NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — It’s a trifecta in the sky as the full moon appearing tonight and tomorrow is three times more amazing than usual. The moon, especially bright, will reach its peak just before 5:30 a.m. PST on Wednesday, Jan. 31, followed by a total lunar eclipse. “For the continental U.S., the viewing will be best in the West,” says ...

MADERA COUNTY– Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Jan. 22 to Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018. North Fork harassing phone calls On Monday, Jan. 22 at 11:21 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to investigate ongoing harassing calls. During the investigation, the suspect was identified and contacted. A report was taken for documentation. ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Prescribed burning operations have been started along Forest Road 5s12 east of Ponderosa Basin up to Sonny Meadows. These are piles of road hazard trees felled and piled over the last year, says SNF Battalion Chief Burt Stalter. “We have approx 200 acres of burn piles to complete around the west side of Sonny Meadows and ...

NORTH FORK — The Sierra Mono Museum invites the community to a very special winter event, as elders Gaylen Lee, Leona Chepo and other special guests gather for Mono storytelling. The event is on Saturday, Feb 3, from 1 – 3 p.m. The cost is $5 per person and the public is welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be provided. Come ...

Eugene Larner Gilpin, loving husband, father, and grandfather, brother and uncle, passed away early Monday morning Jan. 22, 2018, following a short illness. Gene was born and raised in Fresno County. He served in the United States Air Force as a Flight Surgeon and then returned to Fresno to begin private practice. For most of his career, Gene was a ...

OAKHURST — The Gold Dust Dancers Square and Line Dance Club will offer free sessions for new square dancers at the Oakhurst Community Center beginning Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 7 to 8:15 p.m., with caller Jan Pearson. Everyone is welcome, including couples, singles and families with children in the 4th grade and up. The class is open for three weeks ...

OAKHURST — The community and all interested stakeholders are invited to a public meeting on the reforestation efforts in the French Fire area on Wednesday Jan. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Oakhurst Community Center. The French Fire burned nearly 14,000 acres on the Bass Lake Ranger District of the Sierra National Forest in late July and early ...

OAKHURST – As winter weather moves in and presents more challenging and dangerous driving conditions, the Oakhurst Area CHP Office encourages you to start the New Year right by making your driving safety a priority. Saturday, Jan. 26, is Safety Saturday at the Oakhurst office, with Officer Luis Lugo hosting two important classes for new drivers and for senior citizens. ...

NORTH FORK — Just a few weeks after Slim’s Koffee Shak closed its doors in downtown North Fork, a group of locals has purchased some of the business’ equipment and furnishings and is breathing new life into the location. A partnership has been formed between Lisa Clark, Art and Mary Ellen Cruz, and Jacob and Heather Vitalec-Perry, to redesign the ...

NORTH FORK — Reports of a mountain lion near the North Fork Elementary School this morning prompted a lockdown of the campus for nearly three hours. At about 9 a.m., four students reported seeing a mountain lion near the perimeter of the school campus. The school was put on lockdown, and a phone message was sent out by principal Jared ...