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 Due to content some calls may not be published.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 Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of calls and space, some may not be published.
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–“I was calling concerning property taxes,” said a gentleman. “With the value of new homes going down all over the county and state, does the (property tax) assessment reflect that downfall? They can up your taxes five-percent. Doesn’t it work in reverse also?” he asked.

–A man called about his garbage cans. “I’ve been trying for six weeks to get a green garbage can replaced because the lid is split right down the middle. They can’t dump it because it would dump stuff right out on the ground.” He said he called the city, “and nobody has come out here yet.” He “got to thinking. Maybe I can put the green lid in the blue can and maybe they can recycle it.”

–A lady said, “I have been taking my kids to the Halloween Parade downtown for five years now.” She explained she had two children and added, “this is a wonderful event and I just wanted to say the Madera Kiwanis and the Parks do a great job.”

–A lady called about (Tribune Columnist Leon) “Emo’s articles on the B-17. After reading his column the week before about his trying to get out of the draft while having his physical I don’t know why you had a draft dodger like him writing that story.”

–On the same subject, a man said, “I enjoyed reading Leon Emo’s stories on the crewman and B-17. The photos were fantastic. They put you right in the plane. The paper is doing a good job. Keep it up.” He then added, “I don’t know Emo’s political stance, and one can only imagine, but his respect and dedication to veterans and our soldiers is obvious in the many articles and columns he has written over the years.”

–“Hey, what’s up with our election board?” asked a woman who said “we have been getting absentee ballots for over 13 years and we never got our ballot for the MID election.” When she called she was told, “the postmaster said it wasn’t deliverable. How could it not be deliverable when we have been in the same location for over 13 years.” She suggested, “someone should check on what’s going on with our Postal service or our election officials.”

–A man, whose son played on the champion Huskies Pee Wee football team said, “you guys didn’t put anything about it, showing any pictures. Instead you put the losing team. I just wanted to find out what is going on. These kids worked hard, you guys really let them down. (Note: a picture and caption showing the Husikies with their championship trophy appeared in the Thursday, Nov. 1, edition of the paper.)

–A lady “was very concerned that the city council approved the building of a Lowe’s. We already have a Home Depot,” she said. “It is just like when Wal-Mart came into Madera, K-Mart left. There’s not enough room for two home improvement centers in Madera. They need to use their heads.”

–“Hi Red Hat ladies,” began a caller addressing her message in reference to last week’s call from a member mentioning a gentleman had bought all of the Red Hat ladies breakfast. “The gentleman that bought your meals was doing something called pay it forward. The way you thank him is for you doing something nice for a person or two or three.”

–A lady responded “to the writer of the letter to the editor to have pit bull owners be required to have insurance.” The caller said, “insurance carriers will no longer insure pit bulls or certain other breeds.” She said, “she was former owner of two loving pit bulls, who were my only protection for a single woman living in the country. They saved me more than once from intruders. I wish I still had them when I came home to my house recently to find it burglarized. Pit Bulls,” she concluded, “like any other breed of dogs, become mean if they are abused or neglected.”

–A lady was “concerned about Madera High (North) and all the schools in the district. Our Madera High Band was chosen to go the competition in Long Beach for four days. The kids brought home their notes and now it (the trip) is not in the budget. They now have to go all the way to Long Beach and then come home (immediately) when they were told it would be for four days with a day at Magic Mountain. These kids get good grades,” said the caller. “They score well in competition.” The caller then continued with, “I guess it’s not in the budget because I drop my son off every morning at school and I’m dodging all the pregnant mommas pushing their babys in strollers dropping them off at day care at a regular school facility.” She said, “that is not right. They should be made to attend a continuation school. I don’t see how my state dollars pay for this.”

–A man called with a complaint about a bar north of town. “Having a one-year-old boy, I finally got a chance and went out with a friend and arrived at the establishment about 9 p.m.” The message, due to some technical problems not the fault of the caller became difficult to understand at this point. However, the caller seemed to be upset that “the owner, sitting at the bar” demanded a quarter to play pool. He said, “the bartender came up and said the owner wants a quarter.” He gave the bartender the quarter and concluded, “I hope they’re happy because me and my friend will never be back there again.”

–A man, listening to a nationally televised network news channel heard “that we are sending $300,000 to Mexico to aid with flood victims. I think we have already given Mexico enough,” he said, “by taking care of their illegals that keep coming into this country. Let them take care of themselves.”

–“Madera Unified (School District) needs to adopt the same set of parameters that Visalia uses,” began a gentleman’s message. “If your football team doesn’t have a .500 record they should not go to the playoffs. Madera High, 3 wins, 7 losses, made the choice not to go. Madera South,” he continued, zero wins, 10 losses, stop wasting the district’s money on a trip to Easton. You’re embarrassing yourself.”

–“As a Korean veteran,” began a man’s call, “I would like to thank Mrs. Garcia for the admiration and respect she had in her letter to the editor. Thank you.”

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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.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 3:46 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.