OAKHURST – More than thirty Chinese students traveled from China to San Francisco and then drove to Oakhurst on Sunday, July 20. They arrived late in the afternoon for a welcoming ice cream social at Sierra Vista Church, looking around for their host families with shy and anxious smiles. They were being picked up by strangers who would become known ...

OAKHURST – Talented thespians at the historic Golden Chain Theatre are getting ready to debut their newest boo-hiss sensation, “A Golden Fleecing,” by R. Eugene Jackson. The show opens on Saturday, July 26 and runs every Saturday and Sunday through August 24.

O’NEALS – As the time nears for school to resume, personnel changes are being reported throughout the districts, including some notable new additions and a key departure within Minarets High School. Michael Niehoff has been the principal at Minarets since the school’s inception six years ago. “I have been a secondary educator since 1990, have always worked in project-based, tech-integrated ...

OAKHURST – A group of young men from Madera was headed up to camp in the Sierra National Forest, when the trailer they were towing behind a Chevy Suburban bounced a little too hard on a curve, tipped over the edge of the embankment and slid down off the roadway. Fortunately, while the trailer went off-road, the Suburban did not, ...

NELDER GROVE – A half-mile hike into Nelder Grove of Giant Sequoias yesterday revealed the presence of about 20 Sierra National Forest firefighters, hard at work. The Fresno 4 Crew is on detail at this location off Sky Ranch Road, just past the turnoff to Calvin Crest, working to restore the forest to its natural state. They are also available ...

COARSEGOLD – The Yosemite Lady Badgers Volleyball team is having a blast of a fundraiser on Saturday, July 26, at the Sun Mountain Gun Club. Registration starts at 8 a.m., for a day that includes raffle, food and fun, and shooting, with all proceeds going to support the Lady Badgers Volleyball team. Sponsorship Levels include Gold, Silver, Station and Individual, ...

NORTH FORK – Local hero Jill Nolen, 25, returned triumphantly from the 2014 Transplant Games of America in Houston, holding a dozen medals and hoping to make the world more aware of the unlimited possibilities that go along with giving and receiving the gift of life. The recent Cal State Fresno grad went to Houston to compete as one of ...

COARSEGOLD – Area business leaders are banding together to invite the community to a free business networking opportunity on Wednesday, July 23. The well-anticipated event will include entertainment and Hors D’oeuvres at the Coarsegold Miner’s Grill from 5 – 8 p.m. Adding to the excitement, shops at Coarsegold Historic Village will stay open for the evening. Calling the night’s meetup ...

OAKHURST – If you know veterans seeking facetime with their local representative in Congress, send them to Oakhurst today. Congressman Tom McClintock is hosting a Veterans coffee talk for District 4 vets at the Oakhurst Community Center, this afternoon, from 3 – 4 p.m. Veterans and their dependents are invited to come to the Community Center, located at 39800 Road ...

OAKHURST – Local artist Vicki Thomas has been teaching a series of weekly classes at the Oakhurst Library for teen students in grades 5 – 12. It’s not too late to join in this Tuesday, July 22, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. The class is free and all art supplies are included for the instruction that takes place in ...