AHWAHNEE — District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler held a Town Hall meeting — via Zoom — on Wednesday (May 27), allowing county officials to provide updates on local efforts to combat COVID-19 as well as share the latest developments regarding key projects underway around Madera County.Running the meeting from his ranch in Ahwahnee, Wheeler said the virtual format, due to ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — All Madera County Library locations, including the branches in Oakhurst and North Fork, are now offering curbside services for the community as the next phase of the system’s reopening plan. Library announced this week that patrons can place holds on books, DVDs and other materials via the Library’s mobile app, online catalog, or by phone. Staff will prepare ...

MADERA — Madera County has approval from the state to move to Stage 2.5 on the governor’s Roadmap to Re-opening. Local health officials submitted documentation to the state on this week (May 19) confirming the county’s ability to meet the readiness criteria set by the governor — and the County’s “attestation” was approved by the state Wednesday morning.At a press ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will hold a virtual Town Hall meeting on Wednesday (May 27). The meeting, which will be conducted on Zoom, will take place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.The details for tuning into the online meeting are available at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85279998965 (Meeting ID: 852 7999 8965)Supervisor Wheeler is asking that constituents submit questions in ...

MADERA — Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney is trading his badge and uniform for a suit, tie and fourth-floor office at the Madera County Government Center. The surprise announcement introducing Varney as Madera County’s new top administrator took place at a press conference held Wednesday morning at the Madera County Government Center. “Throughout my career, I have been a results-oriented, ...

MADERA — The Madera County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday delayed a final decision on whether to approve large-scale expansion of industrial hemp in the county.The final vote on the new ordinance was scheduled for today’s meeting but the board made some last-minute changes, including increasing the maximum allowable size of fields from 50 to 80 acres — and decreasing ...

NORTH FORK – The board of directors of the North Fork Boosters Club announced last last week that the 2020 edition of the Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree, one of the mountain area’s most popular annual events, is being cancelled due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.“This is tough!” said a post on the Boosters Facebook page. “For sixty straight years ...

MADERA — The Madera County Board of Supervisors plan to honor California Highway Patrol Officer Brent Donley this week (May 19), awarding a “Certificate of Recognition” after Donley saved a man trapped last weekend in a raging whirlpool above Bass Lake.Donley’s impromptu heroics took place at Angel Falls in the Sierra National Forest.On a hike while off duty last Saturday, ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Tree crews have started clearing hundreds of dead trees along Sugar Pine Road (Road 630). The work site is located off of Highway 41 between Oakhurst and Fish Camp. Intermittent road closures adjacent to the project began Thursday (May 14) and will remain in place from Monday through Friday, causing 20-minute delays for some motorists for at ...

MADERA  — Rebecca Martinez, Madera County clerk-recorder and registrar of voters, has responded to Governor Gavin Newsome’s executive order, issued on May 8, regarding the November 3 General Election. “The Governor’s action requires that all registered voters be issued a vote by mail ballot for the upcoming general election,” Martinez saaid. “This will be business as usual for Madera County ...