Red Line (Feb. 23)
All comments are edited for length and content. Because of content or space limitations, some comments may not be published. More than one comment from the same person during the same week will normally not be published. Please limit calls to two minutes or less.
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A woman mentioned “that nobody seems to know the school board voted (on whether) to eliminate athletics throughout the district. If they do that the town will dry up. Parents are already making plans to send their kids to other districts. This is ridiculous. The vote was a tie, 3-3. What happens if they actually do it?” (Editor’s note: The school board did not vote to eliminate athletics; it is merely being considered, along with other cost-saving moves.)
“I saw on television that Madera is thinking about eliminating sports programs,” said a lady. “They just bought four vans to be used only for sports, only sports. Then you (trustees) assign 33 5-year-olds to one teacher, with no (teacher’s) aide. Can you imagine a parent with 33 children? They’re not using their heads.
“Madera Tribune, when are you going to step up to the plate and weigh in on the education of our children?”
A woman, whose message was hard to understand, “challenged the school district, the Red Line, and the Madera Tribune to show a movie about pregnancy and childbirth to everyone. It really grossed me out. The movie is very graphic, but needs to be shown.”
“I’m curious why you (the Tribune) never have any articles about what goes on at the board of supervisors meetings, what they talk about, the same goes for the city council and school board,” a man said.
“Nothing was in the paper when the school board talked about cutting sports because of budget restraints. Are we afraid to let the people know what is going on at these meetings. Is it too costly to put a reporter over there to report? What’s wrong with the Tribune?”
(Editor’s note: The Tribune mentioned that the Board of Trustees considered the idea of cutting school sports in its in-depth front page article on Saturday, Feb. 10. By necessity, an article on the meeting in Wednesday’s newspaper was sent to our printing presses while the Tuesday night school board meeting was still taking place.)
Another caller voiced a similar message. “The Tribune should report in more detail what goes on at these government meetings. From the supervisors to the school board, all we get is tidbits. You seem to disregard all the controversy that is going on in these matters.”
“I’m also responding (another caller did last week) to the handyman ad in your classified section,” said a woman. “I called him. He doesn’t do the work unless you put 50 percent down.”
A visitor to the Red Line online, self-identified as Diana, wrote, “I enjoyed the pictures of your move. Had some fond flashbacks when I saw the press units. Stripped many a press in my time, so glad I don’t have to do it now. Computers have taken us a long way from the days of hand typesetting, too. Best to your staff in the Trib’s new home.”
An online reader, self-identified as “Kenny Schoettler,” wrote, “In regards to Leon Emo’s report on Babe Ruth not being able to play on the Madera High varsity field and also the removal of Kenny Taylor’s name, if this is true Schoettler Tire will no longer donate to Madera High athletics.
“Kenny Taylor gave more than any one person to the kids in this town. To have this happen not long after his passing is appalling. I truly hope that this is just an error and that Kenny’s time and dedication to Madera Babe Ruth does not get swept under the rug.”
Another Web site guest, “Michelle,” wrote, “On Feb. 5, someone that I love very much tried to commit suicide. That night family and friends intervened and called 911. When the cops and ambulance arrived, he was placed on a 5150 hold. After spending the night in the hospital it was discovered that he had severe pneumonia.
“The next day he signed an AMA and was released. Eleven days later, he died. Now I’m left wondering why he was even released in the first place. When someone tries to take their own life and is placed on a 5150 hold, isn’t it required that they remain in the hospital for psychiatric treatment?”
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I was apalled but not surprised by the numerous attacks on The Tribune for supposedly not covering the school board or city council meetings sufficiently.
Wake up people and take responsibility for yourself. If you want to know what is really going on, it is your responsibilty to educate yourself, get involved, go to the meetings yourself about where you live and send your kids to school. Our community needs people to step up, stand up, do things themselves, and stop expecting others to provide to our needs.
I read your editorial on texting, and really can relate. I am not a “texter” either.
My sister-in-law has recently started sending me text messages, which I usually just ignore. Last week she sent me a text that I decided to respond to. She was asking me if I had fun on a recent trip I took to the happiest place on earth to celebrate my birthday with my kids and grandkids.
To make a long story short, my response was so unintelligible she wanted to know if it was some kind of secret code.
Tanna Boyd,
Madera
Just another observation made today: A woman drives up in a Madera County car, parks and goes into pay her bill and drop off some mail at a PO Box depot. The car inside is strewn with personal items including a baby seat. These items appeared to be there for while, not just that day.
Shame, shame, county. We all wish we had a company car to run our errands and drive our kids around. Are the citizens of Madera County paying for her gas too?!