Submitted by Brittany Dyer A meadow restoration project has been launched this month at Chiquito Creek, undertaken by the Yosemite/Sequoia Resource Conservation and Development Council (Y/S RC&DC) in partnership with the United States Forest Service (USFS) Bass Lake Ranger District (BLRD).

MADERA COUNTY – Agents with the Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET), assisted by Madera County SWAT and Sheriff’s deputies, completed a 12-hour eradication mission in the Bailey Flats region of Madera County late Thursday night, according to Sheriff John Anderson. On June 6, more than 12-thousand plants were discovered growing on steep terrain located on private land, used specifically ...

MADERA COUNTY – The County of Madera has established the following locations as Cooling Centers during times of extreme summer heat. The Centers will be open the days and times as indicated on the list below. Other Centers may be opened on an “as needed” basis and will be announced through the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.

CALIFORNIA – The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Special Weather Statement, alerting residents of an excessive heat warning and the chance for thunderstorms across the Sierra Nevada. Strong high pressure building across the region will result in very hot temperatures later in the week with record high temperatures likely at many locations on Friday and Saturday.

MADERA COUNTY – All burning has been suspended in the State Responsibility Area of Madera County as of Saturday, June 1, according to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) in cooperation with Madera County Fire Department The burn suspension is necessary due to the lack of rainfall and higher than normal temperatures the ...

MARIPOSA – The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office was busy last week dealing with large marijuana grows in Mariposa County. On Thursday, May 30, the Sheriff’s Office investigated a large marijuana garden located on private property in the area of the Mormon Bar community.

MADERA – Madera County Master Gardeners will host two free events for home gardeners in June. • On Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, attend a workshop on home irrigation systems, presented by Master Gardeners Barbara Mattice and Jim Espinola. Learn to keep your garden green while saving water, time and money on your water bill.

NORTH FORK – When Claudia Box planned to take a couple days off over Memorial Day weekend, she didn’t plan on spending them cleaning up the mess that burglars made of her store. Claudia closed up shop at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, looking forward to two days of gardening and working around the property.

CEDAR VALLEY – A fire that started some time around 4 a.m. on Saturday morning was stopped at less than one-quarter acre thanks to quick response from firefighters and a lot of defensible space by the property owner. Firefighters were dispatched to a home on Lazy Oak Drive, when the homeowner looked out his window and saw flames behind his ...

COARSEGOLD – As the skies along Road 415 from Coarsegold became hazy, and the smell of smoke permeated the air, residents once again wondered “where’s the fire?” At 1:31 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, the first of dozens of calls began coming in about a fire on Road 400 just south of Road 415.