For The Madera Tribune Judge William Conley winked at the lynching of Victor Adams who had murdered Judge I.L. Baker in 1895. Madera County has generally been a law-abiding place. Most of the time law and order has prevailed. Every once in a while, however, the people have taken things in their own hands by using a rope and the nearest tree to administer justice in old, pioneer fashion. Our local history is filled with such lynchings. The first hanging to occur within the bou

For The Madera Tribune Maggie Mata. Maggie Mata, 87, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away peacefully on Nov. 19, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born on July, 30, 1938, in Madera, California, to Thomas and Grace Medellin. Maggie met and married Gilbert Mata on June 19, 1952. They had three children: Gilbert (Dinky), Kenneth (Kenny), and Diana. Several years after the birth of their third child, the family moved to the San

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

Tyler Takeda/The Madera Tribune Madera freshman Janyah Spotwood shoots over a Sanger defender during the first half of Thursday’s road loss to the Apaches. Spotwood led the Coyotes with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  SANGER — The Madera Coyotes girls basketball team committed 25 turnovers in the first half that led to a 27-6 Sanger Apache halftime lead in a non-conference loss.  The Coyotes did better in the second half, but still turned the ball over 40 times in a 63-35 loss Th

Imagine living in a small, quiet community that is just a few miles from a minimum-security prison. Well actually it used to be minimum security, but an escalating crime rate, overly-full prisons for serious offenders, and some administrative slight of hand has changed the prison population considerably. The facility now houses some of the most violent and dangerous prisoners in the state. In “A Small Town” (2020, 320 pages in softcover format), author Thomas Perry paints a p

Cat Campbell/For The Madera Tribune Try a platter of fresh corn chile relleno tamales for your holiday meal. A lot of people stick with family traditions for holiday meals, but I am noticing a willingness to explore beyond, and perhaps add something new. You never know when something will be a big hit and become a new tradition. I think I am right about in the middle, as I like to do both. It is also interesting to check out foods and ingredients from various cultures. I admi

For The Madera Tribune In time the Madera County Courthouse took on this ivy league look. The mood of the crowd was festive. Hundreds had gathered along West Yosemite Avenue to witness the historic occasion and to enjoy a community barbecue. Women in Victorian era dresses and men in suits clustered around the crane, which was setting the cornerstone. The date was Oct. 29, 1900, and in what seemed the quintessential symbol of modernity, Madera celebrated its entrance into the

For The Madera Tribune Ryan Videgain. Madera County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Ryan Videgain has graduated as a member of the 296th session of the FBI National Academy.  The graduation took place at the National Academy in Quantico, Virginia on December 11. Nationally, fewer than one percent of law enforcement personnel have the opportunity to attend the prestigious program. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced c