MARIPOSA — After tireless work by Caltrans maintenance crews and partners, District 10 and the California Highway Patrol have reopened State Route 140 in the area of the Ferguson Fire burn scar as of noon on Friday, Nov. 30. The roadway closure began overnight at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, and is still in place for now, say authorities. ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Heavy precipitation is expected near northern California over the next few days with significant snowfall in the Sierra Nevada into Friday morning, says the National Weather Service, as a wet, active pattern is expected to continue through the weekend for the West. Heavy rainfall across California A frontal boundary approaching the West Coast is currently bringing heavy ...

MARIPOSA — With the recent change in weather conditions, fire officials with the Sierra National Forest are declaring the Ferguson Fire out, terminating Forest Order No. 05-15-51-18-15, dated August 15, 2018. Visitors are once again permitted to travel in the Sierra National Forest where the Ferguson Fire burned. The Ferguson Fire started on the evening of July 13, 2018 near ...

MARIPOSA – Caltrans is pre-emptively closing State Route 140 in Mariposa County in the area of the Ferguson Fire burn scar, for approximately 17 miles from Bear Creek (south of Briceburg) to Foresta Road (on the west side of El Portal). The closure begins overnight at 2 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29, and will end depending on the impact of ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Winter weather is on its way again this week, with a potential for flash flooding in the lower country and heavy snow in the higher elevations. The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Flash Flood Watch for towns including Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, Mariposa, North Fork, Oakhurst, and O’Neals. The Flood Watch is in effect from Wednesday ...

MARIPOSA – With the return of winter weather, Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) has lifted the burn permit suspension effective Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 8 a.m. Unit Chief Nancy Koerperich is formally cancelling the burn permit suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days. Agriculture burns ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the Sierra Nevada above 7,000-feet, from Yosemite National Park to Kings Canyon and the Tulare County Mountains. The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21 through 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22. Heavy snow is possible with total snow accumulations of ...

With so many special events and activities taking place over the next several weeks, we thought it would be helpful to compile a timely list of all the entertainment-related and community-oriented holiday happenings in the mountain area between now and December 25. If we missed anything, let us know and we’ll gladly add it to the Big Local List of ...

HANFORD – With only one significant rain event since spring, residents of the mountain area may be encouraged to see a wet Thanksgiving holiday. The National Weather Service is forecasting a pattern change to wet weather is likely by the middle of the week. Its arrival after a very long dry spell will create slick and potentially hazardous driving conditions ...

MARIPOSA – Firefighters were called out to reports of vegetation fire last night in the Jerseydale area. At about 9:40 p.m., reports came in of a “glow” in the area of Bear Clover Lane west of Scott Road. The first unit at scene reported the fire at less than five acres, burning in deep duff and timber understory, with two ...