SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Watch out! Falling trees are a hazard when traveling in the forest, and this year’s die-off will require visitors to be on their guard even more than usual. While it may seem incredibly obvious on its face, reminding ourselves to practice good situational awareness is important. It’s easy to become complacent. The Sierra National Forest warns ...

MADERA COUNTY — Everyone is invited to come and learn from UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Barbara Mattice, Cynthia Majors, Lyn Woodall and Agnes Jenkins how to build raised garden beds, including construction, soil content and planting. The Raised Bed Gardening Workshop will be held on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at Madera Community College Center, 30277 ...

RAYMOND — It was the perfect way to spend a beautiful spring day — taking a drive through the Sierra foothills to the historic town of Raymond, and sharing in the festivities as another piece of history was dedicated by the Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49 of E Clampus Vitus. The “Clampers” are well known for their ribald merrymaking and love ...

NORTH FORK – First, we would like to clarify right off the bat that the item in question is not a totem pole. However, since the locals refer to it as such, we want everyone to know what we’re talking about. Residents are accustomed to seeing the beautifully designed and painted cultural monument at the intersection of Roads 274 and ...

Written by Dave Smith — NORTH FORK — A prolonged drought not experienced in many decades has resulted in highly significant conifer and oak mortality. Over the winter, in an effort to reduce hazards to the public, U. S. Forest Service crews felled dead conifers in the area around the Bass Lake boat ramp near the dam. Once these hazard ...

YOSEMITE — Visitors to Yosemite National Park can revel in its natural wonders like never before through Yosemite Conservancy’s guided Outdoor Adventures involving high country camping, bird watching and backpacking, among 60 unforgettable experiences offered in 2016. “Our Outdoor Adventures are led by naturalist guides who share lifetimes of experience and insider knowledge of the park,” said Frank Dean, president ...

BASS LAKE — Saturday, May 14, sees the return of the Antique & Classic Boat Show to the beauty of Bass Lake, California. Sponsored by the Bass Lake Lions Club and Tommy & Tammy Tuso of Bass Lake Water Sports, the show will feature the finest preserved and restored watercraft to be found on the West Coast. The show is ...

No matter what you’re up to in life, one thing everyone needs is friends. They make the successes even more inspiring, and the struggles so much easier to bear. I want to personally thank each and every one of the many new True Friends who made a difference and became members during our SNO FriendRaiser. There are truly no words ...

CALIFORNIA – The U.S. Forest Service and other federal agencies will be joining Cal Fire for a series of events across the state to celebrate Wildfire Awareness Week, May 1-7. Despite near-normal rain and snowpack in some areas, long term drought conditions continue to affect large parts of the state, including many of California’s 18 national forests. Jeanne Wade Evans, ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — When news is breaking, you want the very latest, most up-to-date, accurate information, and we have just the thing! For breaking news with up-to-the-minute notifications, join our little group of 14,386 Facebook Fans (oops, I looked away, it’s now 14,390 fans) who follow us for news as it’s happening. While responding to a scene, getting a story ...