RILEY RESIGNS CHAMBER PRESIDENCY — Madera District Chamber of Commerce Board President Tim Riley announced his resignation Wednesday. Riley said the decision was made when he accepted a position with a Fresno farm equipment company, which will require him to move. He has been president of the chamber since July and in that time “has built a wonderful relationship with everyone — the Chamber and members,” according to Debi Bray, executive vice president. “You will never find another Tim Riley,” said Bray. “He’s been there all the way with the board and with every committee. He is such a wonderful community member,” Bray said.
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ADOPTED BY CITY, QUESTIONED BY COUNTY — Madera was put firmly on the course of redevelopment Monday night when the City Council adopted the project plan. The cost of the plan is estimated to be $100,000. City Administrator Nick Pavlovich said the top priority will be the downtown area. The Board of Supervisors remains opposed to much of the plan. Madera County Administrator Don Handly said the next step could be legal action aimed at retaining as much property tax money as possible. If the revenue is tied up in court, the funds would be held in an escrow account until the county and the city reach agreement or the court decides a settlement.
ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIVES OF TWO ADULTS, TWO CHILDREN — Two adults and two small children were killed this morning on Highway 99 near Avenue 20 1/2 when the driver of a small southbound passenger vehicle apparently lost control in the rain and crossed the dirt median into the path of a northbound van and was hit broadside leaving twisted metal, bloodied toys, and Christmas packages beneath the overpass. None of the four has yet been identified. It is believed that the woman passenger in the front seat was wearing a seat belt, but the male driver was not. Both children were wearing restraints in the back seat. One child, a boy, was estimated to be under the age of 4, and the other child, a girl, was between the ages of 6 and 8.
NEW PUMSEY COMMITTEE JUMPS RIGHT TO WORK — The second committee to evaluate Madera Unified’s self-esteem programs had its first meeting Tuesday. By March, the committee must be ready to report to the school board with its recommendation on the controversial Pumsey in Pursuit of Excellence program. Complaints by two Webster Elementary School parents led to the district’s first committee, which recommended approval of the program. The uproar that followed led to the creation of the second committee. Opponents of the new self-esteem program charge that it teaches humanism, New Age religion, secularism, and mysticism...