RAYMOND — There will be two public meetings in Raymond this week, one on Tuesday, Feb. 21 and a second on Thursday, Feb. 23. On Tuesday, the campaign committee, Citizens, Firefighters, & Deputies for Measure L is holding a public safety forum at the Leaders for Christ Training Center at 6:30 p.m., to discuss the proposed Madera County Public Safety ...

OAKHURST — The newly reorganized Board of Directors in charge of Fresno Flats Historical Park wants community members and visitors alike to know they are open from dawn to dusk daily, and are now offering newly reduced rates at very competitive prices with newly reduced fees. In some cases, the cost for rental of facilities for parties, weddings, graduation celebrations, meetings and special ...

OAKHURST — The sixth-seeded Yosemite High School girls basketball team is heading to the Central Section Division II playoffs in Porterville on Thursday, Feb. 23, playing the third-seeded Monache High School at 7 p.m. Click on images to enlarge. Team members (back row from left to right) Grace Fries, Sophie McGoldrick, Allison Bernardi, Siena Oswald, Hailey Rich, (front row left ...

NORTH FORK — The community of North Fork will name its Citizen of the Year for 2016 at a dinner and celebration on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Town Hall. This is the 38th year that the community will gather to celebrate its most honored citizen — someone chosen as being representative of the spirit of service and giving that ...

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 ...

OAKHURST — A licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience as a psychotherapist is helping to heal minds at Adventist Health / Community Care in Oakhurst. Nina Farley-Bates is a native of Kingsburg who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Fresno. After earning her degree, she went on to earn a Master of Social ...

EASTERN MADERA COUNTY — A local graduate student is conducting a survey to help understand public perceptions of tree mortality in Eastern Madera County. Everyone is invited to please take just 10 minutes to help this dedicated student complete an important class project. All responses are confidential. Thank you for your participation! Please click here to take the 10 minute ...

Submitted by Bodhi Oak Zen Center — OAKHURST — The Silver Creek Center has a new sign: “Bodhi Oak Zen Center.” Downstairs, on the far left corner, Suite 1-I is a small center dedicated to the study of Zen meditation and mindfulness. Zen is a Japanese word that simply means “meditation,” but in the United States, “Zen” has an exotic ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Sierra Foothill Conservancy (SFC) has announced its schedule of hikes, classes and events for 2017, and you’re going to love what they have to offer. From the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa to Eastern Merced Counties, SFC events include birding, geology, photography, yoga, family hikes and more. Membership in SFC gives you ...

OAKHURST — After attending a recent Kiwanis meeting, we want to share some of the great news coming out of this organization of dedicated volunteers. There’s a very special relationship between service clubs and our mountain area schools, and it’s vital that we support the organization’s events the way they support our students. For the third year in a row ...