NORTH FORK – A prescribed burn of over 60 acres near Kinsman Flats has been successfully completed, accomplishing the goals of reducing fuels near homes in the area, and improving habitat for wildlife. The Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, Fuels and Fire Management staff, ignited the burns on Thursday, Feb. 5 and Friday, Feb. 6, on the Source ...

In two minutes you can ride an elevator to the top of the Empire State Building or make a pot of coffee. It’s also the amount of time it takes to get out of your house alive in a fire. Fire can spread rapidly through your home, leaving you as little as one or two minutes to escape safely once ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Oakhurst office of the California Highway Patrol has a new Commander. Lieutenant Jason Daughrity stepped into the job on Jan. 2 when Lt. Sandra Adams retired after serving in the post since 2003. Daughrity, 41, comes from a law enforcement family, and knew from a very early age that this was his calling. “I had a ...

Submitted by Kim Lawson OAKHURST – Madera County, also known as California’s Gateway to Yosemite, has a new look at the Capitol. At the heart of Sacramento, the California State Capitol Building, often referred to as the “People’s Building,” is home to both a museum and the state’s working seat of government. The Capitol serves as a Mecca for school ...

MADERA COUNTY – The 33rd Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon competition begins on Friday, Jan. 30, when students from Madera County will compete in the interview and essay competitions at Madera County Office of Education. Yosemite High School has dominated the elite 10-event competition for more than two decades with Señor Steve Browning at the helm. The winner of Madera ...

MADERA – At the heart of good gardening is good soil, and anyone who wants to know more about what that means is invited to attend a Free Soils Workshop for Home Gardeners, hosted by Madera County Master Gardener Sandy Hallam.

OAKHURST – A Town Hall meeting in Oakhurst last Thursday was a chance for Cal Fire and Firewise Madera County to let residents know just how dire the situation is for this year’s fire season. “I would like to say that I’m not here to scare you, but it’s actually quite the opposite,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Troy Cheek. ...

MADERA COUNTY – Those who drive Highway 41 in and out of the foothills have something to cheer about, as long-anticipated plans to add a passing lane north of Highway 145 near the 22 Mile House are scheduled to get underway later this year. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will construct a passing lane in the northbound and southbound ...

MADERA COUNTY – Emadco Disposal Service has announced they plan to implement residential curbside recycling for customers beginning this summer. Ashley Smith is Recycling Operations Manager for the Oakhurst-based company, and explains the new curbside recycling program will be available at existing pick-up locations every other week starting July 1, 2015.

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has six new reasons to be proud of the department’s nationally recognized Citizen On Patrol (COP) Unit. Sheriff Jay Varney swore in the six volunteers last night in Yosemite Lakes Park. COPs make a big difference in the way law enforcement makes its presence known in our community, says Varney.