NORTH FORK – The annual breakfast to benefit the Heifer Project is this Sunday, Oct. 20, at Grace Community Church in North Fork. Planned by the Board of Christian Education, and orchestrated by the folks at Grace Community, this yearly pancake breakfast raises money to buy animals or trees to benefit families in poverty stricken areas around the world.

MARIPOSA – On Saturday, Oct. 12, Mariposa County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant on Burl Drive during a marijuana investigation. According to the Sheriff’s Office, approximately 175 pounds of processed marijuana was located at the garden site.

YOSEMITE – Things are up and running again in Yosemite National Park, and here is an update from the Yosemite Daily Report on what’s open and what may be closed for the season. Yosemite Valley Shuttle – Resumed standard operations on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m.

Submitted by Eastern Madera County EMC SPCA President Sharon Fitzgerald EASTERN MADERA COUNTY — Friends of Madera Animal Shelter (FMAS) announced it has recently received a grant from the Red and Nancy Arnold Foundation for $1.5 million. The money is allocated to benefit the residents of Madera County by providing FREE spay and neuter surgeries for their dogs and cats. ...

MADERA COUNTY – This week the Madera County Sheriff’s Office will hold an introductory meeting for citizens interested in joining the nationally recognized Citizens On Patrol volunteer organization. The event is Wednesday Oct. 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Sheriff’s Annex, 28281 Avenue 14 in Madera, and anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to attend.

YOSEMITE – Tioga Road has reopened in Yosemite National Park, and through traffic can now access the Eastern Sierra, though the park and its services are still closed. Motorists are advised to expect delays in the Wawona Tunnel as work crews complete safety improvements.

AHWAHNEE — The Oakhurst chapter of the nonprofit organization Helping One Woman (HOW) will honor Ahwahnee resident Lynn Oliver on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Hitching Post Sports Bar and Grill. The uplifting evening begins at 6 p.m. Lynn is a Manager at the Hitching Post, and currently recovering from a total ankle replacement surgery. She’s also a single mom ...

OAKHURST — The Eastern Madera County SPCA invites four-legged doggy friends accompanied by their humans of all ages to attend the 15th annual Animal Faire on Sunday, Oct. 6 from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. The tail-wagging event is happening at the Oakhurst Community Park.

WAWONA — Yosemite National Park may be closed right now due to an historic partial shutdown of the Federal government, but staff at The Redwoods Year-Round Vacation Home Rentals in Yosemite want everyone to know they are open for business. Though The Redwoods vacation homes are situated inside the National Park, the rentals sit on private land.

MADERA & MARIPOSA COUNTIES – Madera County Sheriff John Anderson and Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies are both offering the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs in a safe manner. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.