YOSEMITE — Authorities in Yosemite National Park say that a male and a female visitor died in an apparent fall from Taft Point. Park Rangers are recovering the bodies this morning. Park Ranger Jamie Richards told ABC 30 Action News that visitors reported seeing the bodies on Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24, and rangers quickly responded to the area. This incident is ...

COARSEGOLD – Hairy legs? Check. Halloween costume? Check. Throat lozenges? Check. You’re ready for the 21st annual Coarsegold Tarantula Festival, which wouldn’t be complete without arachnid races, costume parades, hairy legs contest, scream-fest, pizza eating, pumpkin cake, poetry, crafts, and tarantula appreciation all the way around. Also known as the Tarantula Awareness Festival, it’s a very special day with family ...

UPDATE: 2 p.m. Missing at risk adult Tyler Barr, Jr. has been safely located by Madera County Sheriff’s Detectives. He is being reunited with his family in Madera. Original article: MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing at risk adult. Tyler Barr, Jr., age 23, was last heard from shortly ...

COUNTY — Yosemite High, Chawanakee Academy, and Glacier High Charter School decathletes will join students from throughout California for the Madera County Academic Decathlon Lecture Day on Thursday, Oct. 25. Valley experts will lecture on six subject areas to more than 600 students from throughout the state. “We are excited to offer this event to all decathletes for the 12th ...

FISH CAMP — Something spooktacular is happening this weekend, and visitors to Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad will want to know: locomotive #15 has been taken over by Halloween spirits. Ghosts in the know say the eerie train will be rolling down the rails this on Saturday, Oct. 27. Children are encouraged to wear costumes and go trick-or-treating at the stores ...

OAKHURST — Foothill residents may have been awakened last night by the jolt of an earthquake not far from Oakhurst, which was alternately described by readers as a crack, a boom, rolling, rumble, shock, shake and a jerk. We heard it was felt from Mariposa to Prather, if not farther. Now, the U.S. Geological Survey says that a 3.1 magnitude earthquake has ...

O’NEALS — Minarets High School’s local climbing and outdoor activities club is on the move, having recently returned from Twin Lakes, where students and their faculty advisers hiked Kaiser Peak in the Kaiser Wilderness. With a handful of hiking, climbing and backpacking trips under their belts, the Glissaders Club, as it’s known, is getting ready to plan another big trip ...

OAKHURST — The elegantly undead Madam Gadzinka and her traveling sideshow family are making an appearance in town to perform a special pre-Halloween revue at the Golden Chain Theater, where they’ll reveal themselves for one weekend only. They have traveled all across America performing in small towns as they go — leaving each place forever changed, or so we have heard. ...

MARIPOSA — Broadcasting from a downtown basement, KRYZ 98.5 FM Mariposa Community Radio has achieved remarkable success in a pretty short period of time, thanks to a growing number of dedicated volunteers and the support of local businesses and nonprofits who have embraced the fledgling outlet from the start. What began with an on-air countdown to midnight on Dec. 31, ...

OAKHURST — Welcome all who creep and crawl to Branches Books & Gifts on Monday, Oct. 29, as Reptile Ron and his interactive menagerie come to visit and kick off Halloween Week festivities. During this free 45-minute event you’ll have an opportunity to learn about the exotic animals in Reptile Ron’s educational and entertaining live show. Those who wish to ...