By John Rieping
MaderaTribuneRedLine.com

The short video below was posted online about the city of Madera this summer as part of the “Not In Our Town” media campaign supported by PBS (click here for more information).

Official statistics on hate crimes in Madera County report only less than a handful each year. In fact only one hate crime was filed in 2006, and one other crime was “referred” as a hate crime in that same year. At least one alleged hate crime took place in 2007 as well. Yet, despite such reassuring statistics, hate crimes have been considered enough of a problem by authorities to warrant concern in the past (click here for an article about a 2006 hate crime forum in Madera).

Meanwhile some have complained in, and about, anonymous Red Line opinions about migrant workers, illegal immigrants and the rising usage of the Spanish language in the city. One caller said the Red Line only causes fights and that the Red Line should be done away with. Does the Red Line encourage tension, reveal it or both? Or is the whole issue overblown?

A letter to the editor published earlier this month asserted that a young man was rejected for a job interview because of race. How well did that letter represent the experience of job seekers in Madera County?

As Martin Luther King Jr. day approaches, the issue of prejudice seems an especially relevant one to consider. What do you think has been Madera’s victories in this area and what challenges remain?

I am writing in regards to the “Red Line” comments by a resident of Madera regarding my article in Pieces of the Past. I deeply regret any offense that my piece gave to this person or anyone else who may have read it. It is not my intent to cause anyone any discomfort. My sole purpose in writing is to inform. I am not a muckraker, as I detest such journalism.

The historian’s job is not always easy. We try to choose significant political, economic, or social events from the past and place them in perspective. The article on the injustice done to Fr. (Thomas F.) King in 1917 was one such attempt.

I can not promise that there will never be disharmony of thought relating to my articles, but please be assured I carry no malice to anyone — past or present, and if I give offense, please let me know, and I will apologize as I am now doing.

Yours for a decent history of Madera,

Bill Coate,
Madera

Webmaster’s note: On the afternoon of Monday (Jan. 14), the life of 18-year-old Krista Pike of the Madera Ranchos ended tragically. Two friends of hers from when she attended El Dorado High School in Placerville wished to share their memories of her in life so that thoughts of her would not be overshadowed in Madera by the manner of her death.

Krista’s personality was indescribable. No matter how bad things got she would always be laughing. Her laugh was contagious. When she started laughing it never ended but she always made absolutely everyone smile. She is the ultimate sweetheart who always saw the best in people. She is a friend of all.

She would always be random, but that’s what people love about her … that she lived each day as one big surprise. Her nickname at school is Giggles and she will always be remembered as that ray of light we all know and love!

She had an acquired taste for bows and rainbows. No matter how small or big they were you can bet she had it. Her favorite color for life was orange and she loves — and I mean loves — country music.

She had her own unique skill to handle people and whether they were sad or just plain miserable she helped them to see the joy in life! She is truly an amazing, beautiful girl and touched the hearts of many people. We are truly sad for all the people who lost the chance to meet this most wonderful person, because everyone deserves a chance to be happy for a moment and meet Krista.

Krista was truly spontaneous and was like a mother and sister to any one person at a time. She really broke the mold, because there will never be another person that even comes close to how spectacular Krista is. She radiated a glow that was contagious to any one person that saw her. She is a very go-luck person.

Krista-Rae June Pike will never slip away from anyone’s heart because she has touched people’s lives forever. We will never stop loving you!

Giana and James Ornelas,
Placerville, Calif.

+ + +

A video remembrance

The tribute video below was posted online by Danny Dominguez, a Madera friend of Krista Pike.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

+ + +

In memoriam

WENDY ALEXANDER/THE MADERA TRIBUNE
Many flames follow the nudges of the wind or reach for the sky during a vigil Wednesday evening (Jan. 16) for the late Krista Pike at Town and Country Park, Madera.
+

“If nothing else comes out of this, at least people will know she was a loving caring person, and there is love out there. Grieve today, grieve tomorrow, but let all of that pass and go. Smile, laugh, and don’t hold grudges. Krista was here on this earth to love.”

– Russel Pike, father of Krista Pike, speaking at her candlelight vigil Wednesday evening (Jan. 16)

+ + +

‘Love always’

The fiance of Krista-Rae Pike wrote and shared the following spontaneous poem with her on the Saturday (Jan. 12) before her death. He shared the poem again at the funeral chapel viewing of her body on Friday (Jan. 18).

Our two souls moving as one
together they are unbreakable
able to withstand all that tries to break them,
all that hell can throw at them,
able to outlast time itself.
Together our souls are indestructible,
but when broken apart our souls are as brittle
as the frost on the morning grass.
Together they will bring about the life
of a son or daughter
to forever hold both souls together
keeping them forever intertwined for eternity
forever embracing each other.
Forever loving each other;
forever caring when one is hurt or sick,
no matter the distance
for we are an extremely rare kind of love,
for we are
and forever will be
soul mates.

– Thomas Hollier

+ + +

All comments are edited for length and content. Due to content some comments may not be published. Please limit your telephone 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 comments and space, some may not be published.

+ + +

“Mr. (Bill) Coate has done many great things for the community,” said a lady, “but I just thought he was way out of line,” concerning an article “about Father (Thomas) King.” She said, Tuesday’s article “did not have anything to do with the history of Madera. Secondly,” she continued, “the Father was not guilty in the end result. I don’t know why any of this had to be brought up.” She said if there were any questions feel free to call and left her number.

“Thank you Madera Tribune,” began a frequent caller, “for providing Jim Glynn’s analysis in his article on Jan. 10 regarding the energy crisis. It is quite illuminating and a matter of public record and not opinion.”

A man wanted to thank “all the passerbys who helped the injured during the terrible accident on Avenue 12 between Road 25 and Road 25 1/2. A lot of passerbys were performing CPR to the injured until ambulance and fire trucks arrived. Many called 911 or used their OnStar button to call for emergency service.”

A lady “hated it when you don’t get your paper in the morning and report it and still don’t get your paper until five o’clock in the afternoon.” She asked to those concerned, “please let them know.”

A man called about the intersection “by Food 4 Less, between the Taco Bell and the Donut Shop,” and said, “somebody is going to get killed there someday.”

Many callers chimed in and wondered “what happened to Mo’s Musings today (Wednesday).” Those included a lady and “avid reader of Mo’s Musings on Wednesday, January 9” wanted to know “where it went?” Another gentleman said he “got the paper today and expected to read Mo’s Musings and it wasn’t there. What happened?” (Note: Leon Emo’s column was published in Thursday’s edition that week.)

A man “had to laugh about Friday’s paper (the 10th) where it shows (county) supervisors filling sandbags.” He wondered “how may sandbags they actually filled, or was it just the one and then went to the warmth of their home. It (the photo) looks kind of funny.”

A gentleman agreed with a previous caller about the “traffic speeds all the way from Sunset to Third Street on Mainberry.” However, this week’s caller said, “I think he needs to know they don’t slow down at Third Street either. They keep right on speeding all the way to Howard Road. There’s not one speed limit sign between Sunset and Howard, they even ignore the stop signs on Third.” He suggested, the police “keep an eye on it.”

A man said he “totally disagrees with the Red Line and you should take it off. All it does is start arguments with people.” He then said, “I personally would like to get in the ring with these people face to face. All it does is start fights.” He said he “was of Mexican descent and didn’t appreciate how things are written specifically about Hispanic people.”

A woman agreed with the parking situation “during the flea market at the fairgrounds on Wednesdays. Not only is there no parking at Wal-Mart but none at the Big-O Tire shopping center.

A lady who was concerned about “the governor closing state parks and beaches and cutting back on the number of lifeguards,” had a suggestion. “I think maybe you should cut the state legislator’s paychecks instead.”

+ + +

A visitor to the MaderaTribuneRedLine.com — self-named “Bart Turnipseed” — wrote a long comment about Assembly Bill 821 that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had signed into law “which, through just one more regulatory process, will make it illegal to hunt game using slugs or shot that contain more than a percentage of lead in specified areas.” The law is intended to protect the California condor.

The visitor complained that AB 821 was guided by politics rather than science and concluded, “After chasing down condor alerts on the web for awhile it becomes clear that the lobbyists executing this charade work on a very narrow set of interests for the same finite number of recycled constituents. I will be following the Governor Schwarzenegger’s next bid for public office with much interest. I hope that he can count on his new political allies to bring him all votes he will need. I for one have changed my mind about him.”

A person who identified herself as Carmen wrote, “In regards of the swap meet on Wednesday I agree completely. But I believe we need to all contact the manager of Wal-Mart to inform him either they stop letting people park in the shopping center or else we will take are shopping elsewhere.”

An online reader, who called herself “Eva M.,” wrote, “agree with Joe P. who wrote about the online subscription to the Tribune. First of all, your (free) Web site is always behind in the news. You need to get with the program. Look at The Fresno Bee for instance, now they’re on the ball.”

A woman who went by the name of J.R. commented, “This is in response to the … woman who called in on Dec 26 complaining about not being able to take her children to the doctor without having to wait for people with Medi-Cal cards. Illegals aren’t the only ones with Medi-Cal. I am a white hardworking mother of two and I have two good paying office jobs and I still cannot afford the high cost of healthcare. So my family needs Medi-Cal, we have no choice. I would rather have health insurance but it’s simply not affordable, I’ve tried. But my family has the right to see a doctor just like your children lady, and if you don’t like it then find a jerk of a doctor who refuses to accept Medi-Cal.”

An online reader identified as Kathy wrote, “In response to Mr. Garcia’s letter (about a grandson facing hiring prejudice in Madera) dated 1/10/08 (on the Madera Tribune Red Line online), I only wish I had a job to offer this young person. There are so many out there that think they are too good for such a menial job, and just the idea that this person went to apply for this job shows his character and willingness to work to better himself.”

+ + +

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.

Those walking about Madera were asked what they thought about the current campaigning by Democrats and Republicans seeking to be nominated as their party’s presidential candidate. Below are some of the responses received.

Butch Roulston: “They can pitch their pitch any time, but the vote doesn’t count until November.”

Patricia Camargo: “She (Hillary Clinton) is a woman after my own heart, and she’s a fighter.”

Elizabeth Avila: “It’s time for a change and (Barack) Obama can make it happen.”

Joanna Kuckenbecker: “It’s a hard decision because we (Republicans) don’t have the best candidates.”

Danny Garcia: “We need somebody who is interested in the economy, a good leader, and works with the people.”

Alfredo Marruffo: “I like Hillary, to give women a chance.”

Brenda Stiles: “I like (Fred) Thompson because I believe in his conservative views.”

Jean Hornback: “It is too early to tell, maybe Obama.”

Sandra Zeron: “Maybe Obama or (Mike) Huckabee.”

By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune

All the attention paid to the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary was proof of the saying that the medium is the message. Those events were big deals because the media (including the Madera Tribune in its own small way) said they were so.

But the fact is, both the caucuses in Iowa and the New Hampshire primary were colossal wastes of candidates’ money and time. The actual number of convention delegates that were delivered will have little effect on who wins their parties’ nominations.

The real primaries are coming up Feb. 5, and the nominees will be elected for all practical purposes on that day, when voters from the biggest states, including this one, cast their ballots.

The mantra is that the ever-expanding primary system is better than the old system, where convention delegates in smoke-filled rooms, rather than primary voters, chose the nominees. But I’m beginning to think the mantra might be as wrong as the idea that the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary were meaningful.

The people who used to go to the political conventions usually did so because they had high interest in politics. They wanted to choose the presidential nominees, and they wanted to have an effect on what the platforms said. They were politically intelligent, for the most part.

Which can’t be said for the average primary voter, who gets most of his or her information from television commercials. Candidates become the informational equivalent of room deodorizer.

That may be more democratic than the old smoke-filled rooms, but I think those rooms also were filled with knowledge and information about political realities, and a lot of that has been lost. We probably are the poorer because of that.

By John Rieping
MaderaTribuneRedLine.com

In a conference call to the press on Friday, the campaign team of the former First Lady, Sen. Hillary Clinton, attacked her lead Democratic party rival Sen. Barack Obama for saying these words in 2003:

“I think it’s a good decision. It is irresponsible to use gambling as our principle source of revenue. I think the moral and social cost of gambling, particularly in low-income communities could be devastating.” (Chicago Defender, May 2003)

Obama’s words were in response to Illinois Gov. Rod Blogojevich statement that he would reject calls to expand gambling in the state as a way to make up for a budget deficit.

In February, according to the Associated Press, “Obama also was a critic of lawmakers accepting political contributions from gambling interests that were seeking permits from the Illinois Legislature. The senator said he continued to believe there is ‘certainly a potential moral and social cost to gambling, if it’s not properly regulated, if children have access to it. It’s something I continue to be concerned about.’ “

The Clinton campaign rejected Obama’s concerns and included Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. executive Jan Jones in their press conference call to defend the gambling industry as community building and livelihood producing. Jones is co-chair of the Clinton campaign’s National Women’s Business Council.

For a news article on the subject, click here.

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the Clinton campaign’s public attack upon Obama’s views?

Dear editor:

On Dec. 12, an ad appeared in the Tribune regarding a local business that needed a dishwasher, and cook helpers. I told my grandson, who had been looking for a job, so he could go and apply. I said, “How hard can it be to wash dishes”?

He did apply and … he said the person told him, “We are not hiring.”

My grandson said, “but there is an ad in the paper,” and the employee said, “No, we have no ad.”

He said they looked him up and down. “I didn’t know whether they didn’t like my looks or the color of my skin,” my grandson said. He is dark. He felt prejudice for the first time in his 22 years.

They should at least have given him an application and then threw it in “File 13.” I always try to give them the best advice I can.

“Count your blessings,” I said. “Why would you want to work for people like that, you will find a better job.” Of course, he was willing to take any job right now.

Besides, I told him, “At your young age, life has taught you a good lesson. Now you know how you feel, since they did that, and you won’t turn around and do it to someone else.”

Life is a good teacher. I understand it is their establishment, and they have every right to do whatever they want.

In my opinion, it is a place to avoid. Thank you in teaching my grandson a lesson in life he won’t ever forget.

Lupe Garcia,
Madera

By John Rieping
MaderaTribuneRedLine.com

The story of Maderan Paul Karason first reported by Leon Emo in The Madera Tribune on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007 (CLICK HERE TO READ OUR INTRODUCTION TO MADERA’S BLUE MAN) has attracted a good deal of attention both within and beyond the United States.

Earlier this week columnist Leon Emo and his gal joined Karason and his beau Jackie Northup in New York for the filming of a feature on Karason by the Today show (Emo should be back in Madera today, Jan. 9th, as far as I know). Meanwhile, Tribune writer Ramona Frances fielded a telephone call in the newsroom for Emo (regarding Karason) from People magazine Tuesday, as well as from foreign media on previous days. Karason himself has, since the article’s publication, reportedly received inquiries from near and far too.

This is hardly the first time in the past year that a story first covered in The Madera Tribune has been covered by other media afterwards (the stories of the “Great Wall of Coarsegold” and the ongoing bee crisis are other examples), but it is still a reminder that Madera County and The Madera Tribune do remain, however lightly, on the radar in the world at large. Or for those skeptical of that notion, the alternative is that sometimes readers of The Madera Tribune really are the first to be in the know.

What story in the county or city of Madera do you know of that you think should be brought into the public eye? Let us know… you never know how far the tale will travel.

All comments are edited for length and content. Due to content some comments 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.

+ + +

A man called about “the (?) almanac” in the paper. He said, “it seems the Madera Irrigation District has a hard time keeping track.” He asked, “why they can’t be more accurate,” and mentioned published dates in late December. “It’s hard to keep track of, their figures are never right.”

A man who has “been reading a lot on the bilingual and such” mentioned that he had a master’s degree and “cannot find a job in Madera because I do not speak Spanish and do not have bilingual capabilities. That is a requirement for 95.9 percent of the jobs.”

He also said, “everyone that is hired by the city and county has to be bilingual. This is ridiculous. This is America. English is the spoken language.” He asked the city council, “what is going on here?” He requested that “they provide an answer.”

“I have a few questions,” began a “mature, native Maderan and lifelong resident.” She had this “for the powers that rule Madera city and county. What will happen to our county when all the good farming and grazing land is filled with houses and industry? Why do we need Rio Mesa? We have hundreds of houses for sale and many are vacant. How will we be able to live and work in a place where we are unable to breathe?”

A man responded to last week’s caller who said she observed a sheriff’s car and the occupants were not wearing their seatbelts. This week caller said he wasn’t surprised. “They make stuff up and they stack up three or more charges on people on each arrest. It ensures a conviction or plea bargain,” he said.

A man who looked at the paper’s “2007 Sports in Review” and “couldn’t help but notice that two valley champions from Madera High’s wrestling team were left off. This seems to be a gross error.”

“I am so frustrated with the flea market every Wednesday at the fairgrounds, right across the street from Wal-Mart,” said a lady. Wednesday is her day off “and that’s the day I like to do my shopping. I have to drive around for seven minutes because the swap meet people park at Wal-Mart and don’t leave any spots for customers.”

+ + +

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.