Submitted by Jeannie Harsha – MARIPOSA COUNTY – Smokey sunrises, fiery front-page photos, convoys of fire trucks and personnel – we see these every day in our foothill communities of late. I love the signs of support for our fire crews and law enforcement along the local routes that I travel. They like it, too. Some of them have told ...

If you’re a thrift store junkie like I am, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the various shops we have here in the Yosemite area. I’ve gotten so many deals at the thrift stores here in town, half my house is decorated with my fun finds. I mean, why pay retail if you can recycle? And when you’re ready for a ...

Written by Senator Tom Berryhill, R-Stanislaus Several years ago, I fought hard as urban elites imposed a fire tax on those of us who live in rural areas. As they shamelessly singled out and burdened an already struggling part of the state, I did everything I could to a give rural folks a voice in a Legislature dominated by urban ...

Guest Column written by Gary Gilbert — I would like to introduce myself. I am Gary Gilbert the former Cal Fire/ Madera County Fire Chief (seven years) and Madera County Supervisor for District 5 (eight years, from 1999-2006), and a resident of Eastern Madera County for 31 years. I believe I have a unique perspective on Measure L. Measure L ...

Guest Column by Chris Christopherson — As a resident and conservative I am against taxes as much as anyone. But we have come to a crossroads when it comes to the staffing of our County Fire Department. Madera County began a Cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE to manage the County Fire Dept. in 1928. This is the longest Cooperative relationship ...

Written by Michael Olwyler — Flung, dropped and dragged, the daypack has risen throughout the world to be the everyday carrier. Schoolboys, travelers, pregnant moms, and businessmen can’t do without them bumping along on their backs, arms or chests. They carry our essentials, get crushed in subway doors, float down rivers after being carelessly dropped overboard, settle with a sigh ...

Written by Wendy Fisher — As a lifelong wilderness enthusiast at heart, I have been exploring the Sierra on foot for well over 20 years. When I am not out exploring, gardening, or parenting my lovely twin girls, I am proud of my day job working as a plant/wetland ecologist with Live Oak Associates. Live Oak is an Oakhurst based ecological ...

Written by Mary Schmidt Odell — I am NOT your mother and I shouldn’t have to clean up after you. Take your trash home. Members of the Sierra Freepackers Unit of BCHC (Backcountry Horsemen of California) spent Friday, June 3 to Sunday, June 5 at the Snow Play Area just north of Fish Camp, working and playing.  Backcountry Horsemen are a ...

Guest Column written by Bill Ritchey — COARSEGOLD – As Madera County struggles to recruit and retain Paid Call Firefighters (PCF), and the Board of Supervisors considers the feasibility of a public safety tax to help fund the fire department, we noticed that Coarsegold’s Station 13 had not been called out for some time. A call to Cal Fire confirmed ...

Guest column by Marcia Penner Freedman — What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet — William Shakespeare Juliet stands on her balcony speaking into the night. She wants Romeo to deny thy father and replace thy name. She offers to no longer be a Capulet. Juliet is a naïve ...