NORTH FORK — The competition was fierce at the North Fork Rec Center, but when the chips had settled, Nathan Hodges owned the title of Champion Logger for the 8th time. Nathan won the title four years in a row from 2005 to 2008, then again in 2011, 2013 and 2014. Here are the results from this year’s competition: Saturday’s ...

MARIPOSA — Weeds: we all have them. We pull and we whack and we cut and we dig, and they always seem to come back. Mariposa Master Gardeners will present a free workshop, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Wading Through the Weeds in Mariposa County,” on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Board of ...

MARIPOSA — The Yosemite Music Festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 8-9, at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. Now in its 15th year, the festival formerly held at Carter Ranch is put on by Chuck Carter and Adam Finney working together with a host of volunteers over the last 15 years. The idea is to bring the best touring ...

COARSEGOLD — The “Broken Fire,” so-named for its proximity to the long-closed Broken Bit Restaurant on Highway 41 north of Coarsegold, is now 80 percent contained at 103 acres as of 7 a.m. Tuesday. The fire broke out just before noon today on the Veater Ranch, threatening one home before the forward progress was stopped at about 3:20 p.m. Pre-evacuation ...

MADERA – The Missing in America Project (MIAP) with assistance from Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1981, American Legion Post 11, Madera County Veterans Services Office, and the Madera County Board of Supervisors will inter six Madera County veterans whose unclaimed cremains were located through the efforts of dedicated MIAP volunteers. The purpose of the MIAP is to locate, ...

COARSEGOLD — A fire just east of Highway 41 on Veater Ranch prompted the call-up of resources from all over the area, and is still burning as of 2:40 p.m. with zero percent containment. Just before noon today, crews responded to a vegetation fire burning about 1/2 mile off Highway 41 near the closed Broken Bit Restaurant north of Coarsegold. ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – In light of the major wildland fires the county experienced last summer, expectations for another long hot summer, and the serious drought conditions we have been facing, Sheriff Varney says it is imperative for all people who live or work in Madera County – especially those in the foothills – to register or update their information for ...

FISH CAMP — A motorcyclist was airlifted after crashing into the back of a car on Highway 41 near Sugar Pine on Sunday. John Miller, 52, of Fish Camp, was southbound on a 2007 Yamaha R6, just north of Road 630 at 3:49 p.m. Though his speed is unknown, he was reportedly passing vehicles over the double yellow lines. Jessa ...

COARSEGOLD — The occupants of a home off Cavin Lane escaped the dense smoke of a house fire Sunday afternoon, but lost at least three of their beloved cats. Firefighters were called out to reports of a structure fire just before 3 p.m. The first responder to arrive at the scene reported heavy smoke pouring from all sides of the ...

NORTH FORK — The tradition continues this weekend, July 2 and 3, as the 57th annual Mid Sierra Loggers Jamboree rolls into North Fork. This annual competition celebrates the past and keeps the tradition alive, pitting amateur and professional loggers against each other in categories such as axe throwing, hot saws, log rolling and many others. The Jamboree was born ...