CENTRAL SIERRA – Anyone taking to the mountain highways over the weekend should avoid any unwanted delays by making sure there are traction devices in their vehicle. Chain control is now in place on Highway 41 about 3.5 miles north of Cedar Springs. The location could change as conditions warrant. Chains are required on all vehicles except 4-wheel-drives with snow tires ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service has upgraded the winter storm watch to a winter storm warning for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon, beginning Friday, Dec. 23 at 10 a.m. The winter storm watch continues through 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24. According to the NWS, snow will begin above 6,000 feet in the Yosemite area ...

MADERA COUNTY —  “Over ninety million dollars in property tax payments were collected and posted from the December tenth property tax deadline,” reports Tracy Kennedy, Madera County Treasurer-Tax Collector. All payments were posted and balanced by Friday, Dec. 16. “That’s amazing, given that we had an extra day for taxpayers to make their payments on Monday, December 12th. All posted and ...

By Claudia Sanchez and Natasha Lucas — MOUNTAIN AREA — Hope For The Homeless is Senior Legacy Experience (SLE) by Minarets students Claudia Sanchez and Tally Scott, who hope to help many people this holiday season by gathering an assortment of items that will distributed after Christmas. Items sought are warm clothing, including socks and gloves. There are boxes covered in wrapping ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — **UPDATED 7 p.m. Dec. 21: The NWS has upgraded this to a winter storm warning for heavy snow, meaning severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Signinficant amounts of snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous.** Check with US National Weather Service Hanford California for more information and we will re-post latest news on Thursday. ...

SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants all motorists on the roadways to drive safely during their travel this holiday season. As part of its upcoming Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), the CHP reminds motorists to buckle up, avoid distracted driving, designate a sober driver, and always travel at a safe speed for conditions. The CHP Christmas MEP will begin ...

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE — Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the longest night, marking the point during the year when the Northern Hemisphere is the most inclined away from the Sun. The day is the official start of winter and yet each day from now will grow ever-so-gradually longer as the sun returns. On Winter Solstice, the ...

O’NEALS — The Minarets Mustangs boys soccer team took on the Mariposa Grizzlies on Thursday, Dec. 8, with Minarets taking home the win 6-0 in a highly competitive match. I am Oscar Neri, a senior at Minarets high school. This is my first year on varsity. This is my account of the game. As we went into our away game against ...

By Samantha Clay and Hannah Flanagan —  MINARETS — The lady Mustangs’ soccer team of Minarets High School is looking very promising this season. Just within our first few weeks of practice and our scrimmage against Firebaugh last month, we have come together and formed a collaborative team. We pulled a glorious victory and a great redemption for last seasons ...

NORTH FORK — For a limited time, Eastern Madera County has access to two air curtain burners to dispose of woody slash materials, says Justine Reynolds, Program Development Manager of Yosemite/Sequoia RC&D Council. The burners were purchased by Cal Fire to travel throughout the Governor’s pre-identified High Hazard Counties. Air curtain burners are currently the best alternative to open burning, ...