All calls are edited for length and content. Due to content some calls may not be published. Please limit your calls to two minutes or less. Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of calls and space, some may not be published.

A man called in response to last week’s caller who said Madera High South was not getting enough coverage. “The Madera South Stallions,” this week’s caller said, “will always be second-fiddle to the (Madera High) Coyotes. You have no right to complain about what’s printed in the paper. Nobody cares about the teams you are playing.”

A “retired” lady who was “recently in Wal-Mart,” said, “all of a sudden these two boys (mid-teens) came careening around the corner almost hitting my daughter and the wheelchairs for the handicapped. I was so upset. They were laughing and playing. I reported them, but I don’t know if anything was done.” She wondered, “what’s happening with the youth of today? They have no respect for anything or anybody.”

“When are the cops going to catch these idiots,” began a man’s call. “Every weekend, they graffiti the amphitheater (at Town & Country Park) especially the weekend of the concerts. Everyone knows who or what they are. I hate to think what the city spends removing that crap from everywhere across town.”

A woman called asking “why certain officers of a lodge (name given) are not being held accountable. For the sake of all the members,” she continued, “at least the trustees or a qualified person should do something about it, before the lodge gets in real trouble.”

A lady, who “lives on Third Street, works nights” and has to get her “sleep during the day,” had a message for “the people that walk at 5:30-6 in the morning. Every morning there are five women, I am sound asleep, and I can hear their conversation. The whole neighborhood can hear their conversation.” She hoped the women “get the paper and read (this) so they can keep it down. Just have a little respect for others,” she asked kindly.

Several calls were received about the blue (recycling) cans mandated by the city. One lady responded, “I’m all by myself, here at home. You’re charging $5.85 a month for the service and by the time I fill up this can it might be a year. That means I’m paying $70.25 a year to have them empty the can (once). I think it is absolutely ridiculous.”

Another caller said, “It looks like we are going to have to take our recyclables and recycle them to be able to pay the $5.85 monthly rate increase. It looks like I’ll be turning in my cans and bottles so I can pay for my new blue can.”

A woman said, “For anybody that feels the city of Madera should take their (expletive) blue cans and stick them where the sun don’t shine I implore everyone, when they deliver the blue can, let it set there and don’t pay the additional $5.85 on your bill. If you pay for it you’re going to lose. Let the blue can set and don’t pay the additional on your bill.”

“I must say,” began a gentleman, “since moving here over two years ago, your paper has definitely improved. Love all the color lately. And,” he continued, “I always enjoyed Leon Emo and Bill Coates articles, now you have that Tami Jo Nix on Saturday. Keep up the good effort. It’s good for the community.”

A man called about a regular item in the paper. “Every Monday I look forward to the Ramblin’ Rec article so I can see what is going on,” he said. “This is the second Monday that it is missing. I think it is an important informational column about what seems to be the only city department that is actually doing something for our citizens at a very low cost.”

A woman called about the “squabble between teachers and administration. If bigwigs in admin would stop giving themselves raises of $30,000 or more, maybe the teachers, bus drivers, maintenance and all the other employees would get their deserved pay.”

Thank you for your calls. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24-hours a day by calling 674-4478.

All calls are edited for length and content. Due to content some calls may not be published. Please limit your calls to two minutes or less. Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of calls and space, some may not be published.

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A man who was watching “the evening news” said, “our governor appeared at San Luis Reservoir saying we might not have any water to drink if we didn’t conserve, build dams and take crops out of production.” The caller continued with “the mayor of Fresno is saying what a great deal this new golf course would be, which is the biggest, non-productive waste of water there is. Why do we need another golf course when there is a water shortage?”

A woman called with a short message. “Gordon Skeels is a very scary man.”

On the same subject a man mentioned the “almost weekly letters to the editor by Gordon Skeels.” He suggested, “that letters from the same person be published only every 30 days. Printing the letters from the same person week after week gets a little bit tiresome.”

A lady had a comment on “the recent celebration of Senior Farmer held at the Municipal Golf Course didn’t reflect what is grown here by the farmers of Madera.” She named several examples of food grown locally then continued. “The biggest honor that can be provided to farmers is to serve food that reflects what they do.”

“Madera Tribune, a wonderful paper,” began a man’s call. “However, always stick to local sports,” he suggested. “You can pick up the major, national sports on television. Lets expand the sports section to cover more local sports.”

“Good morning sports people,” began a man’s voice and regular contributor to the Red Line. “This one-and-a-half-horse town now has two high schools. However, it’s going to continue, I guess, that the (Madera High) Coyotes get all the publicity and we haven’t heard from South High.”

On the same subject a man said, “Madera High played in their Blue & White scrimmage and there is nothing in there about Madera High football. Get with the program,” he suggested.

A lady asked, “I would like to know when the city and county of Madera are going to get on their ordinance regarding cleaning up property? We need to get this issue under control and quit playing ‘nicey, nicey’ with these homeowners and renters.”

She also said, “I thought we had an ordinance where you are not allowed to keep a dog chained up.” She sighted, “about 90-percent of the dogs are chained up. We need to start being responsible.”

A man left a message about a call last week regarding the fireworks stands not being operated by non-profits and being left a mess.

“Apparently, he doesn’t understand,” said this weeks caller, “in Madera County fireworks stands have to be operated by non-profits and charitable groups and not individuals.” He also commented that he “didn’t see any stand that had left a mess.” On another subject, he “wished all these people that put up political signs during election years would be as conscientious in taking them down (quickly) as the people who run the fireworks stands.”

A woman called “about the people that have no water,” mentioned in last week’s Red Line. “I happen to know that people gave the tenants over two years worth of their well water and they never repaid them, even for their electricity. Now those poor people are trying to find a place to live, and they have two cats and a small dog they can’t get anyone to rent short term. It is really sad,” she added, “that Madera County and city won’t take action on slum lords that have places like this.”

A lady called about the children’s concert at Town & Country Park with Oklin Bloodworth.” Her niece and others “had a wonderful time” and she did not realize it had been going on “every Friday,” and hoped that parks and recreation would do more publicity for the concerts next time.

“It is after 10 o’clock,” said a woman, who had “listened for all afternoon to boom box music, Mexican talk, laughing, carrying on, and gutter language out here on Road 26. I am really tired of it. I don’t think we should have to put up with this nonsense.”

A man called from Save Mart on Howard Road and had stood “in the express lane with people with carts full of items. Why have an express lane,” he asked, “if you are going to allow anybody to go in with a basket full? I thought the express lane was for people with 15 items or less.” He suggested the rule be enforced or “get rid of the express and you’ll have no more comments.”

“I would like to know how social services refer their so-called caregivers to the elderly, some of whom are bedridden,” began a lady’s call. “Do they screen these people (caregivers), do background checks on them, do fingerprinting before they refer these people? This is a big time problem. I have found some thieves, some liars and I’m just in a wheelchair. Someone really needs to look into social services and the caregiver program.”

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From www.maderatribuneredline.com:
“Notice the desperation at the end of the article concerning the findings on homo erectus and homo habilis:
“‘All the changes to human evolutionary thought should not be considered a weakness in the theory of evolution.’
“Oh, just quit it, for heaven’s sake. There is no evidence of human evolution nor any other macroevolution.
“Period!”

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Thank you for your calls. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24-hours a day by calling 674-4478, or at www.maderatribuneredline.com.

All calls are edited for length and content. Due to content some calls may not be published. Please limit your calls to two minutes or less. Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of calls and space, some may not be published.

A man called about an article concerning Madera Irrigation District (MID) that appeared in another valley newspaper. “I am really disappointed in the Madera Tribune. Water is the lifeblood of Madera County and I have to read (in another newspaper) to keep updated about the Madera Irrigation District. As of Tuesday morning there was nothing in the Tribune. This is not the first time the Tribune has done selective reporting about this Madera Irrigation District, its water bank, or its board of directors. But” the caller hoped, “it will be the last time. Please do your job and report to us what is going on at Madera Irrigation District.”

A woman called about the article concerning “the fire truck getting in a bad accident. If these people get fined maybe they would learn to pull over when they’re supposed to.” The caller “almost saw an accident on Granada when a car went right in front of an ambulance with siren and lights flashing.” She suggested, “maybe they should start giving tickets.”

A woman who took in her “adult daughter who brought home her boyfriend,” had this warning to others. “They are both on probation. Trying to help them, I asked them to stay in my home to help them establish residence. They’re abusive. They holler at me. I am a 56-year old disabled woman. I take care of my grandkids when I can. The sheriff’s office said they can’t do anything because they live here. Because of the goodness of my heart, I’m stuck with them. Let this not happen to you folks.”

A gentleman called from North Carolina “trying to get in touch with the people in the newsroom,” in the hope of finding out some information about his grandfather who moved to Madera in 1939 after getting out of jail in North Carolina. After remarrying, “he died of tuberculosis in a California prison.”

A woman called about a “letter from Gordon Skeels. Of course he talks and says nothing. That’s what he did all the time when he worked for the city and as a chief (of police). No representation. He did not treat everyone alike.”

A woman called about the controversy over the football team “and the kids” going to Las Vegas for a game. “Why do we want to have a town of haves and have nots? Let’s get together and have a great community. Do what we can for our kids, all the kids.”

From maderatribuneredline.com:

“We have had no water for more than 30 days. While the other (nearby) tenant, who caused in a large part our shallow well to go dry and the water table to drop here, enjoys endless pumping. The landlords won’t fix it. The county won’t uphold the California Tenants Law. Futhermore the other tenants who promised about three years ago to compensate the water issue for both of us, will not live up to their word. Shame on them.”

“I think the lady that called about the family with no water was about us. Long story made short: Simply put there are two wells. The house well went dry due to the massive pumping and drop in water table caused in part by the other tenant; (they made all sorts of promises as they drained our well but never kept their word). So the landlords don’t want to fix the house well. Can’t blame them too much, as the house is not worth a new well. However, It has been more than 30 days, and they never offered to help us with any water. I do have a sign in the yard. (The one that was seen by who ever called in). Until we find another place, we haul at least 22 gallons a day for our pets, to flush, wash hands and water plants. … ”

“We were sorry to see that Madera County Animal Shelter is unable to find qualified homes for their pit bulls. In our experience, loving homes do exist, and are happy to share their lives with pit bulls, but are less likely to adopt from the shelter for fear that they may be damaged or troubled. This article would seem to support that concern. So, rather than risk getting a ‘bad’ pet from a shelter, they search out puppies from backyard breeders. Unfortunately, the practice of supporting backyard breeders creates an excess of dogs (many are ill-bred), some of which will ultimately become the victims of abuse by less-than-compassionate owners. It’s become a vicious cycle, and one that needs the attention of the animal care community. … It’s time that we bring pit bulls back into our circle of compassion – they’ve been suffering the consequences of cruelty for far too long.”

Thank you for your calls. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24 hours a day by calling 674-4478, or by logging on to maderatribuneredline.com.

The Aug. 9th and 10th issues of The Madera Tribune covered such topics as autism, the sparkling wine grape harvest, a fire that left 10 homeless, almond pasteurization, Oakhurst’s newest step towards incorporation, a Maderan killed when his jeep flipped, a judge overturning the state’s restrictions on video game sales, Madera’s long ago love of cockfighting, and more. What are your thoughts about what was published? What wasn’t in these issues that could have been? Feel free to let everyone know below.

Please note that all comments will be reviewed before appearing on the Web site. Comments may also be published in The Madera Tribune or El Sol de Madera.

What are your thoughts about what was published? What wasn’t in these issues that could have been? Feel free to let everyone know below.

Please note that all comments will be reviewed before appearing on the Web site. Comments may also be published in The Madera Tribune or El Sol de Madera.

The Aug. 1st issue of The Madera Tribune covered such topics as the the speedway, the discovery of the formerly missing woman, the story of pluots, the death of a volunteer firefighter, the Veterans of Foreign War and their memorial hall, a new agricultural water deal with the government, restaurant inspections, a commentary on drug enforcement, and more. What are your thoughts about what was published? What wasn’t in this issue that could have been? Feel free to let everyone know below.

Please note that all comments will be reviewed before appearing on the Web site. Comments may also be published in The Madera Tribune or El Sol de Madera.