News

MADERA - A little after noon Monday, a sink hole opened up on Schnoor Avenue just north of West Fourth Street near Howard Road. At first Madera Police observed a two foot hole that grew into a 20 foot by 20 foot hole within minutes. Once Madera maintenance workers were able to get a good look at the damage they could see the dirt underneath the road surface had eroded over fifty feet to the south of the initial damage.

The main sewer trunk that stretches from Cleveland Avenue to the Madera sewer facility had ruptured at the spot of the damage. It is not known at this time how long the soil has been eroding from beneath the road but officials think the main damage may have come from this last weekend's heavy rains.

MADERA - Over the Easter weekend Madera County Supervisor Rick Farinelli claimed in a press release to his supporters that "political hucksters" or "gang-bangers" stole thirty of the sixty "large" political signs his campaign purchased that were placed along Howard Road and South Granada Drive.

Farinelli told his campaign supporters he needs to raise "emergency" money to replace these signs, which he valued at $84 each or $2500. However according to Madera Police Sergeant Johnny Smith, the supervisor told police officers at the "scene of the crime" that he had over sixty signs throughout Madera and estimated that he lost thirty signs and stakes that weekend at a value of $100 each or a total of $3000.

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.