Local News

Hormel Fired from Chowchilla PD Following Rape Arrest

CHOWCHILLA - Former Chowchilla Police Officer Tyler Hormel (35) has been fired from the city's police department following his February 8th arrest for having sexual intercourse with a minor.

Chowchilla Chief of Police Dave Riviere said, “I am deeply saddened by the arrest. My heart goes out to the victim, the family of the victim, the Hormel family, the staff at the police department, city staff, the school district and the entire Chowchilla Community. The department has concluded the internal investigation related to the arrest. Effective immediately Tyler Hormel is no longer employed by the City of Chowchilla. "

Chowchilla Police Officer Arrested For Sexual Misconduct with a Child

CHOWCHILLA - Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Tyler Hormel (35) Monday afternoon for having sexual intercourse with a minor. Hormel is employed by the City of Chowchilla as a police officer, where he was currently assigned as a SRC (school resource officer).

The Chowchilla PD has placed Hormel on administrative leave from his job with the police department while an internal investigation into the allegations is being conducted. The Madera County Sheriff's Department has released very little information on this case other than saying that the alleged misconduct is unrelated to any of the school sites Hormel was assigned.

Madera Woman Achieves Success Despite Adversity, Tragedy and Parental Abandonment

MADERA - In this day and age when someone meets adversity at the levels Diana Olivarria has, many people would just give up or play the "why me" victim card. Not Diana, that is not in the nature of this woman. This August Ms. Olivarria turns 55 years of age and will receive her masters degree in Early Childhood Development with an emphases on autism. In 2011 she received her bachelors of arts from Fresno Pacific University in the same discipline but with a focus towards education. During that time she also created an organization from her living room to help families affected by autism at no charge to the parents.

Madera Ag Leader Dino Petrucci Passes at 85

MADERA - Former Madera Unified School District board of trustees president Dino Petrucci died January 4th, 2016 in Madera at the age of 85. Petrucci dedicated a life time to the support of agriculture.

Dino was born on a farm in Madera where his family still lives on the property his parents cultivated while he was growing up. He attended Howard Elementary School, graduated from Madera High School in 1947, and earned a college degree in Crop Science from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

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.