Years ago in Madera County during the week of April 9
Courtesy of The Madera County Historical Society Students from Jan Duke’s class visited John Haskell Shedd’s grave at Arbor Vitae Cemetery 25 years ago in honor of his birth 156 years ago. Laying flowers on his grave, from left, are Courtney Houlding, Ashley Sanders, and Jillian Gonzales.
25 Years Ago Week of April 9, 1992
POLICE CHIEF GIVES CRIME REPORT ON MADERA — “While there are very few purse snatchings and car thefts in downtown Madera,” according to Madera Police Chief William F. Colson, he “is not sure people are safe walking through the downtown area at night.” Colson made his remarks in a meeting with members of the Madera Downtown Association this morning. “After 9 p.m. there are strong arm robberies and drug deals in the area.” Colson told the MDA that the police department’s next task is to “start identifying the city’s gang members.” He also said he would be willing to sit down and discuss police walking the downtown area like they did last Christmas.
TWO-OUT RALLY IGNITES MADERA WIN — Roosevelt’s Scott Osser was just one pitch away from protecting a slim 3-2 lead over Madera in the fourth inning in a North Yosemite League game at Madera High. Osser had already fanned the first two batters and had two strikes on the third one, but then things went haywire. Madera erupted for eight runs in the inning and went on for a 10-7 win. Madera ended up needing all of the runs as Roosevelt came back with one run in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh before Scott McWherter came on to get the final three outs and win the game.
NEW CHILI COOK-OFF FORMAT CALLED A SUCCESS — Mellow was how many parents and teens described Saturday’s Central California High School Sober Saturday Chile Cook-off held at the Madera District Fairgrounds. “I was real pleased. It was nice and mellow. It is good for a family day event,” said Dan Yates, who attended the event with his children. “I’m very, very pleased for our first attempt at an alcoholic beverage free high school chili cook-off,” said Al Geller, manager of Mr. Media. “We drew over 6,000 people,” he told the Madera Tribune Sunday. Geller added, “It will grow; the comments I heard were super.”
SUPERVISORS HALT JAIL DOUBLE BUNKING PLANS — Director of Corrections Al Hahn’s request to be allowed to proceed with double bunking at the Madera County Jail was tabled indefinitely by the board of supervisors Tuesday. Supervisor Gail Hanhart McIntyre called for holding off on the project, saying she had seen no price tag and offsetting prices for bunk rentals and wanted to talk about it later. The 292-bed jail currently houses an average of 330 inmates daily. Hahn said the courts are a lot more aggressive in sentencing people. Hahn had first gone to the board in January 1991 with a request to double bunk.
WILSON DENIES HARRIS CLEMENCY — Gov. Pete Wilson says he denied clemency for condemned killer Robert Alton Harris because the terrible abuse Harris suffered as a child did not excuse the brutal murders he committed as an adult. Harris, 39, who is scheduled to die in the gas chamber at San Quentin next week, would be the first person executed in California in 25 years. Harris was convicted of the brutal murders of two San Diego teenagers in 1978. Attorney General Dan Lungren said lawyers in his office were ready to respond to any 11th hour legal maneuvers by Harris’ defense attorneys.
50 Years Ago Week of April 9, 1967
BETHARD SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER A FIRST FOR MADERA — After many fruitless efforts, Madera is finally going to have a shopping center. Ground was broken Tuesday for the Bethard Square Shopping Center, which will be located on Olive Avenue and I Street. The building is expected to be completed around the first of September. Agreements have already been reached with Thrifty Drugs, Mayfair Markets, Coronet, Sally Shops, Karl’s Shoes, Shell Oil, and Joseph’s Department Store. Jack Chezick, who handled local details for the center, was loud in his praise of the city for its assistance in cutting through red tape.
JOE GALLEANO CAPTURES NATIONAL AWARD — Joe Galleano of Madera, the county’s first state Outstanding Young Farmer winner, picked off a national title in Harrisonburg, W. Va. Tuesday night. Selected from 46 state winners, Galleano was named one of four outstanding young farmers in the nation. A welcoming committee composed of members of the Madera Jaycees, Young Farmers, and other organizations was being formed today to meet Galleano tonight when he and his wife step off their jet in Fresno. Madera Mayor D.R. Stephenson is slated to lead the welcoming party when the Galleanos’ plane touches down at 10:45 p.m.
ROGER LEACH IS ‘BOY OF THE MONTH’ — The Exchange Club’s “Boy of the Month,” Roger Leach, plans to major in agronomy at Fresno State College following his graduation from Madera High School. Roger, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Leach, were honored at the Exchange Club’s luncheon meeting last Friday. James Hodges, Dean of Men at Madera High School, introduced Leach and told of his many accomplishments, especially his awards in FFA. Leach plays varsity baseball, is vice president of the MHS student body. He is also president of his church’s youth group. Roger maintains a B+ to A grade average.
UNION SAYS TRIBUNE PICKETS UNAUTHORIZED — Several pickets representing the Northern California Labor Unity Committee formed a line around the Daily Tribune building this morning. Union officials said the pickets are unauthorized. “We have no labor disputes with Mr. Lesher (Dean Lesher, Madera Daily Tribune publisher),” said the president of the Madera Typographical Union, local 848. Signs carried by the pickets accused Lesher of anti-union activities in Contra Costa County where he publishes three daily newspapers and several weeklies.
TORNADO AFTERMATH CLEANUP BEGUN — Farmers southwest of Madera were starting cleanup work today in the wake of a tornado which cut an eight-mile swath through the countryside. The slow-moving twister whirled northwest for more than an hour, collapsing a farm worker’s home, sideswiping a school, and tossing a car, farm trucks, and a water tank into the air. It ripped off the roof of a shed and drove a 2-by-4 board three feet into the ground. As the tornado made its way across the countryside, hundreds of persons watched it from street corners. Some city residents underneath it heard what sounded like a freight train.
