The Madera Tribune RSS News Feed

No article updates until end of this week

2010-07-27T01:58:00Z

The Madera Tribune's free Web site, www.maderatribune.net, will not be updated this week until early Saturday morning. The free Red Line site, www.maderatribuneredline.com, will not be updated Thursday and Friday. However, the Tribune's paid subscription site should be updated daily from Monday through Saturday.

2 hurt in car crash

2010-07-26T00:21:00Z

A solo car accident seriously injured two Madera women early Saturday morning on Avenue 18 1/2, just west of Road 20, the California Highway Patrol said. An 18-month-old baby and a 4-year-old boy in the back seat were cut and bruised, but not seriously injured. The driver, 25-year-old Rose Allison Balbas, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of felony driving under the influence of a controlled substance and two counts of felony child endangerment.Officers said the crash remains under investigation and speed may have been a factor. Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Horsin' around Madera

2010-07-26T00:18:00Z

Nearly 200 ride from Cantua Creek into townMore than 700 people reproduced the sounds, dance and entertainment of a traditional Mexican charreada, or rodeo, where dust and heat were no deterrent at Lienzo Charros Unidos.The celebration, however, was not only attended by those who honor the tricolor flag.Horses and a legend brought together people of different races, languages and places in the Sunday celebration that followed a horseback ride from Cantua Creek to Madera.Nearly 200 people rode horses in the 32nd annual Joaquin Murrieta Ride. The two-day, 55.7-mile journey began Friday morning and ended Saturday evening. Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

1 arrested, 17 cars towed at checkpoint

2010-07-26T00:15:00Z

Madera police made one DUI arrest, towed 17 vehicles from drivers without valid licenses and screened 176 for DUI during a sobriety checkpoint on Yosemite Avenue near Elm Street. Officers arrested Michael Torrez, 53, of Madera Friday night on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after he allegedly failed a field sobriety test. Nearly 400 vehicles passed through the checkpoint and police stopped and spoke to the driver of every fourth vehicle. Sgt. Tom Burns of the traffic division said Madera still has a high number of alcohol-related accidents, which is why the police department applied for and received funding for the checkpoints from the Office of Traffic Safety. The traffic unit recently held several checkpoints during the day to apprehend drunk drivers and increased evening traffic patrols to focus specifically on drivers that may be under the influence of alcohol. Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

CHP: Driver in crash injured, tries to flee

2010-07-26T00:12:00Z

An injured driver attempting to flee after crashing into an SUV was detained by people watching a soccer game at Millview Park on Storey Road and arrested for DUI, the California Highway Patrol said.The man, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, crashed into a Subaru SUV Friday night and got several blocks away on foot before being stopped by the crowd. According to the CHP, Ignacio Garcia, 31, was driving eastbound with a male passenger in a Volkswagen Jetta on Storey Road when he allegedly struck the SUV at approximately 40 mph, spinning both vehicles around and into a wall. Garcia was arrested on suspicion of DUI and was also cited for leaving the scene of an accident and not having a driver's license. Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Boat separates from pickup, hits Tackle Box Too

2010-07-26T00:09:00Z

A trailer hauling a 20-foot boat separated from a pickup truck on a curve on Highway 145, just north of the Tackle Box Too near Island Drive, went airborne and crashed into a car. No injuries were reported.California Highway Patrol officers said the boat came off of the trailer, skidded, went airborne and crashed into a 2002 Mercedes parked directly in front of the doors to the Tackle Box Too lounge, striking the building and the sign before coming to a stop in the rear parking lot. Witness Eric Brown said they had just walked inside and were standing inside the glass doors when they saw a cloud of dust in the parking lot and heard the crash. He said people screamed and scattered as the boat struck the car, went up toward the roof of the building they were in and crashed into the store's sign, about 18 to 20 feet in the air. The owner of the Chevy Silverado said he had just picked up the boat to try it out before purchasing it. Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Madera police log

2010-07-26T00:06:00Z

The following is a partial list of calls received by the Madera Police Department from Monday, July 19, to Tuesday, July 20.Monday, July 197:23 a.m. � A person was arrested on suspicion of burglary involving forcible entry in the 1100 block of North Lake Street.10:36 a.m. � A person was arrested on suspicion of burglary in the 300 block of South B Street.12:18 p.m. � A person was arrested on suspicion of burglary in the 1500 block of South Madera Avenue.Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Master Gardener: There is a problem with my tomatoes

2010-07-26T00:06:00Z

Growing fresh tomatoes is one of the true joys of the vegetable gardener. Even if no other fruit or vegetable is planted, you grow tomatoes. You put the tomato plants into the ground last spring, watered them regularly and fed them according to the fertilizer instructions. You followed the recommendations for growing superb tomatoes. You thought it would be the winter's first frost that would take them down, but now you are seeing other problems.Some years are tougher on tomatoes than others, but a certain amount of loss is normal. There's little point in chasing perfection with noxious chemicals when so many problems can be prevented.Properly chosen plants are less susceptible to pests and many other problems. The good news is this: When problems occur, tomato ailments are rarely fatal when you know what to do. Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Ramblin' Rec'

2010-07-26T00:03:00Z

The young musical performers from our sister city of I-Lan, Taiwan, visited the youth center several times last week. The Kids Kamp children enjoyed their arrival and learned to make masks and macrame bracelets using Chinese knots. On Friday, several of the Taiwanese kids performed an hour-long concert in the gym of the youth center.+ + +The full ensemble of performers will give a concert tomorrow in the Madera South High School multipurpose room. Cost is just $7 to enjoy these remarkable and talented musicians play their strange-looking and sounding instruments. + + +The aquatics programs at Centennial Pool are on pace for a record year in attendance. If your son or daughter would like to learn to swim, it is not too late. The final two-week swim lesson session will begin Aug. 2. Registration will end this Friday at 4:30. There are also a couple of weekend rentals available for family parties, social gatherings and family reunions. Call the parks office at 661-5495 for dates and times and for any programs and activities sponsored by the department.Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/