News

MADERA UNIFIED CANCELS ALL FRIDAY FOOTBALL GAMES - FAIR OPENS AT 5PM

MADERA FAIR GATES OPEN AT 5PM - CONCERT STARTS AT 8PM

MADERA - The Madera Unified School District has made the determination that all of Friday's outdoor activities have been cancelled including the football games for Madera High School and Madera South High School. "All outdoor activities including both football games, have now been cancelled for tonight. Deteriorating Air Quality is the reason. Phone messages will go out to parents", according to MUSD Superintendent Ed Gonzales.

MUSD's annual third grade field trip to the Madera District Fair was also cancelled because of the air, but the Madera Fair will open it's gates this evening at 5pm. Today is American Hero's Day where all active duty military and current police, fire and medical responders will receive free admission.

They're Out in Golden Valley: Ranchos Trustee Recall Successful

MADERA RANCHOS - In what may prove to be a lesson for all school boards in the Central Valley, three Golden Valley Unified School District Trustees have been removed from office. The recall movement in the Madera Ranchos that started when the school board fired a popular superintendent, Andy Alvarado, resulted in an over-whelming percentage of the voters saying goodbye three members.

Board president Kathleen Crumpton, John Mosley and Carla Neal were sent packing last night as nearly 90% of the voters said their voices will be heard. On February 3rd of this year nearly 400 citizens crowded the Liberty High School Theater for a board meeting. These parents defended the actions of then Superintendent Andy Alvarado but at the end of the night these three board members went against the parents and removed the superintendent from his position.

Charges Dropped Against Man Defending Himself in 2013 CHP Road Rage Shooting

MADERA - After a year and a half the Madera County District Attorney's Office has dropped all charges against a Madera man accused of brandishing a firearm at an off-duty CHP officer who was following him in a road-rage incident through the city of Madera.

Supervising assistant district attorney Karen Mitchell said in the Madera County Superior Court last week that the DAs office would not be pursuing charges against David Romero (53). Madera County District Attorney David Linn told Big Valley News, "I did not feel it was in the best interest of justice to continue the case."

Fugitive Kyle Snipes Captured in Roseville

ROSEVILLE, CA -Wanted fugitive Kyle Snipes has been captured by the Roseville Police Department and is sitting in a Placer County jail awaiting transfer back to Fresno. The arrest took place Monday afternoon the community located north/east of Sacramento, where Snipes has family. According to Lt. Bill Ward of the Madera County Sheriff's Department, Snipes will be transported back to the valley tomorrow.

Early Thursday morning, members of the Fresno HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) Task Force located a stolen car in Fresno County. The team conducted a surveillance operation on the car and followed the suspect, Kyle Patrick Snipes (29) into Madera County.

Manhunt for Kyle Snipes Over OIS Death Near North Fork

NORTH FORK - Early Thursday morning, members of the Fresno HEAT (Help Eliminate Auto Theft) Task Force located a stolen car in Fresno County. The team conducted a surveillance operation on the car and followed the suspect, Kyle Patrick Snipes (29) into Madera County.

The driver, Snipes, realized he was being followed and lead law enforcement officers to a home on the 49000 block of Road 210, near the community of Fine Gold. Snipes got out of the car and ran toward the house. HEAT members surrounded the home and identified themselves as law enforcement.

Varney to Eliminate Salvador's Undersheriff Position

MADERA - Tuesday afternoon Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney met with the Madera County Board of Supervisors to discuss the proposed budget for the sheriff's department and the restructuring of his command staff.

That restructuring would eliminate one lieutenant position and the undersheriff position currently held by Michael Salvador for the last two year. In place of those two positions, two commander positions will be created and filled by two of the four existing lieutenants within the department.

Owner of Smith Manor Funeral Home Arrested on 25 Counts of Fraud

MADERA - Thursday afternoon, Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Sharlane Smith at her Clovis home on numerous counts of fraud. Smith is the co-owner of Smith Manor Funeral home in Madera with her ex-husband George Smith. Her arrest follows several weeks of investigation into allegations that Smith Manor was intentionally over-charging the County of Madera for Coroner’s Services.

Smith Manor has held the County’s coroner services contract since 2004 and has been responsible for transportation, storage, autopsy facilities, and dispositions of deceased persons in Madera County. Evidence uncovered by Detectives indicates that Smith was intentionally adding charges to the monthly billing to the County for services that were not actually provided.