SAN FRANCISCO — As woody debris piles up from dead trees killed by drought and bark beetle infestation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has launched an expanded debris management program to support its customers in 10 counties severely impacted by California’s growing tree mortality emergency. PG&E is offering the expanded debris removal program to customers in Kern, Tulare, Fresno, Madera, ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Smoke from the Soberanes Fire burning in Monterey County is affecting air quality in locations throughout the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Sierra, warns the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Unusually high particulate matter and ozone levels throughout the area are prompting Air District officials to issue a health cautionary statement Valley-wide. The wildfires ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, July 17 to Sunday, July 24, 2016: Oakhurst vehicle vandalism On Sunday, July 17, at 8:23 a.m., a deputy was dispatched to the 43000 block of Road 415 regarding a vehicle which had been stripped of its car parts. A report was ...

BASS LAKE — Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will host the next in his series of Town Hall meetings on Thursday, Aug. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Pines Resort in Bass Lake. Presentations will include Bass Lake District Ranger Denise Tolmie and Fuels Specialist Burt Stalter, Board Member of the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District Anne ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously during a special meeting today to approve the Draft Sales Tax Expenditure Plan aimed at putting a public safety tax measure before the voters in March 2017. This is the next step toward putting a one-cent sales tax measure on the ballot, revenues from which would be specifically designated ...

OAKHURST — Ever wondered what there is to do around the mountain area? Come to the Oakhurst Branch Library to hear Judi Hussain explain the plethora of activities this marvelous area has to offer. Judi has been the Visitor Center Coordinator at Yosemite Sierra Visitor Center (now called Visit Yosemite | Madera County) for the past five years, and this weekend she’ll ...

Written by Jennifer Moss —  MOUNTAIN AREA — Yes, it’s a fad, but it’s all the rage, and many businesses are taking advantage of this crazy craze! First off, let’s define Pokémon Go: Pokémon Go is a video game played on a cell phone that places the fictional game in and around the real world, so players have to find ...

OAKHURST — The State Center Community College District-wide Extreme Registration event is a one-stop shop to assist students in completing registration for the upcoming Fall 2016 semester. All new and returning students are encouraged to take advantage of the services offered. Extreme Registration will be held on Friday, July 29, from 2 to 7 p.m., and on Saturday, July 30, ...

MADERA COUNTY — After months of rigorous training, both in the field and in the classroom, 29 new volunteers have graduated from the Madera County Search & Rescue Academy, and joined the ranks of those ready to respond. During a swearing-in ceremony at the main Sheriff’s Office in Madera on Friday, 24 graduates raised their right hand to take the ...

SACRAMENTO — Just when you thought the world couldn’t get any weirder, the California Attorney General today issued a consumer alert advising citizens to use care when playing location-based virtual games, such as the Pokémon Go treasure hunt app. Just released this month, Pokémon Go is an augmented reality application that generates a virtual treasure hunt taking place in the real ...