Do not vote for Measure T; it will not repair roads, as advertised. Where has it gone so far? Avenue 12 resurface. Who uses that road? Fresno. They work here, but live in Fresno. Some went to a road in Chowchilla towards Eastman lake. Nice road, but who uses it? Better yet, who lives on it. Now, we are paying for a widening of State Route 41 by Tesoro Viejo! We also paid for a “ByPass” through that development. All that should have been “Impact Fees” paid for by the Developer

The proposed “SAVE America” law is described as needed to protect our elections. But when we look at the facts, this bill does not solve a real problem. Instead, it would make voting more difficult or impossible for millions of citizens, while spreading fear and disinformation. Supporters say the bill is needed to stop non-citizens from voting. But experience at local and state elections, as well as verified studies, show that this is an exceedingly rare occurrence. The Herit

Imagine the Merry Pranksters from Ken Kesey’s Beat-Generation classic, On the Road. They were the motley crew who traveled across the United States with the author in a “psychedelically” painted school bus, holding parties, and passing out the hallucination-producing drug of choice for the Beats (and later, the Hippies): LSD. Their motto was “the obliteration of the entire nation.” In 2014, prankster Ken Babbs explained, “…not taken literally of course.” They didn’t kidnap, r

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.” — Comic strip character, Pogo If you are planning to watch the 2026 movie, Mercy, don’t read this column. The movie is slightly futuristic, and it is a reminder that the future is now. It features two key starring roles: Chris Pratt who plays LAPD detective Chris Raven (the accused) and Rebecca Ferguson who plays AI Judge Maddox (who is also the Jury and Executioner). As the plot develops, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, and

I am writing to express my ardent support for Melanie Barker for Madera County District 5 Supervisor. As a longtime member of this community, I’ve seen many people step into leadership roles, but few with the consistency and commitment that Melanie brings. She has been actively involved in local organizations for decades, including the Oakhurst Chamber of Commerce and MY Club, often the unsung hero behind the scenes donating her time and money. Always focused on strengthening

As we approach our nation’s 250th birthday, it’s worth reviewing the evolution of our revolution. Let’s review the role of women patriots in America’s first century. I’ll start with six. The 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence knowingly put their lives at risk. Benjamin Franklin put it best when he said, “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall hang separately.” That also applied to Mary Katherine Goddard, the woman whose name appears on

When I try to narrow the field to my favorite currently-writing authors, the list changes every couple of months. But one name that stands out year after year is Lisa Scottoline. Among other interests, like the newspaper column that she writes with her daughter, she has published dozens of crime/thrillers from contemporary to historical. Her 2017 New York Times bestseller, One Perfect Lie (369 pages in paperback format), is set in Central Valley, a small town in Pennsylvania

We may be familiar with a general outline of the history of the human species on our planet. Most of us agree with the current theory of evolution, though others challenge the science. Whatever the case, forensic examination of the bones of our distant ancestors reveals that, on average, they did not live long lives. During the thousands of years,when they were mainly hunters and gatherers, women conceived very early, and most of their babies died. Many of the women died duri