For The Madera Tribune Members of the Madera South Stallions junior varsity and varsity boys soccer teams show off the new warm-up shirts they received from a donation by Come Up Kickz and owner Abraham Vasquez, a former Stallions’ soccer player. Entrepreneur finds success locally, nationally When Abraham Vasquez graduated from Madera South High School in 2019, one of his goals was to open his own business. Vasquez has established that goal while playing soccer at Simpson Uni

The Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) confirmed the first known case of the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant in a Madera County resident. The individual tested positive on Dec. 20, 2021. After further testing, the Omicron variant was confirmed on Dec. 30, 2021. The individual was unvaccinated and had been previously infected with COVID-19 in Nov. 2020. This individual is not hospitalized and is out of isolation. MCDPH is investigating to identify close contacts of

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is doing what it can to address the mental health crisis in not only the county, but in the nation. Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue has authorized Crisis Intervention Training, which will be headed by Commander Bill Ward. “It’s all about mental health, de-escalation and alternatives to incarceration,” Ward said. “We received some federal grant funding for it and have selected a deputy to be the coordinator for the program. They are respons

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Liberty libero Allyx Faretta dives for a ball to put up a pass for the Liberty offense. Her ability to send a perfect pass to her setter made her one of the best liberos in the section. She is The Madera Tribune’s Girls Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year. Most Valuable Player Veronica Ramirez OH Sr. Madera South She is one of those players that coaches wonder when she will graduate. She seems to be on the Stallions’ team for more than h

For The Madera Tribune Madera wrestler Madison Avila stands with the glass rose trophy she received at the Beauty and the Beast Tournament at Madera South. She also received a championship belt for a first place finish at the Brittany David Invitational. Madera Coyotes wrestling senior Madison Avila is making her way atop the national rankings at 101 pounds with her performance earlier in the season. Avila is ranked No. 6 in the nation and will next wrestle in Napa Valley Gir

For The Madera Tribune Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till, are shown here just before the youth’s murder. Sixty-six years have passed since that August night in 1955 when J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant kidnapped, tortured, and murdered 14-year-old Emmett Till. The pair of white racists perpetrated their heinous hate crime because the young African-American had allegedly whistled at a white woman in Money, Mississippi. Both men were identified, arrested, and stood trial for the

The cases against the citizens who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, protest at the U.S. Capitol are making their way through the courts. The ruckus, held the same day President Joe Biden’s election to the nation’s highest office was ratified, was dangerous and ill-advised. That doesn’t mean I don’t understand the rage one can only assume the demonstrators felt and what motivated their behavior. I believe some of the mob was truly frustrated by what they feel is the unlawful

“Mama always said, dying was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn’t.” — Forrest Gump Every year, some of the people who became icons of our culture leave us for the great beyond, and 2021 was no exception. Here is a brief, and partial, month-by-month list of some of those who passed away. Tommy Lasorda, 93, 1/7/21. Tommy was the overly-enthusiastic Dodger manager who bled “Dodger Blue” and led the team to two World Series titles. Hank Aaron, 86, 1/22/21. One of baseball’s grea