the Red Line for July 31st
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 Due to content some calls may not be published.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 Repeat messages on the same subject adding to the length will not be published. Some weeks, due to the number of calls and space, some may not be published.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 male caller responded to “the letter by (Gordon) Skeels” and said, “he either has to be a millionaire or totally out of touch with reality. He said a lot, but didn’t say much,” the caller concluded.
A man called about the article “‘Rancho Alegre: keeping tradition alive,’ and where they are offering us a piece of Mexico. They give information to call” and a phone number “Spanish only. America,” the caller claimed, “you are, no doubt, the most gullible nation on the planet and you are going to find out shortly you are going to be picking your own fields.”
COPY EDITOR’S NOTE: English-speakers wishing information on upcoming horse races at Rancho Allegre may call 479-1653. Contrary to a front page article published on Monday, July 23, the telephone number is not Spanish-only. The Madera Tribune regrets the error and any inconvenience the error may have caused.
A man called in response (last week) from the caller saying we should not send the kids to Las Vegas for a football game. This week’s caller said, “I think it’s great” that they are going and hope “we can do a lot more for the kids.”
A man called about “the Madera city bus. They are not paying them enough money and they are going to go on strike if they don’t get what they want. For people depending on the bus, there will be no bus.”
“Thank you so much for bringing back (Columnist) Bill Coate,” said a lady. “I love it. It’s fabulous. Love the history.”
A lady asked about an article on the San Joaquin River, “protect the river from what? When do we start protecting the taxpayers?” We need to focus on schools, roads and other items the caller emphasized. “Let the river do what it’s supposed to do. Let it run free.”
A woman called about the Madera Aquatics Team. “Those poor swimmers have to swim from 8:30 to 9:30. Why not give these children an earlier time and give the water polo or other high school swim teams a later slot? They’re older and I’m sure they can handle the time better than the younger swimmers. These swimmers have come a long way and three of them are going to the Junior Olympics. They are the future for Madera High School swim teams and water polo teams.”
“My wife and I really enjoy your writer, Leon Emo’s columns and monthly travel articles (Mo’s Meanderings), but his writing on his trip to Alaska (Saturday, July 28) topped them all. Except for his trips to the desert. The color photos were great and the entire page. You have a good staff,” said the caller, “keep up the good work.”
A lady also called about the Tribune columnist and his Alaska article. “I can’t believe it. Emo probably had to actually put on long pants and dress decent for dinner,” said the woman. “That is if he was a gentleman enough to take his so-called gal to dinner on the cruise ship.”
A hard-to-understand voice said he and others worked “with pesticides and the company doesn’t want to give us any medical attention.” He asked if we would “put his comments in the paper to see if there are any other people in the area” that have the same problem.
A woman reported driving “by a place, and there’s this family and they live in a house that has no water. Its been like that for months. Is there someone that could help them?” She did not leave an address or phone number.
A woman had “two words for the drivers of Madera. Turn Signals.”
These comments were on maderatribuneredline.com:
“George Arias” wrote: “Madera is long overdue for a state of the art swimming pool for all ages. Do the people of Madera need to start a fundraising campaign to get one? Are there any grants or funds to get this done? It’s needed now. Build it and lots of great things will happen.”
“Securityman491” wrote: “I wish Madera would adopt a policy like so many others have back east, which is to not let illegals rent housing, and fine severely owners who do. I’ve lived in Madera for almost 30 years and I’m sick of it! I couldn’t take it anymore. I moved out of Madera.”
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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 you can contact us on line at www.maderatribuneredline.com.



We have had no water for over 30+ days. While the other tennant, 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 hold up the California Tennants Law. Futhermore the other tennants who promised about 3 years ago to compensate the water issue for both of us, will not live up to their word. Shame on them.
The Madera Aquatics Team has since received a better time slot 6:30 pm – 8:30pm. They have a new coach who swam with Madera High School. Things are looking better.
The most eminent and recurring problem concerning the team is lack of parent volunteers. Parent volunteers are desperately needed to keep this ailing organization a float. MAT is a parent run non profit organization with a goals of supplying the Madera High Schools with self disciplined, confident and well trained athletes. To also attend and host swim meets. At this time the team has 12 swimmers and will quickly increase in size this summer to about 25 regular swimmers. Just 2 parent volunteers currently serve the team when at least 5 are needed. MAT has not hosted a swim meet in more than 9 years due to lack of parental support and or coaching staff. Year after year the team is threatened with having to shut down after nearly 41 years at the McAlister Pool.
If you are a parent of a swimmer and have the time volunteer and make a difference in the life of a child.
The High School Pool will soon be taken out and replaced with a new and state of the art pool and equipment.