AHWAHNEE – The new season of top-flight concerts at the Coolwater Ranch kicks off with Grammy-winning guitarist Mike Dowling on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m. Dowling draws inspiration from American roots guitar. Bottleneck blues, vintage swing and ragtime are just a few of the styles in which he is fluent. With his self-deprecating wit and elegant interpretations of an ...

CHOWCHILLA – The newly elected Sheriff of Madera County has been chosen by the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year. Jay Varney will be recognized along with six other honorees on Saturday, Jan. 17, as the Chowchilla Chamber hosts their Community Awards Dinner at Farnesi’s Steakhouse.

OAKHURST – Yosemite High School sophomore Joel Bradshaw was chosen recently as Student of the Month by Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary. Nominations are based on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, character, community service, extra-curricular program participation and leadership. Bradshaw was nominated by YHS History teacher Rebecca Hardison.

FOOTHILL COMMUNITIES – As extreme winter weather approaches with the threat of flooding, especially in areas affected by recent fires, the Sheriff’s Offices in Madera and Mariposa Counties are letting residents know where they can obtain sand and sandbags to protect their property. Residents must provide their own shovels. It is best to call ahead for Fire Stations, in case ...

Submitted by Ginnie Nash YOSEMITE LAKES PARK – Thanks to the efforts of a local fire department and auxiliary volunteers, our youngest citizens continue to be well-educated, as students recently celebrated National Fire Prevention Week with an artsy spin. Nine student winners of a poster contest depicting fire prevention safety awareness from Rivergold Elementary and Coarsegold Elementary were awarded medals ...

OAKHURST – Leaders of the charitable organization Helping One Woman (HOW) have announced the January recipient of the club’s giving dinner is a young woman who has been a dedicated, long-time caregiver to many, including her recently deceased mother. HOW organizers say the January dinner will honor Leilani Cummings on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015.

CALIFORNIA – Job seekers and invited to take advantage of the opportunity to apply for currently advertised jobs with Cal Fire. Cal Fire is looking for candidates to fill the position of Fire Prevention Specialists I & II. The bulletins for these positions were recently released and the final filling date is Dec. 30. Anyone interested in applying for these ...

OAKHURST – Yosemite High School senior Jonathan Wharton was chosen recently as Student of the Month by Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary. Nominations are based on a variety of criteria, including academic achievement, character, community service, extra-curricular program participation and leadership. Wharton was nominated by YHS Spanish teacher Sr. Steve Browning.

YOSEMITE – Time for all-weather volunteers to suit up as Mountain Area Ski School (MASS) readies for the season with an instructor orientation, family ski swap, and instructor clinic day, all coming soon. MASS is currently looking for ski and snowboard instructors and support people to help out this season. No prior teaching experience is necessary, say organizers, since MASS ...

SIERRA NEVADA – The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued an urgent winter weather message for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon and Tulare County Mountains. Travel in the higher elevations is said to be dangerous at this time.