YOSEMITE — With several storm systems having moved through Yosemite National Park over the past two weeks, officials announced today that Tioga and Glacier Point Roads in the Park are closed for the winter season. The Tioga Road is a seasonal road that closes each season, based on weather and road conditions. The road is closed from Crane Flat junction to ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Winter weather is on its way again this week, with a potential for flash flooding in the lower country and heavy snow in the higher elevations. The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Flash Flood Watch for towns including Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, Mariposa, North Fork, Oakhurst, and O’Neals. The Flood Watch is in effect from Wednesday ...

By Dawn Williams —  OAKHURST — Going on a field trip is always exciting. Sierra Tel recently rolled out the “red carpet” to arrange an informative field trip for Oakhurst Elementary School’s 59 fourth grade students. It was a great day to see their operations and meet some of their employees. Students learned about Spool Forest, fiber optics, cables, and ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra Nevada above 7,000-feet, from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon and the Tulare County Mountains. The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21 through 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22. Heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of ...

With so many special events and activities taking place over the next several weeks, we thought it would be helpful to compile a timely list of all the entertainment-related and community-oriented holiday happenings in the mountain area between now and December 25. If we missed anything, let us know and we’ll gladly add it to the Big Local List of ...

AHWAHNEE — A special fundraising dinner hosted by the nonprofit group Helping One Woman (HOW) will be held in honor of Marie Elizabeth Wynne on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at The Hitching Post in Ahwahnee, starting at 6 p.m. “Marie moved to the mountain community [in] December of 1985 from Wisconsin,” say HOW organizers. “She worked for Community Hospital Home Health ...

BASS LAKE — The annual Oakhurst Community Christmas Tree Auction is a wonderfully unique event that benefits some of the area’s most essential community organizations, spreading quite a bit of holiday cheer in the process. Hosted by The Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst, and held at The Pines Resort, the joyful event enables dozens of nonprofits to benefit from ...

SONORA – Adventist Health has raised $686,391 as of Nov. 15 to aid in the relief effort for associates from Adventist Health Feather River who have lost their homes to the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA. It is estimated that at least 600 homes have been lost by Adventist Health associates in the Paradise area. The nearly $700,000 in donations ...

YOSEMITE – The Tioga and Glacier Point Roads in Yosemite National Park will close to all vehicular traffic beginning at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20, due to incoming winter weather. The road will reopen as weather and road conditions permit. This is not necessarily a seasonal closure. A series of winter storms are expected to pass through the Yosemite ...

COARSEGOLD — It’s the season of gratitude and a smile is definitely something to be thankful for. Thus, the sixth annual Free Dental Day with Dr. Jacob Geyer is set for Saturday, Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Golden Hills Dental in Coarsegold. Attendees will be seen on a first come, first served basis and will be able to receive either ...