OAKHURST — Just after 1:30 p.m. today crews were called to respond to reports of a fire burning behind Sierra Pines Church in the Oakhurst/Ahwahnee area, off of Highway 49 at the cross of Vista del Rio. First engine on scene reported the fire at five acres with a moderate rate of spread. Structures out in front are threatened, and ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — On the heels of a recent announcement that rates would soon increase, the waste disposal service company for Madera County, Emadco Disposal Inc., has announced that customers can instead look forward to a decrease in rates, at least for now. In an article posted on June 16, Emadco advised customers to expect an increase of 6.92 percent ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, June 19 to Sunday, June 25, 2017: Ahwahnee Coroner’s case On Monday, June 19 at 10:15 a.m. a deputy responded to a delayed Coroner’s case with the primary physician stipulating to the decedent’s cause of death. This was a natural death case ...

MARIPOSA – Did you know that possession of fireworks in our area can mean hefty fines and even jail time? The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) would like to remind Eastern Madera and Mariposa County residents of the very real fire danger and the consequences for the use of illegal fireworks. All fireworks, including “Safe and ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — As temperatures continued to climb today, the National Weather Service in Hanford extended the Excessive Heat Warning through Friday, June 23 at 11 p.m. The warning is for the San Joaquin Valley and Mariposa, Madera And Fresno County Foothills, including the cities of Oakhurst and Mariposa. Afternoon temperatures in some areas will be between 107 degrees and ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Does someone you know have fallen trees littering their landscape, and really needs help to clear the hazard? Good news: the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District (CRCD) has received a grant to hire crews to cut wood and help with this problem. One condition of the plan is that the person who gets the assistance then donates a portion ...

AHWAHNEE — The local chapter of the nonprofit organization Helping One Woman (HOW) will meet on Wednesday, June 21, at The Hitching Post, in support of Annette Carpenter. Annette’s husband Rick passed away in September of 2016. After spending some time in Mexico working with an orphanage that Annette and Rick used to volunteer for, she has returned home to Coarsegold and ...

AHWAHNEE — The Sierra Shadow Casters motorcycle club is holding its very popular Sierra Memorial Poker Run through Yosemite on Saturday, June 24. Proceeds from the 8th annual event will go to local charities which benefit children’s causes. The ride begins in Ahwahnee at the Hitchin’ Post, with registration from 8 to 9:30 a.m., and kickstands up at 9:45. Riders ...

UPDATE JUNE 27, 2017: Emadco Reverses Plans For Rate Increase, Says Rates Will Decrease MOUNTAIN AREA — Customers of Emadco Disposal Service, Inc., Madera County’s waste disposal service company, will soon be seeing an increase in their monthly rate. Emadco customers will receive this letter in the coming days: The purpose of this notice is to inform you of a ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service in Hanford has upgraded the previously issued heat watch to an Excessive Heat Warning starting at noon on Sunday, June 18 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, June 20. Meanwhile, in Yosemite, heat will cause snow to melt and waters to rise. The Excessive Heat Warning is for the San Joaquin Valley and Mariposa, Madera, ...