MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Tax Collector’s office is in the process of the final drive for collections of taxes owed to the County, and all entities for whom they collect, in preparation for fiscal year-end closing. “Last month we sent out over 4,000 delinquent notices, and we have been putting bank levies on unpaid unsecured taxes,” said Tracy ...

CLOVIS  – The Sierra National Forest (SNF), High Sierra Ranger District, Fuels and Fire Management staff are planning to ignite a prescribed fire on the Vincent Fuel break on Tuesday, May 23, as part of an ongoing hazard fuels reduction plan. Smoke will likely be visible around the mountain area and the Valley. “Using the advantage of favorable weather conditions, ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Board of Supervisors learned first-hand the capabilities of the new T-Rex, the articulating platform ladder fire truck, soon to be put into service at Station 8 in Coarsegold. During today’s regular Board meeting, MMU Cal Fire Division Chief Dave Allen gave the supervisors a close-up look at the new truck, which was acquired to ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, May 8 to Sunday, May 14, 2017: Coarsegold Coroner’s case On Monday, May 8, a deputy responded to a delayed Coroner’s case with the primary physician stipulating to the decedent’s cause of death. This is a natural death case involving only a Coroner’s referral ...

COARSEGOLD — A fire burning at the edge of Yosemite Lakes Park near the dam at Black Hawk Lake has been contained. Just before 4 p.m., as mop-up was being completed at the Garnet Fire on Road 400, firefighters were dispatched to the end of Patrick Avenue for another vegetation fire. A resident who was out for a run along ...

COARSEGOLD — “Just because it’s a burn day doesn’t mean it’s safe to burn.” It’s a warning given often by fire officials, but not necessarily heeded by residents. Firefighters responded today to yet another escaped burn pile, this one just outside Yosemite Lakes Park on Road 400 near Garnet Creek Lane. At about 2:20 p.m., crews were dispatched to the ...

YOSEMITE — Park officials have announce the closure, for one night only, of Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) into Yosemite National Park. The closure will be in effect from 9 p.m. on Monday, May 15, to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, May 16. Officials say this closure is necessary for paving on the roadway, which was severely damaged in late ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Adventurers looking for the spectacular scenery of Yosemite National Park without the crowds — there is a road less traveled right in your back yard. The Sierra Vista Scenic Byway, recently featured as a California “Hidden Gem” by Visit California, is a 100-mile stretch of road from North Fork — the exact center of California — ...

MADERA COUNTY — YARTS buses will start rolling up Highway 41 to Yosemite National Park starting Monday, May 15, thanks to funding from the Fresno Council of Governments (COG) and the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS). Now that YARTS has resumed service on the busy corridor, residents and visitors alike will be able to access round-trip public transportation to and ...

O’NEALS — Firefighters responded shortly after noon today to a vehicle fire on Highway 41, a quarter-mile north of Road 200. At 12:44 p.m. reports came in of a vehicle on fire, parked on the shoulder of the northbound lane. Cal Fire Engine 4295 and Madera County Fire Engine 8 responded and reported the vehicle fully engulfed when they arrived at ...