CLOVIS – The Sierra National Forest is requesting public input for the 2014 State Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) funding/proposal submission cycle by hosting an Open House Dec. 5 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Forest Headquarters, 1600 Tollhouse Rd in Clovis. This year the State has funds available for education, operation and maintenance, law enforcement and restoration projects, and the ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – A portion of State Route 120 just east of Groveland has been closed due to a fire in the Buck Meadows area, according to the California Highway Patrol. Eastbound SR-120 is closed at Smith Station Road. Westbound is closed at Hardin Flat Road. The entrance and exit from Yosemite on SR-120 is closed.

CALIFORNIA – The State Board of Equalization has begun mailing bills for the 2012-2013 fire prevention fee, due and payable by property owners in State Responsibity Areas (SRA). The amount of the fee has not changed since last year, at $150 per habitable structure, with a $35 credit per habitable structure for parcels located within the jurisdiction of a local ...

Written & Photographed by Don Grove – We arrived at the Berkeley Marina on Saturday morning looking forward to spending time with old friends and learning about kites. These are not the ordinary paper kites you used to buy at the local variety store. These highly efficient kites can soar, dive, stop abruptly in mid-air, and then make a 90 ...

CALIFORNIA – Is your family the Mexican version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Are you of Mexican descent and come from a big family? Do you laugh a lot and think your family is crazy when everyone gets together? Do some of your older family members embarrass you with the things they say?

CALIFORNIA – The class action lawsuit filed by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) challenging the “fire prevention fee” as an illegal tax under Proposition 13, is scheduled for a hearing in Sacramento Superior Court on Friday, July 19. “This lawsuit is at a critical crossroad,” says HJTA in a message from their website http://firetaxprotest.org/.

TUOLUMNE COUNTY – A counselor at Camp Tawonga, located just outside Yosemite National Park near Hetch Hetchy, was killed on Wednesday, July 3, when a tree fell at the campfire circle outside the dining hall. The Executive Director of Camp Tawonga, Ken Kramarz, confirms that Annais Rittenberg, was killed and four other adult staff were injured and taken to local ...

Invitation from Tim Fullerton AMERICA – The U.S. Department of the Interior manages some of America’s most breathtaking national parks, national wildlife refuges and other public lands. That is why I am excited to invite you to join our new photo project, Summer in America’s Great Outdoors. Our goal is to create a large photo collection of all the fun ...

Posted by Robert O’Conner on calfire.blogspot.com On Apr. 15, two explosions occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon causing death and injury to spectators, as well as participants of the marathon. While Americans feel the need to assist or contribute to those affected by this tragedy; criminals see it as way to exploit contributor’s kindness. History has shown ...

CALIFORNIA – A bill authored by Senator Ted Gaines, (R-Rocklin), to repeal the $150 rural fire fee being assessed against some Californians, failed to make it out of committee on Tuesday, defeated by a 4-3 vote in the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) encouraged people to come out and show their support of ...