OAKHURST – Despite news that retail electronics franchise Radio Shack filed for bankruptcy on Thursday, Feb. 5, the local Radio Shack store in Oakhurst is reported to be staying open. It’s no surprise that Radio Shack has filed to reorganize under Chapter 11. The corporation has endured 11 consecutive quarterly losses and a stock-drop of about 90% over the last ...

Beaver Dam, AZ – Ralph Douglas (Doug) Reese, 76, passed away on January 28, 2015, in St. George, Utah. He was born on August 5, 1938, in Long Beach, Calif., to Ralph and Violette Reese. Doug spent his childhood in Long Beach. As a teenager in the 50s, his rebellious nature prompted his mother to enroll him in military school. ...

OAKHURST – The Oakhurst College Center will hold its annual Community Unity event on campus Thursday, April 30, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event brings mountain area vendors, service groups, and colleges together to celebrate the foothills community. There will be free food, music, workshops, games, and prize drawings. Every half-hour starting at 12:00 p.m., Lowell Young, ...

NORTH FORK – Randy Wilson would like to invite the community to celebrate the life of his mother Marjorie Wilson, a long time resident of North Fork who passed away on Jan. 1, 2015. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7, at 11 a.m. at the First Assembly of God, 105 E. Olive in Porterville.

NORTH FORK – After years of focused effort by local organizations, the North Fork biomass plant is now one giant step closer to reality. The North Fork Community Development Council (NFCDC) has announced conditional approval for a nearly $5 million grant sought to build a 1 megawatt (MW) bioenergy generation facility at the town’s former mill site.

Marin George Baiz – Feb. 22, 1942 – Jan. 23, 2015 Marin Baiz passed away shortly before 11 p.m. on Friday, January 23rd at his North Fork home, surrounded by friends and family. He had been undergoing treatment for cancer over the last several months. Marin would have celebrated his 73rd birthday in February. Marin was born in Oakland, Calif., ...

MADERA COUNTY – Emadco Disposal Service has announced they plan to implement residential curbside recycling for customers beginning this summer. Ashley Smith is Recycling Operations Manager for the Oakhurst-based company, and explains the new curbside recycling program will be available at existing pick-up locations every other week starting July 1, 2015.

OAKHURST – Oakhurst resident and community liaison Rima Runtzel has launched a new company which combines her affinity for social media and love of networking to benefit independent business owners in the local area. Local Social, a social media marketing agency, launched in December 2014 and announced its first partnership with Oakhurst Feed & Pet Supply this month.

COARSEGOLD – The Coarsegold Chamber of Commerce has selected Dave Wolin as its 2015 president and named its new Board of Directors for 2015. The board consists of Wolin as President; Laura Young, vice president and president elect for 2016; Janet Stanovich, Secretary; and Deniece Busse, Treasurer. Additional directors are Diane Boland, Chrissy Buckles and Marty Owen.

COARSEGOLD – Since his family purchased the once-popular Broken Bit earlier this month, Tanner Tweed has been on the move, making plans for the immediate future of the property, while making discoveries about its past. The public has been instrumental, helping to fill in the blanks on local lore.