SACRAMENTO – Some of the monies collected from property owners in the mountain area through the yearly “rural fire fee” are slated to return to the community as grant funding for local projects. On Monday, Apr. 4, Cal Fire announced it had awarded an additional $3 million in grants throughout the state for a variety of fire prevention projects aimed ...

A Message from District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler’s Office —  MADERA COUNTY —  Supervisor Wheeler has been working non-stop on the tree mortality issues that we face in Eastern Madera County. Now, he is organizing a Tree Mortality Resource Fair for constituents to get one-on-one time with key partners that may be able to provide resources or educational information. The ...

COUNTY — The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in cooperation with Teichert Construction will commence one-way traffic control on State Route 41 in Madera County, as part of the ongoing passing lanes installation project near the 22 Mile House. The following one-way traffic control will be in effect starting next week, weather permitting, Caltrans reports. Beginning Sunday, Apr. 3 at 9 ...

OAKHURST — A few hours spent in the park last Saturday left many of us thinking “I want one of those!” “Those” are the amazing dogs who partner with deputies to ensure their safety and help them do their jobs at a level that could never be achieved without the dedication, training and noses of those K9 partners. Saturday’s event ...

MADERA COUNTY — One of two juvenile females accused of vandalizing vehicles at the home of a Yosemite High School soccer coach in Oakhurst has admitted to her part in the alleged crimes, while another continues to deny everything. Both teens appeared in Madera County Juvenile Court on Friday, Mar. 25. According to Madera County District Attorney David Linn, the ...

MADERA COUNTY — Sheriff Jay Varney is proud to announce that Detective Adam McEwen has been selected to be the 2016 Deputy of the Year. Detective McEwen is currently serving as the Ag Crimes Detective. He was hired in 2002 and worked as a Patrol Deputy, and was promoted to a Field Training Officer in 2006, where he served until ...

BONADELLE RANCHOS – With another fire season rapidly approaching, Madera County Fire Department is struggling county-wide to shore up its dwindling numbers of volunteer/Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs). In an effort to bolster the PCF ranks, a recruitment event and open house was held Saturday at Madera County Fire Company 19 in Bonadelle Ranchos. According to Co. 19 PCF Captain Peter ...

SACRAMENTO – With spring now taking hold in California, Cal Fire is already staffing up for fire season, while focusing the efforts of its crews on preventing large and damaging wildfires. Recent rains have been a welcome sight to drought parched California, but Cal Fire says their firefighters are not letting their guard down; instead they are training for another ...

NORTH FORK — Madera County Enviromental Health Department is reporting that all water samples taken yesterday from North Fork’s Maintenance District (MD8) have come back negative for bacteria. Residents who are part of MD8 have been on a Boil Water Order for several days, and businesses downtown that prepared fresh food have been closed since the presence of E. coli ...

NORTH FORK — Businesses downtown were shuttered today, and residents who are part of the local Maintenance District (MD8) were told to boil their water or use bottled water after a routine test on Mar. 16 revealed the presence of two types of bacteria in the system. Today, MD8 received results from the five repeat samples that were taken on ...