MOUNTAIN AREA – With temperatures expected to drop below freezing this week, it’s time to insulate exposed plumbing and execute other measures to keep the disaster of burst pipes from ruining your holidays. Residents who have not already done so are reminded to take precautions such as wrapping exposed metal or plastic pipes that carry water, since water expands when ...

By Therese Righter — O’NEALS — On Friday, Mar. 29 and Saturday Mar. 30, Minarets High School will host the freshly-dubbed Sierra Mountain Communities for a Cure, bringing together all of the mountain communities, businesses, and schools for a great purpose — to support the American Cancer Society in its mission to fight cancer. The Relay for Life: Sierra Mountain Communities for ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — While the National Weather Service in Hanford will allow a Winter Storm Warning and a Winter Weather Advisory in our area to expire with the passing storm, freezing temps will occur overnight. The warning took effect at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 1 and continues through 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The advisory began at 4 ...

NORTH FORK – Parents, grandparents and children gathered in the office of the Head Start program at the North Fork School on Tuesday after learning their center would be closed at the end of the school year. Mattie Mendez, Executive Director of the Community Action Partnership of Madera County (CAPMC), told the group that with the increases in the minimum ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Jan. 21 to Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Oakhurst warrant arrest On Tuesday, Jan. 22 at 4:12 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 49000 block of Civic Circle to assist California Highway Patrol. One female subject was found to have an outstanding ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — While the forecast for this weekend’s rain is less drastic than previously anticipated, we’re still expecting a winter storm strong enough to bring sufficient precipitation that the National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a storm and flash flood watch for the region, especially notable for burn scar areas. Winter Storm Watch A Winter Storm Watch is ...

O’NEALS — Some days I love my job more than others, and last Saturday was certainly one of those special days. It was my pleasure to be one of the many volunteer judges for this year’s Madera County 4-H Favorite Foods Day, when nearly one hundred young club members from around the area entered their recipes and displays into a ...

Written by Sarah Bolton – MADERA COUNTY –  Hello Madera County residents and welcome to the Tree Mortality Community Column. Our company, Blue Ridge Services (BRS), is partnering with Madera County to oversee and implement their tree mortality mitigation project. Throughout the life of this project, we have dedicated a lot of time and energy to making sure that our ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — This year marks the 20th Annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life in our mountain community and now, the event is evolving with a new name, new look, and a new location. Sierra Mountain Communities for a Cure On Friday, Mar. 29 and Saturday Mar. 30, Minarets High School will host the freshly-dubbed Sierra Mountain Communities for ...

By Autumn Pecarovich — O’NEALS — The Minarets High School FFA natural resource/forestry and citrus teams competed this month to practice their skills, leaving for their two-day competition on Thursday, Jan. 10. These teams have been practicing weekly and applying themselves with hard work — now, their dedication has been put to the test in these competitions. “I felt like ...