The Fresno Bee

Updates: Wildfire burning northeast of Porterville

07/03/09 18:25:27

A wildfire continues to burn in the Golden Trout Wilderness, 25 miles northeast of Porterville.

The Shotgun fire has burned 412 acres and is expected to grow to 800 acres by Monday. The fire is burning where Shotgun Creek flows into the Little Kern River.

Updates: Blaze worst in Fresno since 1981

07/03/09 18:08:06

Officials say the emergency response to a 15-acre fire that charred part of a northwest Fresno subdivision Thursday afternoon involved more local fire and police agencies than any other blaze in recent memory.

The fire, near the intersection of Moraga and Big Sandy roads, was the worst involving wildlands and homes since 1981, when a fire destroyed another house in the area, Fresno Fire Chief Randy Bruegman said Friday.

Updates: Police arrest three suspects in burglaries

07/03/09 18:01:00

Three people are in custody after a string of burglaries in southeast Fresno, Police Chief Jerry Dyer said Friday.

Dyer said the two women and one man were taken into custody after an investigation that also netted the recovery of thousands of dollars worth of stolen property and identification records of dozens of people who may have been the victims of identity theft. One of the women arrested may also face drug and parole violation charges.

Updates: 'Tea Party' set for Fourth in Tulare

07/03/09 10:36:49

The Freedom Rally Tea Party is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the International Agri-Center, just off Highway 99 in Tulare.

The Tulare event is one of about 1,300 nationwide planned for the Fourth of July. It's the second in the central San Joaquin Valley following a Tax Day Tea Party at Fresno State. Organizers of that nearly daylong, weekday event said it drew about 7,500 people, although independent confirmation was not available. Tulare organizers said they're hoping to attract 10,000. Groups including the Central Valley Tea Party, Bakersfield Tea Party and Tulare Tea Party are sponsoring the event in conjunction with Water For All.

Updates: Roe restaurant's liquor license suspended

07/03/09 09:12:26

The California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control has suspended the liquor license of Roe restaurant in Fresno for 10 days.

The restaurant at Palm and Nees avenues can continue to operate but is barred from selling alcohol from June 29 through July 8.

Local: Aviators return to friends, family at Lemoore base

07/03/09 23:49:12

Plenty of red, white and blue emotions filled a hangar at Lemoore Naval Air Station on the eve of Independence Day as family and friends greeted about 50 aviators returning from a six-month deployment overseas.

"I've been looking forward to this day for a long time," said Chrissy Duffy, wife of Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Duffy of Strike Fighter Squadron 147.

Local: Campus named for former Clovis Unified leader

07/03/09 23:50:23

As Clovis Unified Superintendent Terry Bradley left the district this week, he was honored as just one other Clovis superintendent -- Floyd "Doc" Buchanan -- has been recognized before: with the naming of a campus.

A new multi-school educational center in the district's southeast area will bear Bradley's name. The decision was made in a special late June school board meeting about which Bradley was not informed.

Local: Blaze worst in Fresno since 1981

07/03/09 23:44:47

Local: Madera County teen dies during basketball game

07/03/09 23:46:19

A 14-year-old Madera County boy who dreamed of playing pro basketball died Thursday after collapsing during a summer-league basketball game at a north Fresno high school.

Cody Minter of Raymond died about 7 p.m. at Saint Agnes Medical Center.

Local: Slow start for Valley sales of fireworks

07/03/09 23:41:48

Friday was payday for many people, and it was reflected in a burst of activity at fireworks stands in the central San Joaquin Valley.

Operators at some stands said sales had been off until Friday, and they were hoping for last-minute business. They said a stubborn recession tightened budgets and forced many families to cut back on their July Fourth spending.

Sports: Big thumb's up for park

07/03/09 22:49:34

Sweat and smiles.

Those were the two things on most peoples faces at the opening of the Mosqueda Bike Park on Friday.

Sports: Grizzlies report 7/3

07/03/09 22:49:11

River Cats 3, Grizzlies 1

Crucial moment: With no outs and the bases juiced in the sixth inning, Fresno couldn't deliver. Brian Horwitz and Steve Holm struck out and Eugenio Velez grounded out to end the inning. Fresno's final five batters struck out as Sacramento completed its three-game sweep.

Sports: Rawhide report 7/3

07/03/09 22:49:10

66ers 6, Rawhide 3

Crucial moment: Scott Van Slyke's two-out, two-run single capped Inland Empire's three-run seventh inning, and the 66ers went on to complete a sweep of Visalia at Recreation Ballpark.

Sports: Local sports briefs

07/03/09 22:49:10

Fresno Fuego sinks Brigade with shutout road victory

Tyler Reinhart scored two second-half goals and the Fresno Fuego earned its second shutout of the season, defeating Bakersfield 3-0 in a Premier Development League game Friday at Bakersfield Christian High.

Sports: Susdorf's '08 Wonderdog surprise

07/02/09 22:48:30

"What's the day today?" asks Steve Susdorf. "The 30th?"

You tell him that it is July 2 and he is unfazed by that revelation, almost satisfied with his life only being two days off.

Business: Dairies hope to reduce milk supply

07/03/09 23:29:03

As the state's dairy operators scramble for ways to stop one of the worst industry downturns in years, a proposal to cut California's milk production is slowly moving forward.

Members of the state's five dairy cooperatives are trying to reduce production by 5%, hoping the move will help boost prices that have fallen below the cost of production.

Business: Roe restaurant's liquor license suspended

07/03/09 23:14:30

The California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control has suspended the liquor license of Roe restaurant in Fresno for 10 days.

The restaurant at Palm and Nees avenues can continue to operate but is barred from selling alcohol from June 29 through July 8.

Business: Premier Valley will accept IOUs

07/03/09 23:15:43

Premier Valley Bank in Fresno announced that it will accept registered warrants issued by the state of California to the bank's existing customers.

The warrants are essentially IOUs being sent by the state to vendors and others.