Local News

MADERA  - Over the last few weeks a special task force of law enforcement officers has been on the streets of Madera looking for illegal fireworks. The net result was a much smaller show of aerial fireworks blasting over the roofs of residential house subdivisions and less firework related fires on the Forth of July.

The Madera Police Department has brought attention to the large problem that illegal fireworks cause in our community, through education and targeting those who choose to sell and purchase illegal fireworks. During this time their special task force has seized over five hundred pounds of illegal fireworks by posing as potential buyers and sellers on social media.

MERCED - On April 04, 2014, Merced Police Department officers responded to the 3200 block of Juneau Ct. for a shots fired call. Officers arrived in the area and located a male victim who had been shot twice in the upper body.

On the day of incident officers arrested and booked two subjects for their involvement in the gang related shooting. Those subjects were identified as Michael Janes (27) and Adrian Delgado (27). Upon further investigation, investigators determined that Andrew Ybarra had also been involved in the shooting. When detectives went to arrest Ybarra, it was discovered that Ybarra had fled California to avoid arrest.

HOUSTON -  One Southwest Houston family has four reasons to celebrate this Fourth of July. This Independence Day, Linda and Thomas Agi welcomed home newborn quadruplets from the Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), four weeks after they made their debut in the world.

The three girls and one boy were born June 1, with two weighing less than three pounds and two others weighing just shy of four pounds. Mercy Grace Dotuchowo, Adriel Wohuowo, Amaris Owopoha and Zephania Ohoyenta spent several weeks gaining their strength in the Level III NICU before they were able to successfully transition home with their parents.

CHOWCHILLA - The Chowchilla City Council, at its Tuesday Council meeting, unanimously passed its City Budget for the next fiscal year.  The balanced budget allocates $38,263,555 over a variety of departments and projects, with the largest portion of the budget supporting the City’s enterprise funds, which include its water, sewer, trash pickup, airport, and storm drainage system.  The next largest beneficiary of the budget is the General Fund, of which the majority of the money, 44.2%, supports the Police Department.

The budget process was guided by community input and the City’s Strategic Plan.  Starting months ago, the City Council conducted budget workshops and a townhall meeting to hear directly from its residents on how they want their money spent.  It also collected input though its monthly newsletter, its website and Facebook.  These comments were then matched against the goals set in the City’s strategic plan.  The end product is a budget focused on public safety, economic development, additional recreational activities, strong code enforcement, improvement of city streets, pursue funding for downtown hardscape, finish improving the water system including new wells and two 750,000 water tanks, and more.