COUNTY — In a battle of wits, Yosemite High School released its tight grip on the Madera County Academic Decathlon championship, coming in second and leaving room for Chowchilla High School to triumph for the first time since 1992. Still, Yosemite took home 29 medals, including 9 gold, and tied for first place in the Super Quiz. Six schools competed ...

OAKHURST — The 2016-17 Reedley College Scholarship Application is now open to students who will be attending the Oakhurst Community College Center, Madera Community College Center (MCCC), or Reedley College (RC), or who will be transferring from one of the MOR campuses to a four-year college/university for fall 2016. The application deadline is Sunday, Apr. 3. There will be scholarship ...

Submitted by Jill Gamble O’NEALS – Join the Minarets art club as we present the 3rd annual Up-Cycled Art Hop on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. This year our theme is a life sized Candy Land board game that you can walk through. There is a $5 admission which includes food and beverages, along with the opportunity ...

Submitted by Nikki Van Velson OAKHURST — Soroptimist International of the Sierras hosted the first Career Support day for girls on Saturday, Jan. 23. The all-day conference Dream It – Be It included several speakers on topics such as self-esteem, exploring careers, turning failure into success, rising above obstacles, balancing your stress, being mentors, and putting dreams into action. In ...

Submitted by Bailey Sampler O’NEALS — Minarets senior Shyann Mattes will host an FFA Parliamentary Procedure and Creed Speaking Contest for her Senior Legacy Experience (SLE), as part of the O’Neals-Minarets chapter offerings. When asked about her event, Shyann said, “It’s an awesome opportunity for members to practice speaking and presenting in front of others. The invitational is simply a ...

By Daniel Ching O’NEALS — Minarets will celebrate its fifth graduating class this year. From the beginning with just 30 students on the Spring Valley Elementary campus to now with five hundred students, Minarets has continued to stay true to the mission and vision that was created from the beginning. The high-tech, project-based, relationship focused culture that was established from ...

Submitted by Kristi Winter MADERA COUNTY — The 34th Annual Madera County Academic Decathlon competition begins on Friday, Jan. 29, as local high school students will compete in the interview and essay competitions at Madera County Office of Education. Yosemite High School, Chawanakee Academy, Chowchilla High, Liberty High, Madera High, Madera South High and will be competing to be named ...

Submitted by Julia O’Kane of Madera County Arts Council – OAKHURST — Five area high schools participated last Saturday in a national program that emphasizes the literary arts and public speaking skills, Poetry Out Loud. Groups of students from Yosemite, Liberty, Madera High, Madera South High, Ripperdan, Endeavor, Glacier, and Mountain Vista high schools have been memorizing and practicing their ...

By Yosemite High School Athletic Director Rusty Oetinger This week the YHS Basketball and Soccer teams took on their closest rivals. In the past, the Sierra rivalry has been a storied one with a lot of rich history, but this generation of Badgers are writing a new chapter with their Minarets rivalry. As well as playing our rivals, the Girls Soccer ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — In memory and honor of the life of Frank Verduzco, a scholarship fund has been established in his name by the North Fork Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary. Frank Verduzco was just 64 years old when he passed away on Sept. 23, 2015, and the scholarship fund is in support of those students going on to a career ...