MADERA COUNTY – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is currently recruiting for Citizens on Patrol. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, Dec. 12. Citizens on Patrol (COP) is a cooperative effort of the Sheriff’s Office and community participants and is designed to enhance the quality of life in Madera County. COP members are a uniformed volunteer unit of the Sheriff’s ...

NORTH FORK – Both drivers walked away without injury this evening after one of them failed to stop for the posted stop sign at the intersection of Roads 225 and 274 in North Fork. Jason Mayer, 43, of North Fork, was coming south on Road 274 in a 1988 Toyota pickup just before 5:30 p.m. and had just pulled up ...

BASS LAKE – Nearly two years after North Fork resident Bonnie Hale was found dead at her home on Road 225, the woman charged with her murder has changed her plea. Mary O’Keefe, now 65 years old, appeared in Bass Lake Superior Court on Nov. 19 and changed her plea from not guilty, to not guilty by reason of insanity. ...

OAKHURST – During the holiday season, we may tend to focus on making Christmas merry for kids. However, our local California Highway Patrol reminds everyone of the seniors who may need some special attention. The Oakhurst CHP invites you to “Be a Santa to a Senior” and make the holidays special for those who may not be on anyone’s Christmas ...

NORTH FORK  – The 20th annual “Songs of the Season” concert will get you into the Christmas spirit on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., in Kennedy Hall at the North Fork School The show will feature the North Fork Community Choir, conducted by Gina Clugston; and the Mountain Choral Company from Sierra High School, led by Bruce Weinberger. This ...

CENTRAL SIERRA — Heavy precipitation is expected near northern California over the next few days with significant snowfall in the Sierra Nevada into Friday morning, says the National Weather Service, as a wet, active pattern is expected to continue through the weekend for the West. Heavy rainfall across California A frontal boundary approaching the West Coast is currently bringing heavy ...

NORTH FORK – There were tears of joy in the Paradise area last weekend when five families who have lost everything in the Camp Fire were blessed with temporary homes as they work to rebuild their lives. North Fork residents Diane and Vince Mercado have made it their mission to see that as many families as possible have a roof ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Winter weather is on its way again this week, with a potential for flash flooding in the lower country and heavy snow in the higher elevations. The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Flash Flood Watch for towns including Ahwahnee, Coarsegold, Mariposa, North Fork, Oakhurst, and O’Neals. The Flood Watch is in effect from Wednesday ...

By Colby Jobinger —  O’NEALS — Minarets Boys Soccer has had a big change this season since both teams — Varsity and Junior Varsity — got new head coaches. Previous Varsity Assistant Coach Juan Ibarra stepped up as the Head Coach for Varsity while his brother, Julio Ibarra, has taken the assistant coach spot. The Junior Varsity team will be ...

MARIPOSA – With the return of winter weather, Cal Fire Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit (MMU) has lifted the burn permit suspension effective Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 8 a.m. Unit Chief Nancy Koerperich is formally cancelling the burn permit suspension and advises that those possessing current and valid agriculture and residential burn permits can now resume burning on permissible burn days. Agriculture burns ...