I never thought I would describe a memorial service before a burial as "fantastic" ... but then again ... the late Joe Rivero was referred to as "Mr. Fantastic."

At a service on Monday at St. Patrick's, the word seemed to personify the former Merced County supervisor and Atwater City Coucilman.

Rivero Memorial ServiceHis sons, Joe, John and Jeff, gave touching and sometimes humorous testimony of life with their dad.

Virtually every Merced and Atwater political leader was present.

Local law enforcement lined the sidewalk to the church and saluted as the casket paseed.

He was later buried in Winton Cemetery.

Farewell Mr. Fantastic.

DON'T MESS WITH MERCED

Veterans Day was a treat this year as hundreds of residents lined Main Street for the annual parade in Merced.

The mayor ... Ellie Wooten ... said something interesting.

She said don't compare Merced with other places in California when it comes to respecting and honoring the people who are fighting and who have fought for this nation.

"Merced knows how to honor its veterans ... we don't forget about our veterans here."

Mayor Wooten is one tough cookie ...

She had a lot of strong words about the foreclosure crisis in Merced recently at a meeting to discuss directing federal funds to some of the county's hard hit neighborhoods. That's the subject of our top story on this website.