NORTH FORK – It’s time for the annual Tri-tip BBQ, put on by the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. This year’s event is on Saturday, Apr. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North Fork School. This is the major fundraiser for the Auxiliary, whose members work hard all year to provide funds necessary to outfit Madera ...

NORTH FORK — More than a dozen artists gathered in a local native garden this week, tools of their respective trades in hand, poised to capture the magic as a soft breeze blew and the Sierra sunlight gently dappled the grounds around them. When we heard that members of Yosemite Western Artists would convene for a plein air day at ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Apr. 8 to Sunday, Apr. 14, 2019. Coarsegold coroner’s report On Tuesday, April 9 at 5 p.m. deputies responded to a delayed coroner’s case that occurred at the 30000 block of Titan Drive. The primary physician is stipulating to the decedent’s cause ...

O’NEALS — Like our local first responders, Minarets annual all-school lip dub has gone above and beyond. First things first. A ‘lip dub’ is a type of creative expression that combines lip sync and audio dubbing to make a music video, and on Thursday, April 11 the entire Minarets student body and staff did just that. The lip dub is ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — After abundant rainfall this winter and spring, we’re being treated to a wild host of wildflowers decorating the mountains with bright splashes of yellow mustard, orange poppy, white popcorn, and purple-blue lupine. Now, we’re being treated to what’s known as a pink full moon, and that designation doesn’t reflect the color of the moon in the sky, ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — With a beautifully warm and sunny weekend behind us and tax day upon us, cooler temperatures return as a disturbance moves into the region bringing increased wind and precipitation across central California Monday, Apr. 15 into Tuesday, Apr. 16. Dry conditions return Wednesday with a warming trend through the end of the week. Snow levels will start ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Apr. 1 to Sunday, Apr. 7, 2019. Oakhurst burglary On Tuesday, Apr. 2 at 10 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 48000 block of Liberty Drive regarding a burglary report. A report was written and the case was closed. Oakhurst harassment ...

NORTH FORK — Call it Passover in the pines. For two nights next week, Rabbi Shlomo Menkes and his wife Aliza plan to preside over public Passover seders at their 92-acre retreat in North Fork. “These will be the first public seders in our area in at least 10 or 15 years,” Menkes says. “They could be the first ever.” ...

NORTH FORK – The Bass Lake Ranger District is set to begin its 2019 reforestation program. During the next two months, contract and Forest Service crews will be planting approximately 500 acres focusing on the areas of the 2014 French and Courtney Fires. Approximately 200 to 320 seedlings per acre will be planted, totaling up to 120,000 on the district ...

MARIPOSA – Recent rains and warm sunshine has fueled recent vegetation growth. The fire season is fast approaching and if vegetation is not managed it can create hazardous conditions for wildfire. Cal Fire’s Defensible Space Inspectors (DSI) are visiting homes within the State Responsibility Area (SRA) to enforce the Defensible Space code, Public Resource Code (PRC) 4291. It requires residents ...