Contributed by Len McKenzie – Birdwatching, or birding, has been soaring in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the fastest-growing pastimes in North America. Among the myriad reasons for its widespread appeal, across demographic as well as geographic boundaries, are the fascinating behaviors birds display in their daily habits, seasonal patterns and social inter-actions. Many of those behaviors, embedded ...

By Ashley Davis — O’NEALS — No spring is complete at Minarets High School without the annual Keep It Native Day. Not familiar with the event? It first started as a youth conference six years ago, which turned into a mini-pow wow and conference for teens and children. In 2013, Brandon Lourence named it as Keep It Native, which has ...

Wildflowers were celebrating Earth Day at the Striped Rock Conservation Preserve, one of the Sierra Foothill Conservancy’s special areas that you can only visit with one of their docents. Where: Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Striped Rock Conservation Preserve Distance: 4.49 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 1,720′ – 2,160′ Date: April 22, 2018 Maps: Ben Hur Topographic Quad Dog Hike? No I ...

MARIPOSA – Every year on the first weekend of May, vendors, musicians and celebrants from all over the world gather for a family event that seeks to educate and celebrate the butterfly, along with Mariposa County. The Mariposa Butterfly Festival kicks off this year on Saturday, May 5, with a healthy-kids run, competitive trail run, and caterpillar crawl, followed by ...

CALIFORNIA — The numbers are in for the 2018 “California Clean-Up”, and they’re quite impressive, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Crews and volunteers in the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern picked up over 411 cubic yards of litter during the one-day event. That’s enough to fill 2,877 orange trash bags or 26 full-size trash ...

MADERA COUNTY– Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Apr. 16 to Sunday, Apr. 22, 2018. Oakhurst Search and Rescue deployed On Monday, Apr. 16 at 8:26 a.m. a deputy received a call regarding two people possibly stranded or stuck in the snow up by Fresno Dome Camp Ground. Multiple attempts to ...

MARIPOSA — Good news for green thumbs. Mariposa Master Gardeners have been propagating since last fall and seed-germinating since February in preparation for their annual spring plant sale and now the time has come. Stop by on Saturday, Apr. 28, starting at 8 a.m. in the Amigo Picnic Area at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, located at 5007 Fairgrounds Road. The event lasts ...

Frogs were singing and turtles were basking on logs at the Stockton Creek Nature Preserve where I learned how to identify some of our local amphibians and reptiles with the Sierra Foothill Conservancy. Where: Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Stockton Creek Nature Preserve Distance: 2.21 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 2,250′ – 2.406′ Date: April 15, 2018 Maps: Ben Hur, Buckingham Mountain ...

O’NEALS — Minarets baseball is continuing their stellar season with a 16-3 record as the first half of league play is coming to a close. Aaron Hall and Matt Painter’s pitching, along with run support from Redman (14 RBI), T. Painter (14 RBI), and Walden (14 RBI) have led our team to victory. Jaedan Pierce (.500), Aaron Hall (.417), Tylor ...

O’NEALS — Within the FFA there are many degrees and awards that not only high school members, but administrators can get as well. There are so many community members and Chawanakee District staff that help and dedicate their time to the Minarets FFA program. On Thursday Apr. 5, ten FFA members and five staff members, along with their parents and ...