Special to Sierra News Online MADERA – Wines made in Madera County are getting noticed — even amid a pandemic. The results are in from the distinguished Sunset International Wine Competition, which took place June 22 in Santa Rosa. Several Madera County wineries received “high” recognition at the competition. Ficklin Vineyards received double gold, 95 points, for both their Aged 10 ...

MADERA — Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) confirmed 135 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, raising the total number of confirmed cases countywide to 713 as of Sunday (July 5). Madera County also registered two more COVID-19-related deaths over the weekend, increasing the total number of fatalities to seven since the pandemic began.One of the victims who died this ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District is seeking enthusiastic volunteer candidates to fill the position as campground host volunteer for Nelder Grove Campground. The volunteer would start July 31, 2020 and work through end of September. Volunteer is expected to work on weekends and holidays. The volunteer will be required to reside in the designated ...

SACRAMENTO — Madera County was one of six California counties added to the state’s watch list Monday due to a spike in new coronavirus cases. According to local health officials, Madera County landed on the list because daily confirmed case numbers have been on the increase for three straight days — and the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 ...

MARIPOSA — The modern day troubadour Nathan Ignacio will perform via live stream for Music on the Screen on Friday, July 17 at 7 p.m. from the Mariposa Arts Council Facebook page. Ignacio is a true one man band, a talented multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter who plays popular cover songs as well as his own material. He describes his music as “a ...

COARSEGOLD — Communications coach and mediator John Nielsen has authored his first book — “Effective Communication Skills: The Foundations for Change.” The Coarsegold resident’s debut as an author offers a comprehensive guide to “strategically and purposefully” communicating with others, teaching reaches readers how to “connect and disconnect” so that they can collaborate more efficiently.In “Effective Communication Skills,” which retails for ...

NORTH FORK — Red Rock Resorts, a partner with North Fork’s Mono Indian tribe in a proposed casino/resort project in Madera, announced Sunday that Richard J. Haskins — president of the company — died in a July 4 “watercraft” accident while vacationing in Michigan. Haskins was 56 and had been with Red Rocks for 25 years.On Sunday, the company said ...

MADERA — Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) officials reported 12 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, bringing the total number of cases countywide to 578.As of 4 p.m., MCDPH was reporting a total of 238 currently active cases — and 335 recoveries. Thirteen of the active cases are serious enough to require hospitalization.Health officials also are currently “monitoring” ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — June 2020 turned out to be a surprisingly good month for mountain area home sales, says local Realtor Ed Bailey. “We expected a slowdown because of the pandemic, but we actually had 51 homes sold through the California Regional Multiple Listing Service,” which was an increase of 13 percent from 47 sales last year during the same ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – The California Highway Patrol said it will be stepping up enforcement beginning later Friday afternoon — with increased patrol efforts continuing throughout the long July 4th holiday weekend.“Wherever people choose to observe Independence Day, they can expect the California Highway Patrol to be out in force for a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) from 6 p.m. on Friday, ...