MARIPOSA COUNTY – On Thursday, Apr. 10, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office initiated investigation into two residential burglaries, both in Eastern Mariposa County. One occurred at a home in the Italian Creek Road area and the second in the Ponderosa Basin community. Both burglaries took place during the daylight “business hours” while homeowners were away from their residences.

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson is alerting citizens about a cash prize solicitation with a twist that’s proving to be a bit of a puzzler for citizens. The latest financial offering comes from a company calling itself North American Award Center based in Kansas City, MO.

COAREGOLD – A couple on their way to a concert in Oakhurst this afternoon had their day abruptly interrupted when another car crashed into them near Serpa Canyon Road. Randal Emerzian and Cheri Jeane Long, both of Fresno, were northbound on Highway 41 just north of Coarsegold in a blue 2006 Hyundai, when a tan Saturn SL, driven by Mike ...

MADERA – A man accused of child molestation was back in court on Friday to be arraigned on 21 counts of unlawful sexual contact with a minor. Ed Lyons, 85, of North Fork, was held to answer on 9 counts after a preliminary hearing on Mar. 14, but an amended complaint filed by the District Attorney’s office raised the number ...

MADERA COUNTY – The Sheriff’s Office is investigating a brazen residential burglary in the Madera Ranchos. A home on Avenue 15 near Road 36 was recently placed on the market, and at some point was virtually cleaned out by thieves. The owner thinks the heist happened sometime on Friday, Mar. 28 when the residence was unoccupied.

COARSEGOLD – A burglary interrupted on Saturday, Mar. 29, is said to have exposed a career criminal whose penchant for stealing metal dates back at least three years. According to the Madera County Sheriffs Office, Coarsegold resident Sean Michael Driscoll was caught pilfering metal from private property located off Highway 41 in Coarsegold. Driscoll, 37, was taken into custody Saturday ...

MADERA COUNTY – Riverbend Golf Course is noted for its scenic views along the San Joaquin River, but some of its beauty was marred over the weekend when a Madera man went on a tear in his vehicle across two greens. Tyler Nathaniel Thornton, 24, is behind bars after being arrested the next day for vandalizing the 8th and 11th ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies is warning residents of counterfeit twenty dollar bills surfacing at businesses in the Sonora area. The Sonora Police Department has announced that unknown persons are passing counterfeit twenties, and Sheriff Binnewies is warning local merchants to be on the lookout.

MADERA COUNTY – The man who turned his pickup into the path of a motorcycle ridden by Ahwahnee residents Gary Smalz and his wife Laura, killing them both, has pleaded no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of inflicting great bodily injury. Gary Ragsdale, 43, entered the plea on Feb. 19 in a ...

COARSEGOLD – Four men are now behind bars after being caught cultivating marijuana on both private and public land located off Highway 41 in the foothills of Eastern Madera County. Agents with the Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team (MADNET) served a search warrant at a residence, situated on more than 53 acres of private land on Thursday, Mar. 27.