Local News

Skydiver Falls to His Death at Madera Pomegranate Festival

MADERA - A sixty-five year old Madera man fell to his death Saturday afternoon in a horrible skydiving accident in front of thousands of spectators at the Madera Pomegranate Festival. According to witnesses at the scene, the victim was David Gilbert, the owner of the Madera Parachute Center.

He was jumping with his daughter, Sarah Gilbert, a member of the Bulldog Blitz, which has been featured during this Fresno State Football season at Bulldog Stadium. No other jumpers were injured during today's demonstration. However neither the Madera Police Department nor the Madera County Coroners Officer has confirmed the victim's identity as of the posting of this story. Mr. Gilbert was identified as the victim by the Madera County Coroner early Monday morning.

Nite Lite is BACK: Halloween Alternative at Madera Fair Grounds

MADERA - Nite Lite is back! A safe and fun alternative to walking the streets “Trick or Treating”! Fifteen churches in the Madera Ministerial Association, four agencies in Madera and the Madera Police Department have partnered in conjunction with the “Love Madera” to bring Nite Lite back to the Madera Fairgrounds.

The evening is not organized to celebrate Halloween, but rather to give the community a safe and inexpensive alternative to typical Halloween activities, as well as to celebrate the many blessings that the season of Harvest brings to our community.

Woman Robbed In Line at Grocery Outlet

MADERA - A Saturday afternoon trip to the grocery store turned out to be anything but fun for a Madera woman and her child. As the woman was checking out at the Grocery Outlet Bargain Market near the Madera Fairgrounds, a black male adult grabbed her purse, which include her wallet and cell phone, and ran out the door followed by two other individuals.

As the woman yelled to the band of criminals, "I only want my cell phone. You can have everything else", several customers started chasing down the crooks who ran to a waiting car in the Super 8 Motel parking lot. The three individuals jumped in a late 1990's beige or gold Nissan Pathfinder. According to the police the vehicle traveled west on Cleveland Avenue and turned north onto Schnoor Avenue.

Madera County Blocks Public Parking and Disrespects Handicap Veteran's

VETERAN'S MEMORIAL PARKING LOT CLOSED TO COURT VISITORS

MADERA - A parking lot behind the Madera County Courthouse Museum dedicated to the fallen United States Military Veterans will no longer be available to the public visiting the new Madera County Superior Courthouse. Wednesday morning security officers from the County of Madera kept three disabled veterans from using the handicap parking while they had business at the new courthouse across the street.

The veterans, one who needed a walker to get around, were threatened with having their vehicles towed if they parked in the once public parking lot. New signs went up last week banning the public from parking in the only parking lot for the Madera County Courthouse Park if they are visiting the new superior court. Thursday afternoon after BVN asked the county administration about the incidents, later that day the Veteran's Memorial Parking lot sign was removed from the parking lot.

Bill Coate Honored as Grand Marshall of Madera South Homecoming

MADERA - Local historian and newspaper columnist Bill Coate was honored by Madera South High School Friday when he was selected to be Grand Marshall of the 2015 Homecoming parade. Coate drove through the streets of Madera towards Madera South High School in a convertible Mustang from Silva Ford with his grandson and daughter Friday afternoon. Then later that night in the middle of Lee DaSilva Field at Memorial Stadium, flipped the coin with the officials to start the football game.

After leaving his native state of Florida, Bill Coate enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1959. While he was stationed at Mather Air Force Base near Sacramento, he met and married Mary Ann Judge. They have been married for 54 years. Bill and Mary have two children, Debbie and John. They have five grandchildren, Jordan Scott, Sara Coate, William Coate, Emily Coate, and Kristine Kemmer. They also have two great grandchildren, Milo and Grace.