UPDATE: June 1, 2017 — The road was reopened at approximately 5 p.m. OAKHURST — The Madera County Road Department has arrived and assessed the situation on Road 427 (School Road) which has been closed due to a sinkhole in the eastbound lane. Barricades have been put in place and detour routes established. The road remains closed to vehicular traffic ...

OAKHURST — The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has sent out alerts that School Road (Road 427) will be closed overnight due to a large sinkhole. The location is just past Oakhurst Elementary School near the Baptist church, in the eastbound lane. Road 427 is closed between Pierce Drive and Elliott Drive, and COPs are manning the closures. The sinkhole is ...

MADERA COUNTY — A search for an erratic driver that began in the Coarsegold area ended with a short road closure and a felony arrest on Highway 145 near Road 31 this afternoon. Just after 1:30 p.m., a motorist reported a northbound driver near the 22 Mile House, passing over double yellow lines, swerving all over the road and endangering ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, May 22 to Sunday, May 28, 2017: Oakhurst theft On Monday, May 22 at 12:32 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the Chevron Gas Station located within the 40000 block of CA-41 regarding a report of a theft. This case has been ...

NORTH FORK — A day trip to the mountains ended in a serious motorcycle wreck for two Clovis residents. Fortunately an off-duty firefighter/ paramedic was one of the first passers-by at scene. At 1:44 p.m., a call came in to 911 that a motorcycle had crashed on Road 200 on the south side of the bridge at Fine Gold Creek. ...

MARIPOSA — Over 100 firefighters from the Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit participated in live fire training at Eastman Lake this week, ahead of what is sure to be a challenging fire season. The training was held May 22 and 24 as one component of Cal Fire’s summer preparedness drill, and included 25 engines, 4 crews and 2 dozers, along with ...

MADERA COUNTY — Road 600 just south of Road 603 near Hensley Lake, is closed in both directions as firefighters battle a vegetation fire caused by a motor vehicle accident. At 6:55 p.m. a full wildland dispatch was called out after reports of a vehicle hitting the embankment and starting a fire. First engine at scene reported a Chevy pickup ...

BASS LAKE — The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has been gearing up and training to ensure everyone has a safe summer season on Bass Lake. Sergeant Larry Rich and Deputy Amy Roussell were out on the lake today in the Sheriff’s new 2017 patrol boat, built by Rogue Jet Boatworks. The 300 hp, 23′ boat has a center console — ...

CALIFORNIA — If you operate a motorized vessel on California waterways, take note: beginning Jan. 1, 2018, boaters 20 years of age and younger are the first group that must carry a California Boater Card when on state waterways. The requirement that California boat operators obtain a Boater Card will be phased in over the next seven years. Lifetime cards ...

YOSEMITE — With record snow pack this year, rivers are running very fast and cold, posing a potential danger to park visitors. Authorities are asking people to stay a safe distance from rivers during spring runoff, which is expected to last several more weeks. On Thursday, May 25, Yosemite National Park Rangers conducted a Swiftwater Rescue Training and Water Safety Day on the ...