By Brian David —  Guided by sonar, night vision and the earth’s magnetic field, the Pallid, Mexican, and California Myotis bats – flying near fifty miles an hour – eat nocturnal insects mid-air. A dining night out delivers over half a bat’s body weight in nutritious insects. Central California crops including beets, citrus, corn, cotton, pecans, peppers, rice, strawberries and ...

BASS LAKE — If you have ever spent time on Bass Lake enjoying the breezy ambiance and sparkling water, you may have noticed the magnificent homes that dwell along the shores of the lake.  Have you ever wanted to view these homes up close and personal? Well, here is your chance to participate in a self-guided tour that benefits several ...

MADERA COUNTY – All registered voters in Madera County will be receiving their Official Ballots in the mail for the upcoming Nov. 6 general election beginning Oct. 8, says Rebecca Martinez, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters. As a Voter’s Choice Act county, voters have more choices for voting and returning their ballots, Martinez says. “Great news! Starting with this ...

AHWAHNEE — Wasuma Elementary School is holding its first annual Color Run fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 5. Students will be collecting pledges and jogging around the Color Run course to raise money for Wasuma PTA. These funds will go back to the school in the form of assemblies, field trips, and other fun special events for the kids. The day ...

OAKHURST — Say hello to Savannah Noone, a third grade student in Mrs. White’s classroom at Oakhurst Elementary School. Savannah is modeling a brand new backpack she recently selected at the OES Backpack Store. Through the generosity of the school’s friends from the Boys and Girls Club, and the staff at Oakhurst Physical Therapy, OES has 40 backpacks in the ...

OAKHURST — Get ready for the sheer beauty and excitement that is Sierra Art Trails. The Preview Exhibit is open to the public, featuring a representative piece by each artist in Sierra Art Trails. Viewing the Preview Exhibit is a great way to plan your Art Trails weekend, discover the work that you most want to see, and plan your route to ...

OAKHURST — When she was younger, Linda Hancock and her siblings often played under the native oaks trees that grew on their parents’ property in North Fork. Today, Hancock is a Master Gardener in Madera County who volunteers to teach people about oak trees native to the mountain area and how to landscape under them. On Saturday, Oct. 13, Hancock ...

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA – The first rains of the fall are forecast to arrive in our area early this week, and PG&E is warning that there is an increased risk of power outages during the first rains following a long dry season. “During the first rainstorm of a season, dust and other particles that have accumulated on our equipment can transform ...

NORTH FORK – Eastern Madera County voters will now have more ways to return their ballots during the general election. Rebecca Martinez, Madera County’s Registrar of Voters, has announced that a fifth drop box will be available, with the latest being installed in North Fork. And for those returning their ballots by mail, postage-paid envelopes will be provided so you ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Wednesday, Oct. 3. The WEA portion of the test commences at 11:18 a.m., and the EAS portion follows at 11:20 a.m. The test will assess the ...