MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — In a partnership spanning more than 90 years, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) — the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week — are uniting to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Fire Won’t Wait. Plan Your Escape.” CAL FIRE urges all residents to incorporate ...

Irmgard Schick October 19, 1930 – October 4, 2022 Irmgard was better known as Oma or Omi to most. She and her husband were the pioneers of our family. They, along with their oldest son, started their own new adventure. They moved from Germany to the United States in 1957 not knowing the language and with having only one distant ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — This Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15), the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter urges everyone to practice their two-minute home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms to stay safe from the nation’s most frequent disaster. Two minutes is the amount of time that fire experts say you may have to safely escape a home fire ...

EASTERN MADERA COUNTY — With less than a month until the election, Bobby Macaulay’s overwhelming community support for Madera County Supervisor District 5 continues to grow each day. Earlier this month, Bobby was endorsed by Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue – a lifelong District 5 resident, Madera County District Attorney Sally Moreno, and former District 5 Supervisor Gary Gilbert. “As ...

Dennis Robert Otterson was born in Duluth, Minnesota, on November 17, 1945. In 1951, a sister Diane was born. He loved being a “big brother.” The family moved to Santa Barbara in 1955 and the California adventure began. Early years were spent with friends, many life-long, enjoying the California sun – waterskiing, surfing, fishing, hiking, traveling – he loved the ...

MERCED – The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) is now operating its winter schedule for bus service running from Merced and Mariposa to Yosemite National Park. YARTS Highway 140 Winter Schedule (PDF) The Highway 140 service operates year-round but reduces the frequency of service to and from the park after the summer season. YARTS routes into Yosemite that originate ...

Joan Carolyn Keeney was born May 17, 1932, in Newberg, Missouri. She passed from this life on July 20, 2022, in Ahwahnee, California, at the age of 90. She was the 2nd daughter born to Lindsay Martin Keeney and Mary Ellen Slaughter. At age three, Joan and her parents moved from Missouri to Bakersfield, California. She attended Bakersfield High School ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — Rediscovering classic, outdoor winter activities like snowmobiling can provide a simple way to spend time with loved ones. In fact, snowmobile sales are expected to increase 15-20% this winter, according to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA), allowing families to safely social distance and get outside amid the global pandemic. “Snowmobiling is a unique way to experience ...

MADERA COUNTY — In his bid to become District 5 Supervisor in Madera County, Mark Reed said he is “humbled” by the numerous new endorsements he has received in recent weeks. “These new endorsements represent thousands of people in Madera and Eastern Madera County and convince me that they have affirmed my ‘Economic Policy Blueprint for Eastern Madera County’ which ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform various operations next week on State Routes 49, 132 and 140.. State Route 49 One-way traffic control from Tiptop-Usona Road to Hirsch Road for tree work beginning Monday, October 10, through Friday, October 14, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. State Route 132 One-way traffic control from the ...