MOUNTAIN AREA — Good news for anyone who has experienced delays recently on Highway 41 associated with the massive tree removal project that began last fall. After taking out 15,179 trees at a cost of $5.7 million, Caltrans spokesman Cory Burkarth says the hazard tree removal along the Highway 41 corridor north of Oakhurst will cease for the season. The last day for tree ...

SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown’s $180 billion May revision to the 2017-2018 budget proposes cutting millions of dollars from funding to fight fires and support local tree mortality projects in California’s forestlands. The Governor’s updated budget, released on Thursday, May 11, cuts funding for the Office of Emergency Services from $52.7 million to $8.5 million, with only $2 million allocated ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy Memorial Day weekend, with high visitation from Friday, May 26, until Monday, May 29. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at Yosemite before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Once in the park, visitors are urged to park their vehicles at the Yosemite Village, Yosemite Falls or Half Dome Village parking areas ...

OAKHURST — A two-vehicle accident slowed the commute on Highway 41 just south of Oakhurst this morning. At about 7:10 a.m. a 19-year-old male from Fresno in a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta was headed to work at Emadco. He was traveling northbound approaching Road 425B at the top of Deadwood at a stated speed of 55 – 60 miles per hour, ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, May 15 to Sunday, May 21, 2017: Coarsegold violation of court order On Monday, May 15 at approximately 9:28 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 45000 Block of Road 415 in regards to a violation of a court order. A report was taken and ...

MARIPOSA – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) will be conducting a live fire training exercise at Eastman Lake on Monday, May 22, and Wednesday, May 24. The training will be in cooperation with Madera County Fire and the Army Corp of Engineers. If conditions are conducive, approximately 170 acres of grass and oak understory will ...

COARSEGOLD – Family members and law enforcement continue the search for a Coarsegold man who has been missing for nearly a month. According to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Keith Allen Bendz, 45, was reported missing on Tuesday, Apr. 25. He was last seen on the morning of Monday, Apr. 24, say family members. Mr. Bendz is described as 5′ ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — A head-on collision on Highway 140 in the Catheys Valley area has claimed the life of a Mariposa man. At 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17, Dale Giantomasso, 62, of Peotone, Ill., was westbound on Highway 140 just east of Chase Ranch in a 2006 Newmar Ventana motorhome, when for unknown reasons, he drifted across the center ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Smoke from the Elm Fire near Hwy 198 in Coalinga is affecting air quality in the western portion of the San Joaquin Valley and has the potential to impact Fresno, Kings and the western portions of Kern County. Currently, smoke impacts originally concentrated in the foothill areas to the west of the air basin have moved to the ...

MADERA COUNTY — Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire burning on the east side of Highway 41 between Children’s Blvd. and Avenue 12. The fire was reported at 4:37 p.m. Though the roadway is still open, smoke is affecting visibility and people are stopping to look. As of 5:57 p.m., forward progress of the fire had been stopped. ...