SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – With the warm summer weather upon us, it is time to enjoy the rivers, streams and lakes on the Sierra National Forest (SNF). These waterways continue to be fed by the melting snows over the High Sierra. The Upper Kings, San Joaquin and Merced rivers will continue to run with swift and extremely cold water. Bass, ...

OAKHURST — Branches Books & Gifts is celebrating their 4th birthday on Saturday, Jun. 3 from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and the public is cordially invited to attend the free, fun, family-friendly event. Branches’ owner Anne Driscoll says people are encouraged to dress up as a favorite super hero and come meet Wonder Woman, Batman and Captain America, while learning tricks of ...

AHWAHNEE — Veterans and all others in the community are invited to celebrate an important new installation at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park on Flag Day, Wednesday, Jun. 14. Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. for the dedication of a special monument in honor of veterans of all branches of the United States Armed Forces.  The monument is a project nearing completion, developed by local groups ...

O’NEALS — A total of $115,000 was given to senior students graduating with the class of 2017 at Minarets High School and Chawanakee Academy this year, as the school held its Scholarship Awards on Wednesday, May 24. Claudia vanDenBergh, District Counselor for Chawanakee District says that some of the top award recipients included Jordyn Samper, Lluvia Moreno, and Joshua Lynch. Jordyn Samper ...

NORTH FORK — The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians invites tribal citizens and area residents to participate in developing an Action Plan to guide the implementation of transit service improvements over the next 5+ years. A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the North Fork Rancheria Community Center, 56900 Kunugib ...

OAKHURST — A party to celebrate the life of Brian Wilhite is planned for Saturday, Jun. 10, starting at 4:30 p.m. at Queen’s Inn by the River in Oakhurst. Brian Preston Wilhite died in Fresno on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. He was 74 years old. Brian was born on August 25, 1942 in Atascadero, to Norah C. Mansfield and Franklin Wilhite. He grew up in and ...

By Sara Lynch — The Coarsegold 4-H Club takes community service seriously and we participate in many projects throughout the club year. A few of our projects this year have been a free community clothing swap, collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, and collecting pet supplies for the SPCA. Our Community Service Project for May was volunteering and participating in Gold ...

Written by Aimee Cox —  NORTH FORK — The community of Cascadel Woods hosted it’s annual Firewise Day on Saturday, May 20, at the Cascadel Clubhouse. Guest speakers included Cal Fire, Forest Service, PG&E, and Citizens on Patrol (COPs). Cascadel Woods has been a Firewise Community since 2012 and hosts this annual event in order to provide valuable information to ...

By C. Lee-Roney, NPS YOSEMITE — Highway 140 between Crane Creek and Parkline has become a killing zone for thousands of California tortoiseshell butterflies. This species emerges in spectacular numbers in some years (last in 2010), and is thought to be the source of Mariposa County’s name, which is Spanish for butterfly. Please help minimize the number of butterflies killed by ...

Planning your next vacation? While having fun in the sun, consider these five tips to make sure your trip is a healthy one. Avoid Tanning, Be Sun Safe Thinking about getting a “healthy tan” over vacation? Think again. Any increase in skin pigment (called “melanin”) is a sign of damage. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause wrinkles and dark ...