EASTERN MADERA COUNTY – If you’ll be traveling along Road 223 across Teaford Saddle during the next week, you’ll want to be prepared for short delays. County Roads is removing hazard trees between Road 420 (Thornberry Road) and Hidden Meadow Road (see map below). Crews are stopping traffic, dropping trees and moving them out of the roadway, then letting traffic ...

OAKHURST — An Oakhurst woman has been taken into custody and charged with financial elder abuse. Early this afternoon, Madera County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Kathryn (Katie) Davis at her place of employment, the Sierra Senior Center in Oakhurst. This arrest was the result of a lengthy investigation by Sheriff’s detectives and Madera County District Attorney’s personnel into allegations of financial ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Firefighters were scrambling to respond to two separate fires reported within minutes of each other this evening. Just before 9 p.m., crews were called out to reports of a vegetation fire on Road 400 just south of Yosemite Springs Parkway. A full wildland dispatch was called up, including dozers and one engine out of Fresno. Just moments ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 5,000 firefighters are battling four large wildfires in California, while firefighters around the rest of the state battled dozens of new fires yesterday. Despite the higher temperatures and dry conditions, all the new fires yesterday were contained in their initial stages. Cal Fire crews were also able to contain the 210-acre Camanche Fire in Amador County that ...

SACRAMENTO — As wildfires burn across California, new estimates on the number of dead trees in California were announced, prompting continued concern for California’s forest health and wildfire danger. Today, the US Forest Service released the outcome of its latest aerial surveys over California forestland, finding that over 66 million trees have now died due to drought and bark beetles ...

OAKHURST — Motorists should continue to be on the lookout for crews who will be painting new striping on a portion of State Route 41 just north of Oakhurst, as well as north of Road 222, the turnoff to Bass Lake. Department of Transportation (Caltrans) spokesman Cory Burkarth said today that the road painting that began on Tuesday, June 21 ...

MADERA COUNTY — A two-day Search & Rescue effort concluded with the very best of outcomes when a missing man was located in the Miami Motorcycle Trail area this morning. About 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 19, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a report that the parents of a 21-year-old man were unable to locate him in the forested ...

MADERA COUNTY — Travelers can rest assured, knowing that blasting operations have concluded on the Highway 41 passing lanes project now under construction, according to the Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Caltrans’ Cory Burkharth confirmed today — there will not be any more blasting. “This week the contractor is placing aggregate base rock for the southbound widening lane,” says Burkharth. “Next ...

CALIFORNIA — Over 4,700 firefighters are battling 6 active wildfires in California. Last week alone firefighters responded to over 250 new wildfires across the State. Since Jan. 1, Cal Fire and local and federal firefighters have responded to nearly 2,100 wildfires that have charred over 32,000 acres. Extreme temperatures this week, along with low humidity and gusty winds in many ...

COARSEGOLD — During times of unthinkable tragedy, there is often someone who rushes in to help. They may go unrecognized, and sometimes they may suffer a different kind of trauma than those who have lost a loved one. The community is mourning the loss of Ruby Alvarez, a beautiful, vibrant 24-year-old mom, daughter, niece and sister, who was known by ...