Local News

International Agri-Center Prepares For 50th Anniversary of World Ag Expo

TULARE - The largest annual agricultural exposition of its kind, World Ag Expo boasts more than 1,500 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. A record-setting 106,349 people came from 47 states and 79 countries to attend 2016 World Ag Expo.

The World Ag Expo Arena will once again offer daily Equipment Showcases, where exhibitors will perform live demonstrations of their latest products. Seminars will be offered in a variety of categories, including dairy, irrigation, international trade, business and farm management, marketing and media, and general agriculture. These seminars are presented by professionals in the industry and provide attendees with valuable information to improve their operations.

Bridge Store to Close after 89 Years of Service to Madera

MADERA - After 89 years of serving the Madera Community the Bridge Store will soon close its doors. The Nishimoto Family has been a proud member of the Madera Business community since 1928. Once Kameyo Nishimoto, the Matriarch of the family, first opened the doors the Nishimoto Family became dedicated members of the Madera Community.

Kameyo and Tamaichi Nishimoto opened the business in May of 1928. Then the store was a single room corner store with wooden floors. The entire Nishimoto Family including Mildred Nishimoto, Keith and Mickey Nishimoto, Sunny and Dorothy Nishimoto, Mary Nishimoto and Patty Nishimoto, have worked tirelessly in the store. In 1965 the current building was built by Keith and Sunny Nishimoto.

A New Mayor for Madera with a Familiar Name

MADERA - Last November the voters of the city of Madera selected just their second elected mayor in the city's history and the last name of the new mayor is a familiar one.

Mayor Andy Medellin, who ran unopposed for the city's top seat, is the son of former Madera mayor and city councilperson Margaret Medellin. When he raised his right hand to be sworn in to office Wednesday night, it was his mother that officiated the oath of office. “If you folks are hearing a boom, boom, boom,” Margaret Medellin said to the audience, “it’s nothing dangerous. It’s my heart.”

Accidental Shooting Claims Life of Fresno County Deputy

FRESNO - Monday afternoon an accidental shooting incident occurred inside a Sheriff’s Office building near the Fresno Airport. Occupying the building at the time were about a dozen Fresno County Sheriff’s Office employees. There are several rooms in the building and the employees were in various locations throughout the building.

There were four people in the office where the incident occurred, including the deceased Deputy Sergeant Rod Lucas. Sgt. Lucas and one of the detectives were discussing their equipment, specifically their backup weapons and how they carried them. The detective had his weapon out and during this discussion the detective’s weapon discharged one round.

Final Madera Shooting Suspect Nabbed in Fresno

FRESNO - Within a week of a shooting incident that could have costs the lives of a Madera Police Officer and a civilian ride-along, all three suspects are now in custody. Friday night the Special Investigations Unit of the Madera Police Department along with the assistance of the California Department of Justice, U.S. Marshal Service, Fresno Police Department and Fresno County Sheriffs Department, attempted murder suspect James Cruz was apprehended.

Two of the suspects in last Sunday mornings shooting of a Madera Police cruiser as it was attempting to make a traffic stop were booked into the Madera County Jail Tuesday. The incident has attracted national media attention to this little Central California town. With the driver and the shooter in custody, Madera Police focused all their attention on the last suspect, Bulldog gang member James Cruz.