By Johanna Ziegler, student journalists for Minarets Press NEW YORK CITY — The Big Apple’s famous skyline welcomed four Minarets students and drama teacher Kayla West in the early morning hours on Feb. 14, 2020. The trip to New York City was the first of its kind for the Minarets Drama program. Seniors Maddie Wristen, Lindsay Martin, Emma Lynch, and ...

By Kathryn Odgers, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — After twenty-seven young students began their day by being greeted as they got off the bus by the Minarets’ parking lot, the group was led down to where Key Club had set up their meeting room. The students were excited to come to the high school as many had never ...

By Benjiman McMillan and Haley Carlton, student journalists for Minarets Press O’NEALS — The Minarets High School girls’ JV and varsity basketball teams both had home games on Monday, Jan 27. They played the Parlier Panthers, which is the Mustang’s second game against them. Unfortunately, the first varsity game against them wasn’t so successful and they ended up losing 34-21. ...

By Katelyn Hough, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — Minarets High School FFA held their 10th annual speaking invitational competition on Saturday, Jan. 25. At the invitational, Parliamentary Procedure teams, Creed Speaking competitors, and Impromptu Speaking competitors from all around California attended, ranging from Sierra to Nipomo High School. Three different competitions took place and awards were given to ...

By Ryan Abner, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — It’s film season at Minarets High School. Known for its outstanding film making, tech and media programs, which have garnered praise at Slickrock and other California media festivals, it’s no surprise that the high school now has a film festival of its own. The Southgate Film Festival has been a ...

O’NEALS — Quick thinking — and expert action — on the part of two Madera County Sheriff’s Office personnel resulted in an arrest rather than a trip to the morgue for a crime suspect who swallowed a bag of heroin. The incident started last week (Jan. 8) around 2:45 p.m. when MCSO Deputy Jose Villegas and Corporal Amy Roussell responded ...

O’NEALS — When the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received information late last week regarding a prohibited person reportedly being in possession of a firearm, the Madera County Sheriff’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team initiated an investigation. After MCSO Deputy Mike Chambers discovered the subject, 45-year-old Pasquale Desantis, is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms, the POP team, with assistance from ...

By Therese Righter O’NEALS — We have all been touched by the horrible disease — cancer. It is unrelenting, and nobody wants to hear the word uttered by their doctor. Fortunately, there is a way that you can help fight this ugly disease — join the 2020 Relay for Life: Sierra Mountain Communities for a Cure event, and help us ...

BASS LAKE – The new year brought some good news for one mountain area family after an “at-risk” O’Neals woman missing since Saturday night was “safely located” in the Bass Lake area, according to an update issued late Tuesday night by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Priscilla Pitman Melendez, 46, an O’Neals resident, was reported to have wandered away from ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — From progress on major new public and commercial projects to prosecution of high-profile criminal cases, 2019 was an eventful year in eastern Madera County. As 2020 dawns, here’s a look back at some of this year’s key stories. North Fork’s new roundabout: After several years of heated debate, Madera County’s first public roundabout was approved by the ...