Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune Local dignitaries, officials and construction partners gather for a ground-breaking ceremony for Madera County Crisis Stabilization & Sobering Center at 14277 Road 28 on Friday. Madera County took another powerful step forward in improving lives and public safety with the groundbreaking of the new state-of-the-art Crisis Stabilization and Sobering Center Friday morning.  The Center will support thousands of residents battling mental health a

Residents of Madera County deserve clear, factual information about how local government finances work and how public services are delivered. Confusion about city versus county responsibilities, property tax distribution, and population data can lead to misunderstandings about how budgets function. Understanding the structure of local government helps voters make informed decisions. City vs. County responsibilities Many residents assume that programs such as public health, be

Wendy Alexander/The Madera Tribune  Local dignitaries and city officials gather with community members for a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly paved and improved walking trail in Lions Town and Country Park on Saturday. Dignitaries and guests converged to the newly refurbished Town and Country Trails for a 5K run/walk to highlight the completion of the trails at the park.  The ribbon was cut Saturday morning and hundreds of people walked or ran through the parks for the 5

In Fresno recently, a gentleman convicted of possessing child sex abuse material took out papers to run for the Fresno City Council. A political firestorm erupted. Plans were made to introduce a law in the state assembly to prevent convicted sex offenders from running for local or state public office. However, the gentleman in question could not get 20 registered voters to sign his paperwork to run and, therefore, will not appear on the June ballot. Sometimes things take care

“Pushing up daisies” may no longer be just a colloquial expression about being dead. It now appears that some of us may, indeed, be pushing up daisies, and vegetables, and palm trees… someday. In Madera County? Well, right next door in Friant. It’s already happening, according to Your Central Valley. This becomes possible because of actions taken by our lawmakers and reported in SFGate. In 2022, Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia introduced AB351, which was passed by the legislatu

When summer temperatures climb into the triple digits across the Central Valley, the impacts reach far beyond discomfort.  Power demand rises, outdoor work becomes dangerous, and vulnerable residents face serious health risks. Extreme heat, along with flooding, drought, and wildfire, is one of several natural hazards that communities across California must plan for long before emergencies occur. In Madera County, that preparation is nearing completion.

David Richstone, CPA, Madera County Auditor Controller recently reported that the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for Fiscal Year 2025 was completed on time, and presented Madera County’s financial position fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Auditor Controller serves as the Chief Accounting Fiscal Officer for the County, providing independent oversight and saf

Last week, we covered the first eleven desirable characteristics of a third political party for the United States. This week, we’ll conclude the platform that I think most Americans would like to see in a viable third party. • The party would be concerned with wasteful spending and the increasing debt that the U.S. is amassing. For years, the U.S. dollar has been the global standard by which other currencies are measured. However, there is no assurance that the U.S. dollar wi