25 years ago in the week of July 10, 1991

MUSD WANTS RANCHOS LAND FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL — Madera Unified School District Trustees will pursue public domain proceedings in an effort to obtain land for a new junior high school to be located in the Madera Ranchos. The district is looking to acquire property at the southwest corner of Road 36 and Avenue 12 1/2 for the school, but negotiations with property owner Angelo Papagni have stalled because Papagni believes the district’s appraisal price is inadequate. School Superintendent Tom Riley said he would like to see the district obtain the property then pass a local bond to fund the building of the school. The location was selected five years ago with the help of a committee made up of Madera Ranchos residents.

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MOVE BRINGS CONCERNS — While the move of Valley Children’s Hospital to Madera County looks good on paper to hospital officials, it is causing concern to some county officials. “It’s a bone of contention right now,” said Supervisor Rick Jensen, whose district covers the area where the hospital is planned. “Some members of the board don’t want to see that area develop at all,” he said, “but my contention is that development is going to happen. Although the move could bring additional tax revenue to the county, officials like Jensen want to ensure that the area between the Fresno County line and Avenue 12 is not transformed into another Blackstone Avenue.

NEW SALES TAX HAS MERCHANTS PERPLEXED — Beginning today, California consumers will begin to feel the crunch of new sales taxes while merchants are trying to figure precisely what will be taxed and what will not. The state has chosen to implement a snack tax for the first time ever, and confusion has been the result. While potato chips may be taxed, chip dips have been left alone. A single Twinkie is considered fair game while a box of Twinkies is untouchable. Roy Torres, manager of Madera’s Lucky’s, said, “the state doesn’t really know what the heck it’s taxing.” He pointed out that items such as brownies, cookies, and turnovers are to be taxed while donuts, cinnamon rolls, and croissants are not.

MADERA NATIONALS PULL OUT 8-7 WIN — Madera’s National All Stars stayed alive in the District 10 Little League tournament with an 8-7 victory over Fresno Scandinavia Tuesday night. Madera opened scoring in the first with one run as James Savala singled following walks to Daniel Badorine, Mark Davis, and Kurt Leavitt. After Scandinavia responded with three runs in the first, Madera added another run in the third on singles by Badorine and Brandon Schwartz. Scandinavia made it 5-2 in the bottom of the third, but Madera came back to tie it in the fourth with three runs. Madera went ahead with three runs in the sixth with key hits by Isaac Flores, Nick Burns, and Sam Balbas...