

W.B. Thurman remembers his father
For The Madera Tribune William H. Thurman. At the request of the Madera News-Tribune, I am writing of the early day happenings in what is...
Bill Coate


Connecting with the Living Past
For The Madera Tribune Albert Wilburn. It was a red-letter day for Samuel Colunga’s 8th grade class. The teenage historians left the dry,...
Bill Coate


Indians got their revenge
For The Madera Tribune T.H. Muhley. “Jim Bethel Killed! Old Resident of this County Found Dead in his Doorway.” With these words, in 1908...
Bill Coate


Flying through the years: 6 decades in the sky
For The Madera Tribune Pilot Jim Shamp stands under his airplane which displays eyes like the characters of the movie, “Planes,” which he...
Julian Ornelas


Whitecaps planned whipping in Hildreth Hotel
For The Madera Tribune The Hildreth Hotel — the tree whipping was planned here. As a general rule, the atmosphere was friendly at the...
Bill Coate


Alfredo Farnesi made his mark
For The Madera Tribune “Skeeko” Alfredo Farnesi. Once upon a time, the Fresno Bee published a column by Woody Laughnan, which carried his...
Bill Coate


Sheriff fought prostitution in Madera
For The Madera Tribune Sheriff John Barnett, shown here, had his hands full trying to rid Madera of prostitution. Being sheriff of Madera...
Bill Coate


Madera’s first black police officer was tough, compassionate
For The Madera Tribune General Waldo Sims, Madera’s first black police officer. When the Madera policeman came to the home of Charles...
Bill Coate