NORTH FORK — Icy roads and speeds too fast for conditions likely contributed to a single-vehicle crash just west of Bass Fork Minit Market this morning. Just after 7 a.m., reports came in of a solo vehicle off the roadway on Road 200 just west of Hadley Road. A neighbor heard the crash and hurried to the scene to assist ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Sheriff’s Office has announced that all evacuation advisories for areas of Madera County affected by recent heavy rains, have been lifted. Residents in the low-lying areas of North Fork been under a pre-evacuation advisory since Monday. Everyone living in areas prone to flooding is cautioned to remain vigilant as rains are forecast to return by the ...

NORTH FORK — A woman who had just purchased a 2001 Saturn didn’t get to enjoy it long before it caught fire and burned to the ground. At 6:30 p.m., firefighters and CHP were dispatched to reports of a car on fire on Bonnie B Road (Road 224) just north of Wilcox Drive. When crews arrived at scene they found ...

YOSEMITE — Highway 140 through El Portal is now the only road into Yosemite National Park. It has just been announced that Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat Road) is now closed between Foresta and Crane Flat, 24 hours a day, with no access to Yosemite Valley from west of Crane Flat. The road has been closed due to continuing storm ...

RAYMOND — There will be two public meetings in Raymond this week, one on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and a second on Thursday, Feb. 23. On Tuesday, the campaign committee, Citizens, Firefighters, & Deputies for Measure L is holding a public safety forum at the Leaders for Christ Training Center at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the proposed Madera County Public Safety ...

Written by Cara Goger–  MARIPOSA — Making his fourth appearance at the Mariposa County Arts Council’s Storytelling Festival, gifted storyteller David Novak just had to be part of producer/ director, Marilyn Rudzik’s line-up for the 30th Mariposa Storytelling Festival’s Grand Finale Celebration, scheduled for Mar. 10 – 12. “Storyteller David Novak is an on-stage wizard, spinning his tales with wild ...

NORTH FORK —  Once again, residents of the low-lying areas of North Fork are being told to be prepared to evacuate if conditions warrant. There has been an increased discharge of water from Bass Lake. With this information, the Sheriff’s Office is issuing a Pre-Evacuation Advisory for the following areas: -Road 222 between Railroad Grade Road and Road 200 -Road ...

NORTH FORK — The community of North Fork will name its Citizen of the Year for 2016 at a dinner and celebration on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Town Hall. This is the 38th year that the community will gather to celebrate its most honored citizen — someone chosen as being representative of the spirit of service and giving that ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — A Flood Watch remains in effect from 10 p.m. this evening through Tuesday morning, Feb. 21, says the National Weather Service in Hanford. The Flood Watch is for portions of central California including the following areas: Madera, Mariposa, and Fresno County foothills East Central San Joaquin Valley Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon Tulare County Foothill ...

Guest Column written by Gary Gilbert — I would like to introduce myself. I am Gary Gilbert the former Cal Fire/ Madera County Fire Chief (seven years) and Madera County Supervisor for District 5 (eight years, from 1999-2006), and a resident of Eastern Madera County for 31 years. I believe I have a unique perspective on Measure L. Measure L ...