Flu. Smallpox, Plague. Millions of lives. This is, as far as we know, the only planet that has life. Why? Especially if it’s so short. Rarely over 100 years. Why all the pain if it’s so short? If it really makes no difference, why? I am 79. Did I change anything? Not really. I produced two sons who will live on after me. Will they change anything? No, not really. Make things easier for those living here, we hope, but is anything going to change? Man has produced many comforts for himself, but did he change anything? We still have many “killers.” Hear