MADERA COUNTY – Longtime Yosemite High School teacher Steve Browning was recently presented with an Excellence in Education Award naming him Teacher of the Year for Madera County, according to the County Office of Education. Also known as Señor Browning, the gifted and beloved educator teaches Spanish at YHS. “The selection of Senor Browning as Madera County’s Teacher of the ...

By Glenn Raggio — AHWAHNEE – Let’s set the record straight about two local golf courses, since there’s been ample discussion on the subject after it was announced last month that one of them would close permanently on October 31: we’re talking about Sierra Meadows closing, and River Creek taking up the slack. I own a house directly on the ...

With Hensley Lake water levels down most of the lake bed is now exposed. Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49 E Clampus Vitus has been doing a research project mapping the location of several historical sites on the dry bed of Hensley Lake and the actual Flume Route on the Fresno River. The preliminary results have been presented to the Army Corps ...

We were curious if those dogwoods had started turning those beautiful red fall colors yet in Nelder Grove. I could tell the dogs were also looking forward to the adventure! Distance: 6.5 miles (but you can go more or less if you want to) Difficulty: Easy to moderate Elevation Range: 5,242′ – 6,043′ Date: October 5, 2015 Topographic Quad Map: ...

MADERA COUNTY – It was just a regular Wednesday for Codee Cardoza and her young kids. They were driving back home from a doctor’s appointment, headed south on a little stretch of Highway 99 that’s under construction, around 3:15 in the afternoon. Baby Ethan, 2, was safely secured in his car seat, and Codee’s daughter Paiden, 9, was buckled up ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – You go for a walk in the forest hoping for a peaceful sojourn through tall trees, with picturesque pine-needle paths leading to a cedar-scented paradise where you contemplate the treasures of nature. Instead, you’re tripping over old tires, making your way through broken-down refrigerators, busted air conditioners, televisions, and “just about anything you can think of.” You’ve ...

OAKHURST – Seeing scarecrows everywhere? That’s the plan for this month: as a way to bring together the business community, get a little friendly competition going and “feed a fierce love of all things fall,” Branches Books & Gifts store owner Anne Driscoll has issued a fun challenge to Oakhurst Area businesses and schools. Throughout the month of October, Branches ...

We headed over to the east side of the Sierra to check out the fall color. I know, we did the same thing last week, but we went to different areas and found the most beautiful orange aspens to share with you. Distance: About 300 Miles Roundtrip Dificulty: Easy Elevational Range: 7,200′ to 9,960′ Date: September 28, 2015 We drove ...

YOSEMITE – Approximately 1500 people attended a ceremony in Yosemite Valley on Thursday, Oct. 1 to commemorate the park’s 125th Anniversary. The ceremony included remarks from Park Superintendent Don Neubacher, a living history portrayal of John Muir, a Native American blessing and songs, and 400 students from the Yosemite area and Central Valley. The special guest for the day was ...

Submitted by the BGC OAKHURST – The start of school brought a great rush of members to the Club this year both new and old, our daily attendance edging over 50 kids! The smoke from the wildfires kept everyone in for a few days where arts & crafts projects flourished, the kids making friendship bracelets, crochet, beading, drawing and coloring. ...