Local News

Madera Stallions' Music Take the Stages at Disneyland

ANAHEIM, CA - Both parks at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim were over run by Stallions from the Madera South High School Music Department last week. The concert choir and jazz band were invited to participate in the Disney Performing Arts concerts which are a part of the Disney Youth Programs.

These year-round programs give schools from all over the country a chance to perform on the main stages at both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure for the park's guests. Following their performances the groups take part in a workshop backstage at Disneyland.

37 MPH Winds Damage Historic Structures and Uproot Trees

MADERA - Friday afternoon around 1:30pm the city of Madera experienced a strong wind storm that moved through the area. Winds from the storm reached speeds of 37 mph according to the National Weather Service at the Madera Airport.

The Madera Police Department received about forty calls regarding wind damage and/or power outages from the storm. There were approximately four temporary power outages caused by downed power lines.

Sink-Hole Opens on Schnoor Halting Traffic For Days

MADERA - A little after noon Monday, a sink hole opened up on Schnoor Avenue just north of West Fourth Street near Howard Road. At first Madera Police observed a two foot hole that grew into a 20 foot by 20 foot hole within minutes. Once Madera maintenance workers were able to get a good look at the damage they could see the dirt underneath the road surface had eroded over fifty feet to the south of the initial damage.

The main sewer trunk that stretches from Cleveland Avenue to the Madera sewer facility had ruptured at the spot of the damage. It is not known at this time how long the soil has been eroding from beneath the road but officials think the main damage may have come from this last weekend's heavy rains.

Did Supervisor Rick Farinelli Lie to the Police & Supporters Over Stolen Signs?

MADERA - Over the Easter weekend Madera County Supervisor Rick Farinelli claimed in a press release to his supporters that "political hucksters" or "gang-bangers" stole thirty of the sixty "large" political signs his campaign purchased that were placed along Howard Road and South Granada Drive.

Farinelli told his campaign supporters he needs to raise "emergency" money to replace these signs, which he valued at $84 each or $2500. However according to Madera Police Sergeant Johnny Smith, the supervisor told police officers at the "scene of the crime" that he had over sixty signs throughout Madera and estimated that he lost thirty signs and stakes that weekend at a value of $100 each or a total of $3000.

State Schools Chief Visits Madera South Ag School

MADERA - Madera South High School played host to the California Superintendent of Public Education, Tom Torlakson Friday afternoon. Madera Unified School District Board of Trustee President Al Galvez invited the state's education chief to tour the agriculture school at Madera South and the robotics program at Madera High School.

Torlakson saw first hand the two state of the art educational programs each of the schools offer students. After a brief welcome at Madera South's Media Center, Torlakson, along with many of the District's administration and Madera County Superintendent of Education Cecilia Massetti, Ed.D made their way to the 18 acre school of agriculture's lab where Torlakson was shown the floralculture, welding and engine classrooms.