OAKHURST – Adventist Health, the new owner at Urgent Care and the Rural Health Clinic, has launched a webpage with information about the medical center transition.

MADERA COUNTY – Jay Varney, 53, has been the Chief of Police for the City of Chowchilla since 2004, and hopes to become the next Sheriff of Madera County. Varney has over 30 years of law enforcement experience, including over 18 years in leadership positions at the sergeant, lieutenant, and chief of police levels. In his current position, Varney oversees ...

NORTH FORK – Five area high school students stepped up to deliver a speech on the subject “Community Service – What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter” at the 77th annual Lions Club Student Speakers Contest on Wednesday, Feb. 12. “This competition allows students to explore different topics, compete among themselves and share their thoughts with us,” said ...

COARSEGOLD – Traffic came to a halt this afternoon just north of Yosemite Springs Parkway when a single vehicle rollover blocked Highway 41 for nearly an hour. At 2:51 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, Pearl Day, 68, of Rohnert Park, was northbound just past Aaron’s Mini Storage, when she drifted far enough to the right that her wheel ran up ...

MADERA COUNTY – The lack of snow and the cost of insurance for a very short season has forced the cancellation of this year’s Mountain Area Ski School (MASS) program. “It is with great displeasure that we announce that the MASS season of 2014 will have to be cancelled,” said organizer Matt Casey in an email to volunteers. Casey says ...

Submitted by Dave Smith, Scout Leader Troop 357 NORTH FORK – February is the anniversary month of the Boy Scouts of America, and each year the BSA celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the Scouting movement. This year, six Scouts from North Fork Troop 357 participated in the 89th annual Civics Day program held in Madera on Wednesday, Feb. ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – According to the USDA, 93 percent of gardeners in the U.S. plant tomatoes every year. Clearly, it’s our most popular home-grown fruit. Now is the time to start thinking about planting, caring for and, finally eating it. The Mariposa County Master Gardeners will conduct a free workshop, Tomato 101, on Mar. 15, from 10 a.m. to noon ...

Submitted by Linda Aube OAKHURST – Bring your best friend and your favorite game to SpringFest, a delightful day of cards, games, shopping and a delicious lunch on Tuesday, Apr. 15, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at ECCO, the Evergreen Conference Center of Oakhurst. Both men and women are welcome to attend this annual event sponsored by Christ Church ...

MADERA COUNTY – It took sheriff’s deputies all of 17 minutes to track down a stolen wallet and iPhone thanks to the free “Find My Phone” app. Find My Phone helps owners track and locate their missing, lost or even stolen cell phones. Once activated, only the owner of the phone can turn it off.

BASS LAKE – A house fire on Road 432 closed the roadway in both directions this morning as firefighters worked in the pouring rain to extinguish the blaze. Just after 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, crews responded to a report of a chimney fire at a lake-side home on Bass Lake, about a mile south of Road 222.