YOSEMITE — Park officials have provided additional information concerning a series of rockfalls that occurred yesterday afternoon from the Southeast face of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. One person was killed, one injured, and officials say all others are now accounted for. Seven rockfalls occurred over a four-hour time span, with the initial rockfall happening at 1:52 p.m. A ...

PRATHER – Fire managers on the High Sierra Ranger District are planning to continue ignitions for the 833-acre Dinkey South understory prescribed fire, on Tuesday, Oct. 3. Using the advantage of favorable weather conditions, these ignitions will begin where they ended this past spring after 180 acres were successfully treated, say officials. Fire personnel and equipment will be committed to ...

YOSEMITE — A rockfall of undetermined size occurred in Yosemite National Park just before 2 p.m. this afternoon, according to authorities, and one person was injured while another was confirmed to have died. The rockfall was reported to have happened from El Capitan, a granite monolith above Yosemite Valley. The release point appears to be near the “Waterfall Route,” a ...

OAKHURST — Want to help create a cleaner future in terms of public transportation in the foothills? The Madera County Transportation Commission (MCTC) and its partner agencies have been looking at ways to provide more efficient streets and highways. They want to expand transit use, make space for bicycles and pedestrians, and link land use and transportation. It’s part of an ...

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 – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 24 2017. Oakhurst warrant citation On Monday, Sept. 18 at 12:46 a.m. a deputy initiated a vehicle stop conducted on the 40000 block of CA-41. The male driver was found to have a $5,000 misdemeanor warrant for ...

YOSEMITE – Wildfire is part of life in the Central Sierra, and the sight of billowing smoke engenders fear in those who live in the Wildland Urban Interface. But it is also an important part of the ecology, as is evidenced by the decades of study in Yosemite National Park. Officials are eager to witness the rebirth and renewal in ...

MADERA COUNTY – On Tuesday, Sept. 19, the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved renewing a contract between the County’s Animal Services Department and HOPE Animal Services of Fresno for low-cost spay and neuter services, a program that the County says has saved constituents from higher costs over the past seven years. HOPE, or Halt Overpopulation with Prevention and Education, ...

MADERA COUNTY — On Saturday, Sept. 30, the County of Madera will host a special joint meeting with the City of Chowchilla and City of Madera to talk about shared goals and how they can be put into action. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at the Madera Municipal Golf Course, 23200 Avenue 17 in Madera. ...

YOSEMITE — Anyone visiting Yosemite National Park is likely hoping for the chance to see bears. A recent trip up to the Empire Fire provided a delightful encounter with two bear cubs along the Glacier Point Road. It was about 2:30 on Thursday afternoon, as I headed down from Bridalveil Campground. Just a mile or two west of the Yosemite ...