OAKHURST — A 16-year-old girl lost her life last night when the vehicle she was driving rolled into a creek along Road 426. According to the Madera County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office, the young woman has been identified as Shania Faith Costella. The accident happened on Road 426 at China Creek, just before 11 p.m., west of Road 425B. Shania’s 17-year-old sister, who ...

OAKHURST — At 10:52 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7, emergency crews responded to reports of a vehicle that had driven off the side of the road, and overturned into the swift moving water of China Creek. According to CHP at the scene, the SUV was traveling eastbound on Road 426 approaching Road 425B when, for unknown reasons, it left the ...

OAKHURST — The truck captured on video surveillance during a robbery at the Central Valley Community Bank yesterday has been located by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. A deputy on patrol last night located the white Toyota Tacoma abandoned not far from the scene of the robbery. According to Commander Tyson Pogue, Sgt. Nick Davis spotted the vehicle on Victoria ...

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA – With a series of wet storms hitting Northern and Central California, now is the time to sign up for emergency alerts from the Sheriff’s Office. Residents are advised to do so now — it only takes a minute. In Madera County, MCAlert is used in the event of emergencies or natural disasters such as floods and severe weather, and ...

YOSEMITE — A mandatory evacuation notice has been issued for all non-essential personnel for the Yosemite Valley as of 4 p.m. today, according to a notice issued by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. “This decision was made based on high projected water levels and the high likelihood of utility system failures,” states the notice. “The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is ...

OAKHURST — We are receiving updated information from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office concerning the active search for two suspects following a reported bank robbery this afternoon. At about 4:30 p.m., Madera County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Central Valley Community Bank on Highway 41 in Oakhurst for a reported robbery. According to the Sheriff’s Office, one white male adult ...

OAKHURST — Law enforcement is actively searching for a white newer model Toyota Tacoma after a robbery was reported at Central Valley Bank at Highways 41 at 49. Just before 5 p.m., deputies and CHP officers began searching for the pickup described as a 4-door with tinted windows, no tailgate, a chrome bumper and a tow hitch. The vehicle may ...

YOSEMITE — All roads leading into Yosemite Valley will close today at 5 p.m. in anticipation of a significant winter storm moving into the region early tomorrow morning, Saturday, Jan. 7. There will be no visitor services available throughout the storm. Visitors intending to visit Yosemite National Park are highly encouraged to monitor weather reports and check road conditions before ...

MARIPOSA — The Sheriff’s Office is notifying Mariposa County residents that they can pick up sand and sandbags at two local Mariposa County Fire Stations. Locations are Mormon Bar Station 27 at 4621 Highway 49 South in Mariposa, and Don Pedro Station 24 located at 9729 Merced Falls Road, Don Pedro. Residents will need to bring their own shovel to ...

OAKHURST — Both lanes of Highway 41 south of Oakhurst was closed for over an hour this afternoon after a large boulder dislodged from the embankment and struck the trailer of a southbound big rig. The 2010 Freightliner was hit in the rear axle, according to CHP as the scene, and the force of the blow knocked it off its ...