OAKHURST – A controversial proposal to build a large RV and camping park off Sky Ranch Road has been withdrawn just days before the plan was set to be voted on by the board of supervisors. County officials confirmed late Friday the developer on the project pulled the current proposal, which included a request for a General Plan Amendment that ...

COARSEGOLD — A new, family-run pharmacy is coming to Coarsegold’s Historic Village. The Bass family, who’ve operated San Joaquin Drug in Planada for nearly 20 years, are planning to open a second location later this year in Coarsegold. Mary Bass, one of the owners, said the new pharmacy will be called Yosemite Drug “because we like to run our business ...

OAKHURST – The owner of Oakhurst’s only independent bookstore has decided to start a new chapter in life. Local bibliophiles need not panic — Branches Books & Gifts is “definitely not closing.” But the popular bookstore is officially “on the market,” says owner Anne Driscoll, who confirms she’s decided to turn the page in her personal life. “I just want ...

OAKHURST – A staffing shortage temporarily forced Adventist Health to close its medical offices in Oakhurst earlier this week. The closure began Monday and lasted until midday today, when clinic officials announced that pediatric care — including same-day appointments — had resumed at the Oakhurst facility. “We apologize for any inconvenience today’s temporary provider shortage is causing our Oakhurst community,” ...

OAKHURST — A group of Emadco employees rolled up their sleeves and got busy this past week removing more than 3,100 pounds of trash left at an abandoned homeless camp along the Fresno River behind Vons. The cleanup effort, which took place Thursday morning, is generating a lot of positive comments on Facebook — and around town. “We didn’t do ...

OAKHURST – Ashley Kruser may be one of the youngest entrepreneurs in Oakhurst. The 20-year-old managing partner at Sierra Global Tech graduated two years ago from Minarets High and is already running her own local business. Kruser’s family has lived in the area for four generations and Ashley decided to launch her store, in part, “because I didn’t want to ...

MADERA – Madera County has a pigeon problem. Hundreds of the birds have taken up residence in and around the downtown Government Center and its open-air parking structure. The large pigeon population creates a health hazard as their droppings can spread disease. The bird feces can also cause damage to the buildings, and the materials used to build their nests ...

AHWAHNEE – Madera County is giving 75 acres in Awhawnee to the Eastern Madera County SPCA to help the organization complete its new, no-kill animal shelter. On Tuesday, the board of supervisors OK’d the donation of 75.33 acres of “surplus” county land to EMC SPCA. The organization’s president said the donation will allow the nonprofit to secure additional funding for ...

OAKHURST – When a social studies teacher at Yosemite High unexpectedly resigned late last year, administrators thought they would have to cancel the school’s popular criminology class. But the Madera County Sheriff’s (MCF) Foundation and Oakhurst Community College came to the rescue of the would-be criminologists, with the college assigning one of its adjunct instructors — at no charge to ...

RAYMOND – Repair work on Road 800 north of Raymond was completed late Monday and the road has reopened, according to Madera County Public Works Director Ahmad Alkhayyat. The sparsely traveled county road was completely washed out in several places during an early February storm, including one 15- by 20-foot chasm where several large culverts were ripped out. Alkhayyat said ...