MOUNTAIN AREA — It’s looking wet and wild for the next couple of days, with a winter storm warning for the high country and flash flood warnings in the lower elevations. A Pacific storm system will make its way over central California on Thursday, Dec. 15 and stay through Friday, Dec. 16., according to the National Weather Service in Hanford. Rain ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Bird lovers, photographers and anyone interested in the enjoying the variety of bird species in the Central Sierra are invited to join the National Audubon Society’s 117th Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The CBC is an annual international bird census that began on Christmas Day in 1900, and now takes place in more than 1,500 locations throughout the ...

MADERA COUNTY — Yosemite High School’s prosecution and Liberty High’s defense teams competed in the championship round of the 2016-2017 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial. Click on image to enlarge. Competing earlier were Madera and Madera South. Liberty won the competition and team members will attend the State Mock Trial on behalf of Madera County. Madera County will be sending ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — Maybe you’ll feel it even if you can’t see it. The third and final supermoon of the year will rise today, while the Geminids meteor shower peaks, tonight. Rain is expected for late Wednesday and overnight through Thursday, with heavy snow anticipated in the high country. Known as the Cold Moon, the December moon is full on ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — For many, this is a season of giving. In the dozen busy days leading up to Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 25, we invite readers to join in celebrating twelve local nonprofits and the people behind them who are making a difference. We start with a locally broadcast and internet streaming source of news and entertainment playing great music ...

COARSEGOLD — A two-vehicle crash blocked the southbound lane of Highway 41 this morning just before sunrise. At 5:49 a.m., reports came in of a head-on collision just north of Road 417. The caller also advised that one vehicle was smoking. The first fire engine on scene reported a Ford F350 utility van fully engulfed in flames. According to CHP ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Dec. 5 to Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016: Oakhurst narcotics On Monday, Dec. 5 at 10:29 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 49000 block of Road 426 regarding a subject wearing a lime green shirt walking towards the college with a knife. The ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) wants to remind everyone that, as you deck the halls this holiday season, be fire smart. A small fire that spreads to a Christmas tree can grow large very quickly, they say. Here are some tips from the NFPA: Picking the tree: Choose a tree with fresh, green needles that do ...

O’NEALS — The changing of the seasons is here, and we don’t just mean that it’s getting colder! It’s also time for winter sports at Minarets High School. The field has been repainted and the volleyball nets have been put away, because soccer and basketball are getting started. In the gym this year, the girls’ team coaches are Kris Pearson ...

A memorial service is planned to celebrate the life of Nash Mayer on Friday, Dec. 9. at 4 p.m. in the Yosemite High School gymnasium. Nash was killed on Thursday, Dec. 1, while working with a tree removal crew. “On December 1st a tragedy struck for the Mayer family of 11 leaving them without a daddy who is now with ...