Local News

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.

Parents and Doctors Sue Clovis School District Over Sex Education

CLOVIS – Parents and physicians filed suit against the Clovis Unified School District over its high school abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education. The lawsuit charges that the district is violating California law and putting teens’ health at risk by teaching students misinformation and denying them critical instruction about condoms and contraception.

MUSD's Porterfield Resigns: Accepts Position with Central

MADERA - The exodus continues at the Madera Unified School District as Associate Superintendent Kelly Porterfield has announced his resignation. He has accepted a position with the Central Unified School District as Assistant Superintendent of Business.

Porterfield said he was recruited by Central Unified after a phone call from the districts superintendent, Mike Berg. Berg was conducting a salary survey of neighboring districts and one thing led to another. He said it was a hard decision for him because his heart is at Madera Unified but this was a good move for himself and his family.