MOUNTAIN AREA — An urgent winter weather advisory has been issued for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon including Bass Lake and Fish Camp, according to the National Weather Service. The advisory is currently in effect from 11 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 through 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. Above 8,000 feet an accumulation of six to ...

COARSEGOLD – Do you find yourself yearning for tarantula races, costume parade, and hairy leg contest? Perhaps you’re in the mood for some pizza eating, pumpkin cake and poetry, seasonal decorating, and fun for kids in an educational, if arachnidian, environment. Yearn no more. Webs are being woven now for Coarsegold’s 19th annual Tarantula Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10:30 a.m. til 5 p.m. in ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, is preparing to implement the fall/winter burning program, says District Ranger Denise Tolmie. Projects will consist of three activities: pile burning, broadcast, and underburning. “The objective of these prescribed burns are to reduce fuel loading from recent tree mortality fuel projects within the Wildland Urban Intermix and high ...

CENTRAL SIERRA —  Cal Fire would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that on Sunday, Nov. 6, at 2 a.m., daylight savings time ends. When you set your clocks back one hour, please make another change that could save your life — change the battery in your smoke detector. Although smoke detectors are in most homes, many do ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — A series of Pacific weather systems will bring several rounds of precipitation and wind to the western U.S. this week, according to the National Weather Service. Several inches of rain could fall in portions of California, especially in the coastal ranges and foothills. Snow is forecast in the higher mountains. In addition, winds will be strong, especially ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016: Oakhurst DUI arrest On Monday, Oct. 17 at 1:11 a.m. a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the area of Highway 41 and Road 426 for equipment violation. The driver was later found to be under ...

NORTH FORK — This is a delicious and delightful opportunity for the community to come together and share in the spirit of the fall season. Stop by the North Fork Christian Center on Monday, Oct. 31 for some Halloween festivities that really put the treat in trick or treat or, in this case, trunk and treat. From 5 – 7 ...

NORTH FORK — How much candy is too much candy? Today is definitely the day to find out at the Trunk ‘n Treat at the Post Office parking lot in North Fork, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. The parking lot will be roped off for safety and the North Fork fire truck will be on hand ...

YOSEMITE — On Saturday, Nov. 5, Yosemite National Park and The Ansel Adams Gallery will honor the winners of the 2016 Gateway Expressions Student Art and Poetry Contest, held as a way for the park to celebrate the creativity of youth living in the Yosemite gateway communities. The contest is open to all students, grades K-12, who attend school or youth ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The season of autumn has arrived and everyone is loving it! The weather is beautiful and has cooled down in the past several weeks, finally dropping below the oppressive summer swelter we, who are familiar with the Central Valley, have become accustomed to. Autumn brings up memories of roasting marshmallows and cozying up in a blanket to the ...