MARIPOSA – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) has announced that effective Friday Dec. 6, hazard reduction burning in Eastern Madera County will be allowed with a valid San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District permit. The following guidelines are required when conducting a hazard reduction burn:

MADERA – In light of the sacrifices made by Madera County employees during difficult fiscal times, the Board of Supervisors has elected to forgo an automatic 1.4 percent salary increase. The automatic increase stems from County policy that ties the Supervisors’ salaries to those of state Superior Court Judges. Last month, the Judicial Council of California announced that judges would ...

MADERA – Mia Summers from Yosemite High School is the winning Courtroom Journalist on completion of the 2013-2014 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial held on December 4, 5, and 10. The Mock Trial is a simulation of a criminal court case in which the students act as attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs and clerks. Attorneys from throughout the valley ...

FRESNO – The Central California Animal Disaster Team will be hosting a free workshop on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members and other emergency responders. The purpose of this workshop is to teach CERT members and other emergency responders how to safely and appropriately respond in emergency events involving animals.

MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Economic Development Commission will hold its annual Economic Summmit Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 11:30 a.m -1:30 p.m. at the Madera Municipal Golf Course, 23200 Avenue 17 in Madera. The Madera County EDC hosts this luncheon every year for the purpose of bring the community together to discuss economic impacts on Madera County ...

OAKHURST – How important is it for mountain area residents to have emergency room services readily available? Is Oakhurst in danger of losing the only one in town, namely Urgent Care? That was one of the issues discussed at District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler’s Town Hall meeting in November, where Dr. Joel Figatner addressed the crowd about the shortage of ...

MADERA – Those following Yosemite High School’s Mock Trial team will want to know that the conclusion of former high school student Rae Concha’s mock murder trial has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Madera Courthouse. In this year’s Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial, the fictional case of People vs. Concha, has the defendant being ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – Someone you love is suffering chest pains and is in need of immediate medical attention. You call 911 and anxiously await the arrival of paramedics. Every single minute counts, and could be the difference between life and death. But how much precious time could be lost if emergency responders can’t find your house? It may seem a ...

Editor’s note: the Toys for Tots big toy roundup previously scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, has been postponed one week to Dec. 14, due to weather. Read on for more information. OAKHURST – It may be cold outside, but the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation has thousands of ways to warm the hearts of local children of all ages.

MADERA COUNTY – As winter weather approaches, the County of Madera has established the following locations as Warming Centers in the mountain area during times of extreme winter cold. The centers will be open the days and times of the week listed below, while other centers may be opened on an “as need” basis and will be announced through the ...