MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Apr. 3 to Sunday, Apr. 9, 2017: Oakhurst theft On Monday, Apr. 3 at 12:07 p.m., a deputy at the Oakhurst substation was dispatched to speak to a reporting party concerning a petty theft, said to have taken place on the 47000 Block of Road 620. ...

OAKHURST — Work continues this week north of Oakhurst, along with associated delays, as Caltrans crews continue to tackle the massive hazardous tree removal project that’s been taking place along the popular corridor since last fall. Traffic control/road closure is in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Apr. 10 through Thursday, Apr. 13. Crews will be stationed in the ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Volunteers are now being recruited for the season to serve as fire lookouts on Miami Mountain. Miami Lookout is a lookout tower located just east of Nippinawasee and is staffed throughout the fire season by Forest Service Volunteers. The tower is a great asset to our mountain community because it is located in a prime location ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park will waive park entrance fees on the weekends of National Park Week, Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 15 – 16, and Apr. 22-23, 2017. National Park Week is a week-long celebration of our National Parks celebrated at National Park Service sites across the United States. Fees being waived for the weekends of National Park Week include ...

YOSEMITE — After years of drought, the central Sierra has experienced much welcome precipitation, and reports from the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park are encouraging. Park staff have completed the April 1 snow surveys, and report that the water content of the snowpack in the Tuolumne drainage is 177 percent of average. In the Merced drainage it is 168 ...

NORTH FORK  – The Bass Lake Ranger District is set to begin the 2017 reforestation program, and will have seedlings for you to adopt. During the next two months, contract and Forest Service crews will be planting approximately 235 acres with up to 70,000 seedlings addressing areas impacted by the 2014 French and Courtney Fires. Approximately 250 to 350 seedlings ...

CLOVIS – The Sierra National Forest (SNF) is now selling Personal Use Wood Cutting Permits for the Apr. 1 through Nov. 30 period. Forest Service offices in North Fork, Prather and Clovis began selling permits on Monday, Apr. 3. All permits will be valid only for the Sierra National Forest lands and do not include private property. The forest will ...

OAKHURST — An accident that resulted in a hazmat situation closed down both lanes of Highway 49 this afternoon just north of Oakhurst. At about 3 p.m., John Costello, 26, of Bakersfield, was southbound in a 2005 International truck just south of Harmony Lane at a stated speed of 45-50 miles per hour, according to CHP. The truck was carrying ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — Firefighters have contained the Jerseydale fire, and are moving into mopup stage as some resources are being released. The fire was reported as an escaped burn pile at about 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, burning in Forest Service jurisdiction just off Jerseydale Road between Scott Creek and Plumber Creek Road. Sierra National Forest, Cal Fire, and Mariposa County ...

OAKHURST — An accident that resulted in a hazmat situation closed down both lanes of Highway 49 this afternoon just north of Oakhurst. At about 3 p.m., John Costello, 26, of Bakersfield, was southbound in a 2005 International truck just south of Harmony Lane at a stated speed of 45-50 miles per hour, according to CHP. The truck was carrying a ...