OAKHURST–It looks like everyone may be hibernating after the holidays and the snows. There isn’t a lot “on the plate” this week in terms of evening activities, but there are an assortment of lovely fitness gigs available now and into the future, as well as adventures for the little ones. If anyone knows of happenings that aren’t listed, let me ...

Submitted by Jolene Anderson, student journalist for Minarets Press COVID-19 has affected millions of people around the world, but recent reports say that animals can contract the virus as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this only occurs when the animal contracts the virus from humans and from there, transmits it to another animal, but ...

OAKHURST – Sierra Tel, serving both Madera County Mountain Communities and Mariposa County, shared that its 2021 telephone directory is in celebration of the 125th Anniversary of Sierra Telephone, the main building block of the Sierra Tel Family. The 360 page directory tells the story of the beginnings of the company many years ago with the assistance of the local ...

by Emma Hussey, 4-H Community Service Project member COARSEGOLD – The Coarsegold 4-H has collected clothing each winter to give away at our Mountain Area Clothing Swap for the past 4 years. This year will be our 5th year to continue this tradition. The event will be on Thursday, December 10th from 2pm to 5pm at the Coarsegold Community Center at 35610 ...

MADERA COUNTY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES – Christmas is a special and joyous time every year, especially for the children. Not so. however, if you receive no presents. That’s where Toys for Tots comes in. The Marine Corps has been supplying less fortunate children in California with toys for Christmas since 1947. This Saturday, December 5, is your chance to help the ...

COARSEGOLD – Dec. 1, 2020 – Amanda Steen, Co Owner of Graydon Kennels is announcing the difficult decision to close her Father’s legacy. Our small business is closing December 31st, 2020 due to the struggles of the COVID Pandemic. “I want to thank all clients who supported Graydon Kennels throughout the years and after my Father passed away in 2018.” ...

By Adee Fouch, Coarsegold 4-H Reporter OAKHURST – Coarsegold 4-H, Marine Corps League, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Boy Scouts gathered at Oakhill Cemetery in Oakhurst, California to raise and lower hundreds of flags on November 11, 2020. We did this in order to honor our Veterans, who are people who have served in the United States Armed Forces. ...

MARIPOSA – Effective Monday, November 23, 2020 at 8:00 am the burn suspension in Madera, Mariposa and Merced Counties will be lifted. CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit Chief Mike van Loben Sels is formally cancelling the burn suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissive burn days. Burn permits will be ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Fire Department was awarded a $74,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for new extrication equipment. Known as the “jaws of life,” first responders use these specialized tools to reach crash victims trapped inside a vehicle. So far this year, Madera County Fire has responded to 22 crashes in which extrication ...

Bettie Zane Paul, age 88, passed away on November 10, 2020, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was loved by many and will be sorely missed here on this earth. We look forward to a heavenly reunion. Bettie was born in Taft, California, on March 17, 1932, to Oscar and Nellie Collins. When she was young they moved ...