MARIPOSA – Caltrans is pre-emptively closing State Route 140 in Mariposa County in the area of the Ferguson Fire burn scar, for approximately 17 miles from Bear Creek (south of Briceburg) to Foresta Road (on the west side of El Portal). The closure begins overnight at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, and will end depending on the impact of ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Winter weather is on its way again this week, with a potential for flash flooding in the lower country and heavy snow in the higher elevations. The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Flash Flood Watch for towns including Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, Mariposa, North Fork, Oakhurst, and O’Neals. The Flood Watch is in effect from Wednesday ...

MARIPOSA – With the return of winter weather, Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) has lifted the burn permit suspension effective Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 8 a.m. Unit Chief Nancy Koerperich is formally cancelling the burn permit suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days. Agriculture burns ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra Nevada above 7,000-feet, from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon and the Tulare County Mountains. The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21 through 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22. Heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of ...

With so many special events and activities taking place over the next several weeks, we thought it would be helpful to compile a timely list of all the entertainment-related and community-oriented holiday happenings in the mountain area between now and December 25. If we missed anything, let us know and we’ll gladly add it to the Big Local List of ...

HANFORD – With only one significant rain event since spring, residents of the mountain area may be encouraged to see a wet Thanksgiving holiday. The National Weather Service is forecasting a pattern change to wet weather is likely by the middle of the week. Its arrival after a very long dry spell will create slick and potentially hazardous driving conditions ...

MARIPOSA – Firefighters were called out to reports of vegetation fire last night in the Jerseydale area. At about 9:40 p.m., reports came in of a “glow” in the area of Bear Clover Lane west of Scott Road. The first unit at scene reported the fire at less than five acres, burning in deep duff and timber understory, with two ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is beginning an emergency project to rehabilitate and make repairs to State Route 140 from Briceburg to Yosemite National Park. The work is needed after the Ferguson Fire burned through the region. Work is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Nov. 13, and will occur during both day and night hours into April ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa County Arts Council invites the public to an opening reception featuring work of local painters, Linda Abbott and Michelle Marco, and ceramicist Fran Shell on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at the Treetop Gallery in historic downtown Mariposa. Light refreshments will be served. Linda Abbott, a previous long-time resident of Yosemite Valley, has ...

MARIPOSA — Guided by a court ruling, a homeless task force, a public health officer’s declaration of a health emergency, and the fast approach of winter, Mariposa County has opened a temporary homeless shelter. On Friday, Nov. 2, Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency began operating the temporary four-week emergency shelter for homeless individuals in the community. “The Darrah ...