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 ...

COARSEGOLD — Tom Wheeler will host his next Town Hall meeting on Thursday, Feb. 11, at Yosemite Lakes Park Clubhouse from 6 to 8 p.m. On the agenda for the meeting is a talk by the new District Ranger on the Bass Lake Ranger District, Denise Tolmie. There will also be a presentation by the president of Reedley College and ...

YOSEMITE — NatureBridge, the largest residential environmental education partner of the National Park Service, opened registration for the Summer Field Research Course at its Yosemite campus. This two-week immersive backcountry expedition will give participants the opportunity to conduct field science investigations in one of the most iconic national parks in the country. The course offers the ultimate teen summer adventure. ...

COUNTY — In a battle of wits, Yosemite High School released its tight grip on the Madera County Academic Decathlon championship, coming in second and leaving room for Chowchilla High School to triumph for the first time since 1992. Still, Yosemite took home 29 medals, including 9 gold, and tied for first place in the Super Quiz. Six schools competed ...

OAKHURST — The 2016-17 Reedley College Scholarship Application is now open to students who will be attending the Oakhurst Community College Center, Madera Community College Center (MCCC), or Reedley College (RC), or who will be transferring from one of the MOR campuses to a four-year college/university for fall 2016. The application deadline is Sunday, Apr. 3. There will be scholarship ...

OAKHURST — Sierra Oakhurst Kiwanis recently awarded fifteen mini-grants to local schools for art, music, science and math supplies, and learning tools that are not covered in the general school budget. The mini-grants funded total $9,802. Schools are listed in alphabetical order. Chawanakee Academy teacher Becky Cairns was awarded a mini-grant to cover costs associated with the schools theater program, ...

SANTA CLARA — When the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers take the field for Superbowl 50 this Sunday, Feb. 7, local fans can rest assured knowing the foothills are represented at Levi’s Stadium. Oakhurst’s Cindy Tanoury, along with Coarsegold residents Andrew and Jennifer Tapia, and Stacy Soulis, have been hard at work all week long, preparing to sell a treasure ...

Submitted by Deputy Miguel Hernandez MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (MCDSA) is proud to announce that DSA member and Madera County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Zack Zamudio is currently featured in the United States Police & Fire Championships (USPFC) newsletter. Zack has been competing for seven years in the Olympic-style games for law enforcement and fire. His ...

OAKHURST — Students gathered in the Yosemite High School theater on Monday, Feb. 1 for the school’s annual Talent Show, where a total of nine students took the stage in a brave bid for local fame and the chance to advance to the North Sequoia League Talent Show later this month. Demonstrating his abilities on the Yo-yo, Jeff Burt showed ...

OAKHURST – History tells us ancient comic playwright Aristophanes said, “You cannot teach a crab to walk straight.” While that may still be so, nothing can stop hoards of hungry mountain folk from walking straight over to the Rotary Club of Oakhurst Sierra’s 30th annual Crab Feed, on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. The Rotary Crab Feed, held each ...