Madera County News

Madera County Sheriff John Anderson, along with sheriff's deputies and agents of the Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team, spent most of Friday tearing out nearly 10,000 marijuana plants growing in a Madera County vineyard.

Former Madera County Supervisor Harry Baker will stand trial on a felony molestation charge involving a 13-year-old girl who secretly took video of Baker allegedly fondling her in a Fresno motel five years ago.

It was already news that an independent political effort to assist Madera County Supervisor Frank Bigelow in his quest to win the 5th District seat in the state Assembly had raised $235,000. Cruz Bustamante, the Dinuba Democrat who rose to the second-highest position in state government, is eyeing a return to politics -- as a congressman.

The missing jeep belonging to an Oakhurst woman who was found unconscious on the side of the road near Bass Lake Saturday night has been located.

Pleistocene bones abound beneath the Fairmead landfill near Chowchilla. See them at the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County.

Madera County Sheriff's Deputies arrested two burglaries suspects Wednesday. Both are behind bars - one booked on suspicion of a commercial break-in, the other for shoplifting.

The roads will be very busy this Memorial Day holiday, and a new study says more drivers will run red lights during that weekend that any other time of the year.

Now deputies believe Jose Sanchez Rodriguez preyed on more than just one kid and they think others were from the neighborhood of Western Way in Madera County.

A prominent Madera County man will stand trial for molestation. Honorable M. Bruce Smith ruled Wednesday afternoon that Harry Baker, a former Madera County Supervisor and the President of Sierra Telephone, will go to trial for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl in 2007.

A man accused of molesting his 9-year-old neighbor is behind bars, the Madera County Sheriff's Department said.

A Madera County man was arrested this afternoon on suspicion of molesting a 9-year-old, and sheriff's detectives believe there may be more victims.

Fresno County supervisors on Tuesday denied a request by the Sheriff's Office to help patch a budget shortfall, a move that has little financial consequence but marks another high-profile censure of the sheriff's jail operations.

Given immunity from prosecution, Harry Baker's accuser testified this morning about the events leading to her being allegedly fondled by Baker in a Fresno motel room five years ago.

A Madera man killed Monday in a one-vehicle crash at Road 18 1/2 and Avenue 22 was identified as Elfrego Cuellar-Lazaro, 44, the Madera County Sheriff's Department said this morning.

No new arguments were raised before the Madera City Council voted in favor of a resolution opposing the California High-Speed Rail "as it is currently proposed, without regard to local impacts, positive or negative." The resolution, written by Community Development Director David Merchen, came after the urging of the Greater Madera County ... (more)

Editor, Is there a political-economical assault on the Central Valley? 1: Central Valley farms and cities are suffering as powerful Sacramento and Bay Area politicians allow Endangered Species Act enforcement to restrict our water deliveries.

What's Trending with Pamela 5-21-12: Will Smith Kiss, Fresno State "Call Me, Maybe" Cover, Graduation Shout-Outs 83-year-old Harry Baker is facing a felony charge of committing a lewd act with a 13-year-old girl.

A Fresno County judge this morning threw out a hotel-room videotape that was pivotal evidence for the prosecution in the child molestation case against Sierra foothills businessman Harry Baker.

The rider and passenger of a motorcycle killed Saturday in a collision with a car were identified today by the Madera County coroner.

The San Joaquin Valley's stubborn economy showed improvement in April, but the region remains saddled with joblessness that has been with us even when the local economy was booming.