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 Due to content some calls may not be published.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.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 18th, 2007 at 5:49 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.