Buddy Shepherd and Bradley Erickson lead the MAVTV-televised stock car action at Madera Speedway, with both the Nut Up Pro Late Model Series and 51FIFTY Jr. Late Models charging into round five of the nine-race series. Mini Cups vs. Bandoleros and Legends of the Pacific are also scheduled for tonight’s loaded card of racing. Grandstands remain closed due to COVID-19 industry guidance, but Madera Speedway, Mission Foods, and Nut Up Industries will provide a free live stream. Race fans can tune in to Short Track TV on YouTube at 6 p.m. for the coverage at https://youtu.be/FqPdh8CreYo. 14-year-old Bradley Erickson has used a trio of fast-times and back-to-back wins to launch to a 33-point advan

COVID-19, however, puts distance between teachers and kids The prospect might be a bit scary for some; never before have Madera schools tried to begin a school-year with the teachers in their classrooms and the students at home. The Tribune visited some of the local schools last week to talk with teachers and principals about what they are facing this year. At the outset we found an encouraging show of unity; the district and the employee unions have agreed to alter the calendar so the teachers could be given some extra time for training. Thus, on Aug. 5, 6, and 7, an Institute was held, and on August 10-15, professional training was given, with specific attention directed on what must be ta

For The Madera Tribune A large dual cab work truck sits in the backyard of a home on Meadowrest Way after rolling over and through a block wall adjacent to West Cleveland Avenue early Friday morning. The male driver, 22, was injured in the crash, and taken to a local hospital according to police. Residents in the 2500 block of Meadowrest Way were startled by a loud screech and a bang. They called police after finding a large pickup truck had violently rolled over on west Cleveland Avenue and crashed through their backyard concrete block fence wall. The wrecked, dual cab truck came to rest upright on its wheels, a few feet from their house with the injured driver still trapped inside early F

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Chris Molina of Perko’s Cafe Grill serves customers, David Miramontes, left, and Phil Miramontes in the outdoor dining area last week. The restaurant is open daily at 6 a.m. to sundown for outdoor dining and takeout or delivery from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Thinking out of the box, local eateries still are able to serve our community by providing online, curbside and take-out of their delicious wares. For details, call the restaurants for more information. To be included onto this list in the future, email cvaldez@maderatribune.net. Supporting each other for a stronger Madera. Black Bear Diner 675-1332 Burrito King 674-7596 Cachanilla 664-7238 California Grill 831

Wendy Alexander/Madera Tribune File Photo Coyote softball and volleyball player Mariah Davis holds her Madera High School Senior Athlete of the Year award in 2014 with her two coaches — Robyn Keune (volleyball), left, and Judy Shaubach (softball). When Mariah Davis was a senior at Madera High School, it was such a given she was the best female athlete at the school that then MHS athletics director Shane Riddle didn’t even have any finalists for the Female Athlete of the Year award in 2014. It was just Davis and no one else. Davis earned many other awards that year, as well. She was the Madera F.A.N. Kenny Taylor Athlete of Integrity, she represented the County/Metro Athletic Conference at t

Madera County Historical Society The Vignolo Hotel in Berenda, just a few miles north of Madera, was a major stagecoach stop. It was also the scene of a bold robbery in 1901. It was late in February when Leonard Hammond walked into the saloon of the Vignolo Hotel in Berenda. The spacious, two-story building was full and running over. The rooms were all occupied and the bartender was having a time keeping up with the requests for libations. Business in Berenda had been brisk throughout 1901; the town had become the hub of a lively trade that radiated out in all directions from the little railroad town north of Madera. Hammond walked unnoticed into the saloon, stepped up to the bar and ordere

For The Madera Tribune Frank Bergon gives a reading at the Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies. The COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily postponed personal appearances with his new book, “The Toughest Kid We Knew.” It can be ordered online. Highly acclaimed author’s 3rd look at the Central Valley Frank Bergon’s latest penetrating look at the Central Valley, “The Toughest Kid We Knew,” has been unveiled by the University of Nevada Press. It forms the third part of a trilogy, which examines what some have called the place where the Old West meets the New West to form the True West. Following his books “Jesse’s Ghost” and “Two-Buck Chuck & the Marlboro Man,” Bergon uses “The Toughest Kid We K

Photo Courtesy of Roy Sordi Jr. Babe Sordi’s grandson, Kurt Gleason, is seen here wearing his grandfather’s boxing robe, which he wore when he was boxing at the Bucket of Blood from 1931 to 1935. Dominic Sordi Jr. was a gentleman; I was always impressed by his quiet demeanor. Of course, I didn’t know him in the old days when he was a star at the “Bucket of Blood” near the southwest corner of Avenue 13 1/2 and Road 23 1/2. The “Bucket of Blood” is now a house, but it was once a dance hall and moonshine distillery. Its history is as captivating as that of any structure in Madera. It was built by the Sordi brothers, Dominic and Abramo, as a place for folks to have a little fun during prohibitio

That political buzz you are hearing could be from the selection of Senator Kamala Harris as a vice-presidential running mate for former VP Joe Biden. He kept his word and selected a woman of color as his running mate. She might want to be careful which shampoo or conditioner she uses given his penchant for sniffing pretty ladies. The former California Attorney General apparently punches all the right buttons those on the left have for her. She is the first “woman of color” to occupy the number two spot on a National Presidential ticket. She brings to the table the politically correct traits those on the left seem to be looking to embrace. She disassembled her own presidential campaign earlie

From the corner of Main Street and Harley-Davidson Way in Sturgis, South Dakota, you could have looked in all four directions and seen an endless array of motorcycles parked against the curbs and in the middle of the streets. It was the “80th Annual Motorcycle Rally” weekend, and the bikers showed up en mass. But not “en mask.” This past week, Sturgis (population 6,627) was host to about 250,000 attendees, roughly half as many enthusiasts as last year, probably because of the pandemic. But among those who showed up, coronavirus was not a major issue. Forty-seven year-old Michael Brown from Lemoyne, Neb., said, “My biggest concern is drivers — they just don’t pay attention to bikes. But I don

Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune Former Liberty Hawks standout Connor Brogdon, makes his Major League debut Thursday for the Philadelphia Phillies. Former All-Madera Tribune Pitcher of the Year, Liberty’s Connor Brogdon, got the call all baseball players dream of — he was called up to the majors. While training at the Philadelphia Phillies’ alternate training site, Brogdon, one of about 20 players at the site in Allentown, received a phone call from Phillies’ farm director Josh Bonifay and got the news every baseball player wants to hear Tuesday afternoon. According to a story published on the Phillies’ website, Brogdon was in the middle of playing a video game (Counter Strike) when he receiv

For The Madera Tribune The Madera Razorbacks 16-under NSA travel softball team came away with a silver championship at the Wounded Warrior Benefit softball tournament in Turlock in 2013. Back row, from left, are manager Sandra Mendez, coach Adam Anaya, Tristyn Anaya, Jackie Mendez, Miriah Gonzalez, Kristen Whaite, Destanie Zaragosa, coach Abel Zaragosa and coach Jeff Marquez. Front row, from left, are Angelica “Jelly” Marquez, Cheyenne Carillo, Jessica Gomez and Cassandra Casanova. 2013 The Madera Razorbacks 16-under NSA travel softball team participated in their second tournament of the season and came away with their second straight championship. The Razorbacks brought home the silver cham

For The Madera Tribune Badly damaged fencing remains after a thief attempted to drive a flatbed work truck through it and off the lot of Valley Feed Sunday night about 10 p.m. Detectives are working to locate the suspect. Police are looking for a man who attempted to steal a flatbed work truck from Valley Feed on north Gateway, causing thousands of dollars in damage to fencing and wrecking other property in the yard of the longtime feed and equipment supply business. The Sunday night incident was caught on video as the vandal floored the truck to ram two different gates but failed to get away with the vehicle in the process. Madera Police Sgt. Mark Trukki said the suspect is still at large,

For The Madera Tribune David Michael Rocha, 26, is arrested on charges of possession and sales of illegal drugs and the possession of a concealed weapon Saturday afternoon near 4th Street and Gateway Drive. Madera police arrested 26-year-old David Michael Rocha after officers reportedly saw him retrieve a loaded gun concealed under bushes near a hotel in the area of 4th Street and Gateway Drive. Rocha was also found to be in possession of illegal drugs, and a large amount of cash Saturday afternoon. He was charged with possession of drugs for sales, and possession of a concealed, loaded and unregistered firearm. Records indicate Rocha is well known to police with two prior arrests for DUI an

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Britton Fiske of Valley Bowl said that in the brief period they were able to reopen they closed off every other bowling lane for social distancing. Throughout the country, businesses have been hit hard because of government-mandated closures. One of the hardest hit sectors are locally-owned bowling centers like Madera’s Valley Bowl. A fixture in the community for more than 60 years, Valley Bowl hasn’t been able to open since July 5 and is doing whatever it takes to stay in business. “What’s happening all across the nation is the local, independently-owned bowling centers are struggling because they can’t open,” said Valley Bowl pro shop manager Chris Pitts.

For The Madera Tribune Police arrested Alejandro Franco Ortiz, 30, of Madera on charges of DUI after he lost control of a car and crashed into a backyard near Noreen Way late Friday night. Residents who were celebrating a family birthday in the yard were shocked but not injured. A unlicensed driver suspected to be four times the legal limit for alcohol lost control of a car, collided with a parked car and crashed through a fence into a backyard near Noreen Way, where residents were celebrating a family birthday party. Police arrested 30-year-old Alejandro Franco Ortiz of Madera at the scene late Friday night. He faces charges of DUI and for driving without a drivers license. It is believed t

A few years ago, Madera took up a “Blue Stripe Initiative” program, the purpose of which was to let law enforcement officers and first responders know that we mere citizens were on their teams. The program was started by Love Madera and promoted by then-City Councilman Charles F. Rigby, who was (and probably still is) a strong believer in having a strong police force to keep citizens safe. He once told me that it was his opinion that public safety couldn’t exist without the services of a strong and well-trained police force, and that a police force functioned best when the Blue Stripe program, which he pushed, grew out of a similar program, that he had observed. It was public safety at its s

Tom Grandy, freerangestock.com Mushroom lovers would appreciate them used as a topping for homemade pizza. Right away, I am thinking of all the people I know — many of them family members — who cringe at even the thought of mushrooms. At the same time, I know there are a lot of folks who love mushrooms, including myself. The delicacies fit in no matter the season, lending themselves well to salads, appetizers, casserole ingredients, additions to sauces, soups and toppings for pizza or focaccia. They can be marinated, sauteed, battered and fried, simmered, stewed, baked or eaten raw. Seems like they are worthy of a place at the dinner table, so here are a few recipes for mushroom fans. Garlic

Courtesy of Jason Wedehase/Madera Speedway Buddy Shepherd stands tall to celebrate his third Pro Late Model win. Two-time Nut Up Pro Late Model champion Buddy Shepherd led all 80 laps for his third victory of the 2020 season and 12th MAVTV-televised Late Model win at Madera Speedway. The victory gives Shepherd nearly 200 laps led through four rounds this season, and boosts his points lead to nearly 40 over Ross Strmiska. Shepherd set fast-time in time trials Saturday, then drew the pole over the 20-car field on hand. Outside polesitter Tyler Herzog, the 2019 Madera Late Model non-televised champion, fell back to third. The first caution flew on lap two with Shepherd picking the outside for h

Madera Tribune File Photo Coyote football coach Bonner Cunnings talks with Robert DaSilva, the oldest alumni in attendance, at the 2013 MHS Coyote Football Alumni dinner. 2013 Madera High students who graduated as far back as the 1940s came together this month to laugh, share memories, and ultimately raise money for the Coyotes football team at the school’s second annual alumni dinner. From the classes of 1946 to 2013, around 100 Coyote alumni from young to old united around a singular theme; build on the foundation of Madera High School football and celebrate a rich local tradition in the sport. “There was a need for this,” said former head coach Scott McKinney, who organized the dinner on