OAKHURST — Firefighters responded to a structure fire near the Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church just before midnight on Thursday. At 11:25 p.m., two CHP officers responded to reports of a fire burning in a small building next to the church. Two people who live on the property had seen the flames and called 911, according to the officers. The residents ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park will close a day use parking area in Yosemite Valley on the evening of Monday Sept. 5, for a project aimed at improving parking and traffic circulation. The parking area, also known as the Village Day-Use Parking Area (south) or Camp 6, will reopen this winter. Visitor parking will be available at the Yosemite Falls ...

MADERA COUNTY — Sheriff Jay Varney is very pleased to welcome the two newest additions to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. “Nacho” is a one-and-a-half year old Belgian Malinois and “Gastone” is a two-year-old Belgian Malinois. Both dogs were imported from France. Deputy Logan Majeski will be Nacho’s handler and Deputy Eric Jackson will be Gastone’s handler. All four just ...

MOUNTAIN AREA  — Two separate fires burning miles apart kept fire crews busy this evening in North Fork and Catheys Valley. At 6:47 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire burning on Wind Dancer Way just off Road 235 above Redinger Lake. Cal Fire Engine 4255 was first at scene and reported one 900 sq. ft. structure fully involved ...

NORTH FORK — Over 18,000 marijuana plants were eradicated during a major bust in the North Fork area last Friday, and two suspects were taken into custody. Sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Forest Service law enforcement descended on a property east of North Fork along Road 225, just after 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 26, to eradicate a large grow. Mary Grillett, ...

MADERA COUNTY — An Oakhurst woman charged with stealing tens-of-thousands of dollars from an elderly man has pleaded no contest to one felony charge of financial elder abuse. Kathryn (Katie) Davis, 54, who serves as Director at the Sierra Senior Center in Oakhurst, was arrested on Aug. 10 for taking what could be as much as $50,000 from 90-year-old Bill ...

SACRAMENTO – Cal Fire announced Wednesday it will be awarding nearly $16 million for fire prevention grants to local fire departments and fire safe councils to reduce the threat of large wildfires. The 2016-2017 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and tree mortality grants are aimed at reducing the threat wildfires as well as dead and dying trees in and ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 12,300 firefighters are battling 10 large wildfires in California. Despite mild temperatures yesterday, dry and gusty conditions allowed for two new fires to spread quickly and force evacuations in Butte and Kern counties. This weekend the weather is expected to remain relatively mild as it has over the past week. Dry conditions will continue in many areas ...

NORTH FORK — For several mornings, people have been reporting a smoke up near Cascadel Woods, near Forest Road 8S09. Just to put residents at ease, we want to let you know that it’s actually dust being created by masticators chewing up branches as the Forest Service contractors work to keep the area around that mountain community free of ladder ...

TUOLUMNE COUNTY — A woman involved in an accident that left her and two injured companions alone overnight down an embankment off Highway 120 on Monday evening has passed away, according to the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office. “We are sad to report that Maria Fissman — the woman extricated from the vehicle — did pass away from her injuries last ...