Subscribe
to the E-Star!

Community Briefs for July 8, 2010 edition

(Updated: Thursday, July 08, 2010, 12:00 AM)

Coarsegold motorcyclist fatality

Coarsegold motorcyclist Ramone Kelly Garcia, 44, was killed early July 4 when he went through a red light and struck a vehicle around 6:30 a.m. near Chukchansi Casino.

The car was turning left off Lucky Lane onto Highway 41 on a green light when Garcia failed to stop for a red light and broadsided the vehicle.

The two occupants of the car, both of Fresno, were taken to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for moderate injuries.

Largest pot seizure in county history

The largest eradication of marijuana plants on private property in the history of Madera County resulted in one arrest Tuesday morning near Wells Road in Coarsegold.

According to a Madera County Sheriff's Department public information officer, 18,100 marijuana plants were confiscated during the operation and one grower was arrested, Eduardo Medina Mendoza, 48, of Guerrero, Mexico.

Sheriff John Anderson believes there were three men tending the garden when they were interrupted by authorities.

The street value of the plants, if allowed to grow to full maturity, would be more than $50 million.

Children's author at Willow Bridge

Maggie Caldwell Smith, local author of the Tommy Wilson, Junior Veterinarian series, will speak at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10.

Smith's books star young Tommy Wilson who, while volunteering in a veterinary hospital for the summer, suspects his furry friends are victims of animal abuse, and works to find the culprits responsible.

She will bring a troop of puppets to help tell the story and uses young actors from the audience.

Details: (559) 692-2665.

Emergency Preparedness event

The Eastern Madera County Emergency Preparedness Committee will host an event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Vons Center to educate residents on vital subjects related to disasters.

From 11 a.m. to noon, there will be a panel discussion at the Willow Bridge Books followed by a question-and-answer period. Janet Stanovich, Emergency Services Coordinator, will be facilitating the discussion.

Laurie Long, who wrote the book "My Life in a Box," will be on the panel. She is an emergency specialist.

Details: (559) 692-2665.

Babysitter's training

The Central Valley American Red Cross will conduct Babysitter's Training at the Boys and Girls Club of Oakhurst. A minimum of 10 students -- ages 11 to 15 -- must be pre-registered to attend.

Training will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday July 17 at the Boys & Girls Club. Price: $25 for members, $55 for non-members. The price includes lunch.

The purpose of the course is to provide students with the information and skills necessary to provide safe and responsible care for children.

Fees cover the class, Babysitter's Training Handbook, babysitter backpack, first aid items and a contact notebook.

Rivergold Elementary seeks donations

The Rivergold Parent Teacher Association is seeking items for their upcoming Hawk Festival Sept. 10. All proceeds from the auction benefit the children in the form of enrichment programs such as a science fair, PTA's Art Reflections Program and music programs.

Replies or donations can be sent to: Rivergold Elementary PTA, Attn: Lisa Anderson, PO Box 1232, Coarsegold, CA 93614, Tax I.D. #77-029-0725.

Details: Lisa Anderson (559) 760-7750.

Fire station break-in

A stereo and small amount of cash was taken from the Cedar Valley Volunteer Fire Department by an unknown person or persons who broke a window to gain entry to the station June 28 after 3 p.m.

The case is under investigation. Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to call the Madera County Sheriff's Department at (559) 642-3201.

Taiwan group to perform in Oakhurst

A group from the Formosa Melody Music Center in I-Lan, Taiwan, will perform at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 31 at the Golden Chain Theatre. The performance will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Oakhurst.

A dessert reception and raffle and door prize drawings will follow the two hour concert. Tickets are $18 each and a table of eight can be reserved for $120.

"Those who attend will be treated with an experience of extraordinary musical talent from Madera's sister city of I-Lan Taiwan," Rima Runtzel, president of the Boys and Girls Club board of directors. "The musicians play Chinese instruments that look and sound nothing like anything one has seen in a school band. However, some of the instruments they use do resemble western instruments such as the flute, guitar, violin and dulcimer."

One of the more unusual instruments is the Sheng, which existed 3,000 years ago and consists of 36 pipes packed tightly together and held by hand. The wind instrument's different sounds can resemble a steam locomotive traveling along the rails.

The 20 musicians of the Formosa Melody Music Center, under the direction of Conductor Vincent Li, play traditional Chinese songs along with some American western and Mexican songs.

Tickets available at Sierra Telephone and Golden Chain Theatre. BGCOakhurst.com