MADERA – For 38 years, Augie Capuchino has been the face many people see when firefighters are called out, when they are in need of rescue, are suffering a medical emergency, or are involved in an accident. After nearly four decades of combined service to Madera County and the Sierra National Forest, Agustin Capuchino has retired and was honored today ...

NORTH FORK — Brightly colored packages strapped to the backs of their bikes, members of the local North Fork riding group get together each year for a special reason. Bearing the gifts of new, unwrapped playthings, these men and women support the local Toys for Tots program with an annual ride to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office and the Oakhurst ...

By Anne Guynn —  OAKHURST — Yosemite Badger Wrestlers are on the mat! Yosemite Badger Youth Wrestling includes kindergarten through high school senior athletes. After traveling to Lodi, Dinuba, and Morro Bay, the Yosemite High School team duals at neighboring Mariposa this Tuesday, Dec. 11. “Most of our high school team are new to wrestling and are gaining experience,” says ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — For the second year in a row, one local student is busy organizing an effort to put shoes on the feet of those who need them. Minarets freshman Erika Hafkey is committed to her project, No Más Niños Descalzos, or No More Barefoot Children, which began last year. Erica is the older daughter of Adriana Armenta and Mark Hafkey, and ...

NORTH FORK – Well, it’s great news for the North Fork Scout Troop 357, but sad news for anyone wishing to get a Christmas Tree at their annual sale. As of last night, the scouts had sold every single one of their trees in the lot behind the North Fork Library. Scoutmaster Dave Smith says this is the second year ...

OAKHURST — Stop by Yosemite High School for some merry-making this week, as the Theater Arts Department presents Holiday Shenanigans, a one night comedy variety show that features 25 students from YHS’s Advanced Theater Arts class. “It’s a celebration of the holidays and a chance to laugh and enjoy the spirit of the season with family and friends,” says department chair Lars ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Nov. 26, to Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018. Oakhurst failure to yield, stolen loaded handgun, felon in possession of a firearm On Monday, Nov. 26 at 4:27 a.m. a vehicle stop near the intersection of Pierce Drive and Elliot Drive led to a ...

By Ashley Davis — O’NEALS — Three Native students from Minarets High School were selected to attend the IAC Pacific Region Native Youth Food Sovereignty Summit in Hawaii — a conference for Native youth, including Native Americans and Native Hawaiians. The students who were selected from Minarets were senior Sierra Stalter along with juniors Darrin Coleman and Ashley Davis. They ...

Written by Sarah Bolton – MADERA COUNTY – Hello Madera County Residents! 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. Recent storms and heavy rainfall are impacting dead trees throughout the county. Dead trees, which remained dry during the summer, are ...

This photo is in the collection of the Sierra Mono Museum. The photograph was taken by Alexander Hood. The man with the baby is Mike McDonald holding his son Wally. Any help with identifying the woman and children in the photo would be appreciated. Thank you, Christina McDonald Sierra Mono Museum   Follow-Up on The History Mystery #69 We were ...