SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – A fire near Rock Creek on the Sierra National Forest is now over 1,000 acres and is quickly burning through the steep and rough terrain on the west side of the San Joaquin River Canyon. The “French Fire” is on the Bass Lake Ranger District on the east side of Forest Service Road 81 between Rock ...

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Madera Regional Water Management Group (RWMG) plans to adopt an update to their Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP), which was originally prepared in 2008. The updated IRWMP was prepared in accordance with the State of California Department of Water Resources IRWMP Guidelines. The IRWMP includes groundwater, surface water, and flood control management objectives ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Board of Supervisors has announced that they will again forgo an automatic 1.83 percent salary increase, “in light of the sacrifices that continue to be made by Madera County employees during these difficult fiscal times.” This is the second year in a row that the Supervisors have passed on a salary increase. The Supervisors ...

MADERA COUNTY – As the temperatures climb into triple digits in the valley, mountain area communities have established cooling centers for residents during times of extreme summer heat. Centers are generally closed on holidays unless otherwise indicated.

Where to go when the bank says NO… MADERA COUNTY – Are you a small business in need of a loan? The reality is that many businesses are not able to qualify for a traditional commercial loan from a bank. Register now for a workshop that will present strategies, options and alternative sources for you to consider in your pursuit ...

MADERA COUNTY – Boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 19 are invited to participate in Madera County Soccer Fest 2014, July 29 through 31. These free soccer clinics are being offered to all youth in Madera County, with professional instruction from the youth development coaches of Chivas USA and Fresno Fuego.

MADERA COUNTY – For anyone interested in becoming a school board member in Chawanakee, Bass Lake or Yosemite districts, now is the time to pick up the necessary paperwork to get started. A total of nine offices in those three districts are scheduled to appear on the ballot for the Statewide General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

NORTH FORK – District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler has rescheduled his North Fork Town Hall meeting, originally set for Thursday, July 31. The new date will be Thursday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 8 p.m. The location remains the same, the North Fork Rancheria Community Center, 56900 Kuhugib Road.

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Film Commission is pleased to announce they just finished filming an NBC TV series – you may have seen the commercials – “Running Wild With Bear Gylls.” Survival expert/adventurer Bear Grylls and movie star Channing Tatum, of 22 Jump Street fame, spent last Monday night camped on top of Fresno Dome in the Sierra ...

CALIFORNIA – The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) invites all Californians to celebrate summer by fishing this Saturday. July 5 is the first of two Free Fishing Days in 2014, when people can try their hand at fishing without having to buy a sport fishing license. Free Fishing Days are also a great opportunity for licensed anglers to ...