One of our favorite places to camp is on the Kings River, east of Pine Flat Lake. Near where Sue and I like to camp is USFS Kirch Flat Campground off of Trimmer Springs Road, but we prefer to disperse camp along the Kings River. First spot is right after you cross the first bridge, turn right on the dirt ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Got little ones? The Madera/Mariposa Regional Head Start preschool program is currently accepting applications for the 2017-2018 school year. Beginning this year, Mountain Head Start in North Fork will offer a full day program of six hours. Oakhurst Head Start continues with a three-and-a-half hour afternoon program. Services include early childhood education, medical and dental screening and ...

Laura Irene Morgan passed away on July 21, 2017, at the age of 80. Laura was a longtime resident of the mountain area who made her home in North Fork. Born in Macomb, Illinois, Laura moved to North Fork in 1961, where she worked as a postal clerk. After retiring, she enjoyed some of her free time doing sewing and ...

COARSEGOLD — Anyone who lives in the Coarsegold area and has ever been to the post office probably knows Al Flory. If they’ve ever been there on a holiday, they also know his penchant for entertaining his customers with the costume of the season. This week, Al is celebrating “Christmas in July” as he prepares to bid farewell to all ...

O’NEALS – Are you an artist with work that speaks to the rural life of the Central Sierra? This is your chance to have your work in thousands of homes. Ponderosa is looking for just the right image, representative of their coverage area, to grace their 2018 directory cover. Your artwork or image could be in all the homes and ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Everyone is invited to join in a tour of the best kept secret vistas of the Sierra Vista Scenic Byway. Participants will meet on Saturday, July 29, at 9 a.m. at The Pines parking lot at Bass Lake and carpool up to the Jackass Lake trail head. Retired USFS back country ranger Michael Olwyler will lead ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — When fire leads to evacuation, you may have only minutes to react. Notified via text or phone call, or even by a knock on the door, at that moment, you’re expected to grab and go. Quick — where are your pets? What do they need? A little advance planning will reduce stress and increase your chance of ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, July 17, to Sunday, July 23, 2017: North Fork burglary On Monday, July 17 at 5:49 a.m. a burglary was reported in the 56000 block of Shinn Cabin Lane. During the investigation one female was taken into custody and booked at MCDOC. ...

NORTH FORK – The nonprofit Sierra Mono Museum invites one and all to share in a celebration of heritage and culture at the 47th Annual Indian Fair Days & Pow Wow, held again this year on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 5 – 6, at Minarets High School. The event is the longest-running pow wow in the state of California, according to ...

MADERA COUNTY — Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary, Chawanakee, Raymond-Knowles Union Elementary and Yosemite Unified School Districts announce their policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the applicable National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and/or Afterschool Snack Programs. Effective July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018, children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household ...