WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today joined partners across the country in promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit on EITC Awareness Day, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. This campaign, which started 11 years ago, is a nationwide effort to alert millions of low- and moderate-income workers who may be missing out on this significant tax credit. Millions of taxpayers who ...

COUNTY — The 35th Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon competition begins on Friday, Jan. 27.  High School students will compete in the interview and essay competitions at Madera County Office of Education, located at 1105 CA-145 in Madera. Chawanakee Academy, Mariposa, Minarets, Yosemite, Chowchilla, Liberty, Madera, and Madera South high schools will be compete to be named county champion. Mariposa County ...

MADERA COUNTY — In a vote of 5-0, the Madera County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution to raise the pay of Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs) to a base of $15/hour, and Paid Call Driver Operators to $18/hour, effective Jan. 1, 2017. PCFs, or volunteer firefighters, in Madera County are currently paid minimum wage, now set at $10.50/hour ...

OAKHURST — Anyone with a stake in the community will want to know about an upcoming meeting the public is invited to attend, to provide input and oversight for the future of the district including Oakhurst Community College Center. Reedley College will host three Strategic Alliance Community Feedback Forums in an effort to involve the community in their 2017 – 2021 ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Snow fell, classes were canceled, some businesses closed, and people posted pictures of their various views on the Sierra News Online Facebook page. We pulled those photos into a community album. Thank you, for sharing your photos and a little chilly slice of your life with the rest of us. Click on images to enlarge.

BASS LAKE — This morning’s work did not go as planned for the drivers of two delivery trucks who bumped into each other on an icy road near The Pines, temporarily blocking one entrance to a popular Bass Lake resort. Just before 9 a.m., two delivery trucks were involved in a minor head-on near the Little Church in the Pines, ...

MARIPOSA — With mountain area residents experiencing power outages, some may decide to use alternate means to produce heat. Cal Fire reminds everyone that a bad choice can be deadly. You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Jan. 16 to Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017: Raymond public intoxication On Monday,  Jan. 16 at 8:31 a.m., a deputy was dispatched to the 33000 block of Road 613 regarding a intoxicated female. A report was taken and the case was closed. Oakhurst ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — A winter storm warning is now in effect for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Park, and the Tulare and Kings County mountains, until 8 p.m. this evening. The warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for areas above 3,000 feet, but heavy snow is falling at lower elevations, causing accidents and ...

OAKHURST — As of 9 a.m., Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is reporting 11 power outages in the Oakhurst/ Bass Lake area, affecting 3,881 customers. Heavy snow is bringing down trees and power lines across the area, blocking roads and causing major traffic problems. Chain control is in place over Deadwood on Highway 41 just south of Oakhurst. Restrictions are ...