For The Madera Tribune Former Madera South and Fresno State baseball standout prepares for a workout as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization this summer. Gray is getting himself ready for his first full professional baseball season, which will begin in February. Madera South standout and Fresno State Bulldog Murf Gray heard his name announced in the third round of last July’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Since then, it h

For The Madera Tribune Members of the Big Valley Horseshoe League gathered for a photo at City Hall after presenting a request for more pitching courts during a City Council meeting last month. The Big Valley horseshoe League was out in force at a recent Madera City Council Meeting.  Approximately 30 league players attended the meeting in support of a request to build eight additional horseshoe pitching courts at Rotary Park. The league currently has 12 courts available for l

For The Madera Tribune Madera angler Larry Llanes shows off part of his catch during the Bassmaster Bass Nation Championship in October. Madera fisherman Larry Llanes advanced to the Super Bowl of fishing with a berth in the Bassmaster Bass Nation Championship in October.  In the three-day tournament, Llanes finished in 20th place despite some delays on the third day. For his first time in the top 20, Llanes was very satisfied with his finish.  “Considering I was competing ag

For The Madera Tribune Students from all three Madera Unified School District high schools take part in the Soroptimist of Madera’s Dream It, Be It Career Conference for High School Girls at Madera South High School. Soroptimist of Madera and the Madera Unified School District co-hosted the Dream It, Be It Career Conference for High School girls.  Thirty-seven students from all MUSD high schools actively participated and enjoyed a fun filled day November 1. MUSD’s Area Assist

For The Madera Tribune Chowchilla’s Asterisk Talley watches one of her drives sail onto the fairway. Talley won the CIF Central Section and Southern California Regional championships after leading the American Jr. Ryder Cup team to a victory.  Chowchilla star golfer Asterisk Talley has been busy before heading into her offseason.  In October, Talley led the American Junior Golf team to a Jr. Ryder Cup victory over the European team.  Then, in November, Talley won the Central

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune Catherine Deleon, Vice Principal for Thomas Jefferson Middle School poses with award recipient Sebastian Padilla, and Joe Vived of Sunrise Rotary. Three middle school students were honored at a recent Sunrise Rotary meeting. These students have been recognized for following the Rotarian motto of “Service Above Self.”  Each month teachers select a Student of the Month at all Madera Unified middle schools. The counselors and administrators then

Fifteen years ago (now closer to 16 years), the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CAHSRA) began work on a transportation system that would supposedly carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in two and a half hours. Since then, the CAHSRA has stumbled, bumbled, and tumbled through billions of dollars and now has hundreds of Stonehenge-like structures dotting the Central Valley from Madera to somewhere north of Shafter. And there are no structures anywhere near e

For The Madera Tribune Madera County Food Bank volunteers help move boxes of food to a resident during the Thanksgiving distribution. With the holiday season upon us, many people want to help others, either with gifts, monetary donations or service.  Madera County Food Bank Executive Director Ryan McWherter would like his organization to be considered for those donations, as well.  “We definitely need donations during the holiday season,” he said. “It’s a giving time of year,