News

Former MUSD Assistant Superintendent Kelly Porterfield Killed in Shaver Motorcycle Collision

SHAVER – Former Madera Unified School District Associate Superintendent Kelly Porterfield (51) was killed early Tuesday evening on State Route 168 near Shaver Lake following a collision involving his motorcycle and a Dodge Caravan.

California Highway Patrol officials say the driver of the minivan, Aaron Harper (19) was traveling eastbound on State Route 168 at Shaver Forest Highway when he pulled over to the shoulder of the road. Officers say the driver attempted to make a U-turn onto the westbound lane and crashed into Porterfield’s oncoming Honda 125 motorcycle.

Madera County DA Opens Investigation into Grand Jury Concerns Following City Probe

MADERA – Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno has opened an investigation into the Madera County Grand Jury’s allegation of malfeasance and/or misfeasance on the part of former city administrators and former and present Madera City Council members.

At this time Moreno would not say whether the investigation will be civil or criminal but the statute of limitations on a felony complaint is three years and a misdemeanor is one year.

San Joaquin County Biodiesel Firm Sentenced To Probation, Fines For Clean Water Act Violations

SACRAMENTO - On July 8, 2019, United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller sentenced the corporation known as American Biodiesel, Inc. for violations of the Clean Water Act, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. American Biodiesel, Inc., registered in San Joaquin County as Community Fuels, manufactured biodiesel fuel on property leased from the Port of Stockton.

According to court documents, American Biodiesel, Inc. admitted to allowing the discharge of industrial wastewater into the City of Stockton sewer system in violation of Stockton permitting regulations and the federal Clean Water Act. American Biodiesel, Inc. also admitted to tampering with monitoring devices and methods designed to detect such violations. Specifically, employees tampered with pH recordings and flow meters for the purpose of underreporting acid and pollutant levels and volumes that would have exceeded the figures allowed under the City’s regulations.

North Fork Suspect in Custody Following Weekend Fatal Shooting

NORTH FORK – A North Fork man is in custody following a fatal shooting Saturday evening. Robert Eugene Moye Jr. is currently sitting in the Madera County Department of Corrections for first degree murder.

On July 6, 2019 the Madera County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call around 9:23 PM regarding a family disturbance in the 33000 block of Mission Drive in North Fork. As MCSO Deputies were in route, dispatch received an update of multiple shots fired and at least one person being shot.

Fresno Deputy Shot in Tollhouse Area Standoff

TOLLHOUSE - Just before 11:00 am Tuesday morning, Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 29000 block of Quail Springs Lane in Tollhouse in Eastern Fresno County. The caller said there was a civil dispute between neighbors regarding property boundary lines. One of these neighbors was a man with a gun who was firing at objects on the land.

Around 11:15 am, two deputies in separate patrol vehicles arrived at the property. As soon as Deputy John Erickson pulled in, a man with a gun began shooting at his patrol truck. Erickson was struck in the leg by a bullet. He made a radio call that he had been hit and numerous resources responded to the scene. Erickson had a civilian riding along in his vehicle, who was able to get out of the truck without getting hit.

Motorcycle Rider Refuses to Pull Over, Results in Deadly Crash

FRESNO - Cline Garner, 32, of Fresno is in the hospital and he has been electronically booked into the Fresno County Jail. He faces charges of evading a peace officer that resulted in death and a probation violation. Around 4:45 am on Tuesday, deputies were alerted to two people on a motorcycle near W. Gettysburg and N. Vagedes Avenues in Fresno who were acting suspiciously.

Deputies attempted to pull the motorcycle over near W. Gettysburg and N. Palm Avenues, but the driver (later identified as Cline Garner) refused to stop. He immediately took off down Palm at approximately 100 mph. The deputy followed behind and found the motorcycle about a mile away, near Palm and Santa Fe. The bike had crashed into a center median and ejected both riders.

Downtown Madera Veterans and Family Housing Project Awarded $11.3 Million

MADERA - The City of Madera has announced a grant award in the amount $11.3 million from the California Strategic Growth Council for a proposed downtown housing project. The California Strategic Growth Council, on June 21, 2019, awarded more than $402 million from the innovative Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program to 25 new community development projects around the state. Funding for the AHSC program is derived from cap and trade proceeds.

This was the first time a project from Madera applied for this highly competitive funding opportunity. The Madera project was the highest scoring project from the San Joaquin Valley, and one of the highest in the state. "This is truly a major accomplishment for Madera, it will change the face of our downtown and serve as an impetus for additional investment in Madera.