Bette Jean Mertens passed on February 2, 2021, at the age of 88. The youngest of Arthur and Edith Thorson’s ten children, Bette grew up in the small Iowa farm town of Radcliffe. Her passion in high school was basketball, where she excelled as a guard. Bette was so proud of her teammates and their winning record in a season ...

Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) Ready to Vaccinate Under New Expanded Eligibility Guidelines MADERA COUNTY – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines effective Monday, March 15, 2021. Under the new expansion, these additional groups are now eligible: Those who live, work, or volunteer in any congregate residential setting such as an incarceration/detention ...

Submitted by Jolene Anderson & Mia Hipwood, Student Journalists for Minaret’s Press With the anniversary of COVID-19 mandated quarantine coming up this Saturday, students and staff at Minarets High School reflect on the past year, talking about their struggles and disappointments. Freshman Acacia Edeluchel recalls that her teachers had previously talked about the possibility of schools closing, but she didn’t ...

Submitted by Trever Jobinger, Student Journalist for Minarets Press Minarets High School can’t say thank you enough for the generous grant donated by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians. Almost exactly a year after the closure of Minarets due to COVID, Minarets students are hoping to return to campus to finish out the school year. It will not be ...

SACRAMENTO – The Small Business Fairness Act (SB 430), introduced by Senator Andreas Borgeas (R–Fresno), was approved by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee. The Small Business Fairness Act is part of Senator Borgeas’ Economic Recovery Package, which includes SB 74 and SB 265. Senate Bill 430 requires state agencies to work with small businesses and establish policies to waive or ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite in the winter offers far less-crowded, and frequently more dramatic views of its landscape than in other seasons. The colder weather of winter keeps many visitors away, but the lack of foliage on deciduous trees can provide more open views. In the linked panoramic image, photographed adjacent to Southside Drive, one can see Lower Cathedral Rock with ...

Recipe of the Week: A delicious Irish Potato Bread recipe to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. From hearty stews to minty pies, St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are all about enjoying the flavors of the holiday. Whether you’re cooking up a full meal or simply serving appetizers, this Irish Potato Bread makes for a simple, tasty snack to feed your ...

SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 462, introduced by Senator Andreas Borgeas (R-Fresno), was approved by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee today. Senate Bill 462 would allow for the state to share up to 100 percent of total eligible costs related to the Creek Fire. Currently, the state’s share is only 75 percent. The Senate Governmental Organization Committee has jurisdiction over bills ...

FRESNO — Gift cards have become a multibillion-dollar industry, a gift that always fits and stands up to social distancing. Worldwide, consumers spent billions on gift cards last year. However, that total comes with an asterisk — it includes the gift cards on which scammers increasingly rely to extract payment from their victims. An in-depth investigative study by Better Business ...

Kathleen Ruth David, also known as Kathy, Momma, Grandma, Kate, JD’s wife, and Sister #3 was a feisty, hard working, fun-loving, selfless person who always put others needs ahead of her own. Her love for life and her resiliency to keep going no matter what life threw at her was extraordinary. Momma was born Christmas Day in Upland, California. In ...