News

Scott Sample Announces Retirement from Madera District Fair

MADERA – After nearly 20 years as the Madera District Fair’s chief executive officer (CEO), Scott Sample has announced he will be retiring in April of this year. As CEO, Sample has managed the complete operation of the fairgrounds, including its annual four-day fair, 200-plus events each year, a very successful flea market, a race track and a lease agreement for the 27-acre shopping center located on the fairgrounds property.

The shopping center lease agreement is perhaps the most notable accomplishment of Sample’s 20-year leadership role at the Madera District Fair. It was an extremely complex project that took over six years to finalize and remains to be the only partnership of its kind between a state fairgrounds and the private sector.

Tribal Police Chief Surrenders at Court

MADERA - John Oliveira, the tribal police chief for the Tex McDonald Faction of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning at the Madera County Superior Court. Oliveira was the alleged mastermind of the October 9th armed raid of Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino

Oliveira, who was wanted on an $800,000 warrant, was quoted in a Fresno Bee article last week that he would turn himself at court this morning. He claimed to need time to find evidence for this case that would protect his family while he was in jail. His bail has been increased to $1.25 million. Along with Tex McDonald and Vernon King, the three were in court for a hearing on the case.

Sureno Gang Members Arrested in Madera for Fresno Shooting

FRESNO - Northeast Patrol Officers from the Fresno Police Department responded to 3500 block of E. Princeton regarding shots fired into a vehicle last Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers contacted the victim. The victim told officers she was visiting friends in the 2300 Block of E. Thomas.

As the victim was driving home, she saw two subjects she only knows as Tony and Chewy. The victim stopped and talked with Tony for several minutes. The victim and Tony began to argue over money that Tony believed the victim owed him. During the argument, Tony pulled out a revolver from his waist band and demanded his money. The victim returned to her vehicle and drove off. Tony fired one shot at the victim striking her vehicle.

Children Found After Abduction From Madera Foster Care: Parents in Custody

MADERA - After an extensive investigation by the Madera Police Department, the couple that abducted their children from Child Protective Services Saturday were arrested in eastern Colorado. The children, who were with them, were located and are in good health.

Donald and Mandee Murphy abducted two of their three children, a six year old boy and a thirteen year old girl, from foster care Saturday. The parent's had their children removed from their home and placed into protective custody with CPS on September 21, 2014. The Murphy's also have an adult son, Donovan Murphy (19) who was not with them.

Father Exposes 5 Year-old to High Levels of Methamphetamine Twice: DA Offers 90 Days

MADERA - In his yellow and white striped jail uniform, Wesley Irvine Potter (34) of Madera stood in front of Madera County Superior Court Judge Joseph Soldani Friday morning and learned he would be spending more time in the Madera County Department of Corrections. The step-father of a Madera kindergartener awaits his trial for two felony counts of child endangerment (PC 273a) and one misdemeanor count of domestic violence, his second in four years.

Potter, who is being held in the administrative segregation unit of the jail for his own protection from other inmates, was arrested on Saturday, September 6th for assaulting his girlfriend at their apartment at the 3300 block of Howard Road. According to the Madera Police Department the assault was recorded on video surveillance from the storage facility where their apartment is located. BVN will not released the name of the girlfriend because of the nature of the domestic violence charges of which she is a victim.

Father Exposes 5 Year-old to High Levels of Methamphetamine Twice: DA Offers 90 Days

Fifteen Charged in Chukchansi Casino Takeover

MADERA - Fifteen people involved in the take over of the Chukchansi Resort & Casino in the Coarsegold area of Madera County last month have been charged with multiple felonies, Madera County District Attorney Michael Keitz announced Friday.

On the evening of October 9th, armed men from the Tex McDonald faction of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California, stormed the Madera County casino taking several people into custody. The raid was captured on the casino's video surveillance system. The casino was immediately closed and has remained closed ever since.