OAKHURST — About 40 people gathered last night to participate in a Strategic Planning Alliance meeting, geared toward figuring out how millions of dollars will be spent on a new college facility in Oakhurst. Oakhurst Community College Center is part of Reedley College, which operates under the umbrella of the State Center Community College District (SCCCD). In June, voters approved Bond Measure C, which gives ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Commuters are reporting extreme delays over Deadwood today between Oakhurst and Coarsegold, particularly in the northbound lanes, where one driver said traffic inched along on Highway 41 just north of the old Broken Bit Restaurant for about 50 minutes before it cleared. Caltrans PIO Cory Burkarth explains that contractors are doing emergency maintenance work today, repairing a mudslide near ...

MADERA COUNTY — In a vote of 5-0, the Madera County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a resolution to raise the pay of Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs) to a base of $15/hour, and Paid Call Driver Operators to $18/hour, effective Jan. 1, 2017. PCFs, or volunteer firefighters, in Madera County are currently paid minimum wage, now set at $10.50/hour ...

YOSEMITE — Highway 41 from Wawona to Yosemite Valley has been reopened, according to an alert from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. The roadway was closed yesterday morning due to the large accumulation of snow, and plows have been working since to clear the road. Visitors to the park are reminded to always carry tire chains and be prepared to ...

OAKHURST — As of 9 a.m., Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is reporting 11 power outages in the Oakhurst/ Bass Lake area, affecting 3,881 customers. Heavy snow is bringing down trees and power lines across the area, blocking roads and causing major traffic problems. Chain control is in place over Deadwood on Highway 41 just south of Oakhurst. Restrictions are ...

YOSEMITE — The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has issues an alert advising that Highway 41 is temporarily closed between Wawona and Yosemite Valley due to snow accumulation. Yosemite West residents and visitors and advised not to leave during closure. The road between the south entrance and Wawona is reportedly open, and R2 chain restrictions are in place throughout the park. ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Flash Flood Watch for the Sierra Nevada foothills including Mariposa, Madera, Tulare and Fresno County foothills, and Tulare County mountains, due to recent heavy rains combined with additional rainfall and possible snow melt expected. The Flash Flood Watch will be in effect from 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, ...

MADERA COUNTY — Perhaps the most often-asked question to Sierra News Online concerns accidents on Highway 41 — how many occur each year, and how many are DUI related? The California Highway Patrol in Sacramento provided us with accident statistics from Jan. 1, 2011 through Dec. 31, 2015, for the Highway 41 corridor from Highway 145 to Fish Camp. We ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – Anyone taking to the mountain highways over the weekend should avoid any unwanted delays by making sure there are traction devices in their vehicle. Chain control is now in place on Highway 41 from three miles north of Coarsegold (the bottom of Deadwood) to Yosemite National Park (R2 – see below). The location could change as conditions warrant. ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors will be considering a resolution to establish a new salary structure for Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs) at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Currently, PCFs, or Volunteer Firefighters, are only paid the minimum wage of $10.50/hour and are only compensated when responding to fires and motor vehicle accidents. They are not paid ...