NORTH FORK – The annual Mid-Sierra Loggers Jamboree returns to the North Fork Rec Center this weekend, July 7 and 8. Sponsored by the North Fork Boosters, this is the 59th year for this much-anticipated event, paying tribute to the loggers of times past and those who are still keeping the tradition alive today. “Participants in the Jamboree help us ...

OAKHURST – It took nearly an hour for firefighters to gain access to a structure fire burning near the top of Deadwood Mountain south of Oakhurst last night. Just after 9 p.m., people in Oakhurst began calling 911 because they could see flames on the side of the mountain. Eight Cal Fire engines, two dozers, two ground crews and a ...

Saddlebag Lake Campground in the Tioga Pass area had just opened and I wasted no time heading up there to check out the high country. Four days of camping gave my dog Sally and me plenty of time to wander by the high lakes in the area and get some fishing in! Where: Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National Forest Distance: 9.08 ...

I had never hiked to the top of the Devil’s Dance Floor. I had tried but failed last year but we succeeded this year! We headed off trail and reached the top, a huge granite flat rock that looks like an aircraft carrier deck with views of Foresta, Bridalveil Fall and beyond! Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 8.80 Miles Elevation ...

Bergamo was great and we were really looking forward to Cinque Terre. Unfortunately, what we didn’t realize was — most of Western Europe had a three-day weekend and the UK had a whole week off and, you know what?  They all descended on the highway between Bergamo and Cinque Terre. We fly for twelve hours to get away from California ...

MARIPOSA – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) would like to remind Eastern Madera and Mariposa County residents of the fire danger and use of illegal fireworks. All fireworks, including “Safe and Sane,” are illegal in Mariposa County as well as all areas east of the Madera Canal in Madera County. Public displays will be available ...

YOSEMITE – Visitors to Yosemite National Park will now be able to purchase their park entrance passes electronically through YourPassNow beginning on Thursday, June 21. Once visitors purchase and save their digital pass to their cell phone, or print and bring their purchased pass with them, Rangers will scan their pass at the entrance station. This convenient new service will ...

OAKHURST — Uplifting, inspirational, touching, exciting — one of the many ideal aspects of living in the foothills is access to great music of all sorts. With that in mind, the Oakhurst Community Concert Band will be performing their traditional patriotic concert, Celebrate America, on Sunday, June 24th, at Mountain Christian Center. The program starts at 3 p.m. As always, ...

MADERA COUNTY — Heads up, commuters — expect delays as long as 20 minutes on SR-41 north of Oakhurst next week. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), in cooperation with Michels Pipeline Construction, announces one-way traffic control on State Route 41 near the community of Oakhurst in Madera County for five working days as part of a culvert repair project ...

BASS LAKE — What’s up for Independence Day? Up in the sky it’s professional fireworks and on the ground are festivities at Bass Lake — including the brilliant boat parade — plus friends, families and plenty of fun for this 4th of July hump-day holiday. The boat parade starts at 7 p.m. near the entrance to Willow Cove and moves ...