All comments to the Madera Tribune’s Red Line, whether by telephone or Internet, are edited for length and content. Due to content some comments may not be published. Please limit telephone calls to two minutes or less.

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An online reader who identified herself as Sherry P. wrote on www.MaderaTribuneRedline.com, “I too am a former Maderan, who now lives in Texas. I also used to work for the Trib. Kudos to you, I think you guys work too hard, to give your work away for free. Also, it’s about time you got with the program. Madera is growing and you need to be up there with the big dogs! I will proudly pay to keep up with the news from my hometown.”

A visitor who gave his name as Kevin S. commented, “I want to say that I am saddened by all the negativity on this red-line. So many people just are not happy with life it seems. We have the city officials we elected. If we do not like them, we can vote them out, or at least vote out the people who hired them. To the people who think the police officers in Madera are not doing their job, try looking around for the people who do the right thing and who do drive correctly; you will find them. I suggest we all should stop at least one officer and thank him/her for serving our community.”

He went on to write, “On the subject of charging for the Tribune site: capitalism — if you don’t like it don’t buy it. Exercise your power as a consumer. I for one switched to the Tribune so I could find out what is going on in the city and I am more informed than I used to be. I want to thank the folks at the Tribune for this Red Line too. It is good for people to get their feelings out and you are very brave to take all the abuse.”

A Web page surfer who called herself Jenny commented,“You know there are a lot of online newspapers out there and i can say from experience that they are free online newspapers. I don’t mind paying for a new newspaper when I’m in the local area but for me I live three states away and it was nice to get online and read about my hometown.”

A reader who went by the name of Lisa commented on www.MaderaTribuneRedLine.com, “Your fees are way too high. I was patiently awaiting the new setup so that I could begin to read the Trib and know that it was going to be updated in a timely manner. But $66 a year?! You have got to be kidding me!”

A person self-identified as John W. wrote, “To the caller that complained about the announcements in Wal-Mart being in Spanish: Get your facts straight. The United States of America does not have an official mandated language. I believe that it may be time for some people to go back to the first history classes they offer or some government classes. How can you live in a country and not know anything about it and then turn around and complain?”

He went on, “Also, stop complaining about the illegal immigrants. They are doing nothing to you and it seems like you must have nothing to do all day but call The Red Line and complain about things and talk bad about people. This also include the lady that keeps on talking bad about Leon Emo. People please get a life and do something worthwhile instead of hating a man for being successful and enjoying life and his job.”

An online reader who called herself Lisa F. commented, “A Stallion ‘girl’ should go to the ACLU as I am sure there are Title 9 violations in having a male-only mascot name. (It is) impossible to be a lady stallion and for an educational institution to promote this is absurd.”

A “Shelly B.” — allegedly from Texas — wrote online, “I know just how Paul feels! Though my ‘blue face’ is caused by a rare illness, going out in public seems to be a pain when inflicted. I hope you all continue to support him. It’s great to know what kind of community he’s found where he can live and feel free and accepted.”

A frequent online comentator, “J.P.,” wrote in response to a caller’s comment in the Red Line for Dec. 18 that she saw a good movie without a single curse word in it, “Now this struck me as so simplistic, so unassuming, yet so great. It flies in the face of all the ‘-itchiness’ that everyone else displays here … In amongst all the articles complaining about the speeder in an El Camino on Pine Street (instead of calling the Red Line, how about calling the police?), comments on downtown (yes, it does look like doodoo. Complain to the city, not (the) Red Line. They can’t affect what it looks like!), and other trivial gripes, this one simple statement is the best thing I’ve seen here so far!”

An online visitor who referred to himself as a “murdera resicent” commented, “Well I was thinking one day and I was like, ‘When is the town of Madera going to see some growth such as new shopping centers?’ Come on seriously. I’m tired of going to Fresno to buy clothes. Some things that can be added to the area can be new chain restaurants, department stores, (and a) mall perhaps.”

“Look at towns up (in the) north area with the same population size. They have Best Buys, Targets, (and) at least a Ross. Wouldn’t that help Maderans or whatever if people spent their money here? Isn’t the land cheap compared to other parts of the state. Why don’t they take advantage? I say burn all the grape vineyards and peach/almond orchards and start building. Ag is not the way into the 21st century…”

Someone who identified himself as John A. added to the comment left above his own thoughts: “No more Mexican food restaurants or Asian buffets. It seems like all the businesses occupying newly vacant buildings and new buildings are all the same. That’s why most people just say forget about it and shop elsewhere not giving any money to local businesses. … A good example is the Lowes that is supposed to be being built at the fairgrounds very close to Home Depot. Plan better and do not allow the city to mess everything up even more with more of the same businesses or ones that no one will visit or enjoy.”

He then started writing about the entertainers chosen for the annual Madera District Fair. “Why doesn’t the fair board try to get good acts instead of acts that no one else wants? It seems like there needs to be some new blood as far as getting entertainment at the fair.”

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Thank you for your comments. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24 hours a day by calling 674-4478 or visiting www.MaderaTribuneRedLine.com.

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 man agreed with last week’s caller about the Madera South High School nickname, Stallions, not being appropriate for girls teams. He corrected the previous caller by saying “the jury awarded (in a discrimination suit) $30 million not $3 million.”

A woman called “about the column in Saturday’s paper (Dec. 22) titled Merry Xmas by Tami Jo Nix.” She said, “Also, I am not easily offended, but this short way of spelling Christmas is indeed offensive. You are not abbreviating Christmas,” she said, “you are x-ing out Christ. If you abbreviate USA this way it would be USX.” She concluded by saying, “Merry Christmas.”

Webmaster’s note: The tradition of abbreviating the word “Christmas” as “Xmas” is actually of Christian origin. The English letter X resembles the appearance of the first letter of “Christ” in Greek, cristoV or CRISTOS (Cristos). According to one online source, the abbreviation emerged in the 15th century after the invention of the printing press and first appeared in religious publications before spreading to other media. Although many have forgotten the abbreviation’s roots, the same can be said for the holiday of Christmas itself … at least for some who consider it merely as a day to celebrate family.

A woman who gave her name and said she was president of the Friends of Madera Animal Shelter (FMAS) brought up “a couple of points” about the article “about the newborn pups being dumped in someone’s yard.”

First she said, “they are probably not newborn, but probably six to eight weeks old. An age they should be weaned from their mother.” She also “would have liked to see something that, because of the friends of the shelter, people can get their dogs spayed for $20 for low income people. If they would have spayed their dogs these puppies would not have been brought into the world and would not be a problem for others to take care of.”

A woman responded to the man last week that said, “we should not be trading with these illegals, picking our vegetables.” She said, “I think it would be wonderful if the merchants didn’t trade with the illegals at all. Going to the doctor would be great. Right now it takes two or three hours to take my children to the doctor because of the illegals with five or six kids and their Medi-Cal card.” She suggested, “the new mayor take a look at this situation and get these people out and turn this city into what it used to be, a nice beautiful town.”

“Regarding Gordon Skeels long letters,” began a lady, “the Tribune ought to charge him for the huge amount of space he is given free to voice his political propaganda. He is not as well read as he claims or he would be outraged at President Bush.”

A woman who “during the holidays,” said, “we miss our comics, crossword and Ann Landers,” would like to see “if you all could print those on the day following the holidays so we can still work those puzzles and exercise our brains and have the comics too. I do enjoy them and appreciate the paper.”

A woman wanted to “order two or three copies of a particular edition of the paper.” (Note: To obtain additional copies stop by the office at 100 E. 7th Street.)

Another lady, “after always reading all the negative stuff in the Red Line, just wanted to wish the Tribune staff and all the people of the city a very merry Christmas.”

A man “wanted to remind everybody, now that the rainy season is upon us, that there is a state law that says you must have your lights on when your windshield wipers are on.” He said, “I would hope the law enforcement people would start enforcing this law.”

Another man said he misses “the downtown Christmas decorations hanging across Yosemite. They were colorful and always brought a good feeling to see them. Then again,” he concluded, “I guess you could say the downtown businesses are colorful enough already.”

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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 visiting http://maderatribuneredline.com.

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.

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“I wanted to compliment you,” said a man, “on the wonderful article written regarding Mr. Cobb and his Christmas Tree Farm. It sounded like it was investigated quite well.” The caller hoped “the county will pursue the matter and make him follow the rules like any other business man or woman.”

A man replied to the call last week that suggested we “quit hiring illegal aliens to mow our lawns and clean our houses.” This week’s caller said, “she has a good point” and with a touch of sarcasm said we should go further. “How about we have all our merchants quit doing business with illegal aliens, and farmers should stop hiring them to pick their fruits and vegetables. And we should stop eating the fruits and vegetables picked by them. That’ll teach them, won’t it?”

“I watched a really good movie last night,” said a lady. “It was good movie and did not have one single curse word in it. Imagine that.”

Several calls were received from many residents on north Pine Street concerning the yellow El Camino that was reported to the Red Line for “speeding and racing” in the morning while children are waiting for school buses or walking to school. A neighbor in last week’s Red Line defended the driver, but this week’s numerous callers had a different viewpoint. “We observed the boy with the yellow El Camino, turn and race his car down the street,” said a lady and resident of the street. “He did this with a neighbor waiting on the curb with her handicapped son.”

She suggested last week’s caller, “didn’t know what he was talking about.”

A compilation of the many calls received on the same subject revealed, “you know, mister, maybe if you turned your loud stereo off while you’re racing up and down the street, maybe you could hear something,” said a lady.

A woman who “drives up and down north Pine about 7:50 every morning,” said a caller, “about two and a half weeks ago we did see a yellow El Camino, it looked like a piece of junk, turn directly in front of us and just race down the street. He was definitely speeding.” The caller agreed with the neighbors and suggested, “the police come out and take care of it, especially if other people have children in the area. It is not the proper way to act.”

“Just a word on this Pine Street battle,” began another caller. “If you have problems with your neighbors don’t go around and try to use your vehicle as a weapon. It all started because a neighbor’s son got too close to her little boy. Then after they retaliated by calling the police, he got mad the next day and went down the street as fast as he could and scared the he - - out of her little boy who is legally blind. That is not the way to act,” she told the driver. “Don’t take it out on little children. Be man enough to accept responsibility and grow up. That was wrong. The mother stood up for her two little children. There is nothing wrong with that.”

A man commented on the new government center. “It is certainly a beautiful building, but it looks like it has been cut in half, especially at night. There never seems to be any lights on the third floor.” He asked if “someone out there might know the reason why.” (Editor ’s note: The third floor is unoccupied, therefore usually unlighted.)

A woman left a message about “the streets of downtown Madera. The pavement is cracked. It’s all over the road. The white lines are faded.” She said she had “been here for 26 years” and didn’t “know if Cal-trans or the city” was responsible. “Downtown is very ugly and dirty. Somebody needs to do something about it.”

A man wanted to “take this opportunity to thank (publisher/editor) Mr. Doud for his comment about the community Christmas tree. I think that is fantastic.” The caller remembered, “when right across from the old courthouse museum there was a lit up Christmas tree over there. All of sudden we quit doing it. Maybe they can’t afford the electricity.”

He also mentioned, “downtown (at night) is atrocious with all those white lights and half of them don’t work. What’s wrong with Madera? I think Mr. and Mrs. Doud are on the right track.”

“According to Mr. (James) Glynn and his column today (referring to a Dec. 13th column entitled “It’s the economy, stupid!”),” began a gentleman, “the overall picture in America is pretty dismal.” The caller seemed to disagree with Glynn. “The reports that are coming out show sales across America are up anywhere from 8 to 10 percent. What’s your real agenda Mr. Glynn?”

A woman and “first time caller who wanted to say a good thing about Madera,” had a compliment for McDonald’s. “They have the overall best customer service. They know exactly what I want when I drive through and they’re always pleasant.” She concluded by “wishing everyone a great holiday.”

A man who used up his time allotted, said the mention of the grand jury report being “stupid” thought “other words could have been used. It just goes to show the type of people we have that ’stupid’ could have been used.” He said, “Supervisor (Wheeler ’s) comments would not be accepted and to the board of supervisors, you don’t have any spine at all.”

A lady left a message “for the lady who loves Gordon Skeels’ letters, get a life. Why don’t you start a Gordon Skeels fan club? He would love that.”

A lady commented, “Madera South girls soccer team did a great job. Fresno State University has about $3 million to pay for not treating women as equals in sports. Wake up, girls, and see the discrimination in the Stallion name. Girls are not stallions.”

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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 visiting www.MaderaTribuneRedLine.com.

Dear editor:

Blame it on Leon Emo (columnist for The Madera Tribune). He started this plague of public displays of affection by, believe it or not, kissing his wife in a parking lot.

I attended the Dec. 5 meeting of the Madera City Council, where out-going Mayor Steve Mindt not only thanked his family for its support, but also kissed his wife, his grandchild, and other family members. Not just in public, but at a public meeting.

Where will it all end?

For example, such displays may boost the sales of Valentine’s Day cards, thereby endangering forests throughout the world. Mindt, manager of the Madera operations of Georgia Pacific, ought to know better.

Then, will chocolates become the national “food?” Our society is already paying the high costs of obesity, and encouraging the sale of “sweetheart” candy will only worsen the situation.

Of course, influenza season is upon us. Kissing will hasten the spread of this debilitating disease.

Moreover, seeing an elected official bussing his wife may tempt others to emulate that behavior. Spousal kissing may become the norm, making our society– the greatest civilization that the world has ever known — a model for places like, well, France.

Citizens of Madera should re-elect Mr. Mindt to office as often as possible in order to keep his contact with Mrs. Mindt to a minimum. Perhaps such action will repress the apparent emotional connection between the spouses.

Finally, if any Tribune readers saw me exchange a peck on the cheek with Madera Chamber of Commerce CEO Debi Bray as I left City Hall, that doesn’t count because, well, “because” is a good enough reason.

Besides, as soon as I got home, I had a glass of Chardonnay, which, as everyone knows, has miraculous medicinal powers.

James A. Glynn,
Madera

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 love his letters to the editor,” said a lady, in reference to Gordon Skeels. “That is one reason why I buy it.” She said, “another reason is I love Chuck Doud’s articles (Editor’s Corner). I miss the (police) officer that used to write an article about rules and regulations.”


A man responded to the lady last week that again referred to “Tribune columnist, Leon Emo. She calls him a draft dodger, but Mr. Emo never tried to dodge the draft. He went when he was called. Why is she so mad at him? How dare her.”


A gentleman called about the messages left about charging for our Web site. “Do these people really think you put the paper out for nothing? Why would it concern anyone that you are charging for your service? I can’t imagine someone thinks you can do this for free.”


Another man said, “I’m calling about the work being done on Central. I don’t know if it’s the city or the developer’s fault, (but) heading west off of Lake towards D Street there are big dips in the street.” He said that would not be allowed on the west side of town and shows “they have favorites.”


The man’s wife called afterwards. “In reality it is the illegals that get favored. It is not an issue of this or that side of town. It is illegals and how this town is having to accommodate them.”


“A few months ago,” began a woman, “there was a call about the ‘new’ store on Madera Avenue, selling furniture and mattresses off the front lawn. No one has ever done anything about it. Now he is selling car tires and car parts.” She also mentioned, “the city has water regulations and he has run his water for two days straight out of a hose into the street. It is just annoying to live in the same neighborhood, down the street.”


A man left a hard to understand message about graffiti. “The police chief doesn’t want to do anything about it. He doesn’t care to make his community look good because this is his community. He doesn’t really care about citizens in the community. We pay taxes and provide their salaries, medical, and benefits. If they can’t do a good job, then they need to move on.”


A woman wanted to “complain about the announcements at Wal-Mart.” While shopping she heard numerous and said, “everyone of them was in Spanish. I thought we lived in the United States of America. This is California. This is Madera. They should be speaking English. It really upsets me, people need to understand and speak the proper language.”


A man objected to frequent letter writer John Sanchez and his pending return to Madera after moving to Arizona. “After talking about Madera like he did, he deserves to stay gone. As for Eddie Chapa, you keep writing your letters.”


A woman called about “Emo’s column” (Musings) on Friday. “I’m a good Christian, but he can’t get to hell fast enough,” she said, “with or without a handbasket.”


Another lady said, “Amen brother, in response to Leon Emo’s column. For all you Bible thumpers I ask you this question: if Jesus is coming soon, or even tomorrow, why do you need a 3-carat diamond ring, Cadillac, Lexus? Not to mention your poor church members have paid 10 percent or higher tithing. How much money or possessions does it take to glorify God? If you live as you preach, sell the material things, feed the children and the less fortunate of this world. Therefore, according to your King James Version, you’ll be adding jewels to your crown. My mother when asked, ‘what church do you go to?’ replied, ‘I don’t go to church, I go to God’.”


A man, and a few more, suggested The Madera Tribune “do a study and find out just what upper (city) management is getting paid, in addition to all the benefits and freebies they get.” The callers also suggested the paper “do a comparative survey of other city’s upper management and regular employees.”


A man called in response to the lady “who lives on North Pine Street” and complained about “the man in the yellow El Camino racing down the street. I also live on North Pine and she is mistaken about the young man. He parks the El Camino next to my house. He is not racing it. There are a lot other and louder vehicles running around. Leave that family alone.”


After two house fires Sunday a man was “curious. Is Monday’s paper printed Sunday evening or early in the weekend?” He said, “there was nothing in the paper. Is it printed Friday or Saturday?” (Note: The newsroom staff works, assembles and prints Monday’s edition late Sunday. However, police and fire reports are not always available on Sunday.)


A lady commented on a letter “by Katherine Atilano. I agree totally. It is a wonderful letter. More Christians should be speaking out about the freedom God has given us.”


Thank you for your comments. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24-hours a day by calling 674-4478 or visiting www.maderatribuneredline.com.

By John Rieping
The Madera Tribune

“You’re not running now,” called out the teenage boy seated on the sidewalk beside a buddy as I walked out of Madera Cinema 6 late Sunday. I had passed them on my way in less than two hours earlier.

“I was late before but the movie’s over now,” I said.

“Which movie did you see?,” he asked.

“Bella,” I said. “It was really good. It takes place all in New York over 24 hours and it really captures the New York vibe. It doesn’t feel like a Hollywood cookie cutter movie at all. It just … sort of unfolds around you. I don’t want to say more because that would spoil it.”

“Is it like a soap opera?,” he asked.

“Yeah, kind of. It’s a drama about two people and its romantic, but they don’t get … ‘romantic’ with each other during it,” I said. ” It would be a good movie to take a chick to though.” Inside I grimaced wondering if anyone even calls women “chicks” anymore, which isn’t a word I normally use either.

“Would it be a good movie to make out with a girl?,” he asked.

For an actual movie review of “Bella,” see The Madera Tribune on Wednesday (Dec. 12).

The Madera Tribune daily newspaper is now available as an online subscription. Naturally we’re excited at being able to offer this new way to deliver our daily work to you. More information about online subscriptions (including pricing) can be found at

http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/
(CLICK HERE TO VISIT)

Not interested in an online subscription or just want to sound off instead? Feel free to continue visiting The Madera Tribune Red Line — and by “free” we mean it. The Red Line remains a moderated public forum provided to the San Joaquin Valley as a free service of The Madera Tribune.

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 woman replied to last week’s caller about the “Irrigation District election. Not all registered voters were eligible to vote in that election.” She asked the “Tribune to write an article showing the boundaries and requirements for that (election). They could straighten a lot of people out and not have them so mad.”

More calls were received about city administrator David Tooley. “I agree with some of the previous callers,” said a gentleman. “He (Tooley) has no sense of good for any of the (city) employees. I see him around town,” the caller continued, “and he knows who I am and he won’t even give me the time of day. One day I opened the door for him and looked at him. He didn’t even say ‘hi’ or anything or acknowledge my presence. He’s been there too long.”

Another caller said, “the city council needs to get rid of Tooley. We need change.We need to be respected for our work.”

Concerning Tribune columnist Leon Emo, a woman said, “Well, it is nice to see that draft dodger had to serve. After reading his bleeding heart story about saying goodbye to his girlfriend and joining the Army in his Musing’s, Friday (Nov. 30), it made me smile to think of him doing pushups and getting that terrible long hair taken off military style.”

A woman responded to the man who called Madera “a sanctuary city. I believe that to be true,” said the caller. “But the citizens of Madera are doing that to themselves. If you don’t want illegals in our city, don’t have them cut our lawns, or clean our houses. It is time Madera cleans up its act. We need illegals to go back to their country.”

A woman seemed to agree, “Madera is harboring more illegal aliens.” She suggested, “you should go out off of Avenue 17. It is like a trailer park. Instead of horses and animals we now have illegal aliens living in trailers all over people’s backyards. Isn’t it a shame the county of Madera can’t do anything about that.”

After reading the article a man commented on “the taggers in Madera. I caught three taggers, red-handed,” he said, “and called the Madera Police Department.” He said the department didn’t respond.

A man who said he was “a past member of the Grand Jury,” said about “a (Madera County) supervisor calling the Grand Jury report ‘stupid’. Commented on this Grand Jury, as well as the last one in session.” He said, “they have become somehow lost in the details of fancy reporting and checking word editing, etc. They are not following what the state of California has charged them with doing, and their investigative techniques are not very good. Very good article,” he concluded, “I have to give the Tribune credit, I appreciate your effort.”

“Superintendent (actually County Supervisor Tom) Wheeler says the Grand Jury is ‘stupid’,” began a lady’s call. “For the uninformed, how much does Supervisor Wheeler make for his representation for all the citizens of his district? And how much does a Grand Jury member get paid?”

“It think all three shopping centers — the two at Avenue 17 and the one at Madera fairgrounds — and any other commercial developments should have a stop work order put on it until the city gets their rear in gear and gets things straightened out.”

“Does anyone out there really read Gordon Skeel’s weekly soap box comments?” asked a lady. “Not that I agree or disagree, they’re just plain boring.”

A woman who says she lives on North Pine Street “would like the Madera police to come by at 7:45 in the morning, by Jefferson School. We have a neighbor that races his car every morning. The car doesn’t have any mufflers. It is just a loud, yellow El Camino.

A man wanted to “take this opportunity to thank the Tribune and its staff. They really made the front page of Saturday’s paper hilarious. Especially, when the date is printed Friday, December 1, 2007. We don’t know what day it is, but we do know it is December 1.”

“Thank you Tami (Jo Nix) for Saturday’s column,” began a woman’s message. “You hit it right. Jane Weibe plays the piano from the heart. She is truly gifted. It is a gift from God.”

A man asked that the government give some direction. “Are the watering rules still in effect? Please notify the public.”

“After reading today’s (Monday, Dec. 3) letters to the editor,” began a man’s call. “I was disappointed in hearing John Sanchez will be returning and writing letters. It is bad enough we have one-sided Gordon Skeels, and the same old type of letters from Eddie Chapa, will we have to now read the putdowns of our town by Sanchez? This is a man that moved to Arizona because he couldn’t stand living in Madera.”

A visitor to our online site www.maderatribuneredline.com wrote, “What did you say about the online version competing with the print version? That is ridiculous. Have you ever read the online and print versions of the New York Times, O.C. Register, Whittier Daily News or San Gabriel Valley Tribune? These are just to name a few sites that post daily if not hourly updates that are probably even more current then their print editions.”

A self-professed “Madera resident” commented, “I am very confused to why maderatribune.com is going to begin charging for online access. I feel that this is a step backwards. There are many online newspapers that do not charge for their services.Why step back–when you can continue in the direction of progress?”

Another person wrote, “I personally think that the Madera Tribune going to a ‘paid subscription’ Web site format is S-TU-P-I-D. You guys are out of your ever-lovin’ minds. … “

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Thank you for your comments. Remember, the Red Line is open for your messages 24-hours a day by calling 674-4478 or visiting www.madeartribuneredline.com.