MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office official lifted all evacuation warnings related to the recent flood activity at 5:30 p.m. today. While residents likely breathed a sigh of relief as rains abated, there is more precipitation in the forecast, starting on Thursday afternoon. With the ground saturated and periods of rain predicted into the weekend, those in low-lying ...

NORTH FORK — Though the road to Whisky Falls in the Sierra National Forest has been closed for the season, some may still try to access the area, only to discover that the roadway has washed out. About 1.6 miles up the mountain from the intersection with Road 223 (Cascadel), Forest Road 8S09 is completely washed out. Forest engineers are ...

Guest Column by Chris Christopherson — As a resident and conservative I am against taxes as much as anyone. But we have come to a crossroads when it comes to the staffing of our County Fire Department. Madera County began a Cooperative agreement with CAL FIRE to manage the County Fire Dept. in 1928. This is the longest Cooperative relationship ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Feb. 6 to Sunday, Feb. 12, 2017: Coarsegold theft On Monday, Feb. 6 at 7:05 p.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 46000 block of Lucky Lane regarding a report of a theft. This case has been closed, pending investigative leads. Coarsegold ...

EASTERN MADERA COUNTY — The campaign committee, Citizens, Firefighters, & Deputies for Measure L is holding a series of public safety forums in Madera County to discuss the proposed Madera County Public Safety Sales Tax, titled Measure L, scheduled for a special election on Mar. 7. The forums will include speakers who represent citizens, Madera County firefighters and sheriff’s deputies. ...

NORTH FORK — In her first time participating in the North Fork Lions Club Student Speaker Contest, Minarets High School senior Delaney Finnegan won top honors. This year marks the 80th annual competition, and the topic for this year’s speeches is “Is the Right to Privacy a Threat to our National Security?” Four students delivered their speeches on Wednesday, Feb. ...

OAKHURST – “As residents of this county we’ve been gambling that nobody in our public safety ranks would lose their life in the line of duty, and we can’t keep going on like we’ve been going.” These are the sentiments expressed by firefighters and sheriff’s deputies as they gathered today at the old Blockbuster in Oakhurst before heading out to ...

NORTH FORK – Residents who have been under a mandatory evacuation order on Church Street and at the Bass Lake Mobile Home Park in North Fork are being allowed to return home. The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has lifted the order, saying County agencies have been out to evaluate homes impacted by the flood. If you were not contacted, your ...

NORTH FORK — The unprecedented tree mortality in the Sierra National Forest has created a high number of hazard trees within the Bass Lake Ranger District’s campgrounds. In recognition of how important a role these campgrounds are to the community, county, valley and beyond, select campgrounds will continue to operate under a reservation system for the entire season, says the ...

NORTH FORK — Senator Tom Berryhill visited Eastern Madera and Mariposa Counties today, to survey the wide-spread damage done by recent torrential rains. The heavy downpours, coupled with massive tree mortality, have cause major damage all across his district, which stretches from Amador on the north to Tulare on the south. Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler was Berryhill’s ...