YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy weekend, as record visitation continues and the park prepares for President Obama’s historic visit to Yosemite June 17 – 19. The White House announced last week that the President and First Family will celebrate Father’s Day weekend with a family trip to Carlsbad Caverns and Yosemite National Parks. “We are honored ...

Written by Mary Odell — SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Members of the Sierra Freepackers were asked last year by the Bass Lake Ranger District of the US Forest Service to aid in the restoration of the historic French Trail. The French Trail was burned out in the course of the French Fire during the summer of 2014.   “TRAIL HISTORY: ...

OAKHURST — Local photographer, well-known teacher and beloved community member Brian Wilhite recently had the rug of health pulled out from under him when he was diagnosed with bone and lung cancer. One minute the outdoorsy artist, 73, was flying joyfully down the slopes during an extended ski season and the next, it seems, he was digesting the sort of ...

YOSEMITE – The Merced River pushes past spectators with enormous gusto, as a wide area is cordoned off under the trees at Happy Isle Bridge. Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) teams are preparing to demonstrate swift water rescue techniques in order to convey a crucial message to the visiting public: stay safe out there. Click on images to enlarge. A ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park managers will be hosting a delegation from Sister Park, Berchtesgaden National Park in Germany, from June 19 to 25. During the visit, park managers will exchange ideas and practices and further the Sister Park Arrangement. Berchtesgaden is located in the southern mountains of Germany near the Austrian border, a region famous for the filming of iconic ...

YOSEMITE — It has been one week since an Oakhurst man was swept away in the Merced River in Yosemite, and searchers have been unsuccessful in what would soon become a recovery effort. The man has been identified by friends as Ernie Hager, 60, and on Saturday, June 11, searchers were called away from those efforts when a second victim ...

OAKHURST — The Oakhurst Area CHP invites those students and parents who are entering the world of teenage driving to attend a “Start Smart” presentation at the Oakhurst Branch Library on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is offered by CHP Office Kaci Lutz and there is no charge for the workshop. Start Smart is a ...

OAKHURST – Poke your head under the sink, check your garage and peek into your storage shed. If you see empty cans of paint, old oil filters, solvents, household sewing needles or any of a host of hazardous materials and want to get rid of them, you’re in luck. You can shed much of your excess household toxic waste on ...

CALIFORNIA — The minimum age of sale for tobacco products in California increased from 18 to 21, effective June 9, 2016. And for the first time, e-cigarettes are now included in the existing definition of tobacco products statewide. California is the second state in the nation, following Hawaii, to raise the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21. “Today marks ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Sierra silver mines required the building of wagon routes for the delivery of food and supplies. One of these would become the Tioga Road. The Tioga Road has been called “the road to broken dreams”…and perhaps it was true. One thing is certain…over the years its many miles of unexcelled scenic grandeur have fulfilled a ...