Trio Also Faces Arson Charges for Setting Fire COARSEGOLD – Three Coarsegold teenagers were arrested late last night after vandalizing the Yosemite Lakes Park Clubhouse over the weekend, and setting fire to stolen property. The three teenagers, one age 14, the other two age 16, were booked into Madera County Juvenile Hall on multiple felony charges, including commercial burglary, felony ...

MADERA COUNTY – District Attorney Michael Keitz has announced his plans to seek another four-year term. Keitz says he is optimistic about the future, although the recent recession, countywide budget cutbacks, and the early release of inmates through prison realignment has brought unprecedented challenges to his office. “Crime did not go down during the recent economic recession, in fact, it ...

MADERA COUNTY – Greg Noll, Oakhurst resident and 19-year veteran of the Fresno Police Department, is hoping to put his experience to work as the next Madera County Sheriff. Noll, 49, is a 1981 graduate of Yosemite High School, and moved his family back to the area seven years ago so his kids could enjoy living in the mountains where ...

MADERA COUNTY – You are invited to join a fabulous trip of history and beauty sponsored by the Coarsegold Historical Society and hosted by experienced travelers Jack and Kay Good. Leaving on Mar. 14, 2015, (not 2014) from Fresno and returning Mar. 25, the trip includes 10 nights on a deluxe river boat with visits to many historic towns and ...

Drought conditions lead to early need of Defensible Space around homes SACRAMENTO – In just the first three weeks of January, CAL FIRE has already responded to a significant increase in wildfires this winter due to the extremely dry conditions. As a result, CAL FIRE officials are reminding residents to ensure they are maintaining 100 feet of Defensible Space; a ...

CLOVIS – The High Sierra Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest has been conducting a prescribed burn in the vicinity of Blue Canyon south of Shaver Lake. The extraordinary dry weather has brought this research burn back to life, creating the perfect opportunity for continuing the research being carried out with the Pacific Southwest Research Station. Prescribed burning is ...

COARSEGOLD – A single vehicle accident shut down Road 415 for over an hour this evening after a Coarsegold resident rolled his pickup on the sharp corner near Sesame St. At about 5:30 p.m., on Sunday, Jan. 26, Emmette Davidson, 76, was headed home westbound on Road 415, when he came into a curve too fast, hit the bank on ...

NORTH FORK – A collision on Auberry Road (Road 222) near Corrine Lake Road, about five miles east of North Fork, injured four and stopped traffic in both directions for over an hour this afternoon. At 1:40 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, Nicole Bratton, 28, of Clovis, was eastbound on Road 222 in a 1997 Chevy Z71 pickup. There were ...

MADERA – A Madera County Superior Court judge has sentenced Justin Rice to 96-years-to-life in prison for the 2009 head-on collision that killed three Chukchansi casino employees on Highway 41. Rice, who was 32 at the time of the crash, was found guilty on Jan. 2, 2013, of three felony counts of second degree murder, three felony counts of gross ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is issuing an alert to all Madera County PG&E customers about a scam that has surfaced in Central California. Customers are receiving cold calls from people claiming to represent PG&E. The caller informs customers that they are delinquent on their payment and that if the situation is not handled immediately their power will be ...