Submitted by The North Fork History Group – MADERA COUNTY — With the new courthouse recently opened in Madera, there were a lot of bare walls just waiting to display beautiful works of art for visitors and employees to enjoy. Rather than purchasing artwork for the building, the County decided to offer local photographers the opportunity to submit digital photographs ...

MADERA – On Tuesday, Nov. 17, the Madera High School “Autism Social Skills Class” will present one of their projects to the Madera County Board of Supervisors. The project is a large-scale mosaic of the Madera County Seal. The Board will host a public presentation during their regular meeting to promote the students and to thank them for the present. ...

SACRAMENTO – While recent rains and cooler temperatures have lowered the threat of wildfires in some areas of the State, Cal Fire continues to have extra firefighter staffing statewide and remains at peak fire season in Central and Southern California. Last week alone Cal Fire crews responded to nearly 50 new wildfires. Even as Cal fire transitions out of peak ...

MADERA COUNTY – Those arrested for DUI in Madera County, especially repeat offenders and those involved in fatal or injury crashes, can expect to face highly trained, specialized prosecutors, thanks to a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, says District Attorney David Linn. The $131,585 grant to the Madera County District Attorney’s Office will fund a Vertical Prosecution ...

MADERA – The only defendant to reject a plea deal from the District Attorney’s office in connection with the October 2014 attempted take-over at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino, is headed toward trial. District Attorney David Linn announced yesterday, following a hearing in Department 22 of the Madera Superior Court, that his office will be proceeding to a preliminary ...

MADERA COUNTY – The last in a trio of men convicted of kidnapping 26 school children and their bus driver near Chowchilla in 1976 will appear before the California Parole Board on Nov. 19. Frederick Woods, along with his two conspirators Richard and James Schoenfield, pleaded guilty to the crime in Alameda County Superior Court in 1977, and were all ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park has lifted the fire restrictions in the park. The onset of cooler temperatures and the recent rainfall have reduced fire danger. Campfires are once again permitted in the Yosemite Wilderness below 6,000 feet in elevation. The fire restrictions were implemented in July after continued hot and dry weather conditions resulted in very high fire danger. ...

COUNTY – Caltrans says maintenance crews will conduct one-way traffic reversing control operations beginning Tuesday, Oct. 27 along State Route (SR) 41 just north of Yosemite Lakes Park at Ruby Creek located south of Coarsegold, starting at 8:30 a.m. and going until 2:30 p.m. The operations are necessary, according to Caltrans, in order to conduct shoulder and drainage repairs along ...

MADERA COUNTY – Madera County Public Works Director Johannes J. Hoevertsz announced Thursday, Oct. 22, that he will be leaving Madera County to pursue a new professional opportunity in Sonoma County. “This decision was not easy as I love my job and the work that we have accomplished as a team in Madera County,” Hoevertsz said. “However, this job opportunity ...

O’NEALS – For anyone considering lighting off a debris pile while a burn ban remains in effect across the state, be on notice that the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) takes these violations very seriously. They also see them as a good opportunity to educate the public. After a full wildland fire dispatch was called up to ...