SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown’s $180 billion May revision to the 2017-2018 budget proposes cutting millions of dollars from funding to fight fires and support local tree mortality projects in California’s forestlands. The Governor’s updated budget, released on Thursday, May 11, cuts funding for the Office of Emergency Services from $52.7 million to $8.5 million, with only $2 million allocated ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy Memorial Day weekend, with high visitation from Friday, May 26, until Monday, May 29. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at Yosemite before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Once in the park, visitors are urged to park their vehicles at the Yosemite Village, Yosemite Falls or Half Dome Village parking areas ...

NORTH FORK — The two markers that proclaim North Fork to be the exact center of California have been missing of late, but thanks to the hard work of the North Fork History Group and the Lions Club, both have been restored to their respective sites. The one most visible to residents is the sign on the east side of ...

MARIPOSA – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) will be conducting a live fire training exercise at Eastman Lake on Monday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 24. The training will be in cooperation with Madera County Fire and the Army Corp of Engineers. If conditions are conducive, approximately 170 acres of grass and oak understory will ...

COARSEGOLD – Family members and law enforcement continue the search for a Coarsegold man who has been missing for nearly a month. According to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Keith Allen Bendz, 45, was reported missing on Tuesday, Apr. 25. He was last seen on the morning of Monday, Apr. 24, say family members. Mr. Bendz is described as 5′ ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — A head-on collision on Highway 140 in the Catheys Valley area has claimed the life of a Mariposa man. At 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, Dale Giantomasso, 62, of Peotone, Ill., was westbound on Highway 140 just east of Chase Ranch in a 2006 Newmar Ventana motorhome, when for unknown reasons, he drifted across the center ...

MADERA COUNTY — Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire burning on the east side of Highway 41 between Children’s Blvd. and Avenue 12. The fire was reported at 4:37 p.m. Though the roadway is still open, smoke is affecting visibility and people are stopping to look. As of 5:57 p.m., forward progress of the fire had been stopped. ...

MADERA COUNTY — Law enforcement agencies throughout Madera County will be participating in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics on Tuesday, June 13. The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run is to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics. This year’s Opening Ceremonies will be hosted at the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, 2725 Falcon Drive, at 6:30 ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Tax Collector’s office is in the process of the final drive for collections of taxes owed to the County, and all entities for whom they collect, in preparation for fiscal year-end closing. “Last month we sent out over 4,000 delinquent notices, and we have been putting bank levies on unpaid unsecured taxes,” said Tracy ...

CLOVIS  – The Sierra National Forest (SNF), High Sierra Ranger District, Fuels and Fire Management staff are planning to ignite a prescribed fire on the Vincent Fuel break on Tuesday, May 23, as part of an ongoing hazard fuels reduction plan. Smoke will likely be visible around the mountain area and the Valley. “Using the advantage of favorable weather conditions, ...