MADERA COUNTY – With the election just weeks away, and absentee ballots in the mail, we asked the two candidates running for Sheriff of Madera County for the most important things they want voters to know before casting their ballots. Michael Salvador, current Undersheriff, didn’t hesitate. “Go to the polls,” he said.

O’NEALS – “Bandits! Bandits! Bandits robbed the stage to Hildreth! Get a posse! They got the gold!” So began the story as another piece of local history was preserved and commemorated by the hard-working members of the Grub Gulch Chapter 41-49 of E Clampus Vitus. Their latest monument was dedicated on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Ryan Ranch in O’Neals, ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s office is asking for assistance in locating as many as five men who broke into a home in rural Madera County this afternoon. A marijuana crop was their intended target. At approximately 1:28 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, the Sheriff’s office received word of a home invasion on Avenue 6 near Road 20. ...

OAKHURST – One of the finer aspects of foothill living is access to an abundance of tremendous art and gifted artists. That access really increases this weekend, as Sierra Art Trails (SAT) 2014 Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour takes place, now in its 12th year and running this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3, 4 and 5, from 10 a.m. ...

AHWAHNEE – District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will be hosting the next in his series of Town Hall meetings on Thursday, Oct. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Wasuma School in Ahwahnee. This is a chance for constituents to discuss issues that are important to them with their representative on the Madera County Board of Supervisors.

Courtesy of Museums & Historic Sites of Southern Yosemite Books are the life-blood of a region for the knowledge they impart. We want you to know about the wealth of books available to you from local sources that give you an insight into the region in which you live. The holidays are coming soon, and we invite you to consider ...

PRATHER – The annual Harvest Arts & Peace Festival returns to the Intermountain Nursery in Prather for the 22nd year on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With local farm booths, children’s activities, artisan food booths, music and dance, this much-anticipated event is a fall favorite for ...

OAKHURST – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office will host their annual drug take-back event this coming Saturday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For the convenience of all Madera County residents and business owners, the unwanted and/or unused drugs can be disposed of in two locations, one in Oakhurst and one in Madera.

OAKHURST – With the stress and devastation suffered by mountain area residents during the recent fires, everyone is wanting to know how these fires started and who is responsible. As reported by SNO on Sept. 18, one individual has been identified in connection with the Courtney Fire, and another with a string of suspicious fires in the Oakhurst area.

MADERA COUNTY – Five separate fires along Highway 41 between Road 406 and Road 208 closed the road in both directions for several hours today. At 1:41 p.m., the first report came in of a fire just south of Road 200, but as firefighters arrived they discovered several others farther south from that location.