MADERA COUNTY — A family who was about to spend Christmas Eve with no gifts under the tree had their holiday wish list filled by two officers with big hearts. At about 8 o’clock on Christmas Eve morning, Madera Sheriff’s deputy Josh Cushing responded to a residence located on Pickford Drive for a call for service. Once at the location, ...

MADERA COUNTY — If you got pulled over by a Sheriff’s deputy today, you may have gotten a boost of Christmas cheer, rather than a citation. That’s what happened to Melinda Kerby of North Fork, who was on her way to bible study, when she was stopped for a burned out license plate light. Instead of a ticket, she was ...

FRESNO – Federal judge Lawrence O’Neill today lifted the injunction that closed the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino over a year ago. After months of negotiations on a memorandum of understanding with Madera County, and a settlement agreement with the National Indian Gaming Commission announced yesterday, Judge O’Neill handed down his ruling today in U.S. District Court in Fresno, removing ...

MADERA COUNTY — The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) has entered into a settlement agreement with Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians that will help move them forward toward reopening their Coarsegold casino. In October, 2014, the NIGC Chairman issued a notice of violation and temporary closure order for all gaming activity at the Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino because the ...

SIERRA FOOTHILLS — The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a flash flood watch for Central California, including Madera, Mariposa and Fresno County foothills through Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 22. This advisory is mainly for the Rim Fire and El Portal fire burn areas, but extends from Yosemite to Kings Canyon. Heavy rain may cause areas of flooding and debris ...

MADERA COUNTY – Former Sheriff John Anderson and his Public Information Officer Erica Stuart, are honored to announce that Madera County’s origination of the “Elder Orphan” program has been named semi-finalist by Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation. In November 2012, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office launched a twice-daily telephonic welfare check for seniors living alone. ...

SACRAMENTO – As California’s severe drought and bark beetle epidemic has left millions of trees dead, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection last week voted to extend a drought mortality exemption to the state’s tree removal permitting process. “With massive tree mortality across California, this exemption streamlines the process for landowners who are working to reduce their wildfire ...

BASS LAKE — More than 1,300 dead and dying trees have been taken down along Road 274, eliminating hazards to motorists and providing residents with a wealth of easily accessible firewood. On Wednesday, Dec. 9, crews from Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service completed the last stretch of Road 274 between Marina View and Mono Wind Way, dropping about ...

MADERA COUNTY — The last of 15 defendants charged in the attempted armed takeover at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in October 2014 has settled his case, according to District Attorney David Linn. Vernon King was charged with  kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing serious injury, and assault with a stun ...

Submitted by Justine Reynolds NORTH FORK – A project that is expected to play an important role in dealing with the devastating tree mortality in the Sierra and provide much-needed jobs in the area has taken another big step forward. On Friday, Dec. 11, North Fork Community Power closed on New Markets Tax Credit financing with Fresno-based Central Valley New ...