MADERA COUNTY – Yosemite and Central Valley area communities are gearing up for Halloween with a whole host of events, from the fun and spooky to the truly terrifying. Saturday, Oct. 25 fairly bursts with Halloween activities. Perhaps the longest-running Halloween-themed event is the Coarsegold Tarantula Festival, now in its 17th year.

FRESNO – All parties involved in the dispute over leadership of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians appeared in U.S. District Court this afternoon before federal Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill. The hearing follows an armed confrontation on Thursday, Oct. 9, that prompted the shutdown of the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino in Coarsegold. The courtroom was filled with a large ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sometime between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. Monday night, a young girl walking home alone from a friend’s house on Victoria Lane in Oakhurst, was grabbed by strange man. According to reports, the child first heard someone scream “Hey!” She stopped and turned around to see who was yelling, and that is when he grabbed her by the ...

Written by Rhett Samper – Student Reporter O’NEALS – Spring Valley 4H was well-represented at this year’s Madera County Fair. Getting livestock and show animals ready for for competition takes hours of dedication and hard work. Spring Valley 4H members brought home lots of ribbons across the board and in every barn. Congratulations to all our exhibitors; we celebrate all ...

MADERA COUNTY – With the holidays fast approaching and families making plans to spend days away from home with loved ones, Sheriff John Anderson says now is the time to consider submitting a request to have a Citizen on Patrol volunteer to keep watch while you’re away. Among their countless duties, Citizen on Patrol (COP) volunteers conduct house checks. The ...

COARSEGOLD – As everyone waits to see what will be decided in U.S. District Court in Fresno on Wednesday, the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino remains closed to the public. After what has been described as an armed takeover of the casino on Thursday, Oct. 9, by the Tex McDonald faction, the hotel and casino were shut down pending a ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Office of Treasurer/Tax Collector for Madera County has issued an important notice to taxpayers about an error that requires immediate attention. There was an error in distributing all Wells Fargo and Department of Veterans Affairs escrow account tax bills for the tax year 2014-2015.

MADERA COUNTY – This week the Madera County Courthouse Park hosts the Vietnam Moving Wall, Thursday through Monday, Oct. 16 – 20. On Veterans Day 1996, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) unveiled a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., this one designed to travel to communities throughout the United States.

WEED – The Weed Police Department today arrested Ronald Beau Marshall, 24, of Weed, Calif., in connection with the Boles Fire, which destroyed 516 acres, 157 homes, and forced the evacuation of more than 4,000 people. Over 1,000 firefighters were on the front lines battling this destructive fire.

COARSEGOLD – After years of fighting and bickering amongst themselves, the various factions battling for control of the Chukchansi leadership are being brought before a higher authority. The Attorney General’s Office filed a complaint for injunctive relief in U.S. District Court in Fresno last night, and the judge issued a temporary restraining order, closing the hotel/casino until a hearing on ...