Years Ago in the Week of May 14, 1992
Courtesy of The Madera County Historical Society Madera County Arts Council Director Nancy Clute, left, and Shirley Sudduth prepare to celebrate the Council’s 10th anniversary at its annual gala June 20 at the Mordecai Ranch.
SHOOTOUT AT MCNALLY PARK — Two men landed in the hospital after an argument turned into a shootout at McNally Park. Deon Walker, 20, was already in the park when Theodore Brown, 21, and Malcolm Washington, 24, arrived. Brown and Walker had words, and Walker left. He returned a few minutes later with two friends, and the argument continued. After a fistfight broke out, Walker went to his car and grabbed a handgun. Washington then went to his car and retrieved a shotgun. Both men exchanged fire, and Walker was shot in the hip while Washington was struck in the left shoulder. Both men were taken to the hospital where they were treated and arrested.
MADERA’S SEIBERT WINS VALLEY DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP — Colleen Hibbard’s bid for a fourth straight Valley championship came up just short, but there was some consolation because one of her teammates, Heather Seibert, took the title. Seibert, a sophomore who took third in the Valley last year, got off to a strong start and built up enough of a lead to hold off Hibbard for the title. “Coleen really had a lot of pressure on her, and I didn’t have much pressure on me,” said Seibert. “My first five dives were really strong,” Seibert said. “I knew that my biggest competition would be Colleen and the Clovis West divers. “All I wanted to do was my best,” she said.
MADERA FARMER FLOYD NELSON DEAD AT 90 — Floyd Nelson, 90, former Senior Farmer of the Year and 50-year Madera County farmer, died Sunday at his home in Madera. Born on a Nebraska farm he came to California with his family and settled in Lodi. Nelson bought some land near Chowchilla in 1936 and became a farmer. Nelson became one of the pioneer cotton farmers in Madera County. Later he diversified to raise alfalfa, corn, and later built two dairies. At one time he owned 1,600 acres. Nelson served his community in numerous ways, including Madera High School trustee, Rotary Club president, Madera Community Hospital trustee and Elder of the Presbyterian Church.
FOUR INMATES ESCAPE FROM COUNTY JAIL — Four inmates escaped through the screened roof of the recreation area in the County Jail’s minimum-security section Monday night. The four men managed to climb onto a basketball hoop in the recreation yard, reach beyond a reinforced wire mesh area directly above the hoop, and pry loose a corner of the chain link fabric. They then climbed out through the hole and shinnied down the jail’s wall on a rope made of tied sheets. “We had a brand new officer on duty, second day on the job, and they took advantage of that, and they took advantage of the dark,” said Madera Department of Corrections Chief Al Hahn.
MADERA COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL TO CELEBRATE 10TH YEAR — The Madera County Arts Council will celebrate its 10th anniversary on June 20 at the Mordecai Ranch. Begun in 1980 as a true grass roots initiative, in response to planning money offered by the California Arts Council, the MCAC was formally incorporated in 1982, and Nancy Clute was appointed its executive director by the board of Supervisors. Clute, a New York native and arts educator, has remained in that capacity ever since. She now has the distinction of being the longest-serving arts council executive director in the state. 50 Years Ago in the Week of May 14, 1967
BRIDGE STORE SLATES TWO-DAY OPEN HOUSE — The Bridge Store shopping complex, owned and operated by the Nishimoto family, will celebrate a grand opening Friday and Saturday. The shopping complex has developed from a start 40 years ago by Mrs. Kameyo Nishimoto, who entered the business world with $500 and a snow ice machine. The new 216-by-100-foot center replaces the former grocery store and other facilities on the corner site at 748 N. D St. Members of the family corporation, which owns and operates the center, include the founder’s sons Sunny and Keith and daughter Miss Mildred Nishimoto.
MRS. LUCILE DESMOND, CIVIC LEADER, SUCCUMBS — Lucile Heiskell Desmond, prominent native Maderan, educator, and civic leader, died Tuesday night of a sudden illness. She was 76. Mrs. Desmond was instrumental in much of the history of Madera through her role as an educator and through participation in numerous civic and philanthropic organizations. A member of the teaching profession for 40 years before retirement in 1952, Mrs. Desmond taught in schools throughout the Madera area and held principalships for eight years. She was a member of the pioneer Daulton family. Henry Clay Daulton, founder of the Daulton Ranch was her grandfather.
LYNEA MINNETI CROWNED AS NEW MISS MADERA COUNTY — A wildly cheering crowd of more than 1,000 spectators filled the Little Cow Palace and watched as Lynea Minneti, a dark-haired beauty with an olive complexion and dark flashing eyes was named Miss Madera County of 1967 at the Chowchilla Junior Fair. Miss Minneti, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Minneti, is a Madera High School senior. The newly crowned Miss Madera County plans to attend Fresno State College as a business administration major. In addition to her crown and trophy, she will receive a cash scholarship of $100 from the Chowchilla Junior Fair and $250 from the Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce.
SAILOR JAILED AFTER LOSING RACE TO CHP — A Sacramento sailor was booked in Merced County jail Sunday night after wrecking his car trying to outrun a California Highway Patrol vehicle. Daniel Earl Baumgart, 21, told officers he ran from them because, “you had the red lights on.” He was clocked at 100-miles-per-hour in the chase that began at Le Grand Road and ended with Baumgart’s car in a ditch at Avenue 24 1/2. After he was taken out of the car, the sailor had to be restrained with handcuffs and straps. He refused treatment at the Madera County Hospital and was booked in Merced for reckless driving.
DEPUTY DA FINED $25 AS DOPE CASE HEARING BEGINS — Deputy District Attorney Dave Stockman has learned not to exchange quips with Justice Court Judge Alec Brown. In a preliminary hearing this morning in the Madera Judicial District Court, Judge Brown pointed out that Stockman was holding up proceedings and asked if he could offer any reason for coming to court late. Stockman responded that he remembered numerous occasions when the judge had kept the court waiting. At that point, Judge Brown held Stockman in contempt and ordered him to pay a $25 fine. Following the contempt citation, the court got down to business.
