Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Standing water collects around orchards throughout Madera County after recent rains. More than a half-inch of rain fell during Tuesday’s storms, but more than in inch is predicted for the upcoming storm. With the rain, Madera county farmers are rejoicing for the amount of water being put into the ground. “The water has been fantastic,” said Nick Davis of Davis Vineyards and former Madera county Farm Bureau Board President. “It’s been necessa

For The Madera Tribune The tiny village of Coarsegold is shown here circa 1920. The discovery of placers of coarse gold in the area brought miners to the nearby creeks, which led to the creation of a town named Coarsegold. Long before the town of Madera was on the map, gold — heavy, coarse gold — was discovered in abundance along a gulch in what is now Eastern Madera County. With miners probing for placers on every creek and stream of the southern Mother Lode, its is no surpr

Veterans’ Voices is directed toward veterans and their families who have given so much to ensure our freedom in this country. This is an area where you may share your experiences, or read of other veterans’ experiences. We thank you for your service, and hope that you know how much you are loved and appreciated. (The 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division was tested to the maximum over three days in mid-June 1966 in a remote valley of a coastal

One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season, is to don the old Christmas sweaters and shirts. I love the festive ones, the gaudy ones, the blingy ones, the crazy ones, the red ones, the green ones, the multi-colored ones, and the classy ones. I like the ones with Santa, Rudolph, Christmas trees, snowmen, the Grinch, as well as those that signify my faith, such as angels, and the nativity. Beginning in December, and not before, I wear my inventory of Christmas at

We have come to the end of another year. We should be grateful for so much of it. Fortunately, the skinny old white guys and fatso potentates who seem to run everything have seen fit to keep the bombings to a minimum. It’s been a tough year for me, learning to live with what has become my new normal. Forty-seven years as half of a seriously mismatched set is quite a feat to pull off. However, I have always been quite cavalier on the matter of life and death. I often told Fre

‘Twas a dismal Yuletide in the Heart of California. Santa’s sleigh seems to have passed over the county, taking our few gifts and giving nothing in return. This is most uncharacteristic of the jolly old man with the enslaved caribou and unpaid workforce of little folk. And I heard him exclaim ere he flew out of view, “Happy Christmas to all, but there’s nothing for you.” Yep, we’ll enter the new year with less, not more. Remember when we had an Office Depot/Office Max. Before

Most Valuable Player Jazlynn Vargas Senior OH Madera South Vargas was easily the best player in Madera, hands down. She could do it all, and do it all at a high level. Even with a sore shoulder, which she had earlier in the year, she was probably the best libero in the area. However, she left that for Diana Moreno and did her work attacking the opposing teams. She became the go-to hitter for North Yosemite League co-Coach of the Year Travis McEwoen and did everything at a hig

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune A temporary sign trailer tells motorists that Madera Community Hospital will close despite an outcry of support from the community. Madera Community Hospital was forced to close its doors after an agreement with Trinity Health fell through. The hospital closed its emergency room at midnight Friday and its labor and delivery department on Wednesday. Concerned citizens, leaders unite to try to find solution Sheriff issues State of Emergency de