Red Line (Jan.15)
All comments are edited for length and content. Due to content some comments may not be published. Please limit your telephone 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 Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of comments and space, some may not be published.
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“Mr. (Bill) Coate has done many great things for the community,” said a lady, “but I just thought he was way out of line,” concerning an article “about Father (Thomas) King.” She said, Tuesday’s article “did not have anything to do with the history of Madera. Secondly,” she continued, “the Father was not guilty in the end result. I don’t know why any of this had to be brought up.” She said if there were any questions feel free to call and left her number.
“Thank you Madera Tribune,” began a frequent caller, “for providing Jim Glynn’s analysis in his article on Jan. 10 regarding the energy crisis. It is quite illuminating and a matter of public record and not opinion.”
A man wanted to thank “all the passerbys who helped the injured during the terrible accident on Avenue 12 between Road 25 and Road 25 1/2. A lot of passerbys were performing CPR to the injured until ambulance and fire trucks arrived. Many called 911 or used their OnStar button to call for emergency service.”
A lady “hated it when you don’t get your paper in the morning and report it and still don’t get your paper until five o’clock in the afternoon.” She asked to those concerned, “please let them know.”
A man called about the intersection “by Food 4 Less, between the Taco Bell and the Donut Shop,” and said, “somebody is going to get killed there someday.”
Many callers chimed in and wondered “what happened to Mo’s Musings today (Wednesday).” Those included a lady and “avid reader of Mo’s Musings on Wednesday, January 9” wanted to know “where it went?” Another gentleman said he “got the paper today and expected to read Mo’s Musings and it wasn’t there. What happened?” (Note: Leon Emo’s column was published in Thursday’s edition that week.)
A man “had to laugh about Friday’s paper (the 10th) where it shows (county) supervisors filling sandbags.” He wondered “how may sandbags they actually filled, or was it just the one and then went to the warmth of their home. It (the photo) looks kind of funny.”
A gentleman agreed with a previous caller about the “traffic speeds all the way from Sunset to Third Street on Mainberry.” However, this week’s caller said, “I think he needs to know they don’t slow down at Third Street either. They keep right on speeding all the way to Howard Road. There’s not one speed limit sign between Sunset and Howard, they even ignore the stop signs on Third.” He suggested, the police “keep an eye on it.”
A man said he “totally disagrees with the Red Line and you should take it off. All it does is start arguments with people.” He then said, “I personally would like to get in the ring with these people face to face. All it does is start fights.” He said he “was of Mexican descent and didn’t appreciate how things are written specifically about Hispanic people.”
A woman agreed with the parking situation “during the flea market at the fairgrounds on Wednesdays. Not only is there no parking at Wal-Mart but none at the Big-O Tire shopping center.
A lady who was concerned about “the governor closing state parks and beaches and cutting back on the number of lifeguards,” had a suggestion. “I think maybe you should cut the state legislator’s paychecks instead.”
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A visitor to the MaderaTribuneRedLine.com — self-named “Bart Turnipseed” — wrote a long comment about Assembly Bill 821 that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had signed into law “which, through just one more regulatory process, will make it illegal to hunt game using slugs or shot that contain more than a percentage of lead in specified areas.” The law is intended to protect the California condor.
The visitor complained that AB 821 was guided by politics rather than science and concluded, “After chasing down condor alerts on the web for awhile it becomes clear that the lobbyists executing this charade work on a very narrow set of interests for the same finite number of recycled constituents. I will be following the Governor Schwarzenegger’s next bid for public office with much interest. I hope that he can count on his new political allies to bring him all votes he will need. I for one have changed my mind about him.”
A person who identified herself as Carmen wrote, “In regards of the swap meet on Wednesday I agree completely. But I believe we need to all contact the manager of Wal-Mart to inform him either they stop letting people park in the shopping center or else we will take are shopping elsewhere.”
An online reader, who called herself “Eva M.,” wrote, “agree with Joe P. who wrote about the online subscription to the Tribune. First of all, your (free) Web site is always behind in the news. You need to get with the program. Look at The Fresno Bee for instance, now they’re on the ball.”
A woman who went by the name of J.R. commented, “This is in response to the … woman who called in on Dec 26 complaining about not being able to take her children to the doctor without having to wait for people with Medi-Cal cards. Illegals aren’t the only ones with Medi-Cal. I am a white hardworking mother of two and I have two good paying office jobs and I still cannot afford the high cost of healthcare. So my family needs Medi-Cal, we have no choice. I would rather have health insurance but it’s simply not affordable, I’ve tried. But my family has the right to see a doctor just like your children lady, and if you don’t like it then find a jerk of a doctor who refuses to accept Medi-Cal.”
An online reader identified as Kathy wrote, “In response to Mr. Garcia’s letter (about a grandson facing hiring prejudice in Madera) dated 1/10/08 (on the Madera Tribune Red Line online), I only wish I had a job to offer this young person. There are so many out there that think they are too good for such a menial job, and just the idea that this person went to apply for this job shows his character and willingness to work to better himself.”
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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 visiting www.MaderaTribuneRedLine.com.
Madera Unified continues to hire outside of the district. They are not training up teachers to take these spots or do we not have qualified people in our district. We continue to pay salaries to individuals that drive from Clovis where their kids are in schools. How can they believe in our schools when the schools arent good enough for our kids. We need a new school board if they don’t feel this way.