News

MADERA - Madera South High School played host to the California Superintendent of Public Education, Tom Torlakson Friday afternoon. Madera Unified School District Board of Trustee President Al Galvez invited the state's education chief  to tour the agriculture school at Madera South and the robotics program at Madera High School.

Torlakson saw first hand the two state of the art educational programs each of the schools offer students. After a brief welcome at Madera South's Media Center, Torlakson, along with many of the District's administration and Madera County Superintendent of Education Cecilia Massetti, Ed.D made their way to the 18 acre school of agriculture's lab where Torlakson was shown the floralculture, welding and engine classrooms.

CHOWCHILLA - Michael Cheatham gave up the rock star life and became Chowchilla's newest restaurateur. Gone are the days of sleeping in, the lights of Las Vegas stages and screaming fans. His new life revolves around baking breads and preparing fresh ingredients for the premier deli sandwiches he and his fiancée Ashton Wilson will be creating for the fanatical fans of the Central Valley restaurant chain, Deli Delicious.

With the backing of Michael's parents, Phil and Elizabeth Cheatham, the whole family is preparing for opening five restaurants around the state in the next year. Their first one, in Chowchilla, opened its doors a little after their 10:00am scheduled time Thursday with the Deli Delicious faithful waiting in-line to order.

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 - 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 - 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 - 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.