MADERA – An incident involving inmates at the Madera County Department of Corrections yesterday resulted in injuries to several prisoners, but was quickly brought under control by jail staff. On Monday, Jan. 12, at about 8:40 p.m., 11 inmates took advantage of their close proximity to rival gang members to launch an attack against each other.

MADERA COUNTY – Residents who qualify and are selected for a new clean-air program could earn between $1,000 to $2,500 for trading in old wood and pellet-burning stoves in favor of new devices designed to reduce environmental pollution. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is currently accepting applications for its Burn Cleaner Program. The program provides incentives to ...

NORTH FORK – For those who have had the pleasure and privilege of working with District Ranger Dave Martin, this is a rather a sad day – his last day on the Sierra National Forest Bass Lake Ranger District. Martin retires with 41 years of service, working first on the Inyo, then the Stanislaus, and finally the Sierra National Forest, ...

CLOVIS – As people move on from the Sierra National Forest, they take with them an inestimable amount of knowledge and experience gained through the years spent with the agency. In the past few weeks, several of those folks have moved on to the next chapter of their lives, leaving very big shoes to fill.

MADERA – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office will welcome newly elected Sheriff Jay Varney during a formal Change of Command ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 12:15 p.m, at the Sheriff’s Main Office, 14143 Road 28 in Madera. Tuesday’s ceremony, which includes an inspection and review of deputies, will be carried out by both Sheriff Varney and outgoing Sheriff John ...

MIDPINES – Prepare to look your Sinatra-style best and show some sassy moves on the dance floor, as the folks at Mountain Crisis Services invite all to their annual fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort in Midpines. They’ve got a lot of fifties-themed excitement in store at the event they’re calling “Come Dance with ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – With temperatures expected to continue below freezing for the next three nights, it’s still not too late to insulate exposed plumbing and execute other measures to keep the disaster of burst pipes at bay. The National Weather Service has issued a high wind advisory for the foothills and an official wind warning for Yosemite National Park, where ...

CALIFORNIA – A new bill passed by the California State Legislature makes important changes to the Rural Fire Fee imposed on certain property owners across California in 2011. AB 2048, which was approved and filed on Sept. 30, 2014, makes substantive changes to the law, including allowing Cal Fire to consider any appeal/protest to the fee that was submitted after ...

YOSEMITE – The concession company that runs Yosemite National Park has quietly informed the National Park Service that it owns the names of some of the park’s most famous spots, including the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry Village, Yosemite Lodge and Badger Pass, according to documents filed with the Park Service. NBC Bay Area is reporting that Delaware North is claiming ...

MADERA – Though the subject of human trafficking may sound like something out of a third world country, it is a huge and growing problem in California and all across the United States. On Jan. 20, Madera County Supervisor Rick Farinelli will bring community leaders together to discuss two problems facing youth – the broken home and child trafficking.