MARIPOSA COUNTY – A single-vehicle accident on Highway 140 near Cedar Lodge has claimed the life of an El Portal man. Juan Hernandez Montalvo, 25, was killed when his 2003 Volkswagon Jetta crashed onto the banks of the Merced River just after midnight on Sunday, Dec. 30, according to the CHP.

SACRAMENTO –Classic car owners can now give their ride the look it had back when it was hot off the showroom floor. Vintage-look plates are being offered by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the DMV will be taking pre-orders beginning Jan. 1, 2013.

Submitted by Dave Wolin It may not seem like it, but we live in a dangerous area. At any moment, the Long Valley Caldera and Mammoth Mountain could explode, decimating Central California. We’re only 100 miles from the San Andreas fault; a major earthquake could destroy most of Madera County. A fire like the Harlow Fire of 1961 could wipe ...

Every year, Americans make resolutions about how they will tackle some perceived personal short-coming in the new year. We wondered how this tradition came to be, and found some interesting history around the web. We also heard from SNO readers about what they’ll be up to in 2013. The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of ...

OAKHURST – An Oakhurst man escaped serious injury this morning when his car went off Highway 41 and plunged down a steep embankment on Deadwood. Grady Grant, 38, was traveling southbound on Highway 41 about a mile south of Victoria Lane, when he suffered a blackout, according to CHP Officer Doug Corbett.

CALIFORNIA – Sheriff John Anderson sees a potential bonus, and an added safety net, for Madera County senior citizens when SB 1047 – “Silver Alert” notification system – goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013 This notification system, signed into law by the governor on Sept. 27, mirrors the already existing Amber Alert. But instead of activating public searches for children, ...

SACRAMENTO – Even though California’s seat belt requirement was put into law more than a quarter-of-a-century ago, there are some drivers and passengers who still resist the few seconds it takes to safely buckle up, or they may not properly secure a child in a car seat. The simple act of not buckling up can have life-changing consequences, such as ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is warning citizens to beware of a man posing as a sales rep making house calls in Madera County. The suspect identifies himself to his victims as Dennis Small, and claims to represent Air Care Medical out of Clovis.

MADERA COUNTY – Two Oakhurst men are behind bars following a short pursuit over Deadwood on Tuesday night. Jailed are Joshua Russell Murray, 18, and Adrian Joseph Reyes, 28.

MADERA COUNTY – More than a dozen Elder Orphans clients will begin receiving their first telephonic welfare checks today, Dec. 20, says Sheriff John Anderson. Elder Orphans is a program designed by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office to provide older folks living alone with some peace of mind. Clients can rest assured that someone will know if they need help, ...