MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017: Oakhurst danger to self On Monday, Jan. 23 at 12:13 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to a residence located within the 51000 block of Road 423, regarding a possibly suicidal female adult. During the investigation ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — A winter storm warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Park, and the Tulare and Kings County mountains, from 4 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, until 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. The warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for areas above 6,000 feet, for heavy snowfall. Heavy snow ...

YOSEMITE — Rockfall activity in 2016 was slightly lower than in previous years, with 58 documented events (rockfalls and rockslides) and a cumulative volume of about 5,000 cubic meters (roughly 15,000 tons). Nevertheless, many of these rockfalls were consequential, impacting park infrastructure and affecting park visitors, employees, and residents. The year got off to a quick start with a rockfall ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa Biomass Project (MBP) has achieved several milestones toward its goal of building a 2 Megawatt biomass facility in the town of Mariposa. On Jan. 12, the MBP closed escrow on two parcels in the Mariposa Industrial Park, marking the final requirement to qualify for Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) funding. The project is aimed at creating ...

MADERA COUNTY — On March 7, citizens of the unincorporated areas of Madera County will vote on whether to implement a one-cent sales tax to fund the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office. To ensure that voters can make an informed decision about the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax known as Measure L, VRPA Technologies, Inc., has been contracted by ...

O’NEALS — A single-vehicle accident on Highway 41 sent both driver and passenger to the hospital, with the driver placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. At about 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, David Marthe, of Coarsegold, was northbound in a 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, just north of Yosemite Springs Parkway. According to CHP at the ...

OAKHURST — About 40 people gathered last night to participate in a Strategic Planning Alliance meeting, geared toward figuring out how millions of dollars will be spent on a new college facility in Oakhurst. Oakhurst Community College Center is part of Reedley College, which operates under the umbrella of the State Center Community College District (SCCCD). In June, voters approved Bond Measure C, which gives ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Commuters are reporting extreme delays over Deadwood today between Oakhurst and Coarsegold, particularly in the northbound lanes, where one driver said traffic inched along on Highway 41 just north of the old Broken Bit Restaurant for about 50 minutes before it cleared. Caltrans PIO Cory Burkarth explains that contractors are doing emergency maintenance work today, repairing a mudslide near ...

MADERA COUNTY — In a vote of 5-0, the Madera County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution to raise the pay of Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs) to a base of $15/hour, and Paid Call Driver Operators to $18/hour, effective Jan. 1, 2017. PCFs, or volunteer firefighters, in Madera County are currently paid minimum wage, now set at $10.50/hour ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office warns the public that they have located four credit card skimming machines at two local gas stations in the Mariposa Town area. These elaborate skimmers were located at the Stage Stop Gas Station and the Chevron Gas Station, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The sophisticated skimmers were equipped with blue tooth technology, allowing ...