Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera Coyotes retiring softball coach Judy Shaubach, middle with microphone, acknowledges the many coaches that have helped in her 38 years at Madera while amassing 780 victories after Thursday’s victory over Edison in Madera’s regular season finale. The Madera Coyotes softball team entered its regular season finale with a County/Metro Athletic Conference co-championship secured, but coach Judy Shaubach wanted it all in her final regular s

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Matilda Torres’ Jose Velazquez throws a pitch during Friday’s game with Madera South. Velazquez allowed four runs, one earned, over six innings to pick up the win. He struck out seven and walked three. The Matilda Torres Toros baseball team took advantage of its extra runners for a 6-2 victory over the Madera South Stallions at Eddie Chapa Field. The Stallions out hit the Toros 7-4, but the Toros left 11 runners on base in the victory. They

Courtesy of Creighton Athletics Creighton’s Erika Perez hits a home run on Senior Night for the Bluejays. Perez, a former Madera Coyote softball standout, closed out her collegiate career with a first-team All-Big East selection. Former Madera Coyote softball standout Erika Perez closed out her collegiate softball career over the weekend for the Creighton Bluejays. Perez helped the Bluejays advance to the Big East Tournament championship game against defending champions, th

For more than two centuries, Americans who enter public service — from soldiers and police officers to members of Congress — begin their duty with a solemn promise. It is an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That promise is not symbolic. It is the foundation of public service in a constitutional republic and the bedrock of Western culture itself. The requirement dates back to the earliest days of the nation. W

Mystery fans will love this one. Frieda McFadden’s, The Inmate (2024, 332 pages in softcover) has more twists and turns than a Dutch cruller. And there are two timelines, eleven years apart. But the author makes it easy for us to follow. The characters are the same. In the earlier period, they’re teenagers; in the later years, they’re in their late twenties. [Before going on, let me answer a question, asked by a reader. I don’t use the terms “paperback” and “softcover” interc

Hisakazu Watanabe, Wikimedia Commons Few can resist the call of a fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon roll. There is something about cinnamon rolls that I find irresistible. Well, okay, a lot more than one thing. Many things, such as their aroma, especially fresh from the oven, their tender texture, the sweetness, the taste and satisfaction all combine to provide a wonderful experience. I know this is an appreciation shared by many others, as there are entire businesses that cater t

For The Madera Tribune Chief Encouragement Officer Carles Beckett. When Carles Beckett graduated from Fresno State in 1967 and began his career in education, he could look back on his first 22 years and recognize that his life had been a series of miracles. Born in Piggott, Arkansas, he spent his first nine years living in a tent in a Buckeye, Arizona cotton camp and in a chicken coop on a chicken ranch in Petaluma, California. In 1954, his father was killed in a car crash,

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune More than 360 people attend the Madera Prayer Breakfast at Hatfield Hall on Thursday. National Day of Prayer is observed each year on the first Thursday of May. The Madera Ministerial Association, in conjunction with Madera Chamber of Commerce, held its annual Prayer Breakfast at Hatfield Hall at the Madera Fairgrounds. There were about 360 people in attendance. Lois Leonard, Chair of the Madera Ministerial Association, welcomed all in atten