O’NEALS – Calling all photographers and artists! This is your chance to showcase your art to thousands of people. Ponderosa is on the hunt for the perfect image to grace their 2019 directory cover. The family-owned company which has been in business for more than 100 years is seeking images that reflect current rural life in the Sierra foothills and ...

MARIPOSA – Smoke from the Ferguson Fire in Mariposa County and other fires surrounding the Valley is affecting air quality in locations throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley, prompting local air pollution officials to issue a health cautionary statement Valley-wide. Smoke from wildfires produces particulate matter which can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases, and increase the ...

By Chase McGovern — MOUNTAIN AREA — “Teens will love it! I can tell you from experience, because I am one.” — Chase McGovern Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad If you are traveling to the South Gate of Yosemite, a great place to visit is the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. It is an hour-long scenic journey through the Sierra ...

OAKHURST — A fatal accident involving two vehicles closed Road 222 near Bass Lake between Highway 41 and Road 274 for over two hours Tuesday afternoon. Just before 3 p.m. reports came in to CHP of a two-car accident on Road 222 at Pettitt Road. When first responders arrived at scene, they found that two people were pinned inside their ...

Written by DJ Becker – OAKHURST – A third little brown bat in Madera County has tested positive for rabies, according to authorities. This one was found in a backyard on Evergreen Drive off Road 426 in Oakhurst. Madera County Animal Services Director Kirsten Gross said the bat was found still alive but died shortly after the resident’s three dogs ...

SAN FRANCISCO — With soaring temperatures in the next few days, California’s grid operator has called a statewide Flex Alert this week. PG&E is urging customers to conserve energy as triple-digit heat will impact much of the company’s service area. The California Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, from 5 p.m. to ...

Written by Naomi Flam – MARIPOSA – Even firefighters need help with their pets! Tom from Yucaipa, Calif., is helping at the Ferguson Fire. His dog Boss is being taken care of during the day at Mariposa SPCA while he’s working at the fire. At night, Tom will have his pup with him. Thank you Tom for your hard work ...

When I look out my window and see poor air quality, the smoky haze is made more disheartening by bits of gray ash floating in the air before coming to rest on the ground. The oppressive heat adds insult to already injured lungs and makes moving through my day challenging. The stress of fire, drought and ashy-air is showing in ...

BASS LAKE — The Hot Summer Nights tradition continues on Friday, July 20 at Miller’s Landing. They’ll be barbecuing, and DJ Jonny Cash will play some dancing music. Yosemite Badgers Youth Football will be fundraising for the upcoming season, and the folks at Miller’s have planned lots of games for kids. As they say, one of the best things about Hot ...

MADERA COUNTY– Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, July 9 to Sunday, July 15, 2018. Oakhurst vehicle stop results in arrest for possession On Monday, July 9 at 3:30 a.m. a deputy conducted a vehicle stop on a suspicious vehicle leaving a closed businesses located in the Enterprise Center. The driver ...