CALIFORNIA — We’ve covered laws from the DMV including those pertaining to use of wireless electronic devices, child car safety seats, motorcycle lane-splitting and related others in an earlier report that’s available for review at this link. Governor Jerry Brown signed over 800 California laws in 2016. Here are a handful that go into effect Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, unless otherwise noted: ...

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 ...

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 ...

OAKHURST — The Yosemite Adult School in cooperation with the State Center Adult Education Consortium are pleased to announce there will be a Pre-Apprenticeship training class in Oakhurst beginning Jan. 17, 2017. This may be a good opportunity to start a career in one of the building trades, such as plumbing and pipe-fitting, electrician, carpentry, sheet metal working, and general labor. ...

OAKHURST — Yosemite High Athletics will offer live streaming of varsity athletic events this year, through a new partnership with NFHS Network online. “Through generous donations by Adventist Health and Sierra Tel, the Sports Marketing and Business Management Class at Yosemite will be producing as many home games as they can this year,” says YHS Athletic Director Rusty Oetinger. “This gives ...

NORTH FORK — In a clear case of local guy makes good, Eric Griffin, 28, has been named Principal of Stephens Elementary School in Chowchilla. The Sierra High and Cal Poly SLO graduate lives in Clovis now, but he was raised in North Fork, and his parents are local teachers, as well. Principal Griffin’s first day on the job at ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The season of giving makes its merry way in the busy days remaining before Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 25. Again today, we invite readers to join in celebrating twelve local nonprofits and the people behind them who are making a difference. For our second spotlight, we feature an organization that serves mountain area youth with outstanding low and no-cost programs ...

MADERA COUNTY — Yosemite High School’s prosecution and Liberty High’s defense teams competed in the championship round of the 2016-2017 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial. Click on image to enlarge. Competing earlier were Madera and Madera South. Liberty won the competition and team members will attend the State Mock Trial on behalf of Madera County. Madera County will be sending ...

O’NEALS — Minarets student Tiana Freeland, 17, is busy planning an important event as part of her Senior Legacy Experience, as she prepares to put on a prom for special needs youth. “All seniors at Minarets are required to put on some sort of project that benefits the community,” says Tiana, explaining the SLE program. “Because my two younger sisters have disabilities, ...