O’NEALS — A four-car crash on Highway 41 in the early morning hours has claimed the life of a young woman from Oakhurst. Just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, Ruby Alvarez, 24, was southbound in a Honda Civic, just south of Road 200, when she crossed over the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic, crashing head-on into a ...

MARIPOSA – While recent rains this winter and spring have been a welcome sight in California, drought conditions continue to increase fire danger in the region prompting Cal Fire to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Madera, Mariposa and Merced Counties. This suspension took effect June 17, and bans all residential outdoor ...

OAKHURST — We’ve all enjoyed the recent bout of cooler weather, and now we need to prepare for the real deal as temperatures hit three digits before long. While the National Weather Service in Hanford forecasts that the foothills on Saturday, June 18 will hit a high near 84 degrees, and a low around 50, by Sunday, June 19, the temps are expected to ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Prepare for some delays when traveling through Coarsegold and Oakhurst early next week, as crews will be out striping the road. On Tuesday and Wednesday, June 21 and 22, Caltrans will be painting on Highway 41 between Road 417 in Coarsegold, over Deadwood, to Highway 49 in Oakhurst. Painting will take place from approximately 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Drivers are urged to allow extra time ...

NORTH FORK — A two-vehicle crash on Road 225 slowed traffic this afternoon and resulted in scrapes and bruises to the seven people involved. Just after 5:30 p.m., Brian McNamara, 50, of North Fork and his wife were westbound on Road 225 approaching Road 230 — the entrance to the Rec Center — at a stated speed of 45 mph. ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy weekend, as record visitation continues and the park prepares for President Obama’s historic visit to Yosemite June 17 – 19. The White House announced last week that the President and First Family will celebrate Father’s Day weekend with a family trip to Carlsbad Caverns and Yosemite National Parks. “We are honored ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, June 5 to Sunday, June 12, 2016: North Fork assault On Sunday, June 5 at 1:31 a.m. a deputy responded to the 55000 blk of Wilcox Drive for a report of an assault. After conducting an investigation, a suspect was identified but ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park managers will be hosting a delegation from Sister Park, Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany, from June 19 to 25. During the visit, park managers will exchange ideas and practices and further the Sister Park Arrangement. Berchtesgaden is located in the southern mountains of Germany near the Austrian border, a region famous for the filming of iconic ...

YOSEMITE — It has been one week since an Oakhurst man was swept away in the Merced River in Yosemite, and searchers have been unsuccessful in what would soon become a recovery effort. The man has been identified by friends as Ernie Hager, 60, and on Saturday, June 11, searchers were called away from those efforts when a second victim ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — The U.S. Forest Service has begun the 90-day public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Draft Forest Plans for the Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. During this time, the USFS is holding public meetings, tribal forums and a webinar to engage with the public in discussions about these documents. Everyone is ...