MADERA — A second person has died from COVID-19 in Madera County. A woman in her 70s suffering from underlying conditions and already hospitalized with the virus passed away early Friday morning, according to Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH). The woman initially tested positive for COVID-19 on March 25. Also on Friday, the post office in Coarsegold was ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — A Winter Storm Watch was issued Thursday by the National Weather Service (NWS) in Hanford as forecasters say a pair of Pacific weather systems are set to arrive in the mountain area this weekend, bringing “significant late season snowfall” to the high country. The NWS weather advisory covers the Sierra foothills and mountain areas from Tulare County ...

O’NEALS — Working since he was nine years-old, now eighteen-year-old and senior Hunter Ahrens has earned the honor of Eagle Scout. Hunter started as a Cub Scout in 2011, as a Bear, then he went to Bobcat, and then earned his Arrow of Light Award. He then joined the Boy Scout troop at ten and half and worked his way ...

BASS LAKE — The 2020 Bass Lake Fishing Derby has been canceled, according to a press release issued Wednesday. “We were really hoping to go through with the Fishing Derby this year but had to consider the health and safety of participants, Bass Lake and our mountain community,” said Michelle Miller, owner of Miller’s Landing Resort. “Even though this is ...

By Johanna Ziegler, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — Almost 90 percent of the worldwide student population is out of school according to recent reports from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. In other words, more than 1.5 billion students across the planet have been sent home because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. In the United ...

Do you have a favorite dirt road that you like to walk on? I stayed close to home for this one and I feel weird calling this a hike because it was more of a brisk walk up a dirt road lined with pretty wildflowers and singing birds. Distance: 11.82 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer) Difficulty: Easy ...

OAKHURST — This week the Eastern Madera County Rotary Club, the Mountain Area Youth Organization, The Manna House, the Soroptimist Club, The Elderberry House, Larry Smith and his crew from Custom Design Construction and the Madera County Board of Supervisors partnered with Madera County Food Bank Director Ryan McWheter and his team to have food both available for pickup — ...

BASS LAKE — It’s no secret the hospitality industry has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Direct health concerns as well strict restrictions and directives from health officials, including social distancing, sheltering in place and closing the area’s main attraction – Yosemite National Park — has resulted in a significant drop in all tourism-related business. In just the ...

OAKHURST — State Center Community College District (SCCCD) officials have announced the district will continue to offer all classes online-only through the remainder of the spring and summer semesters. “In keeping with our goal of assisting in the efforts to decrease the spread of COVID-19, we will cancel all campus gatherings through June, including graduation,” said Dr. Paul Parnell, SCCCD ...

OAKHURST — Yosemite Unified School District Nutrition Services will provide an opportunity for families with students to pick up lunch and breakfast beginning Monday (March 16), district officials announced Saturday. “We will be providing meals Monday-Friday through a mobile drive through or walk up service for children up to 18 years of age,” said a release from the district, issued ...