Big Valley News
Central Valley's Independent News Source
COALINGA - California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials and the Coalinga Police Department are looking for a minimum-security inmate who walked away from the minimum-support facility at Pleasant Valley State Prison.
Inmate Hector Fernandez was discovered missing at 12 a.m. after an inmate count was conducted. On-duty staff immediately began searching the surrounding areas. Notification was made to local law enforcement agencies and CDCR’s Office of Correctional Safety.
Shaver Lake - Around 7:30 pm on Wednesday, a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the mountains was dispatched to help a husband and wife whose vehicle was unable to drive any further due to a fallen tree that was blocking the roadway. The couple had a cell phone, but it did not have an active subscription. However, it was still able to successfully dial 911.
The deputy drove to Shaver Lake to try and find the couple, but do to directions, had difficulty trying to locate them. During this time there was heavy rain and strong wind in the area. Around 10:30 pm, a total of four deputies were now assigned to the call and they received better information that the couple was stranded on Old Railroad Grade Road, so they headed that way.
MADERA - The Madera County Sheriff’s Office hosted a swearing-in, promotional, and special awards ceremony to recognize recent new hires and promotions within the department. Family, friends, media and elected officials such as the newly sworn in Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno were in attendance.
The position of Undersheriff was added back into the command structure after a four year absence. The position once held by Michael Salvador was eliminated shortly after the 2014 election, as the department went to a Sheriff/Commander/Lieutenant hierarchy. The position is now back with former Commander now Undersheriff Tyson Pogue being elevated to the new number two position in the department.
MADERA – Thirteen years ago a tall kid with a silly grin took the football field at Memorial Stadium for his senior year. He was the quarterback. He was the kicker with one ugly white shoe. By the end of his senior year he was the student athlete of the year for the Madera High School class of 2007. Thursday evening at a press conference at his Alma mater Kenny Paolinelli will be named the new varsity football coach for the Madera Coyotes.
Following in the footsteps of Randy Blankenship, Dennis Fink, Andy Beaks and Bill Sparks, Paolinelli will inherit a rather successful Coyote squad from former Madera High Coach Yosef Fares. Fares resigned last year to accept a position as co-coach for the Bullard Knights in Fresno.
COALINGA - This week the Coalinga Police Department deployed for the first time its new electric Zero Motorcycle which immediately produced results. The bike was deployed to the Warthan Creek bed near Sacramento Avenue. Using its unique silent power source, he was able to approach an area known for homeless encampments undetected and located a stolen vehicle that was taken in a burglary on January 3rd in the 300 block of South Louisiana Street.
Further investigation led officers back into the Warthan Creek area on January 9th. A homeless encampment was located and inside that encampment, officers were able to identify a quantity of stolen property that have been connected to several recent burglaries in the City of Coalinga including the one on January 3rd.
