CALIFORNIA — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is expanding its initiative to assist private forestland owners in addressing tree mortality and other drought-related damage to improve forest health. NRCS will provide financial assistance for landowners with dead and dying conifer forest trees in certain counties. Removing dead tree debris and other woody material will also help ...

YOSEMITE — Word out of Yosemite National Park today is that the Tioga Road in will reopen at noon today to all vehicular traffic. The road has been closed due to recent storm activity in the Yosemite region. The Glacier Point Road is open to all vehicular traffic as well. Visitors are reminded that there are no commercial services available ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) confirms that one-way traffic control will continue this week on State Route 41 in Mariposa County as part of a tree removal project taking place in Madera and Mariposa counties. The following one-way traffic control will take place (weather permitting): Beginning Monday, Nov. 7 and ending on Friday, Nov. 11, one-way traffic control will ...

OAKHURST — A multi-vehicle accident late Friday evening on a busy stretch of Highway 41 on the north end of town sent one juvenile down the hill to the hospital with major injuries. At approximately 10:25 p.m., emergency crews were called to respond to the scene of a three-vehicle accident on Highway 41 near El Cid Restaurant. According to CHP on site, two ...

NORTH FORK — The exact center of California was the place to be today as the innovative North Fork Community Power Bioenergy Facility celebrated its official groundbreaking and the community united to welcome a new source of forest thinning and renewal. This is a pilot project that will pave the way for future facilities of its kind throughout the state. Madera County Fire Station 11 ...

YOSEMITE — The fine folks at Yosemite National Park announced today that they will offer free admission to the public in honor of Veterans Day on Friday, Nov. 11.  This fee-free day is offered to all park visitors in honor of current members, retired members, and reserve members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. The National Park ...

BASS LAKE — With crisp fall weather and recent rains, the Bass Lake Hazard Tree Project continues with some burning this week. Sierra National Forest Battalion Chief Burt Stalter says that on Tuesday, Nov. 1, crews concentrated on completing areas including the west side of Road 222 at the Forks Campground, Pine Slope day use, and Little Denver Church day use. ...

COUNTY — If you have questions for your local government representatives or you’re seeking information on tree mortality, stop by one of two upcoming mobile district office hours scheduled by the offices of Senator Tom Berryhill and Assemblyman Frank Bigelow. Staff will be available to hear from the public and a tree mortality specialist will be on-hand to offer answers, as well. The joint office ...

YOSEMITE — The El Portal Road (Hwy 140) within Yosemite National Park reopened to all vehicular traffic at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, park officials announced. The road closed on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 31, due to a rockfall, which resulted in several large boulders falling and landing on the road. There were no injuries associated with the rockfall. Road crews ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 24 to Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016: North Fork disturbance On Monday, Oct. 24 at 6:55 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 56000 block of Road 226 in regards to a call of a verbal argument between a male and a ...