BASS LAKE — Family members of Bonnie Hale, who was killed in North Fork on Dec. 17, 2016, fought to control their emotions as Judge Charles Wieland handed down his ruling in Bass Lake Superior Court this afternoon, as to whether the woman accused in her death is competent to stand trial for murder. Mary O’Keefe, now 64, was arrested ...

BASS LAKE — Two North Fork men arrested following a violent home invasion robbery in Bass Lake Annex on Nov. 18 appeared in Bass Lake Superior Court on Thursday, Dec. 7, for a scheduled preliminary hearing. Ray Coleman, who turned 24 on the day of his court appearance, and Alvin McDonald III, 18, are charged with attempted murder, strong-arm robbery, ...

MADERA COUNTY — A judgment handed down in Bass Lake Superior court today is a good reminder that citizens are responsible when their burn piles get away from them. A resident who lives in the 28000 block of Road 400 appeared before Judge Charles Wieland today in a case that involved an escaped burn on Nov. 3. The man admitted ...

MADERA COUNTY — When Michael Lapschies was sentenced on Sept. 26 to 12 years in prison for lighting a series of fires in the Bass Lake area in 2015, and making threats against his ex-wife Amanda Skye-Ritchie, she was not at all satisfied that he would actually serve anywhere near the term imposed by the Bass Lake Superior Court. On ...

BASS LAKE — More than 10 months after being charged with first degree murder with an elder abuse enhancement, the woman accused of killing Bonnie Hale was back in Bass Lake Superior Court today for a competency hearing. This is the third hearing on competency, to date, and the case has been continued again. Mary O’Keefe, 64, has been in ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Coarsegold woman convicted in 2014 of arson and conspiracy for a string of fires in the Yosemite Lakes Park area has been denied parole. On Sept. 1, the Madera County District Attorney’s Office filed an opposition to the pending parole release of Alice Waterman, age 50, from the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla. Waterman was ...

BASS LAKE — It has been more than nine months since Mary O’Keefe was arrested and charged with the murder of her North Fork neighbor Bonnie Hale, who was 76 years old when she was killed last December. O’Keefe, 64, has been in custody undergoing psychological evaluations to determine if she is mentally fit to stand trial, and able to ...

MADERA COUNTY — The District Attorney’s Office has extended the deadline for anyone wishing to submit letters in opposition to the release of Alice Waterman, convicted in 2014 for her part in a string of fires in the Yosemite Lakes Park area. Waterman was found guilty on six counts of arson and one count of conspiracy after more than 30 ...

MADERA COUNTY — Madera County District Attorney David Linn announced today that on Sept. 1, his office filed an opposition to the pending parole release from the Central California Women’s Facility, of Alice Waterman. Waterman was convicted in May 2014 of six counts of arson, and one count of conspiracy, and sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison for ...

OAKHURST — After a very active 24 hours on the Railroad Fire on Sunday, things were quite a bit calmer today. With cooperation from the weather in the form of lower temperatures, higher humidities and calm winds, firefighters made some good progress. The fire is still being estimated at 9,790 acres with 23 percent containment. There has been an update ...