JURY FINDS WOODS GUILTY OF MURDER — An eight-woman, four-man jury returned a guilty verdict Tuesday convicting Edward J. Woods of murder in the Christmas night 1989 death of Brian White. Woods shot White once in the neck with a .36 caliber gun in front of Woods’ Fourth Street home while White was apparently trying to set fire to one of Woods’ vehicles parked in the driveway. “I don’t believe this,” Woods sobbed to his attorney Public Defender John Barker. “You’ve got to help me, John,” he said. “This one is innocent,” Barker said with certainty. “His only mistake was having the gun cocked.” To his exiting client, Baker called, “I’ll do what I can, Ed.”
DEGROOT WINS SUPERIOR COURT BATTLE — Chowchilla Justice Court Judge John DeGroot carried an early lead throughout the evening Tuesday to finish as winner in the Department 3 Superior Court judge’s race. DeGroot defeated challenger Bruce Kennedy with 55.6 percent of the vote. “I am extremely pleased at the support of the people of Madera County,” DeGroot said this morning. “My record as a judge for the past eight years was the deciding factor as was the strong support of the law enforcement community. “We ran a good race. I want those who supported me to know that. My best wishes to my opponent in a difficult and challenging job,” Kennedy said Wednesday.
GUNMAN DISCOVERED HIDING IN STORE; ARRESTED — A man who allegedly hid inside the Sunrise Market almost made it out of the store undetected. Police theorize that Pedro Guzman, 22, entered the store Sunday during business hours and hid in the refrigerator. When an employee discovered Guzman, the suspect put a gun to Abdulaziz Tabeb’s throat and ordered him to walk out of the store. Guzman tried to blend into the crowd on the way out, but a police officer recognized and arrested him. In addition to the gun he was carrying, Guzman had an automatic handgun and a knife in his waistband.
NEW K-MART STORE OPENS DOORS — The logo is new; the style more upscale, but K-Mart’s traditional blue remains the theme of the sparkling 85,000 square foot ’90s Madera store, which celebrated its grand opening this morning. Elizabeth Garzone manager of the smaller K-Mart on Howard Road since 1988 has been named the general manager of the new store north of town. In praising Garzone, K-Mart District Manager Jim Saia said, “We just don’t give these stores to anyone. This individual (Garzone) started as a deli girl in Flagstaff, Arizona, and now she is running this great big store.” Saia said, “There is a big star on her head to have this store.” ...