Written by Maureen Walling — MADERA COUNTY — When disaster strikes, be it fire, accident or a medical emergency, we all count on our firefighters to be there in minutes to render aid. But what happens if the nearest fire station has no one available to respond? What if the station in your area is closed because there are no ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park has expanded the American Sign Language (ASL) Program offered to Deaf and hearing impaired visitors. The park’s Deaf services program offers trip planning, park orientation at the visitor center, and interpretive services for Deaf and hearing impaired visitors. The program also focuses on employee training in Deaf/disability awareness and outreach to the Deaf community. Yosemite ...

OAKHURST  – Crews are on scene of a motor vehicle accident on Road 425B that knocked out power to over 500 customers and started a vegetation fire. Just after 6:30 p.m. a grey sedan hit a power pole near Stillmeadow Drive near the top of Road 425B. Fire engines were dispatched to the scene, and a fire of about one-quarter ...

NORTH FORK — Hundreds turned out last Saturday to hear live music, enjoy food and merchandise from seven vendors, and “oooh and aaah” over the gorgeous classic cars lining main street in North Fork during Hot August Night Classic Car Show and Street Party. Willow Creek Catering and Nancy’s Tacos served up delicious fare, and there was kettle corn and ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 10,000 firefighters are battling 8 large wildfires across California. While making good progress on six of these blazes, two new fires ignited yesterday, rapidly burning more than 30,000 acres in southern California. The Bluecut Fire started yesterday at 10:36 a.m. in the Cajon Pass west of Interstate 15, and quickly grew to over 30,000 acres prompting the ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 8,800 firefighters are currently battling 8 large wildfires across California, according to Cal Fire. While yesterday’s high temperatures allowed several of the fires to grow in size, firefighters were able to contain three of the active wildfires that burned this weekend. Two Strike Teams of engines (5 per team) and one team of dozers (2 per team) ...

MARIPOSA — Music on the Green – the free summer concert series brought to you by The Mariposa County Arts Council and its many fine sponsors – rolls out the second to last weekend of the 2016 season, presenting, live, in concert, J. J. Rymer on Friday, Aug. 19, and Good Medicine on Saturday, Aug. 20. Singer/songwriter J. J. Rymer ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park will celebrate the Centennial, 100 years of the National Park Service, on Aug. 25. In honor of this historic milestone, park entrance fees will be waived Thursday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Aug. 28. Camping fees and all other fees will still be applicable. The park will host many special Centennial programs throughout the park during ...

COARSEGOLD — A house that was spared from the flames yesterday afternoon burned to the ground in the early morning hours. A home on the northwest corner of Highway 41 and Black Oak Road was saved by firefighters yesterday when a fire that destroyed two outbuildings was stopped before it could damage the home. But this morning just after 3:30 ...

COARSEGOLD — Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire reported along Highway 41 near Black Oak Road just north of Road 417. Just after 4:30 p.m., crews were called out to reports of a fire burning in vegetation. The first engine on scene reported the fire at less than one acre with one structure partially involved and several outbuildings threatened. ...