BASS LAKE — North Fork resident Mary O’Keefe was back in Bass Lake Superior Court today, this time for a long-awaited preliminary hearing on the charge of first degree murder with an enhancement of elder abuse in the killing of beloved North Fork citizen Bonnie Hale. Hale was found deceased on the back patio of her home on Road 225 ...

FRESNO — Looking for a new job or know someone who is? Online retailer Amazon is building a reportedly 855,000-square-foot fulfillment facility in Fresno near Central and Orange, and they’re holding a three-day Hiring Fair to support it. The Hiring Fair will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Fresno starting on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and running through Thursday, ...

Written by Terry Caruthers — NORTH FORK — Many of you may know me. My name is Terry Caruthers. I have lived and worked as a hair stylist in North Fork for over 28 years. In the fall of 2016, after the Nepal earthquake, I was blessed with the opportunity to join a team from my church – Calvary Chapel ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Prescribed burning operations have resumed on the Ponderosa fuelbreak east of Cascadel Point near North Fork. Smoke has been visible for the last few days. “We still have a fair amount of acreage of tree mortality burn piles to finish up, and have a contract burn crew with a Forest Service representative on scene each day ...

Submitted by Nikki Van Velson —  OAKHURST —  Soroptimist International of The Sierras presents their third annual “Dream It – Be It” Conference for high school girls. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Oakhurst Community Center. Registration is from 8:30 – 9 a.m., followed by the conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free ...

NORTH FORK — The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians invites the community to participate as they develop a Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan for approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). First and foremost, the mitigation plan will serve as an essential strategy for reducing current and future risks from natural hazards such as wildfire, flooding and windstorms, thereby ...

Submitted by Michael Olwyler — A new compact photo book presents the work of photojournalist Peter Olwyler and is packed with black and white images of the iconic town and the people of San Miguel de Allende and central Mexico. The book was produced and self-published by Peter’s son Michael Olwyler, of North Fork, Calif. He titled the book, “San ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region has announced Temporary Wildland fire employment opportunities for the 2018 field season, including numerous opportunities with duty locations of North Fork, Oakhurst, Mariposa, Fresno, Trimmer, Prather, and Big Creek, Calif. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 15. Candidates are encouraged to apply to any or all positions in which they ...

OAKHURST — The Yosemite Unified School District (YUSD) has extended the Board Member Application deadline by one week, for anyone who may be interested in filling the position of Trustee for Area 4. The new date that Board Member Applications must be received in the YUSD office is Thursday, Jan. 18 at 4 p.m. Previously, the last day to apply was ...

NORTH FORK — Two suspects are behind bars this evening after being arrested on charges of residential burglary and receiving/being in possession of stolen property. On Jan. 7, at about 4:30 a.m., the Madera County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of someone stealing property from a garage on Manzanita Drive in the Bass Lake Heights area. The resident reported ...