By Therese Righter O’NEALS — We have all been touched by the horrible disease — cancer. It is unrelenting, and nobody wants to hear the word uttered by their doctor. Fortunately, there is a way that you can help fight this ugly disease — join the 2020 Relay for Life: Sierra Mountain Communities for a Cure event, and help us ...

Eastern Madera County is home to waterfalls, giant trees and culinary royalty. In honor of California Restaurant Month, happening throughout January, SNO presents a special series spotlighting each participating restaurant. OAKHURST — You love Idle Hour Winery’s wine, tasting room, riverside patio, walking trails and live music series. Now you can love Idle Hour Winery that much more, as Chef ...

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced this week that scholarship applications are now being accepted for college-bound high schoolers as well as current college and continuing education students living in Northern and Central California. More than 150 awards totaling nearly $500,000 are being made available through PG&E scholarships, which includes the employee resource group (ERG), engineering ...

SAN FRANCISCO — The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will hear oral arguments next month in the appeal currently blocking efforts by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians to build a casino near Madera. A court date has been set for Tuesday, February 11 at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 1 of the James R. Browning ...

MADERA — Madera County Sheriff’s Office Corporal Amy Roussell was awarded the prestigious 2019 Chairman’s Culture of Excellence Award by the Madera County Board of Supervisors at Tuesday’s (Jan. 7) first board meeting of 2020. Corporal Roussell was recognized for her outstanding work overseeing the boat operations unit in Bass Lake. Roussell, a long time Madera County resident, is assigned ...

OAKHURST — Five Yosemite High School wrestlers joined forty-eight other teams in the Dinuba High School Invitational held Jan. 3 – 4. Badger wrestlers and their tournament results include: 106 lb. = 0 Wins – 2 Losses 113 lb. Junior Peter (PJ) Kuzmitski = 2 Wins – 2 Losses 145 lb. Sophomore Trevon Nguyen = 0 Wins – 2 Losses ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — The iconic Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park has lost some of its luster — and its long time four-diamond status, according to a story published today by the San Francisco Chronicle. “Guests at the landmark property, where presidents and queens have wined, dined and snoozed at the foot of Half Dome, are reporting bad food, ...

BASS LAKE — Mountain area residents in search of a great burger need look no further than their own backyard — at least according to the food critic at the prestigious New Yorker magazine, whose lunch experience at The Forks Resort restaurant in 2015 made her “best-of-the-decade” list. In a story published last week titled “The Best Things I’ve Eaten ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa Master Gardeners are offering a free “Pruning Fruit Trees” workshop on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon in La Grange. Maxwell Norton, Emeritus, Fruit and Nut Adviser for the UC Cooperative Extension, will be discussing types of pruning cuts, pruning tools and demonstrating when and how to prune nut trees, fruit trees, vines and ...

OAKHURST – January 2020 marks the tenth anniversary of Visit California’s annual celebration of all things culinary in the Golden State. January also means Restaurant Month is back in Madera County, and this year even more local eateries have specials and discounts to satisfy any appetite. Enjoy a bountiful month-long adventure experiencing the best of the local region. Visit Yosemite ...