By Annabelle Lowndes — O’NEALS — With the school season for volleyball coming to an end, it’s time for most volleyball players to start thinking about playing for a club. Club volleyball has become more and more popular over the past few years for high school and elementary age girls. Volleyball players will often play for a club to stay ...

MADERA COUNTY — Chawanakee Academy, Minarets High, Minarets Charter High, and Yosemite High School decathletes will join students from throughout California for the Madera County Academic Decathlon Lecture Day on Thursday, Oct. 27.  Valley experts will lecture on six subject areas to more than 600 students from throughout the state. “We are excited once again to provide this opportunity to ...

MADERA COUNTY – Over 56,000 tax bills are being mailed out this week, representing over $160 million in property taxes. The various bond charges and direct charges are included on the tax bills. “It’s that time of year again,” reports Tracy Kennedy, Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector. “We have just begun the printing and mailing process of our property tax bills. ...

NORTH FORK — Once again the generous folks at Hillside Baptist Church will be providing those in need with new shoes ahead of winter. This Saturday, Oct. 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Fork, Wishon and O’Neals children who are pre-kindergarten to 12th grade and in need of shoes are invited to come by the church and have ...

MADERA COUNTY — The newly reinvigorated K9 program at the Madera County Sheriff’s Office has just received another major financial boost with the donation of over $24,000. Chief Civil Deputy Mike Motz, president of the Madera County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (DSA), presented a check for $24,300 to the Board of Supervisors this morning, bringing their fundraising total for the K9 ...

B & B Hardware sees new life and a new owner. NORTH FORK — In this little town with a big heart lies one of California’s rare commodities these days – an old time hardware store with all the charm to boot. B & B Hardware has been around as long as most of us can remember and for the ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016: Oakhurst minor assaulted  On Monday, Oct. 10 at 9:44 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 49000 block of Road 427 (School Road) regarding a report of a minor being slapped by an adult. Report taken, evidence ...

O’NEALS — The Minarets boys and girls soccer teams are hosting a Luncheon and Raffle Fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 11:30 a.m in the Minarets gym. All proceeds will go to helping expand our soccer program and buying much needed equipment. This is the first year that the girls and boys are going to host this event together. Also this ...

SIERRA FOOTHILLS — As cooler weather rolls in, the urge to torch off those burn piles is only natural. However, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Troy Cheek warns that the fire danger has not been mitigated, and a burn ban remains in place. “We don’t foresee the ban being lifted until well into November or December,” says Cheek. “We’re going to ...

MADERA COUNTY — With a Public Safety Tax proposed for a special election in March 2017, efforts to educate the public and gather feedback are well underway. Last night at a Town Hall meeting in Ahwahnee, Georgiena Vivian of VRPA Technologies, made a presentation about the proposed tax, why it is needed, and how the funds would be collected, administered ...