Written by Annabelle Lowndes — O’NEALS — Over the past few years, the Minarets Volleyball program has made a name for itself, not only in the mountain community, but in the entire Central Valley. They have proved that, with excellent coaching staff and hardworking players, they can rise up to any challenge. Each year, there is a tremendous turnout of ...

MARIPOSA — This is the inaugural year for the Mariposa Go West Festival in the historic and charming California gold rush town named with the Spanish word for “butterfly.” The festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1, throughout the downtown area of Mariposa, say organizers, with “gunslingers, an Indian village, gold panning competitions, vendors, music, line dancing, and other ...

OAKHURST — October is breast cancer awareness month and soon the world as we know it will be awash in pink. Right now, though, it’s still September, and one local survivor wants to remind all women of another cancer and a different color: teal represents awareness for ovarian cancer. “I am so passionate about this disease because I am a survivor going ...

FISH CAMP — Heading from Oakhurst to Yosemite next week? Be prepared for delays, weather permitting. The Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today that beginning on Monday, Sept. 26, one-way traffic control will be in effect on State Route 41 in Mariposa County for five days as part of a tree removal project taking place in Madera and Mariposa counties. ...

OAKHURST – Area residents are invited to a free health screening at the Oakhurst Community Center on Sunday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will be treated to tips for leading a healthy life at a Community Health Fair where kids and families are welcomed. Click on flyer to enlarge. Complimentary services will be provided by chiropractors, ...

NORTH FORK – October is the season of lederhosen and hops and, to that end, the North Fork Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate Oktoberfest at Bandit Town. Live music will fill the air as dance bands The Executive Rocker Show, Three Shades of Blue and others take the stage for this second-year Oktoberfest celebration happening on Saturday, Oct. 8 from 5 – ...

BASS LAKE — It’s that time of year again — fall is in the air and the Smokey Bear Run / Walk returns to the shores of beautiful Bass Lake. Saturday, Sept. 24, runners and walkers of all ages will gather at Recreation Point on the south shore for one of the year’s most anticipated events. Organizers have been working ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Sept. 12 to Sunday, Sept 18, 2016: Oakhurst fraud report On Monday, Sept. 12 at 10:21 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 48000 block of Liberty Drive in regards to a fraud report. This report will be closed, due to a lack ...

COARSEGOLD — Here’s an opportunity to get to know local law enforcement in a comfortable atmosphere with no agenda except a chat and cuppa something good. Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney invites the community to join him and the deputies to discuss community issues during monthly events dubbed “Doughnut with a Deputy.” Based on the popular “Coffee with a Cop” format, the ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — The signs are all around us, from the withered buckeye and earlier darkening skies, to little hints of temperatures dropping that send us running to the closet to pull out just one long sleeved shirt, for a change! The autumnal equinox, when days and nights are approximately equal in length, arrives this year on Thursday, Sept. 22 ...