CLOVIS – Residents of the mountain area have been greeted the past two mornings with an orange haze and the smell of smoke, though there is no active fire in the immediate area. The smoke is coming from the Lions Fire, which started on the Sierra National Forest around June 1 as a lightning strike, and is burning near the ...

Everyone I know has been breathing a sigh of relief for the rain that has once again filled our wells and reservoirs, while bracing for the impact of summer sunshine on the landscape. If you haven’t already lined someone up to take care of the weed whacking, you may want to get that on your “to do” list. And while you’re ...

MARIPOSA – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) would like to remind Eastern Madera and Mariposa County residents of the fire danger and use of illegal fireworks. All fireworks, including “Safe and Sane,” are illegal in Mariposa County as well as all areas east of the Madera Canal in Madera County. Public displays will be available ...

MADERA – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that they are currently recruiting for Sheriff’s Cadet II candidates. The successful candidate(s) will attend a police academy as a County-sponsored attendee, and will ideally commit to becoming a Deputy Sheriff – Basic POST with Madera County after academy graduation. No experience is required. Successful candidates will have their ...

CENTRAL SIERRA – In light of the disastrous tree mortality, the profusion of vegetation (fuel!) after the winter rains, and the large number of fires already this season, it is imperative for all people who live or work in Madera and Mariposa Counties – especially those in the foothills – to register or update their information for emergency contact. Madera ...

MADERA – The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware that a man has been making phone calls to citizens throughout the county impersonating a sheriff’s sergeant regarding outstanding warrants. THIS IS A SCAM. The Sheriff’s Office will never request funds or personal identifying information over the phone. Based on the information provided to the Sheriff’s Office, the man ...

MARIPOSA  – After another wet winter, warming temperatures and winds are quickly drying out the abundant annual grass crop. The increasing fire danger posed by the high volume of dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region is prompting Cal Fire to suspend all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Madera, Mariposa and ...

MADERA COUNTY– Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, June 11 to Sunday, June 17, 2018. North Fork traffic stop, warrant arrest and citation On Monday, June 11 at 1:09 a.m. a vehicle stop on Road 200 near Wyle Ranch Road in North Fork led to an warrant arrest and subsequent cited ...

MADERA – All the ballots from the June 5 primary election have now been counted and Tom Wheeler holds onto his position as District 5 Supervisor by earning more than 50 percent of the vote against challenger Marc Sobel. Brian Austin has been elected Superior Court Judge in a very tight race, defeating opponent Carol Moses by just 367 votes. ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — Here we go! Summer officially kicks off at precisely at 3:07 a.m. PDT on Thursday, June 21, with solstice, marking the point during the year when the sun takes its most northerly path across the sky. Summer solstice is the longest day of the year, with the shortest night, and at noon your shadow will also be the shortest of ...