News

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.

CLOVIS - During the month of January, the City of Clovis typically sees an increase in theft and vehicle burglaries. To combat these crimes, the Clovis Police Department has increased patrols during these cold, foggy nights. Early Monday morning, several additional officers proactively patrolled Clovis neighborhoods with a mission to proactively prevent theft. The officers patrolled in both marked and unmarked police vehicles.

At approximately 3:30 a.m. Monday morning, a Clovis Police Officer was patrolling the “Wawona Ranch” neighborhood near Minnewawa and Nees. He noticed two males walking through the neighborhood, one on each side of the street. Upon contact, the officer determined one of the males had a warrant, and he was arrested. When the males were searched, evidence of identity theft was located. Officers believe the males were in the area looking into vehicles and mailboxes.

SAN FRANCISCO — PG&E Corporation said today it remains committed to providing safe natural gas and electric service to customers as it prepares to initiate voluntary reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11. The Company today provided the 15-day advance notice required by recently enacted California law that it and its wholly owned subsidiary Pacific Gas and Electric Company currently intend to file petitions to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on or about January 29, 2019.

During this process, the Company is also committed to continuing to make investments in system safety as it works with regulators, policymakers and other key stakeholders to consider a range of alternatives to provide for the safe delivery of natural gas and electric service for the long-term in an environment that continues to be challenged by climate change. PG&E expects that the Chapter 11 process will, among other things, support the orderly, fair and expeditious resolution of its potential liabilities resulting from the 2017 and 2018 Northern California wildfires, and will assure the Company has access to the capital and resources it needs to continue to provide safe service to customers.