Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune Chowchilla Chamber presents Jeff Sterling with the Unique Citizen of the Year award. From left are president Chad Middleton, Sterling, Tricia Placencia, and John Pope. The Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Community Awards Dinner and Installation at the Portuguese Hall in Chowchilla. Dennis Haworth, Executive Director of the Chamber gave a warm welcome to guests on January 24, and thanked them for attending to honor the a

For The Madera Tribune Madera County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ronald Aguilar holds a certificate after he was honored by the Madera Sunrise Rotary. With Aguilar are Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue, left, and Rotary member Gordon Kennedy, right. Twice last year, Madera County Sheriff’s Office Deputy sprang into action and saved two lives.  For his actions, Aguilar has been deemed a hero, and the Madera Sunrise Rotary honored him at its meeting Wednesday morning. Aguilar has b

The 44th Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon speech, interview, and Super Quiz competitions will be held on February 7 at Madera South High School. The 2026 topic is “The Roaring Twenties.” “This competition represents months of hard work and commitment, and we are excited to come together once again to recognize the incredible achievements of our Academic Decathlon students,” said Tricia Protzman, Madera County Superintendent of Schools.

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Madera Unified School District officials gather for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of MUSD’s newest Parent Resource Center on Thursday at 2055 W. Cleveland Avenue, Suite C. Elia Medina, center holding scissors, is joined by district representatives from left, board member Nadeem Ahmad. Superintendent Todd Lile, board member Joetta Fleak, board member Gladys Diebert, board member Lucy Salazar and Prince Marshall. Madera Unified Sch

For The Madera Tribune Tonya Hamilton’s California Driver’s License photo. Madera County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a medical aid call involving an unresponsive 3-month-old infant.  The child was transported to a local hospital and rushed into emergency surgery due to severe head trauma on January 13.  Medical professionals determined the injuries were not consistent with any type of fall.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Office arrested 32-year-old Madera resident Bryan Francis Gittings following an investigation into the distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material. MCSO detectives, assisted by the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the FBI, served a search warrant in the area of Walden Drive and Avenue 17 in Madera on January 21.  Gittings was arrested on charges related to the distribution and possession of Child Sexual Abus

Madera Police Department Officer Sergio Hernandez found a stolen vehicle in the northeast city limits, where multiple vehicles were reported stolen the night prior.  The vehicle, which had multiple occupants inside, led Hernandez on a pursuit into the county area near Avenue 18 1/2 and Road 25 1/2.  The suspect vehicle was involved in a minor single-vehicle traffic collision, causing the suspects to flee the area.

For The Madera Tribune A driver ran a stop sign in the fog on January 18, and struck a metal pole on Road 35 and Avenue 9. A 22-year-old impaired driver ran a stop sign and violently struck a metal pole on Road 35 and Avenue 9, on Jan. 18, just after 7:30 p.m. One bad decision nearly turned deadly. The driver was fortunate to survive, and fortunate no one else was involved/hurt.