YOSEMITE — As folks head for Yosemite National Park this weekend, they’re wanting to know about road closures, so we made the call. As of 10 p.m. on Thursday evening, May 26, we can report that all roads in the park are open without restrictions, according to the NPS website, with the exception of the Mariposa Grove Road, which is ...

RAYMOND — Firefighters and aircraft responded to reports of a fire caused by a non-injury motor vehicle accident in the Raymond area today. At about 10:15 a.m., a Saturn Vue crashed off the roadway, igniting a vegetation fire on Road 400 near Road 406 just south of Hensley Lake. Engines were dispatched, along with a water tender, dozer, two crews ...

YOSEMITE – The cables on Half Dome in Yosemite National Park will be in place and open for the season on Friday, May 27, as scheduled. The cables provide access to the summit of Half Dome, one of Yosemite’s most popular hikes. Visitors are required to have a permit to ascend the Half Dome cables seven days per week. The ...

NORTH FORK — When a fire destroyed a mobile home in North Fork last Friday, everyone was very lucky to have gotten out alive and unscathed. However the real story of how that happened and who was responsible for saving six lives is just now being told. It was just after 10 p.m. on May 20, and Zachary Zukovsky was ...

SACRAMENTO – Cal Fire is increasing its firefighting staffing as windy conditions are predicted to elevate fire danger across many areas of California. With many Californians planning to recreate outdoors for the Memorial Day weekend, Cal Fire is asking the public to take steps to prevent sparking a new wildfire. According to the National Weather Service many parts of California ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, May 15 to Sunday, May 22, 2016: Oakhurst domestic incident On Sunday, May 15, at 12:40 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to a domestic incident in the 40000 block of Highway 41. The victim refused to give any information to the deputy regarding ...

YOSEMITE — A call to the Yosemite Road Conditions phone number this morning reveals one big change. As of Wednesday, May 25, at 10 a.m., Tioga Pass — which was opened on May 18 and closed again last weekend due to weather — remains closed just east of Crane Flat. However, Glacier Point Road has been reopened, according to the ...

CLOVIS – The U.S. Forest Service is releasing the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and draft Forest Plans for the Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests. The Notice of Availability for these documents is expected to publish in the Federal Register May 27. This notice will initiate the 90-day public comment and review period, which includes 12 public meetings and ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Clovis woman accused of causing the death of Frederico Nunez Silva while driving intoxicated was arraigned today in Madera Superior Court. She pleaded not guilty to all three felony counts and one misdemeanor charge. Candice Ooley, 23, was arrested on Friday, May 20, after she crashed into the back of a Hummer in which Silva, 47, ...

OAKHURST — The term “fire season” seems to have replaced the word “summer” in the local lexicon, and as the days grow warmer area residents may want to make note of a special event happening locally that should serve to alleviate some stress. Mountain Area Merchants Association (MAMA) invites the community to a day designed to spread the word about ...