“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” These are lyrics many of us know. They are from an old gospel song, and it is a song about faith, perseverance, and resilience. It says, “I am going to encourage others to be positive.” In the Bible, the word light symbolizes God’s presence, holiness, truth, and life-giving power. It is often contrasted with the word dark, which suggests something more demonic or grim. It is noted in John 1:5 that, “The light shines in the

For The Madera Tribune Ed Gwartney. The late Ed Gwartney was a self-described product of the “Okie” migration who never earned a high school diploma but became a pathfinder of new trails in the teaching of history. He was the founder of the James Monroe Children’s Museum, and he has left it to others to build on his passion that created the unique educational laboratory for teaching California history on the campus of James Monroe Elementary School. Gwartney and his family w

For more than two centuries, Americans who enter public service — from soldiers and police officers to members of Congress — begin their duty with a solemn promise. It is an oath to support and defend the United States Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That promise is not symbolic. It is the foundation of public service in a constitutional republic and the bedrock of Western culture itself. The requirement dates back to the earliest days of the nation. W

For The Madera Tribune Chief Encouragement Officer Carles Beckett. When Carles Beckett graduated from Fresno State in 1967 and began his career in education, he could look back on his first 22 years and recognize that his life had been a series of miracles. Born in Piggott, Arkansas, he spent his first nine years living in a tent in a Buckeye, Arizona cotton camp and in a chicken coop on a chicken ranch in Petaluma, California. In 1954, his father was killed in a car crash,

Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune More than 360 people attend the Madera Prayer Breakfast at Hatfield Hall on Thursday. National Day of Prayer is observed each year on the first Thursday of May. The Madera Ministerial Association, in conjunction with Madera Chamber of Commerce, held its annual Prayer Breakfast at Hatfield Hall at the Madera Fairgrounds. There were about 360 people in attendance. Lois Leonard, Chair of the Madera Ministerial Association, welcomed all in atten

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Representatives from both Doors of Hope and the Madera Rescue Mission gather with Madera Mayor Cece Gallegos for a photo during a Doors of Hope’s 23rd Anniversary Celebration on May 2. Doors of Hope Parenting & Pregnancy Resource Center held an anniversary event outside their facility on May 2 to celebrate 23 years of service to the community of Madera and surrounding areas. Founded in May 2005 by Linda Garner, the non-profit, life affirmin

For The Madera Tribune Carles and Georgia Beckett on their wedding day. It was four in the morning, July 17, 1954, when the woman crumpled to the floor. Her sobbing woke her four children; in an instant they joined her, brokenhearted and weeping uncontrollably. The policeman standing over them watched helplessly. He had just told the Beckett family that their father and husband would not be coming home. He had been killed earlier that day in an automobile crash. The grieving,

For The Madera Tribune Lu Bowman and Otis Teaford are shown here on the day of their wedding in 1914. The husband and wife were inseparable, even while hunting big game on horseback in the high country. Otis Teaford was the son of George Teaford, an early Madera County supervisor. I will never forget that day in 1992, when Bill and Doris Seabury took me to North Fork to meet Lu Bowman Teaford. It was 78 years after she had become the bride of Otis Teaford, Madera County’s kin