Local News

Victim of Friday's Madera Murder Identified

MADERA - The Madera Police Department has released the name of a transient man killed last Friday in a fight with another transient. Police say Richard Lowery got into a fight with Kenneth Sandlin around 4:30pm behind a gas station at the corner of Toser Street and East Yosemite Avenue.

Lowery died Friday evening of blunt force trauma following the fight. The 58 year old Sandlin was sought by the police who they say is extremely violent. Saturday evening Officer Mike Powell of the Madera Police Department located and arrested Sandlin without incident.

Kerman Dedicates New Solar Farm for Wastewater Treatment Plant

KERMAN – Mayor Gary Yep and City Manager Luis Patlan of Kerman, Calif. joined officials of ConEdison Solutions and Borrego Solar Systems today to dedicate a state-of-the-art solar installation at the City of Kerman’s wastewater treatment plant.

By tapping solar power as an energy source, taxpayers will enjoy approximately 40-percent net reduction in the treatment plant’s electricity costs -- a savings of more than $95,000 per year. In addition to cost savings, the use of clean and renewable solar power brings an array of environmental benefits and helps reduce America’s dependence on overseas fuel supplies.

Madera’s Mayor and Former Mayor Team Up for Pomegranate Festival Video

MADERA - As the city of Madera prepares for the third annual Madera Pomegranate Festival on November 2, current mayor Robert Poythress and former mayor Brett Frazier have teamed up to create a video promoting the upcoming event.

The video, a parody of the popular song Thrift Shop, is a follow up to last year’s video which was a parody of Party Rock. Frazier appeared in last year’s video as well.

Madera Jury Finds Man Guilty of Animal Cruelty

MADERA - A Madera County Superior Court jury has found Valentino Torres, 44, of Madera, guilty of felony animal cruelty, according to Michael R. Keitz, District Attorney for Madera County.

During the trial of Valentino, evidence revealed that in September 2009, a Madera animal control officer was dispatched to the area of Clinton and Vineyard to investigate a dog that had been tied to a street sign. The responding officer found a pit bull there that was so severely emaciated that its bones were clearly visible, it had large open sores and was infested with ticks and mites.

After 11 Years, City Settles Torres Killing Lawsuit

FRESNO - After an eleven-year legal battle that involved four different law firms, the city of Madera has settled the lawsuit that resulted from the 2002 shooting of 24 year-old boxer Everado Torres.

The settlement was reached Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Fresno as lawyers prepared for jury selection. The city has agreed to pay the Torres family $775,000 which is just $20,000 more than was offered to them when the city attempted to settle this case in 2004.