WISHON — Virginia Walton Pilegard of Wishon, California, passed away January 13, 2022, at the age of 79.  She was born on December 21, 1942, in Fresno, California, to Ralph and Helen Walton and was raised in foothills of Hildreth, California. While working in Jones Store at Beasore Meadows, she met the love of her life, Richard Pilegard, and they ...

HANFORD — The National Weather Service Hanford Office has issued a Wind Advisory and High Wind Warning for areas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Yosemite National Park and the surrounding foothills beginning Friday morning and continuing until Saturday afternoon. This has people’s attention considering it was one year ago almost to the day that our communities experienced a highly destructive Mono Wind ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — We made it! The past two weeks have been very busy with the holiday season and a rare winter storm with very low elevation snow.  There have been traffic collisions, hazards and many disabled vehicles on our roads.  There were also some power outages sprinkled in too.  For me this has meant that I’ve been furiously posting ...

Warren Frank Ball, age 74, a long-time resident of Friant, CA, and most recently a resident of North Fork, CA, passed away Monday, January 10, 2022. Warren was a farmer and rancher, Fresno State alumni, life-time member of the Farm Bureau, and past member of the California Cattlemen’s Association. Warren enjoyed volunteering as an auctioneer for the Fresno Fair youth ...

Mountain Communities – In continued preparation for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) adoption of 988 as the new three-digit number to be used nationwide to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, 11-digit dialing is being implemented. However, callers must continue to dial 1-800-273-TALK to reach the Mental Health Crisis Lifeline until July 16, 2022. For 988 ...

Message from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services: Mountain Communities – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services, in partnership with Madera County Public Works Road Department, will continue tree mortality project work. 1/5/22- Tree crews will continue work along Road 222, in the Bass Lake Annex area. Upon completion, they will move to Road 221. 1/4/22- ...

Mountain Communities – Year-end summary of homes sold in our mountain area in 2021 taken from California Regional Multiple Listing Service Statistics shows an increase over 2020. We had 731 homes (single-family residential properties) in 2021, up from 711 in 2020. Our local median selling price was $400,000 compared to $345,000, up 15%. Prices ranged from $100,000 to $3,850,000. The ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The ushering in of a new year brings with it the anticipation of a fresh start, positive changes, and healthy resolutions.  What it should not bring are headlines of tragedies caused by drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. To encourage safe travel for those who are out on the road, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) ...

OAKHURST — It was the day after Christmas 12-26-21, and our area had been receiving some much-needed snow. Families were very excited for the chance to play in the snow together, even though officials had been recommending against travel into the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the week leading up to Christmas, as we reported here. I had spent the day ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Fire Department is the recipient of a $70,000 grant to purchase new extrication equipment referred to as “the jaws of life.” The grant funding was provided through the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Madera County Fire Department Assistant Chief Matthew Watson stated that “This new equipment will ...