MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — We made it! The past two weeks have been very busy with the holiday season and a rare winter storm with very low elevation snow.  There have been traffic collisions, hazards and many disabled vehicles on our roads.  There were also some power outages sprinkled in too.  For me this has meant that I’ve been furiously posting ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform various operations on State Route 49 next week in Mariposa County. Work is scheduled to be performed as follows on Route 49: Single-lane closure from Moccasin Switchback Road to Bear Valley Road for shoulder work beginning Mondy, January 10, through Friday, January 14, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:0 ...

Mountain Communities – In continued preparation for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) adoption of 988 as the new three-digit number to be used nationwide to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, 11-digit dialing is being implemented. However, callers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK to reach the Mental Health Crisis Lifeline until July 16, 2022. For 988 ...

Yosemite – The January Quarterly meeting will be a conversation with public land managers from California State Parks, Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service as well a speaker/volunteer leader from Recreate Responsibly California Coalition. 9:30 a.m. – Community Open Mic Chat 10:00 a.m. – Main Meeting Topic 11:00 a.m. – Yosemite National Park Update The past 20 months through ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The ushering in of a new year brings with it the anticipation of a fresh start, positive changes, and healthy resolutions.  What it should not bring are headlines of tragedies caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. To encourage safe travel for those who are out on the road, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) ...

OAKHURST — It was the day after Christmas 12-26-21, and our area had been receiving some much-needed snow. Families were very excited for the chance to play in the snow together, even though officials had been recommending against travel into the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the week leading up to Christmas, as we reported here. I had spent the day ...

BASS LAKE — On May 5, 2021, Mark Choe and Shahnaz Sodager Choe forged a life partnership with their wedding at Bass Lake’s Pines Resort, which Choe manages. Now they have created an additional partnership, Gold Stars Behavior Therapy, with a mission to teach confidence-building skills to children dealing with autism and their support parents. Shahnaz Choe heads the therapy ...

It’s the week before Christmas and some of you have been dreaming of a white Christmas, right? Looking back a couple of weeks, I mentioned that a white Christmas might be a possibility in an article I wrote. I can now say with a lot more certainty that you might get your wish. However, in my truest “hope for the ...

Mariposa  – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will perform various operations on State Route 49 next week in Mariposa County. Work is scheduled to be performed as follows: Route 49 One-way traffic control from the Madera/Mariposa County Line to DeLong Creek for pavement marker replacement on Sunday, December 19, 2021, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. One-way traffic control ...

SNF  – Heavy winter weather has been occurring in the Sierra National Forest (SNF) over the past few days, with more of the same expected in the coming days. The weather system has brought much needed rainfall to the valley, and snow to the Southern Sierra, with snow levels falling to as low as into the foothills. This weather is ...