OAKHURST — Several dozen community members rolled up their sleeves Saturday to take part in the “Great Sierra River Clean-Up.” The event was held from 9 am to noon by the banks of the Fresno River and along the Oakhurst River Parkway in the area adjacent to Oakhurst Community Park. Participants removed hundreds of pounds of litter and debris from ...

MARIPOSA – The Mariposa Biomass Project (MBP) is taking a giant step toward becoming operational. MBP officials recently released an update from technology provider and project partner, Cortus Energy, a green-tech company based in Sweden. The project update came after the Cortus Energy board of directors authorized release of the funds necessary for the MBP to enter the queue for ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office reports taken locally from Tuesday, August 27, to Monday, September 2, 2019. Oakhurst Coroner’s Report On Tuesday, August 27, at 3:48 p.m., a deputy was dispatched to Oakhurst regarding a deceased individual at a residence. A report was forwarded to Madera County Deputy Coroner Office for review. North ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — The National Park Service is reporting that at approximately 11:55 a.m. on Thursday (September 5), a female visitor died due to a fall from the Half Dome cables in Yosemite National Park. According to the NPS press release, which was issued Friday morning, the woman fell “over 500 feet down steep, rocky terrain,” and was deceased ...

OAKHURST — Pastry Brasil bakery in Junction Plaza has closed just four months after bringing exotic treats like chocottone and brigadeiros to the heart of Oakhurst. Owner Mary Moreira Holt announced the bakery’s impending end on the business’s Facebook page earlier this week, although that post — and the page itself — has since been taken down. In a now-deleted ...

OAKHURST — In preparation for the 32nd-annual Smokey Bear Run/Walk, a group of participants gathered Wednesday afternoon at Cal Fire Station #12 for a pre-race photo op. This year’s Smokey Bear Run/Walk will take place at Bass Lake on Sept. 21. The event, which kicks off at 7:45 a.m., includes a 10K run, a two-mile run/walk for adults and children ...

BASS LAKE — California American Water has entered into an agreement to acquire Bass Lake Water Company’s potable water distribution system, which serves approximately 1,000 customer connections in the Bass Lake community. The deal, which was announced Tuesday (Sept. 3), has been in the works for some time, according to officials from both companies. “When we agreed to sell we ...

I had missed out hiking in the Bridalveil Creek area when the wildflowers were going full blast but a couple of friends told me that I was not too late and they were sure right. Fireweed was getting ready to take over the wildflower show and it is always cool to spot a bear! Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 7.41 ...

COARSEGOLD — Sunny blue skies and a relatively mild weather forecast were expected to help draw at least 4,000 or 5,000 people over the long weekend to the annual Labor Day Peddlers Fair at Coarsegold’s Historic Village. The event provides an opportunity for vendors specializing in antiques and collectibles to display and “peddle” their exotic wares. There’s also plenty of ...

OAKHURST — Sharon Fitzgerald, board president of EMC SPCA, shared a progress report this week regarding the organization’s new no-kill animal shelter off Highway 49 in Ahwahnee. Fitzgerald, the organization’s driving force for nearly 30 years, is the owner of The Cat’s Meow in Oakhurst. She also operates the EMC SPCA Thrift Shop next door to her store. The 2,000-square-foot ...