YOSEMITE – Due to recent rainfall, the Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire in Yosemite National Park has been rescheduled and will now tentatively begin next week on Tuesday, Apr. 9. This date may change again, however, based on weather conditions. Smoke will still be visible in the project area before the prescribed fire is ignited because park fire crews will use ...

OAKHURST – Tom McClintock, 4th District Congressman, will be hosting a town hall meeting tonight, Apr. 1, at 6 p.m. at the Oakhurst Elementary Multi-Purpose Room, 49495 Road 427 in Oakhurst. This is an opportunity to meet your representative, ask questions and express concerns about local and regional issues. For those who are unable to attend the Oakhurst meeting tonight, ...

YOSEMITE – Those traveling to Yosemite through the south gate should be prepared for delays. Beginning Monday, Apr. 1, park forestry crews will be felling hazard trees along Highway 41, working from the Valley floor, south toward Wawona. Traffic control will be in place from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is honored to announce that Lieutenant Darin McMechan has graduated from the FBI National Academy Program at Quantico, Virginia. Lt. McMechan is a 26-year veteran of the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. For nearly three decades he has served the department in a number of highly skilled fields, among them, narcotics, SWAT, Search & Rescue, ...

OAKHURST – Crab Cakes owner Roman Zabicki presented Squirrel Cage Theatre Co. vice-president David Novell with a check for over $600 after a music-filled fundraiser on St. Patrick’s Day. Local musicians including Good Medicine, Sugar Pine, Jean Butterfield, Dave & Amy, and Jeff Gurule & Joe Nelson entertained diners throughout the afternoon at Crab Cakes Restaurant on Sunday, Mar. 17, ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Firewood cutting and gathering season on the Sierra National Forest is open from Apr. 1 to Nov. 30. To cut and gather firewood in the Sierra National Forest, you must obtain a woodcutting permit authorizing the permit holder to gather a specified amount of dead and downed wood for personal use from any portion of the ...

CHOWCHILLA – Sheriff John Anderson today announced the passing of a respected citizen volunteer and valued friend. Citizens On Patrol (COP) member Gerald Kusa, known to his colleagues and friends as Jerry, died suddenly this past Sunday. Kusa joined the Madera County Sheriff’s nationally recognized COPs unit in October 2011.

OAKHURST – The Yosemite High School Swim Team had a great meet against Sierra High on Thursday, Mar. 21. S|N|O writer Kellie Flanagan was on hand to capture the action and post the results.

YOSEMITE – Curry Village is open for the season as of Friday, Mar. 22. The Pavilion is now open daily for breakfast and dinner, along with the Curry Village Pizza Deck and Bar and the Curry Village Coffee Corner. Curry Village is at shuttle stops #13b, 14 and 20.

NORTH FORK – District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will be holding a Town Hall meeting in North Fork on Thursday, Mar. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m. Discussion topics will include updates on the 2012-13 County budget, the North Fork Volunteer Fire Station, the North Fork Bioenergy project, and general discussion of issues of interest to residents of District 5 ...