MADERA COUNTY – Area inhabitants looking for a safe way to dispose of unwanted medications may note that Madera County Sheriff’s Department is hosting its annual fall Drug Take-Back. For the convenience of all County residents and business owners, the Sheriff’s Office is taking back unwanted and/or unused drugs in both the foothills and the valley.

MARIPOSA COUNTY – Cal Fire has announced that the the 300 acre Bridge Fire that began on Sept. 5 was caused by a vehicle. There are no further details at this time. Cal Fire spokesperson Karen Guillemin reminds all motorists to keep their equipment in proper working order, as we are still experiencing hot and dry conditions in the wildlands ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is issuing an identity theft alert to citizens placing ads online. If you get a call from someone claiming your credit card is no good, hang up, and call your credit card company directly. The Sheriff’s Office received word this morning from an Eastern Madera County couple, who placed an ad online in the ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – As of Sunday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m., the Incident Commander and Mariposa County Sheriff have announced the lifting of evacuations on the Bridge Fire, and all residents are being allowed to return to their homes. Harris Road at Highway 49 and Harris Road at Ponderosa Court will be open to residents only. Expect continued security patrols ...

O’NEALS – That band of merry makers and preservers of local history are at it again. This time the Clampers will be dedicating a monument commemorating a notorious stage robbery at the location of the long-gone town of Hildreth near O’Neals. The gentlemen of E Clampus Vitus, affectionately know as “Clampers,” love a good bit of fun, but they are ...

NORTH FORK – Just before 9 p.m. this evening, firefighters responded to a report of a vegetation fire on Road 200 near Road 224 (Bonnie B). At first, it was hard to locate, with nothing showing from the roadway and no smell of smoke. But a huge plume soon showed itself, and crews wasted no time getting to work.

COARSEGOLD – At 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, a head-on collision blocked Highway 41 for about 90 minutes. Traffic was backed up in both directions as first responders readied the injured for transport, and then worked to manage the heavy weekend traffic.

MARIPOSA COUNTY – It was a day of successes on the Bridge Fire today, with crews holding it at 300 acres, and achieving 60% containment. Some 700 structures were threatened at the height of the fire, and not one was lost. As of 7 p.m. this evening, the evacuation order is lifted for residents living in the Ponderosa Basin area ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – On Saturday, Sept. 6, at 7 p.m., the Bridge Fire Incident Commander and Mariposa County Sheriff will allow most residents to return to their homes. Today at 7 p.m. residents of the Ponderosa Basin community will be allowed to return home, with the exception of those who live on the dirt portion of Harris Road.

MARIPOSA COUNTY – As fire management personnel gathered for the morning briefing at the Mariposa County Fairground’s Incident Command Post, they were optimistic yet cautious about fire conditions today. Crews achieved 25% containment overnight on the 300 acre fire, burning northeast from the William Sell bridge on Highway 49.