When I saw a question posed: “What animal is the greatest killer of human beings?” My knee-jerk reaction was other human beings. I suppose that I thought about the number of murders that occur in the U.S. annually and extrapolated that to the rest of the world. But that is the kind of assumption and statistical error that a sociologist, like me, should not make. Truly, I know better, but that did not prevent my all-too-human initial reaction. However, it’s not really a bad an

The United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, Germany and France signed a critically acclaimed landmark agreement with Iran 11 years ago during the Obama administration. Known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, the deal placed restrictions on Iran’s civilian nuclear enrichment program in exchange for sanctions relief. Proponents said, “It blocks every possible pathway Iran could use to build a nuclear bomb while ensuring — through a comprehensive, in

Everyone seems to be talking now about the increase in prices. Food prices, gas prices, utility bills, the price of a new vehicle, and everything else is going up. It is true. I have this conversation with others around my age, that I remember when this or that was a certain price, which is way less than it is now. I actually do remember when gas was 19 cents a gallon. I don’t know what year that was, but when I think of that price now, it doesn’t seem possible that it was ev

For The Madera Tribune Not even the death of a second baseman in 1901 could keep players from playing baseball in Madera. One of the worst accidents in Madera’s history took place on May 4, 1901, when Fred Kirkpatrick, a young man in the full flush of his manhood, was accidentally killed while playing baseball. The Madera team, to which Kirkpatrick belonged, was practicing for a game. The batter hit a pop fly toward second, and Kirkpatrick and James O’Mara started for it fro

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune From left are FMAS Board Member Kirsten Gross (holding Bobby), Diana Frazier (holding Simpson), and Becky Koop (holding Lucien). The Friends of Madera Animal Shelter (FMAS) has served Madera County for 23 years with its care and concern for animals within the local communities. However, FMAS is in tough times, and is in danger of closing. The 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation began in 2002 with the purpose of improving the quality of life for t

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune Les Schwab is named 2026 Business of the Year by Madera Rotary Club. From left are Rotarian Glenn Chu; Jeff Karr, Madera Manager; Steve Lovelace, Area Manager; and Thomas McElroy, Commercial Service. Madera Rotary Club named Les Schwab as their 2026 Business of the Year at a recent meeting. Rotarian Diana Barden, who was not present at the meeting, had given her recommendations for this company with compliments on how the business is run. Glen

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune File Photo Pastor Charles Fryer delivers the closing prayer alongside Pastor Sammy Neely and then-Madera Mayor Pro Tem Anita Evans during the 2022 Juneteenth Celebration at Courthouse Park. Black Saints United and the City of Madera will host its annual Juneteenth Celebration, and will feature a Gospelfest. “I’m trying to make this the biggest one,” said Madera City Councilwoman Anita Evans. The Celebration will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday at

Messages of peace, friendship and freedom, authored by students from North Fork Elementary School, were found in the High Sierras and returned to the school 36 years after they were airmailed in a time capsule balloon. On Jan. 25, 1990, the students at North Fork Elementary wrote letters to the world, launched them in the air and thought they would never see them again. Much to the surprise of the school staff, a few weeks ago, they received a packet of letters, the exact one