MOUNTAIN AREA – A staff member from the office of State Senator Tom Berryhill will hold a day of Mobile District Office hours in Mariposa and Oakhurst next week. On Wednesday, Mar. 2, Outreach Coordinator Jenna Welch will be available to hear the public’s opinions on legislation, or to help with problems associated with state agencies, such as the Department ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – From atop the mountain perch overlooking a vast expanse of green, eyes are carefully trained to spot the early tell-tale signs of forest fire. A wisp of smoke triggers a series of actions that can mean the difference between safety and catastrophe. In the relative safety of winter, recruitment begins for a new crop of Forest Service ...

EARTH — A full moon is rising and should be visible this evening, followed by the dazzling planet Jupiter in the eastern sky after dark. The February full moon is also sometimes called the Wolf Moon, Snow Moon or Hunger Moon. According to EarthSky.org, the star above the moon and Jupiter this evening is Regulus, the brightest in the constellation ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, Feb. 14 to Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016: Oakhurst vandalism On Sunday, Feb. 14 at 1:03 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to a vandalism in the 48000 block of River Park Road. An investigation was completed and it was determined that a suspect ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — If you’re like most people, you spend countless hours and untold dollars taking care of your home. After all, it’s your castle. You want your castle to be beautiful on the outside and on the inside, so you do your best to maintain the property through thick and thin. It’s a big investment of time and cash, ...

Submitted by Lou Ann Sakaki CATHEYS VALLEY – Wayward Ponies’ Home will hold its seventh annual fundraising event indoors for the first time, on Saturday, Feb. 20, from noon till 2 p.m. at McKay Hall in the Catheys Valley County Park, located at 2820 E. Highway 140. Wayward Ponies’ Home is a small equine sanctuary providing a permanent home for ...

Submitted by Moms In Prayer OAKHURST — The Moms In Prayer International group in the mountain area will be having a prayer gathering for the national Collegiate Day of Prayer on Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Oakhurst Community College campus courtyard, from 7:45 to 8:15 a.m.. We invite the churches and anyone who would like to unite with us, in ...

Submitted by Courtney Herrera OAKHURST — With Spring semester in full swing, Yosemite FFA is busier than ever. We are proud to be hosting National FFA Week on campus from Monday through Friday, Feb. 22 – 26. This year’s theme is “On a Mission to Save the Tradition,” and we will have dress-up days such as Patriotic Day, and play ...

By Danielle Beltran and Greta Ziegler O’NEALS — Starting a track and field team at Minarets High School has been a long wait, and Mark Robinson has been the main supporter all along. Last year, organizers were given permission to have a club, but that did not work out. This year is different — Minarets finally has an official track ...

By Liz Wiles and Vanessa Sanchez Liz says, “Despite attending Minarets in O’Neals since freshman year, when I reached sophomore year, I chose the elective of Creative Writing on the basis of my love for writing and yearning to merge my passion with my academic life, and entered the first class period hoping to add to my current knowledge of ...