News

Rico Oller Issues Bitter and Hateful Press Release Following Loss to Frank Bigelow

SAN ANDREAS, CA. - Former assembly candidate Rico Oller sent out a press release after the election that was neither congratulatory towards Assemblyman-Elect Frank Bigelow nor in the spirit of cooperation towards working for the betterment of our state.

While we initially decided not to run the release, we thought the voters of the 5th Assembly District might find it entertaining. I particularly found funny how Mr. Oller said, "I was looking forward to representing the foothills in the Assembly." Guess that means Madera wasn't going to get any support from Oller.

Madera Unified Superintendent Gustavo Balderas Wants To Take Huntington Beach Job

BREAKING STORY YOU READ FIRST ON BIG VALLEY NEWS

MADERA - Madera Unified Superintendent Gustavo Balderas has been offered a position at Ocean View School District in Huntington Beach, California. In three closed season meetings last month the board of trustees of OVSD discussed the open position for superintendent of their district. In the October 27th meeting an offer was made to Balderas which he is expected to accept at their next regular board meeting on November 6, 2012.

The Madera Unified Board of Education hired Balderas as the district's current superintendent in April of 2011 and he assumed his duties effective July 1, 2011. Before coming to MUSD Balderas served as the assistant superintendent of support services in the Hillsboro School District in Hillsboro, Ore.

All Six MHS Football Players Back on Team After One Day & One Game Suspension for Attendance Fixing (Update)

DO STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE DIFFERENT SET OF RULES AT MHS?

MADERA - So much for punishment of athletes at Madera High School. All six football players suspended from school and the varsity football team for attendance fixing are back on the team.

The four seniors and two juniors that paid a fellow football player working in the attendance office to clear a massive amount of absences sat out the Edison High School football game last week and were suspended from school for one day. However, this week they were back on the team and played Thursday night in their overwhelming loss to Bullard High School (48-0).

Madera Mayor encourages people to "Pomegranate Rock"

2nd Annual Pomegranate Festival Nov. 3rd @ Madera Municipal Airport

MADERA - Madera Mayor Brett "Ginger Ice" Frazier is encouraging people to “Pomegranate Rock” and a new video featuring him is showing people how.

“We wanted to show the world that Madera California is the Heart of Pomegranate Country and invite people to come see us during the Pomegranate Festival,” said Frazier. “So we figured there was no better way than a parody video.”

The video is a parody of LFMAO’s hit Party Rock called Pomegranate Rock.

Madera County Selects New Solid Waste Vendor - Sues Madera Disposal

Locally Owned Company Takes Over Garbage Services

MADERA – In a news conference held outside the Madera County Board of Supervisors chambers today, Board Chairman Ronn Dominici announced that Red Rock Environmental Group, part of Fresno-based Caglia Environmental, has been awarded a 10 year contract to provide solid waste services for the unincorporated portion of Madera County below 1000 feet. The previous vendor, Madera Disposal Systems Inc. a subsidiary of Houston, TX-based Waste Connections will end its relationship with Madera County on October 31st.

Arrest Made in Murder of Edison Football Player

FRESNO - Fresno Police are investigating the homicide of an Edison High School football player, Marquis Sutton (18). While police initially said a 911 caller reported someone was lying on a sidewalk, the truth is the young mans body was moved to that location following a game of Russian roulette gone bad.

Police now say Sutton was hanging out with four friends inside an apartment near the intersection of Ashland and Marks, where the body was found, when Terrance Lee shot the victim in the back.

Pike Murder Trial Postponed by DA Delays

MADERA - Madera County District Attorney Michael R. Keitz announced that the jury trial of Dustin Gran, scheduled in April 2012 to begin on September 25, 2012, has been postponed by the Stanislaus County Superior Court.

However the truth is the delays have been caused by the Madera County District Attorney's office not being ready to try the case. Keitz's office has tried to force new evidence into the trial without discovery and has been dragging their feet through-out the pre-trial phase of the case. The DA's office has been admonished by the Stanislaus County courts for allowing previous delays.