Submitted by Kristi Winter MADERA COUNTY — The 34th Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon competition begins on Friday, Jan. 29, as local high school students will compete in the interview and essay competitions at Madera County Office of Education. Yosemite High School, Chawanakee Academy, Chowchilla High, Liberty High, Madera High, Madera South High and will be competing to be named ...

Submitted by Lawna Porter OAKHURST — Did you get an iPhone or iPad for Christmas and would really like to to know how to use it more efficiently? Well, Adult Ed has the class for you and it’s free! Adult Ed is offering an IOS Fundamentals and Basics Class starting Monday, Feb. 1, from 6 p.m to 9 p.m. in ...

Submitted by Barbara Leath OAKHURST — Attention, caregivers! Are you a caregiver of an elderly loved one and need a break? We have several openings at our respite group. The Caregiver Respite Group meets every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. to – 1:30 p.m. at the Sierra Senior Center, located at 49111 Cinder Lane in Oakhurst. The respite group will provide ...

O’s Badger Sports Bulletin, Vol. 1, Issue 2, by Yosemite High School Athletic Director Rusty Oetinger This past week, our Yosemite Badgers not only dealt with their opponents, but also the elements, as well. Early in the week, on Tuesday, Jan. 19, the lady Badgers soccer team had a game canceled at Liberty High School because of the rain. The ...

FRESNO — The American Red Cross of the Central Valley is asking the community to recognize local heroes for the annual Heroes for the American Red Cross event. The deadline to nominate a hero is Feb. 7. The annual fundraiser event — being held on Saturday, Apr. 30 — recognizes local heroes in the Central Valley and mountain area who ...

Submitted by Julia O’Kane of Madera County Arts Council – OAKHURST — Five area high schools participated last Saturday in a national program that emphasizes the literary arts and public speaking skills, Poetry Out Loud. Groups of students from Yosemite, Liberty, Madera High, Madera South High, Ripperdan, Endeavor, Glacier, and Mountain Vista high schools have been memorizing and practicing their ...

Written by Elizabeth Gabriel – MARIPOSA — If you’ve seen “The Martian” you know the plot of the Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated movie (adapted from Andy Weir’s novel) features an astronaut stranded on Mars. One of the first things he does is figure out how to turn the sterile dirt of the Red Planet into life-giving soil, so he can ...

Submitted by Helping Hands OAKHURST — On January 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation designating January 22 as the first National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Churches around the United States use this day to celebrate God’s gift of life according to Psalm 139. The third Sunday of January, which was this past Jan. 17, was celebrated locally and ...

NORTH FORK — The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians and the American Red Cross invite everyone to an all-day training on how to open, maintain and close a shelter during a disaster. The training will be on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the  North Fork Rancheria Community Center, 56900 Kunugib Way, North Fork. RSVP’s ...

By Virginia Eaton — New dietary guidelines have been published and, amazingly, the powers that be finally recognize that the amount of sugar consumed in one’s diet plays an important role in overall health. The part that amazes me is that sugar lobbyists were not able to overcome the tremendous amount of scientific data showing the relationship between added sugar ...