MADERA COUNTY —  “Over ninety million dollars in property tax payments were collected and posted from the December tenth property tax deadline,” reports Tracy Kennedy, Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector. All payments were posted and balanced by Friday, Dec. 16. “That’s amazing, given that we had an extra day for taxpayers to make their payments on Monday, December 12th. All posted and ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — **UPDATED 7 p.m. Dec. 21: The NWS has upgraded this to a winter storm warning for heavy snow, meaning severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Signinficant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous.** Check with US National Weather Service Hanford California for more information and we will re-post latest news on Thursday. ...

SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants all motorists on the roadways to drive safely during their travel this holiday season. As part of its upcoming Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), the CHP reminds motorists to buckle up, avoid distracted driving, designate a sober driver, and always travel at a safe speed for conditions. The CHP Christmas MEP will begin ...

MADERA — The woman accused in the death of North Fork resident Bonnie Hale pleaded not guilty this afternoon in Madera Superior Court. Mary O’Keefe, 63, also of North Fork, was arrested on Saturday, Dec. 18, after Bobby Hale, Jr., reportedly found his mother deceased on the patio of her home located on Road 225. O’Keefe is charged with first ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the longest night, marking the point during the year when the Northern Hemisphere is the most inclined away from the Sun. The day is the official start of winter and yet each day from now will grow ever-so-gradually longer as the sun returns. On Winter Solstice, the ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Dec. 12 to Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016: North Fork vandalism to mailboxes  On Monday, Dec. 12 at 6:37 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to Road 200 and Wyle Ranch Road regarding a vandalism to a community mailboxes. A report was taken and ...

OAKHURST — Monday morning at Sierra Seafood has gotten off to a very rough start, as one of their four trucks has been reported stolen from their loading dock at at 40134 Enterprise Drive in Oakhurst. According to owner Joe Sweat, the day began routinely. By about 8:30 a.m. the 2015 Dodge 4500 truck was warming up in the loading dock to get its ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The name of a Mariposa County man who died as a result of injuries sustained in a three-vehicle collision on Highway 41 last week has been released. Brian Chilcott, 40, passed away after being airlifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno following a head-on collision on Highway 41 near the Rocky Cut between Roads 208 and ...

NORTH FORK — On Saturday morning, Dec. 17, Madera County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a residence on Road 225 near North Fork after a man found his mother deceased on her front porch. According to the MCSO, the initial investigation revealed that the woman had injuries and had apparently been in some type of altercation. At about the same ...

NORTH FORK — The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death of Bonnie Hale, 76, of North Fork. Another woman, Mary O’Keefe, is currently behind bars on allegations of murder. According to MCSO Commander Bill Ward, the victim’s son contacted the Sheriff’s Office on Saturday morning, Dec. 17, before 10 a.m. The son, Bobby Hale, Jr., reportedly found his ...