By Isabel Cox, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — The Minarets Competition Cheer Team has had a busy season with three competitions already completed. The first was in Santa Cruz by the boardwalk, then Clovis North and, mostly recently, in Bakersfield at the Convention Center on Dec. 7. With each competition the team’s scores have improved significantly and the ...

Richard Regert, 76, died Friday, December 13, at Fresno Kaiser Hospital following his ten-month fight with lung cancer. He was born September 7, 1943, in Granby, Missouri. He grew up in Merced. He is survived by his wife Sharon Regert; his sister Claudia Vest of Citrus Heights; his sons William Regert of Johnson City, Tennessee, and Christopher Regert of Coarsegold; ...

OAKHURST — The Sierra Oakhurst Kiwanis Club has awarded nearly $10,000 in “mini grants” to 15 local recipients. The official check presentations took place Tuesday in Oakhurst. A handful of Chawanakee School District teachers received mini grants to the fund the purchases of everything from science project equipment to musical instruments. Three teachers at Oakhurst Elementary also were awarded mini ...

OAKHURST — A sharp-eyed sheriff’s deputy spoiled two thieves’ gambling spree — and saved the holiday season for one local store. The incident began around 6 p.m. on Saturday when Madera County Sheriff’s Deputy Charlie Robertson responded to a call for service at a business in the 40000 block of Highway 49 where the owner had reported the theft of ...

O’NEALS — Rebecca Townsend’s Senior Legacy Project is all about honoring the legacy of her grandmother Christine. The Minarets High student — via her “Sunflower Project” — has set out to raise money for the Kidney Foundation as well as to make blankets and fistula band covers for patients undergoing dialysis treatment. Townsend said she chose to focus her project ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The Sierra Nevada is beautiful when dusted in fresh snow and Badger Pass Ski Area is the perfect place to learn to ski and snowboard.  Yosemite’s stars shine bright during the holiday season. Experience an old tradition – Christmas. On Dec. 25, Christmas dining abounds, beginning with breakfast, then lunch and continues until the last sugar plumb ...

By Derek Ray, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — The Minarets Boys Soccer team had their most recent home game Dec. 10 against Riverdale High School. The Mustangs Varsity Team worked very hard during the game, but unfortunately left the stadium with a 6-2 loss against the Cowboys. Due to the Mustangs fall to Riverdale, they are now 1-3-2, ...

RAYMOND-KNOWLES — Notice is hereby given to the qualified electors of the Raymond-Knowles Union School District of Madera County, California, that in accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code of the State of California, an election will be held on March 3, 2020 within the District, at which election the following measures shall be submitted to the qualified electors ...

OAKHURST — Fourth grade students at Oakhurst Elementary School were recently invited to participate in the Zero Landfill Initiative through NatureBridge in Yosemite National Park. The initiative is composed of various organizations such as Subaru of America, The Yosemite Conservancy, the National Parks Conservation Association and the National Park Service. The initiative is only being carried out at three national ...

MADERA COUNTY MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The Yosemite Unified School District has changed its inter-district transfer process. Starting now, parents can request admission to Yosemite Unified schools for their students without first having to get approval from their home district. This new process comes with new deadlines. Applications must be received by Jan. 1, 2020. Applications and instructions are available at ...