OAKHURST — Both Yosemite High School and schools in the Bass Lake School District have called school early due to the poor air quality and current conditions. According to the Bass Lake School District transportation page, YHS released at 11:20 and Oakhurst Elementary, Oak Creek Intermediate, Wasuma, and Fresno Flats will release at 11:30. If you do not want your ...

BASS LAKE —  Organizers behind the popular Bass Lake youth triathlon My*Tri have announced this morning that the event, previously scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, has been canceled. It’s with heavy hearts that we have made the decision to cancel this year’s MyTri. We feel the air quality and current state of our community does not allow for this great ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE – Reader and frequent contributor of sunsets and other nature photographs Courtney Cara dubbed it the Railroad Moon, as our big view of the light in the nighttime sky locally may be filtered through a haze of smoke due to fires burning in the Sierra. You could call it the Mission Moon, South Fork Moon or the Peak Moon ...

UPDATE Wednesday, Sept. 6, 11:32 a.m. It’s with heavy hearts that we have made the decision to cancel this year’s MyTri. We feel the air quality and current state of our community does not allow for this great event to be it’s best. Our hearts go out to the many families that have lost their homes and been displaced due ...

NORTH FORK — Displaced residents of Cascadel are once again watching as fire threatens their community, having been evacuated several times over the last few years. The Mission Fire fire is now estimated at 875 acres with 8 percent containment. There are currently 462 personnel assigned to the incident including 55 engines, 7 hand crews, 6 water tenders and 11 ...

NORTH FORK — The Mission Fire, which prompted the evacuation of Cascadel Road and the entire community of Cascadel yesterday, is now estimated at 825 acres with 5 percent containment. The number of structures destroyed has risen to five. We know that three of those are homes, but have no additional information on the other two. Approximately 250 homes were ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Smoke from the Railroad and South Fork Fire burning in both Madera/Mariposa Counties, the Empire Fire burning in Mariposa County, the Pier Fire burning in Tulare County, and all other surrounding wildfires have the potential to affect air quality throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley and foothills above, prompting Air District officials to issue a health cautionary ...

UPDATE Sept. 6, 11 a.m.: Due to the smoke and the fires in our area the Home Tour that was set to happen on Sept. 9 has been postponed, says the Bass Lake Lions Club. BASS LAKE — How many times have you looked longingly through the sun-drenched windows of a beautiful lakeside home and wondered what was inside? Now ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – As Labor Day weekend approaches, friends and families will visit outdoor recreation areas throughout Madera, Mariposa and Merced counties. In anticipation of the increased outdoor activities, Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) is urging everyone to exercise extreme caution in every activity. Wildfires continue to burn in California and much of the state remains at high risk for ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The Coarsegold Resource Conservation District (CRCD) is looking for a three-person firewood cutting crew to do some work made possible through a recently awarded grant, says Anne Melrose, Executive Director of the organization. “The job will entail working in several different locations, including North Fork, Oakhurst, Ahwahnee and Coarsegold,” Anne explains. “Downed trees and logs will be ...