MADERA COUNTY – In what is called “the Passing of Colors,” newly elected Sheriff Jay Varney and outgoing Sheriff John Anderson together gave a command performance outside the Madera County Sheriff’s Office yesterday. This long-standing military tradition was shared with hundreds of citizens looking on, and was bittersweet for the team of sworn personnel at the Sheriff’s Office, who are ...

MADERA – Learn how to care for your camellias at a free workshop hosted by Madera County Master Gardeners on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Master Gardener Carole Chavin will demonstrate the care and feeding of these beautiful flowering plants at the Madera Community College Center, 30277 Avenue 12, Room 3A, located at the rear of ...

OAKHURST – Wanted! Team Captains, committee members, sponsors and survivors for Relay For Life 2014, scheduled for May 17-18. This year’s event will be held at Yosemite High School. The first Team Captain meeting of the new year will be Monday, Jan. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at Oakhurst Medical Group. Immediately following that meeting, at 6:30 p.m., there will be ...

MADERA COUNTY – Finding a panel of 20 citizens who are able to commit to a trial anticipated to last anywhere from three to six months is no easy task. Kenneth Jackson, 40, and Allison Waterman, 47, have been in custody awaiting trial in connection with a series of suspected arson fires in the Coarsegold area since late June, 2013.

MADERA COUNTY – Influenza activity is increasing in California, including Madera County, according to the Madera County Public Health Department. Many areas are reporting patients who are critically ill with influenza, including healthy young adults. The primary strain of influenza circulating so far is the H1N1 strain, which emerged during the 2009 pandemic. This strain causes more illness in children ...

Submitted by Brittany Dyer AHWAHNEE – Residents of Eastern Madera County have been anxiously awaiting the opening of what is sure to be a favorite destination for hikers, bikers, horseback riders and families looking for the perfect place to picnic and recreate. Now, the opening of the Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park is just around the corner. Just how much time, ...

MADERA – Staff has been busy at the Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office processing property tax payments, including a surprising number of over-payments by many taxpayers. “We collected over $79 million, consisting mostly of first installments and some second installments of property taxes,” reports Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector Tracy Kennedy Desmond.

OAKHURST – There’s a new currency in town, expected to become a valuable asset to consumers and local vendors alike. Mountain Bucks Gift Certificates are easy-to-use and designed to keep shopping dollars in Eastern Madera County. Anyone can purchase Mountain Bucks gift certificates, available from the Oakhurst Area Chamber Office with payment in cash or by check. The certificates can ...

This month’s History Mystery features this barn. We obtained this picture of a barn located somewhere in Madera County while working on a Historical Preservation project with the Madera County Library. We are looking for the location of the barn, the name of the ranch where it was located, who built it, is it still standing or any other information ...

OAKHURST – Construction crews are starting phase one of the project to replace and widen the bridge at Road 425B and Road 426. The $1.4 million project will be completed in two phases to allow traffic to continue to access Road 425B at this location during construction.