NORTH FORK – The board of directors of the North Fork Boosters Club announced last last week that the 2020 edition of the Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree, one of the mountain area’s most popular annual events, is being cancelled due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19.“This is tough!” said a post on the Boosters Facebook page. “For sixty straight years ...

BASS LAKE — Warmer weather and pent-up desire to be outdoors spurred by two months of quarantining has drawn larger crowds than usual to Bass Lake this month, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, public restrooms at the popular recreation spot have been closed and trash service suspended. So MCSO has stepped in to ...

By Hailey Carlton, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — With the ongoing pandemic and school closures, seniors are missing out on all of the fun end of the year senior activities, including prom, grad night, the senior assembly — and even an in-person graduation ceremony. To try and make these seniors feel special, senior Rebecca Townsend came up with ...

MADERA – On Tuesday, law enforcement agencies from around Madera County gathered to remember fallen officers in Madera County as well as to honor the memories of all of the law enforcement members who died in the line of duty in 2019 in California.Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s ceremony — the 13th annual — was a bit different, ...

MADERA — In a rare 3-2 split vote on Tuesday, the Madera County Board of Supervisors approved the first reading of a new ordinance regulating the growth of industrial hemp in the county. The updated regulations set the table for large-scale expansion of industrial hemp in the county, with some ag experts predicting the new “green” rush could lead to ...

MARIPOSA — The creator of one of the country’s most memorable viral nature videos has died. Paul L. Vasquez, the burly, bearded mountain man whose emotional, awestruck reaction upon seeing a double rainbow propelled him to internet stardom and turned him into a folk hero, passed away over the weekend. He was 57.Vasquez, who called himself Yosemitebear on social media, ...

OAKHURST — The Marine Corps League in Oakhurst together with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Association will be hosting the annual Avenue of the Flags for Memorial Day (May 25) at Oakhill Cemetery. “We are seeking veterans and their families to help us put the flags up at 7 a.m. and take them down at 16:00,” said Maryann Enciso, the ...

A little more mileage on my adventure took me up to the Lone Sequoia and it is called that for a reason. But it wasn’t alone. It was accompanied by snowplants, wildflowers and dogwoods getting ready to bloom. . . and gnats. Distance: 12.37 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer)Difficulty: Easy to ModerateElevation Range: 3,418′ to 4,619′Date: April ...

OAKHURST — Northbound lanes of Highway 41 between the Fresno River and Road 426 have been reopened to traffic, according to the latest update from the Madera County Public Works Department.“Traffic signals at SR 41/SR 49 and SR 41/Rd 426 intersections will remain on all-way flashing red as required by Caltrans to allow traffic to re-acclimate to the normal traffic ...

MADERA — A North Fork man charged in the July 2019 murder of prominent Mono tribal elder Gaylen Lee made another preliminary court appearance on Friday. Robert Eugene Moye, 47, appeared in Department 23 of Madera County Superior Court Friday afternoon to formally hear all of the charges against him. Moye was found competent earlier this year to stand trial ...