HANFORD – With only one significant rain event since spring, residents of the mountain area may be encouraged to see a wet Thanksgiving holiday. The National Weather Service is forecasting a pattern change to wet weather is likely by the middle of the week. Its arrival after a very long dry spell will create slick and potentially hazardous driving conditions ...

Written by Sarah Bolton – MADERA COUNTY – Hello Madera County residents! Welcome to the Tree Mortality Community Column. Our company, Blue Ridge Services (BRS), is partnering with Madera County to oversee and implement their tree mortality mitigation project. November is in full swing, but the risk of fires is still high in Madera County and surrounding areas. With cooler ...

MADERA – Two teams from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office are doing their part to assist in the devastating aftermath of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. On Tuesday night, Deputy Jack Williamson, Corporal RJ Jackson, and four Search and Rescue volunteers were dispatched as part of SAR Mutual Aid to assist in the recovery of those who perished in ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is beginning an emergency project to rehabilitate and make repairs to State Route 140 from Briceburg to Yosemite National Park. The work is needed after the Ferguson Fire burned through the region. Work is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Nov. 13, and will occur during both day and night hours into April ...

MADERA COUNTY – After a tough race and a hard-fought campaign, the votes have been counted and Madera County has a new district attorney. Sally Moreno has won out over opponent Paul Hornick, earning 56.17 percent of the vote. “This is a good day for Madera County,” Moreno told Sierra News Online this evening. “I am looking forward to working ...

Written by Sarah Bolton – MADERA COUNTY – Hello Madera County Residents! Welcome to the Tree Mortality Community Column. Our company, Blue Ridge Services (BRS), is partnering with Madera County to oversee and implement their tree mortality mitigation project. This week, we are highlighting one of our safety officers, Zak Souders. Zak works to ensure the safety of the tree ...

MARIPOSA — Guided by a court ruling, a homeless task force, a public health officer’s declaration of a health emergency, and the fast approach of winter, Mariposa County has opened a temporary homeless shelter. On Friday, Nov. 2, Mariposa County Health and Human Services Agency began operating the temporary four-week emergency shelter for homeless individuals in the community. “The Darrah ...

OAKHURST — One at a time, six per night for five nights total, guest cabins destined for a popular Yosemite area property are scheduled to on the road, through Thursday night, Nov. 1. The little buildings filling the lot on the west side of Highway 41 just south of 47th Place Carpet One are being prepped for delivery to Tenaya ...

OAKHURST – Judges, attorneys and interested citizens gathered last night at the Oakhurst Community Center to discuss the impending closure of the Bass Lake Courthouse. Though everyone was there to voice their opposition to the loss of the courthouse, it was apparent early on that the decision was final and would not be changed. Madera Superior Court Presiding Judge Joseph ...

Written by Sarah Bolton – OAKHURST – Blue Ridge Services, Inc., a waste and vegetation management company hired by Madera County to oversee the county’s tree mortality mitigation project, has been making consistent progress to remove dead and dying trees near county infrastructure. Blue Ridge Services (BRS) has sent Right of Entry forms to every private residence with dead trees ...