For The Madera Tribune Madera Lowe’s employees volunteer their time and resources to make significant improvements to several public facilities in Madera on October 17. The City of Madera thanked Madera’s Lowe’s store for its volunteer efforts and donation of materials as part of the national Lowe’s Hometowns Heroes Project. This initiative is dedicated to revitalizing community spaces and enhancing neighborhoods across the country. Lowe’s employees volunteered their time and

For The Madera Tribune Frank Bigelow, great Grandson of Harmon Bigelow, founder of the Ponderosa Telephone Company. I first met the Bigelows while working at Spring Valley School a long time ago. Jess Bigelow was a major patron of the school’s 4-H club and spent a lot of money buying their animals at the Madera and Chowchilla fairs. Of course it wasn’t long before I found out about the connection between the Bigelow family and the Ponderosa Telephone Company, and that is a hi

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune Rick Drayer, honored as Cattleman of the Year. He was given an award and a new cowboy hat. The Madera County Cattlemen’s Association held its annual dinner at Buchenau Ranch on Friday. The evening was one of friendship and comradery as cattlemen of Madera County enjoyed visiting with each over and honoring special people of the cattle industry. The event has become a tradition in Madera County, and has been held annually since 1963. Rick Draye

The American Heart Association is set to hold its annual Central Valley Heart and Stroke Walk event to raise awareness of heart and brain health, as well as raise funds to support scientific research, community impact projects, CPR education and more. The Saturday event will be held at 4150 Town Center Blvd. in Tesoro Viejo, beginning at 8 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 8:45 a.m., and the walk at 9 a.m. The event will include a 5K walk, with a shorter survivor route.

For The Madera Tribune Barnstormer leaves Madera. On March 29, 1912, hundreds of Maderans gathered at the city’s baseball park, where the National Guard Armory now stands, but they weren’t there to watch the Coyotes play ball. In the first place it was too early. No baseball team got up at 6:30 in the morning to play a game. What piqued the interest of this crowd was Madera’s first ever airplane landing and takeoff. D.E. Francis was coming to town. Francis, a professional bar

Madera County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, Rebecca Martinez announced that in order to be eligible to vote in the November 4, Statewide Special Election, persons must register to vote by Monday, October 20. In order to be eligible to register to vote at the November 4 Statewide Special Election, voters must be a United States Citizen, live in Madera County and be 18 years old on or before Election Day. Individuals who are currently on parole for the conviction o

For The Madera Tribune George Washington Mordecai, circa 1890. As the little town of Madera was growing up in the 19th century, several important politicians visited here. Presidents, former Presidents, and would-be Presidents met at Captain Mace’s hotel on the corner of E and Yosemite Avenue to begin a journey that would take them to the Big Trees and beyond. One of these was General Ulysses S. Grant, and before he left Madera, he met an old adversary that would one day beco

Courtesy of Daniel Mendoza/Gonzalez Boxing Madera Unified girls get in the ring to participate in a free boxing summer camp, hosted by Gonzalez Boxing. The camp teaches the students discipline and provides them with a positive outlet. Gonzalez Boxing, founded by Daniel and Adriana Gonzalez, hosted a summer class in partnership with Madera Unified School District to offer free after-school programs and summer camps designed to build discipline, confidence, and community. Adri