MADERA COUNTY — If you got pulled over by a Sheriff’s deputy today, you may have gotten a boost of Christmas cheer, rather than a citation. That’s what happened to Melinda Kerby of North Fork, who was on her way to bible study, when she was stopped for a burned out license plate light. Instead of a ticket, she was ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – The first full day of winter was a wet one, and while a flash flood watch expired at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 22, area residents can look forward to just a little break in the rain on Wednesday, Dec. 23, before another system, colder but drier, moves in on Thursday, ending on Friday. According to the ...

OAKHURST – More than twenty years after local activists fought hard to support the passing of legislation that would guarantee the expansion of higher education in Oakhurst, a new struggle for the town’s share of a facilities bond proposed by the State Center Community College District (SCCCD) is now heating up. At stake is Oakhurst’s piece of a potential $485 ...

SIERRA FOOTHILLS — The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a flash flood watch for Central California, including Madera, Mariposa and Fresno County foothills through Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 22. This advisory is mainly for the Rim Fire and El Portal fire burn areas, but extends from Yosemite to Kings Canyon. Heavy rain may cause areas of flooding and debris ...

Do you remember the first time you saw Star Wars? Were you fortunate enough to see it in the theater? If you have never seen Star Wars, think back to your first kiss, first dance, or your first car. Yes, it was that good. Leaving the theater that fall afternoon, I had a grin on my face I could not ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally during the week of Monday, Dec. 7 through Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015. Oakhurst person deceased On Monday, Dec. 7 at 00:28 a.m. deputies responded to the 40000 blk of CA-41 for a report of a deceased person. An investigation was conducted and found that ...

SACRAMENTO – As California’s severe drought and bark beetle epidemic has left millions of trees dead, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection last week voted to extend a drought mortality exemption to the state’s tree removal permitting process. “With massive tree mortality across California, this exemption streamlines the process for landowners who are working to reduce their wildfire ...

Submitted by Monika Moulin OAKHURST – For the sixth consecutive year, upwards of 50 singers from local area church choirs will come together for a beautiful Christmas program, including choristers from New Community United Methodist Church, Oakhurst Lutheran Church, Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church, and others. Two performances on will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13, at Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – The National Weather Service in Hanford is confirming more wet weather as a Winter Storm Warning has been issued from noon on Sunday, Dec. 13, through noon on Monday, Dec. 14, for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon. Several inches of snow is expected, with localized amounts up to 14 inches in the ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – Cal Fire is called to many home fires this time of year when the response could have been prevented by simple home heating equipment maintenance procedures. To help reduce the number of home fires the Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit is reminding the public that all home-heating equipment should be inspected. The following is a list of heating problems that ...