OAKHURST – The 18th annual Mountain Heritage Days parade stepped off at 10 a.m. last Saturday, making its way down School Road to Road 426 past the cheering crowds who lined the route. Vintage cars, marching bands, dance troops, floats and equestrians were all part of this year’s festivities.

COARSEGOLD – A 19-year-old Winton man is facing stiff fines for not only growing marijuana illegally, but also stealing more than a million gallons of water to feed his plants. Late last week, Sheriff’s deputies discovered 100 mature plants, ready for harvest, growing on a hillside on a lot located on Ranger Circle Drive in Yosemite Lakes Park. Following the ...

OAKHURST – With the stress and devastation suffered by mountain area residents during the recent fires, everyone is wanting to know how these fires started and who is responsible. As reported by SNO on Sept. 18, one individual has been identified in connection with the Courtney Fire, and another with a string of suspicious fires in the Oakhurst area.

YOSEMITE – For the first time, National Park Service wildlife managers in Yosemite will map and monitor the movement of the park’s black bears in real-time to help wildlife managers understand the animals’ activities beyond Yosemite Valley. Yosemite Conservancy donors are contributing nearly $70,000 to purchase GPS collars to track the bears. (Photo by Lindsay Kaun via Yosemite Conservancy)

MADERA COUNTY – On Sept. 23, the Madera County Superior Court sentenced Salomon Montejano, 38, of Madera, to a lengthy prison term for eleven counts of felony molestation of a child under 14 years of age, according to Michael R. Keitz, District Attorney for Madera County. Evidence presented at trial established that Montejano began molesting his victim when the child ...

YOSEMITE – The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) celebrated its one millionth rider this summer. Long-time Yosemite National Park employee Julia Parker, Indian Cultural Demonstrator and regular YARTS rider, had the honor of being the one millionth rider.

YOSEMITE – The lightning caused Meadow Fire is now 98% contained. Crews have held it at 4,772 acres, and firefighters continue to confine, contain and monitor the fire area. Estimated full containment date is Sept. 29. The area received a quarter-inch of rain, accompanied by thunderstorms over the weekend. Even with the precipitation, the northwest corner of the fire remains ...

MADERA COUNTY – Five separate fires along Highway 41 between Road 406 and Road 208 closed the road in both directions for several hours today. At 1:41 p.m., the first report came in of a fire just south of Road 200, but as firefighters arrived they discovered several others farther south from that location.

OAKHURST – Friday evening at Miller’s landing was a testament to the way the community pulls together, as hundreds of people gathered to share and to support their neighbors after the disaster of the Courtney Fire. Saturday morning was when the dirty work really got underway in the burn area along Road 426, and once again, the community was there.

BASS LAKE – A report of a single vehicle accident on Road 274 last night brought fire engines, CHP and Sierra Ambulance to the scene about a mile east of the Bass Lake Courthouse. At 9:22 p.m on Friday, Sept. 19, an Infinity QX56 with eight men on board, was westbound on Road 274, came around the corner at the ...