MADERA COUNTY — Caltrans spokesman Cory Burkarth reports that, depending on weather, drivers in the Oakhurst, Coarsegold and Ahwahnee areas should expect some delays while road maintenance and tree work continues between storms. Caltrans will work in the following neighborhoods: Highway 41 in the vicinity of Road 425B in Coarsegold/Oakhurst Highway 49 in the vicinity of Mockingbird Lane in Ahwahnee Maintenance ...

MADERA COUNTY — It’s back! In a battle of wits, Yosemite High School triumphed for the 22nd time in 23 years, making them the champions of the 35th Madera County Academic Decathlon. Yosemite will advance to the state competition Mar. 23-26 with a score of 36,172.90 to compete against the best teams in the state. Seven schools competed Saturday in ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public that several roads and bridges are closed in the Woodland area of Mariposa County due to heavy rains and flooding. At this time, Brooks Road is closed in both directions at the bridge, and Indian Peak at Hirsch is also closed at the one-lane bridge. Currently the Mariposa County ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The man charged with the 2015 shooting of Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputy Rudy Mirelez, was sentenced today in Mariposa County Superior Court. Brian Ballasch, 37, of Merced, agreed to plead guilty to two counts attempted murder, two counts of assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic weapon, with an enhancement for discharging a firearm. He was ...

Submitted by Cara Goger – MARIPOSA — Tim Tingle is an Oklahoma Choctaw whose great-great grandfather, John Carnes, walked the Trail of Tears in 1835. He is an award-winning author and storyteller and will be making his third appearance at the Mariposa County Arts Council’s Storytelling Festival. The 30th Mariposa Storytelling Festival will be celebrating its Grand Finale weekend, Mar. ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — A winter storm warning is in effect for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon National Park, and the Tulare and Kings County mountains, from 4 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, until 10 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. The warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for areas above 6,000 feet, for heavy snowfall. Heavy snow ...

MARIPOSA — The Mariposa Biomass Project (MBP) has achieved several milestones toward its goal of building a 2 Megawatt biomass facility in the town of Mariposa. On Jan. 12, the MBP closed escrow on two parcels in the Mariposa Industrial Park, marking the final requirement to qualify for Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) funding. The project is aimed at creating ...

Contributed by Len McKenzie — Generous rains this winter have spawned a luxuriant rebirth of plant life in the Sierra foothills and Central Valley, greening up the landscape and bringing renewed vigor to its ecosystems. Beneficiaries of this largesse include the picturesque and biologically rich vernal pools that are a distinctive hallmark of this remarkable setting. The Yosemite Area Audubon ...

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today joined partners across the country in promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit on EITC Awareness Day, Friday, Jan. 27, 2017. This campaign, which started 11 years ago, is a nationwide effort to alert millions of low- and moderate-income workers who may be missing out on this significant tax credit. Millions of taxpayers who ...

COUNTY — The 35th Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon competition begins on Friday, Jan. 27.  High School students will compete in the interview and essay competitions at Madera County Office of Education, located at 1105 CA-145 in Madera. Chawanakee Academy, Mariposa, Minarets, Yosemite, Chowchilla, Liberty, Madera, and Madera South high schools will be compete to be named county champion. Mariposa County ...