COARSEGOLD — “My number one core value is that we be here for our students,” says Dr. Stephanie Osowski, the new principal at Yosemite High School. “I have two ears and one mouth for a reason. My job initially will be to listen to what everybody is telling me. I want to hear their concerns — and their celebrations.” Dr. ...

OAKHURST — Next week, Steve Vinson will punch in for his last shift at the Sierra Tel Business Center, which is closing its doors after 23 years. But the demise of the long-time local business has led to the birth of a new opportunity for Vinson, who has decided to become his own boss. An Oakhurst resident who worked for ...

MADERA — Supervisors on Tuesday OK’d spending $1.86 million to purchase an office building in Oakhurst earmarked to become the County’s new satellite government center. If the deal stays on track, residents of Eastern Madera County’s mountain communities could be breezing in and out of the new facility as soon as this fall to pull permits, pay bills or drop ...

MADERA — A new master planned community an L.A. developer wants to build along Highway 41 took its first official step forward last week. On Tuesday, May 14, the Madera County Board of Supervisors OK’d an agreement that will allow a consultant working for the county to do an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the proposed 281-acre mixed-use project just ...

OAKHURST — A movie crew took over Fresno Flats Historical Village and Park on Saturday to shoot scenes for a new movie called “Ride to Iron Mountain.” The movie is being directed by Brian Anderson, a former professional musician turned film maker, whose previous credits include a six-and-a-half hour, 10-part documentary available on Facebook called “Biker America: God and Country.” ...

COARSEGOLD – A roadside memorial for a young woman who lost her life in a tragic auto accident has disappeared — and a Bass Lake mother is grieving all over again. But Ramona Ewell is also using the apparently heartless theft as an opportunity to celebrate the life of her daughter O’Neill. “The only person who wouldn’t be upset by ...

OAKHURST — The former homes of two prominent local businesses — the Purple Cow and Mike’s Iron Horse Barbecue — were demolished Thursday. Crews using heavy equipment leveled both dilapidated structures this week as the first stage of a redevelopment project off Highway 41 and Royal Oaks Drive. California Paving handled the demo work, removing everything on the property — ...

OAKHURST — Set on a secluded, lushly landscaped 9-acre hillside, the Estate by the Elderberries is an elegant oasis of “aah,” bringing the old-world charm and classic beauty of the Provencal region of France to central California. Carina Stephens, the general manager of the world-renowned property, says the Estate is a gem “to be enjoyed by all.” “It’s surprising but ...

MADERA – The Madera County Board of Supervisors today voted unanimously to approve a $1.97-million contract to build Madera County’s first public roundabout in North Fork. The controversial project has been in the planning stages for nearly three years and will be been funded, in large part, by a federal clean-air grant. The circular intersection, in which traffic flows in ...

FRESNO – As wildfire season approaches, residents need to be aware of and prepared for the possibility that their power will be shut off – sometimes for several days – as a safety precaution. California’s three largest energy companies have announced a coordinated wildfire safety and awareness campaign to prepare Californians for the threat of extreme weather and power outages ...