CLOVIS — Beginning Monday, Feb. 22, the North Fork, Prather and Clovis Forest Services offices will have available free use personal firewood permits to allow the public to collect firewood in designated areas. “The Sierra National Forest, in cooperation with state and local organizations, is working hard to address the changing forest conditions,” said the SNF in a statement released ...

COARSEGOLD — Tom Wheeler will host his next Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Feb. 11, at Yosemite Lakes Park Clubhouse from 6 to 8 p.m. On the agenda for the meeting is a talk by the new District Ranger on the Bass Lake Ranger District, Denise Tolmie. There will also be a presentation by the president of Reedley College and ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, Jan. 30 through Saturday, Feb. 6: Coarsegold public intoxication On Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5:08 p.m. an adult male was contacted at a business located in the 46000 block of Lucky Lane. The male was subsequently arrested for public intoxication. He was ...

OAKHURST — The 2016-17 Reedley College Scholarship Application is now open to students who will be attending the Oakhurst Community College Center, Madera Community College Center (MCCC), or Reedley College (RC), or who will be transferring from one of the MOR campuses to a four-year college/university for fall 2016. The application deadline is Sunday, Apr. 3. There will be scholarship ...

OAKHURST — Sierra Oakhurst Kiwanis recently awarded fifteen mini-grants to local schools for art, music, science and math supplies, and learning tools that are not covered in the general school budget. The mini-grants funded total $9,802. Schools are listed in alphabetical order. Chawanakee Academy teacher Becky Cairns was awarded a mini-grant to cover costs associated with the schools theater program, ...

OAKHURST — Students gathered in the Yosemite High School theater on Monday, Feb. 1 for the school’s annual Talent Show, where a total of nine students took the stage in a brave bid for local fame and the chance to advance to the North Sequoia League Talent Show later this month. Demonstrating his abilities on the Yo-yo, Jeff Burt showed ...

O’s Badger Sports Bulletin, Vol. 1, Issue 3, by Yosemite High School Athletic Director Rusty Oetinger The week began with a tough game at Liberty for the girls soccer team. The teams were playing for first place and looked to be a real showdown, but Liberty demonstrated why they have won two section championships. Liberty won the match 5-1. On ...

Submitted by Mountain Comforts MOUNTAIN AREA — Living in the Sierra foothills, heating your home with a wood burning stove or fireplace is a way of life for most of the residents. Coming in from the cold to absorb the warmth and seeing the friendly glow of a fire is one of the great things we love about our life ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31, 2016: Oakhurst burglary On Sunday, Jan. 24 at 7:24 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the parking lot at the intersection of Highway 41 and Road 222 regarding a vehicle burglary. Report taken. Case to be closed. Oakhurst ...

SACRAMENTO – Three agencies in Madera and Mariposa Counties that are dedicated to fire safety and resource conservation have been awarded over half-a-million dollars in grants for projects designed to address the massive tree mortality across the area. Cal Fire announced Monday it has awarded 19 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund grants in six counties that have been greatly ...