MOUNTAIN AREA — Cal Fire has lifted the burn ban locally and so it’s time to take down the yellow fire signs that many have posted around the mountains. The North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, which provided the signs, appreciates any help you can offer to accomplish this task. If you posted signs, the auxiliary asks that you please ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Cal Fire and the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) announced that the burn suspension in all State Responsibility Areas of Madera, Mariposa and Merced Counties has been lifted as of 8 a.m. today. Cal Fire Burn Permits are required and burning is permitted on “Permissive Burn Days” only, as established by the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District. Permits can be obtained from any local ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — An urgent winter weather advisory has been issued for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon including Bass Lake and Fish Camp, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory is currently in effect from 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 through 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. Above 8,000 feet an accumulation of six to ...

COARSEGOLD – Do you find yourself yearning for tarantula races, costume parade, and hairy leg contest? Perhaps you’re in the mood for some pizza eating, pumpkin cake and poetry, seasonal decorating, and fun for kids in an educational, if arachnidian, environment. Yearn no more. Webs are being woven now for Coarsegold’s 19th annual Tarantula Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10:30 a.m. til 5 p.m. in ...

CENTRAL SIERRA —  Cal Fire would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2 a.m., daylight savings time ends. When you set your clocks back one hour, please make another change that could save your life — change the battery in your smoke detector. Although smoke detectors are in most homes, many do ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — A series of Pacific weather systems will bring several rounds of precipitation and wind to the western U.S. this week, according to the National Weather Service. Several inches of rain could fall in portions of California, especially in the coastal ranges and foothills. Snow is forecast in the higher mountains. In addition, winds will be strong, especially ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016: Oakhurst DUI arrest On Monday, Oct. 17 at 1:11 a.m. a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the area of Highway 41 and Road 426 for equipment violation. The driver was later found to be under ...

YOSEMITE — On Saturday, Nov. 5, Yosemite National Park and The Ansel Adams Gallery will honor the winners of the 2016 Gateway Expressions Student Art and Poetry Contest, held as a way for the park to celebrate the creativity of youth living in the Yosemite gateway communities. The contest is open to all students, grades K-12, who attend school or youth ...

AHWAHNEE — The victim of Friday’s homicide in Ahwahnee has been identified by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Dennis Dolan, 68, of Ahwahnee was found unresponsive at his residence in the 41000 block of Road 600 near Highway 49 in Ahwahnee, at around 1:30 a.m. on Friday morning. Craig Anthony Fetty, 28, of Oakhurst and Tiffany Dambrino, 20, also from ...

AHWAHNEE — Sheriff Varney announced this evening that two arrests have been made in connection to yesterday’s murder in Ahwahnee. Craig Anthony Fetty, 28, of Oakhurst and Tiffany Dambrino, 20, also from Oakhurst were arrested late Saturday afternoon. Detectives are continuing the investigation, but at this point Fetty has been arrested for murder and Dambrino has been arrested on another ...