EARTH – You know that phrase, “once in a blue moon,” that people say when something comes around infrequently? Well, do whatever it is you’ve been putting off, because that blue moon — the second full moon in a single month — is happening on Friday, July  31 at 3:44 a.m. PST. That’s basically tonight, or tomorrow morning, depending on ...

MADERA COUNTY – The man accused of causing the death of a young boy on Bass Lake on June 27, and causing traumatic injuries to a teenage girl in the same jet ski incident, will soon be formally arraigned on charges including misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter. Phat Chau, 55, is expected to appear in Madera Superior Court at Bass Lake on ...

MADERA – Due to the expanding acreage and uncertain nature of the Willow Fire, Madera County District Attorney David Linn has announced that formal charges will not be filed this week as his office may not receive official reports from the US Forest Service until sometime next week. Formal charges will not be filed until all reports have been received ...

OAKHURST – The Oakhurst Community College Center will be participating in a State Center Community College District-wide Extreme Registration event: it’s a one-stop-shop to assist students in completing registration for the Fall 2015 semester. All new and returning students are encouraged to take advantage of the services offered at this special event. This year the Extreme Registration event will take ...

OAKHURST — The American Red Cross of the Central Valley has opened a shelter to assist residents affected by the ongoing Willow Fire at the Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Road 425B. The Red Cross previously established an evacuation center in response to the Willow Fire, but because of new mandatory evacuations for the Cascadel Woods community, volunteers have set up ...

NORTH FORK – The Willow Fire ran another half-mile to the south in the last 24 hours, continuing it’s push across Peckinpah Mountain, and running to the east toward Whiskey Falls. The fire stayed mostly to the top of the mountain, and didn’t come down the slope. There was also a fairly healthy run on the northern perimeter in the ...

NORTH FORK – The Willow Fire was very active today, putting up huge columns of smoke and raising concerns as residents once again lined the roadways to watch trees torching and helicopters and tankers come and go in rapid succession. As of 9 p.m. there is no update on estimated acreage, still reported at 2,077 with 30 percent containment. New ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – The Bass Lake Farmer’s Market is still scheduled for today despite the Willow Fire. Show the folks at Bass Lake your support and see what delicacies they have today. BASS LAKE FARMER’S MARKET is held every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Pines Village at Bass Lake. The Bass Lake Farmer’s Market is sponsored by ...

NORTH FORK – The challenges continue on the southern perimeter of the Willow Fire, as it continues pushing its way across the South Fork Bluffs on the western face of Peckinpah Mountain. Now estimated at 2,077 acres with 30 percent containment, the fire’s southern division was characterized as “an interesting beast” during this morning’s briefing at the Incident Command Post ...

NORTH FORK – Firefighters made good progress on the Willow Fire today, strengthening lines, finishing hose lays, doing mop-up where possible, and clearing snags. Though there is no updated acreage on the fire as of this writing, the Incident Commander told the crowd at a packed Town Hall meeting this evening in North Fork, that he hopes for 30 percent ...