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 ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Just after 1 p.m. today as crews were beginning mop-up on a series of fires that sparked along Highway 41 in Coarsegold, crews were called to respond to a report of fire burning on the Sierra National Forest, 4.6 miles up Central Camp Road. The fire was called in by a North Fork resident who owns ...

MADERA COUNTY — Just before noon today, firefighters were dispatched to reports of several small fires burning along Highway 41 near the 22 Mile House. Those fires were quickly handled, just as reports began coming in of several spot fires on Deadwood near Road 420, and resources were diverted. One southbound lane of Highway 41 was closed to allow engines ...

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 — A vegetation fire that started with a vehicle on fire in the parking lot of the Mariposa Human Services Department was stopped before damaging any structures. The fire was reported at 1:05 p.m. as a vehicle fire on Lemee Lane, and quickly spread to an estimated 10 acres, burning close behind the Cal Fire Emergency Command Center. Gusting ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The search continues for a man missing for more than two days after being swept away in the Merced River near Briceburg. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team along with the California Highway Patrol Air Support Division and Bureau of Land Management Rangers have been working all weekend to locate a missing swimmer. The ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park officials have issued the following statement on conditions over Tioga Pass (Highway 120) inside the park boundaries: The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park (Highway 120 through the park) remains closed to all vehicular traffic, including bicycles. Melting snow is causing water to run over the road in multiple locations, creating a safety hazard. Park ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY —  Nearly 500 customers are without power in the Bootjack area of Mariposa County. The outage, which started at 1:53 p.m is affecting 496 households. The reason for the outage is unknown at this time, according to PG&E, but crews are assessing the situation. The estimated time for power to be restore is 5 p.m., but that could ...

MADERA COUNTY — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announces that one-way traffic control will be in effect this Sunday morning on State Route 41 in Madera County. Maintenance crews will be repairing guardrail that was damaged during a recent fire. The following one-way traffic control will be in effect, weather permitting: · On Sunday, June 25 – State Route ...

YOSEMITE — There has been a lot of confusion of late over whether or not Tioga Pass is open in Yosemite National Park. A call to Caltrans confirms that the east side of the pass, up to the park entrance, is indeed plowed and open to traffic. However, an announcement by Caltrans on Monday, June 19, may have been misunderstood ...