MADERA COUNTY – An Oakhurst man appeared in Madera Superior Court yesterday to be sentenced in a deadly vehicle accident that took the life of 26-year-old Davin Clymore in February 2013. Charles Hagood, 60, was sentenced to 3 years probation and 300 hours of community service after being found guilty on June 25 of vehicular manslaughter “without malice,” which is ...

YOSEMITE – Highway 140 in Yosemite National Park near the El Portal entrance reopened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, to all traffic in both directions. Intermittent traffic delays may be possible for continued road clearing work in the coming days. Yosemite National Park road crews and law enforcement rangers worked extended shifts to get the road open as ...

YOSEMITE – State Route 140 at El Portal is closed at the Yosemite National Park boundary in Mariposa County due to a mudslide. The El Portal entrance to the Park  is shut down today and meanwhile, alternate routes are necessary to gain entry to the Park. The road closed overnight on Tuesday, July 21, due to heavy debris flows following ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino could open by the end of 2015 as part of a $35 million deal, according to a statement from the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians. The Business Journal is reporting that the Chukchansi Economic Development Authority (CEDA) expects to finalize an agreement with the National Indian Gaming Commission soon and has ...

MADERA – On Wednesday, July 15, Board of Equalization Vice-Chairman and District 1 member George Runner participated in two Town Hall meetings in the City of Madera, hosted by Madera County Supervisor Rick Farinelli. The two events, while intended for different audiences, focused on taxes and the state of the California economy. The first Town Hall was directed at Madera’s ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – Because of the prolonged drought conditions, the Sierra National Forest is reminding all residents that fire danger remains above average across the Central Sierra and the chance of large or damaging fires still exists. Recent wetting rains provided only temporary relief from the danger of wildfire. With the return of dry weather and increasing temperatures, dangerous ...

OAKHURST – Fallers and crews from Cal Fire and the US Forest Service were hard at work along Cedar Valley Drive today, removing hazard trees that pose a danger to motorists and residents. The project is a cooperative effort between Cal Fire, the Forest Service and the Madera County Road Department (Public Works) to get out ahead of the mounting ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is moving to its new location at 2725 Falcon Drive near the airport in Madera. Both the old Sheriff’s Office at 14143 Road 28, and the new location on Falcon Drive will be closed on Wednesday, July 22, and Thursday, July 23 while the department makes the move across town. Phone calls ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – Whether you’re new to the mountain area, or have lived here for generations, the historic drought and extreme fire conditions warrant a close look at how you’ve prepared for the fire season. Karen Guillemin-Kanawyer, Cal Fire’s MMU Fire Prevention Specialist, says the potential for dangerous, destructive wildfires is very real. “It is up to everyone to be ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST –  On Tuesday, July 7, work began on the Soquel Bridge, located on Sky Ranch Road. Crews have removed the bridge and will work for the next few weeks to put in a new, double-wide bridge. Detours are now in place for people entering and leaving the Sierra National Forest on Sky Ranch Road (see detour map ...