FRESNO — Humberto Ceballos-Rangel (Ceballos), 37, of Mexico, pleaded guilty today in connection with his involvement in a large marijuana cultivation operation found by law enforcement last summer in the Sierra National Forest in Madera County, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Ceballos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, to distribute, and to possess with the ...

MADERA — Would you like to try a gardening method that requires less work than the traditional garden? Here’s your opportunity to learn a method that does away with the digging required in the typical vegetable garden and still results in a beautiful, luscious vegetable crop. UC Cooperative Extension Madera Master Gardener Carol Taylor will present a No-Dig, Sheet-Mulch Vegetable ...

MADERA COUNTY — Caltrans and CHP are still on the scene of a rockslide on Highway 41 between Highway 41 and Road 200, working to get the roadway reopened. The road was closed yesterday just before noon after several huge boulders crashed down into the northbound lane, causing one accident and forcing a detour. The tentative time for reopening will ...

NORTH FORK — For nearly three decades, the brutal murders of Velma Avdeeff and Stella Rea have remained unsolved – but not forgotten. Each year as the holidays come and go, the family wishes for only one thing – the answer to the question of who murdered these two women and why. The crime took place on New Year’s Day ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — In memory and honor of the life of Frank Verduzco, a scholarship fund has been established in his name by the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. Frank Verduzco was just 64 years old when he passed away on Sept. 23, 2015, and the scholarship fund is in support of those students going on to a career ...

MADERA COUNTY — Madera Snow Search and Rescue volunteers, ‪Madera Sheriff OHV‬, ‪‎Madera County Sheriff deputies‬ and two Sierra National Forest officers conducted snow training Saturday, Jan 16. The teams trained on snowmobiles, tracked ATVs, tracked UTVs and a snow cat. Teams also conducted GPS and avalanche beacon training. Training started off at 8 a.m. and it rained on the ...

CLOVIS – The Sierra National Forest is pleased to announce that Dave Updike has come on board as the new Fire Management Officer. The Sierra is facing many challenges as they deal with the largest number of dead trees on the forest in recorded history, and Updike is ready to get to work. “We have identified the problem and need ...

In loving memory… George Edward Priest — On Jan. 14, 2016, George passed away in North Fork, Calif., after a long battle with cancer. He was at home surrounded by loving friends and family. He was 90 years old. George was born in Barnard, VT, on Jan. 24, 1925. He was the fifth of nine children born to Bernice Addie ...

SIERRA FOOTHILLS — With more rain on the way, some residents of the foothills are asking where they can get sandbags to help protect their property. The Madera County Office of Emergency Services has a comprehensive list of places where sand is available. For complete information, visit http://madera-county.com/index.php/office-of-emergency-services and click on “Countywide Sandbag Locations.” Please note that some locations have ...

YOSEMITE — In a strongly-worded statement issued yesterday by DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. (DNCY), the company says it is “shocked and disappointed that the National Park Service would consider using the beloved names of places in Yosemite National Park as a bargaining chip in a legal dispute between DNCY and the NPS involving basic contract rights.” (The ...