BASS LAKE – It’s an old scam. Someone sends you a check and asks you to deposit it, then send them back some of the money, citing any of a variety of sketchy reasons. You deposit the check, only to discover later that it was bogus. The bank takes back all the money and you’re left holding the bag for ...

Written by Judi Hussain – OAKHURST – Have you lived here for years, or are you new to Madera County? Are you looking to get acquainted or want to learn more about the area? Do you have a passion for Yosemite National Park that you’d like to share with the world? Visit Yosemite | Madera County may have a place ...

MARIPOSA – Mariposa County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a 24-year-old Mariposa man on charges that include unlawful sex with a minor. Miles Imamura was taken into custody on Friday, Mar. 1, outside the home of his alleged victim – a 13-year-old whose gender is not being specified by the Sheriff’s Office at this time. During the course of their investigation ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park officials announced today that the 2019 preseason lottery for Half Dome permits will open at 7 a.m. PDT on Wednesday, Mar. 13. All hikers are required to have permits to ascend the subdome steps and the Half Dome cables when the cables are in place. Park Rangers install the Half Dome cables each spring and ...

CLOVIS – The Sierra National Forest (SNF) is requesting public input for the California 2018/2019 State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Grants and Cooperative Agreements Program application cycle. As part of the grant process, the SNF is requesting public input or project ideas for what individuals and organizations would like to have included in this application cycle. This public feedback ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Law enforcement officials today arrested Joseph Speakman, an offender who walked away from the Mount Bullion Conservation Camp in Mariposa County on Mar. 1. At 1:55 p.m., Speakman was found hiding near a vacant cabin located in a rural area about three miles from the Mount Bullion camp, say officials. He was taken into custody without incident, ...

NORTH FORK – For the 40th year running, North Fork has chosen its Citizen of the Year, with the 2018 honor going to Chuck and Roz Thrapp. “We moved here over 40 years ago to raise our family,” said Roz, who was surrounded by children and grandchildren during last night’s celebration at the Town Hall. “We love North Fork; this ...

NORTH FORK – A driver is under arrest on suspicion of DUI after crashing his pickup off Road 274 and then leaving the scene. Just before 4:30 p.m. today, Steven Leon, 29, of North Fork was southbound in a 2003 Chevy Silverado on Road 274 along the north shore of Bass Lake. According to a witness who was right behind ...

MARIPOSA — California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are searching for a minimum-security inmate who walked away from the Mount Bullion Conservation Camp in Mariposa County today. CDCR officials say that inmate Joseph Speakman, 46, was last seen during an inmate count at 3:15 a.m. on Mar. 1. He was discovered missing at 4:20 a.m. and officers immediately ...

YOSEMITE — Registration is now open for NatureBridge summer programs for teens in Yosemite and Olympic National Parks. NatureBridge, the largest non-profit educational partner of the National Park Service, leads life-changing backpacking programs for middle and high school students in Yosemite and Olympic National Parks each summer. These one- and two-week programs offer the perfect mix of backpacking, science and ...