SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Recent storms have brought much needed rain and snow to the Sierra Nevada in the last few weeks, but the result has been damage to some Forest roads. These storms have also created a significant amount of runoff, swelling rivers and creeks beyond their capacity in many locations. With the ground already saturated, road travel requires ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – Anyone taking to the mountain highways over the weekend should avoid any unwanted delays by making sure there are traction devices in their vehicle. Chain control is now in place on Highway 41 from three miles north of Coarsegold (the bottom of Deadwood) to Yosemite National Park (R2 – see below). The location could change as conditions warrant. ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Board of Supervisors will be considering a resolution to establish a new salary structure for Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs) at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Currently, PCFs, or Volunteer Firefighters, are only paid the minimum wage of $10.50/hour and are only compensated when responding to fires and motor vehicle accidents. They are not paid ...

NORTH FORK — Two people walked away from an accident on a wet road tonight, after the empty utility trailer their truck was pulling overturned in front of La Cabana Mexican Restaurant, blocking both lanes. The late model Ford pickup truck was reportedly headed into town on Road 222 at about 6:30 p.m. this evening, when the vehicle’s brakes locked up, according to ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — The National Weather Service office in Hanford has issued a new Winter Storm Warning for the southern Sierra Nevada from Yosemite National Park to the Tulare-Kern County Line. Two feet of new snow accumulations or more can be expected above 7,000 feet, while snow levels are predicted to drop to as low as 4,000 feet. A Winter Storm ...

OAKHURST — A high-speed chase through Oakhurst this afternoon ended in an arrest after the driver crashed on the north end of town. At around 2 p.m. today, a Madera County Sheriff’s Office deputy initiated a traffic stop on a motorcycle that had no license plates and loud exhaust, according to the Sheriff’s Office. The motorcycle failed to yield, says the ...

BASS LAKE — Two women were lucky to survive a plunge off a a wet mountain road down a steep embankment near Bass Lake this afternoon. At approximately 2:45 p.m. today, the two women were eastbound on Road 274, just west of the turnoff to The Pines Resort, traveling in a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. It was raining and the roads ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — The National Weather Service office in Hanford has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the southern Sierra Nevada from Yosemite National Park to the Tulare-Kern County Line. Over one foot of new snow accumulations can be expected above 7,000 feet. Snow levels will start high around 8,000 feet at the storm’s onset early Wednesday afternoon, but will ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Jan. 9 to Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017: Oakhurst fraud On Monday, Jan. 9 at 9:38 a.m. a deputy received a report of the unlawful use of a bank access information in the 49000 block of River Park Road. Report taken. Raymond welfare check ...

OAKHURST – Recent activity at the historic Mountain House has been underway for about a month and many are curious about what’s going on with this beloved landmark. General contractor Steve Gabbard, owner of Oakhurst-based Sun Construction, spoke with Sierra News Online (SNO) and was happy to share that construction and restoration of the Mountain House is back underway after ...