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Artist Spotlight: Vicki D. Thomas
Soft, dreamy landscapes, still lifes and buildings – whether real or fantasy-based – are watercolorist Vicki Thomas’ forte. When the mood strikes, however, she applies her liquid style of painting and drawing to people, flowers and seascapes, as well. The…
Message From Supervisor Tom Wheeler
Public Transit to Yosemite National Park – A potential economic boost for our local tourism industry By Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler. There has been a lot of talk about the Fresno Council of Governments’ (COG) potential plan…
How To Spay/Neuter Feral Cats In The Mountain Area
First – a feral cat is one that CANNOT be handled. If you can touch, pet or cuddle the cat, they are not feral. The SPCA has funds for spaying or neutering feral cats. This is to help reduce the…
Out Of Compliance Sex Offender Arrested
Sex offender living in Madera home where kids play; Fresno County probationer also jailed MADERA COUNTY – A citizen’s tip concerning a registered sex offender led deputies to Danny Bryant, 65, of Madera, who was found living in a home…
Yosemite Facelift Yields Over 20,000 Pounds of Trash
Over 1,000 Volunteers Worked 8,000 Hours During Annual Event YOSEMITE – Approximately 1,150 Yosemite Facelift volunteers collected approximately 5,000 pounds of litter and 15,000 pounds of concrete, asphalt, and other large trash at the 9th Annual Yosemite Facelift event in…
Children's Museum Takes Difficult Step
Over the past several months, the staff and volunteers at the Children’s Museum of the Sierra have been over whelmed by our community’s support. The number of people who have come forward with donations of time, money, materials and more…
Work Begins On Road 206 Near Friant
MADERA COUNTY — Starting Monday, Oct. 8, Madera County’s Road Department begins a 2-week project on Road 206, between County Road 145 and Friant Road. (See map below).The road will not be closed, but travelers should expect delays between 7…
Creative Healing Arts Studio Welcomes Visitors
OAKHURST – Visitors to the Creative Healing Arts Studio can expect to find ceramics in one room, yoga in another, and a third space for exploring dreams. The public is invited to their grand opening Saturday, Oct. 6. where a…
Breaking News – HJTA Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Fire Tax
October 4, 2012 Class Action could qualify 825,000 property owners for a Fire Tax refund SACRAMENTO – Today the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association filed a class action lawsuit to provide relief to nearly one million California property owners who received…
Yosemite Celebrates Outstanding Volunteers
YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park conducted the third annual Yosemite Volunteer Awards Ceremony to recognize outstanding volunteers who have donated their time, talent, and skills to protect and preserve park resources and provide excellent service to park visitors. The ceremony…
Tarantula Festival Honors Creepy-Crawlies
Visitors learn to appreciate this misunderstood arachnid – COARSEGOLD – Thousands of residents and visitors alike will be flocking to the Coarsegold Historic Village on Oct. 27 to celebrate the annual Coarsegold Tarantula Festival. The event celebrates the eight-legged creatures…
Minarets High Sponsors Car Show To Fund European Trip
O’NEALS – Chrome gleams with a blinding light and engines rev ferociously as the 1st Annual Minarets Car Show cruises onto the Minarets High School campus Sunday, Oct. 6. The sporty spectacle takes place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m….
Win $500 With Your Pomegranate Recipe
MADERA – As the second annual Madera Pomegranate Celebration nears, organizers are once again soliciting pomegranate infused recipes for the National Pomegranate Recipe Contests sponsored by Stiebs. “Recipes can use pomegranate arils, pomegranate juice, or juice concentrate,” said KC Pomering,…
Cables Removed On Half Dome
The Half Dome Cables will be taken down for the season on Tuesday, October 9, 2012. The cables are taken down each October for the fall and winter season. They are proposed to be put back in place in the…
Wine & Chocolate Are Favorites At Oakhurst Fall Festival
The Annual Oakhurst Fall Festival is set for Oct. 13 and 14, and will be celebrating a pair of milestones by enhancing many of the offerings. In addition to being the 20th year for the Fall Festival, which merged with…
Someone I'd Like You To Meet
There’s someone I’d like you to meet. The timing is perfect. We all just received our “Sample Ballot and Voter Information Pamphlet” from Rebecca Martinez, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters for Madera County, and this year it’s none too…
Pet Photo Contest Winners
OAKHURST – Over 100 photos of dogs, cats, pets of all kinds and their humans, were submitted for the annual Pet Photo Contest sponsored by the Oakhurst Mountain Lions. Winners were announced at Responsible Dog Owner Day, Saturday, Sept. 29,…
Sibling Behind Bars After Family Feud
AHWAHNEE – Nathaniel Follette, 27, of Ahwahnee, is behind bars on felony charges following an alleged fight with his brother at a residence on Road 600. A 911 call to the Sheriff’s Office sent deputies to the home just before…
Disturbance Call Lands 2 Mountain Area Men Behind Bars
OAKHURST – A call for service to handle a disturbance inside a building in Oakhurst ended with the arrest of two mountain area men – one wanted on a felony no bail warrant, the other later arrested by California Highway…
Being Reckless With Fire Can Cost You
The “Acorn Fire,” that burned 7 acres near North Fork on Saturday, Sept 29., was caused by a faulty carburetor and an unfortunate series of events. When the driver of a pickup pulled over off Road 200 into Golden Acorn…
Coarsegold PTA Helps Students Brush Up On Art
COARSEGOLD – Students from Coarsegold Elementary were awash in colored chalk on a canvas of concrete the first week in September, marking the start of this year’s PTA Reflections Art Contest, and celebrating with a sidewalk mural day. Heather Gerard…
Reflect And Relax During 'Quiet Day' At ECCO
OAKHURST – The 19th annual Quiet Day is Oct. 10, at the Evergreen Conference Center (ECCO). Quiet Day is a non-denominational, one day retreat offering the opportunity to reflect, refresh, and relax amidst the serene beauty of the Sierra at…
Big Rig Crashes Through Crossing Gate – Dozens Injured
HANFORD – Nearly 50 people were injured on Monday, Oct. 1, near Hanford when a tractor-trailer rig failed to stop at a railroad crossing and struck a south-bound Amtrak train, derailing two passenger cars and a locomotive. Amtrak’s San Joaquin,…
Mountain Sergeant Retires After 27 Years Of Service
Having served almost three decades, Madera County Sheriff’s Detective Sergeant Dirk Kinkel is now adjusting his schedule from serving the citizens of Madera County to meeting the challenges that await him in retirement. Sergeant Kinkel joined the Sheriff’s Office on…
Kaiser Holds Saturday Flu Shot Clinic In Oakhurst
Free flu shots provided to members at Oakhurst Medical Office OAKHURST – Kaiser Permanente will be offering its adult and pediatric members free flu shots during a walk-in clinic this Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Oakhurst Medical Office, 40595 Westlake…
Thieves Strike Used Car Lot In Madera
MADERA – Thieves broke into Skinner’s Auto Wholesale in Madera sometime between Saturday night and early Sunday morning, stealing office equipment, vandalizing a Motor home, and making off with the owners Expedition. The auto dealership is situated in the highly…
2 Men Killed In Madera Over The Weekend
MADERA — Two men were killed in the Madera area on Sunday, Sept. 30, in two separate accidents. Sabino Cardenas, 32, of Madera, was struck by a train as he tried to cross the tracks near the intersection of Cleveland…
Judges Award Local Winery The Double Gold
O’NEALS – The fruit is already off the vine at Westbrook Wine Farm and Winery, where the red roofs rise above vineyards recently laden with grapes. Harvest is over and the vines have been “denuded of their offspring, which are…
From Melodrama To Musical At Golden Chain Theatre
Famous for their melodrama, GCT brings something different to the stage OAKHURST – Enjoy an evening of nostalgia and nearly-award-winning music at the Golden Chain. I Can’t Believe That Didn’t Win A Tony is musical review showcasing numbers from the…
OES Hosts Spirit Night This Friday
OAKHURST – Oakhurst Elementary School’s Parent/Teacher Club is hosting its annual Patriotic Spirit Night on Friday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. All OES families, community members and neighbors are welcome for an evening of great food, games and…
Thieves Grab $2 Million Of Precious Minerals In Mariposa Robbery
CHP requests public’s assistance in catching the suspects – Thieves made off with approximately $2 million worth of precious minerals during a daring daytime robbery on Friday, Sept. 28, at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum at the Mariposa…
Grizzly Century Bike Run This Saturday
Hundreds expected to hit the trail from the North Fork School NORTH FORK – The 20th annual Grizzly Century bike ride to promote the Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway wheels into town Saturday, Oct. 6, from 7 a.m. to 5:30…
Sierra Art Trail: Burning Brush Studio
If you’ve ever watched a “real artist at work,” you know how fascinating it can be to see a creation develop before your very eyes. The quartet of artists showing their creative results in Pastels, Watercolors, Gourds, and Mixed Media…
Local Spa Uses High-Tech And Holistic Products
OAKHURST – A day spa in Oakhurst has been offering everyone the opportunity to look and feel younger and healthier for the past half-dozen years. Dream Faces came into being when Ginny Burke began searching for a healthy treatment alternative…
Sierra Art Trails 2012 Features 108 Artists
Art includes jewelry, glass, paintings, metalwork, sculptures and more OAKHURST – It’s shaping up to be a perfect weekend for Sierra Art Trails, celebrating 10 years of the Yosemite Foothills Open Studio Tour. This much-anticipated event draws hoards to the…
Burglary Suspect Turns Himself In
Anthony Garcia is in custody, female accomplice still on the loose. MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson announced this afternoon that 34-year old Anthony Garcia (aka avid Garcia), wanted in connection with a residential burglary in the Madera Ranchos, has…
'Acorn Fire' Near North Fork Burns 7 Acres
NORTH FORK – Folks on their way into North Fork on Road 200 this afternoon were witness to a large plume of smoke and quite the airshow. The “Acorn Fire” was called in at 1:14 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28,…
Mariposa Loofa Farm Yields Gargantuan Gourds
MARIPOSA – Vines rise from big buckets lining two greenhouses at Mariposa Loofa, where about 300 loofa sponges begin as gourds and are grown to lengths of 2 and 3 feet each. Linda and Chris Dahl own and operate the…
Sheriff Seeks Public's Help In Locating Burglary Suspects
MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson credits a TV viewer for providing the identity of a man wanted in connection with a residential burglary in the Madera Ranchos. 34-year old Madera resident, Anthony Garcia, who also goes by the name…
Update On Wawona Road Paving Work
Starting Tuesday, Sept. 18, crews have changed their schedule for the remaining Wawona Road work. The remaining road work will occur during the day between 6:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with up to 15-minute delays. The remaining…
Rural Fire Fee Bill – What To Do When You Get Yours
Unfair Tax? You can protest your bill, but you still have to pay CALIFORNIA – Property owners across the state have been receiving bills for what is being called the “rural fire fee.” Anyone living in what has been designated…
New Law Reforms CEQA for Road Safety Projects
Reform bill was nearly two years in the making SACRAMENTO – Public safety must come first. That’s the thinking behind a new law that makes it easier for cities and counties to make minor roadway safety improvements without having to…
Visitors Bureau Debuts New Digital Display Sign
OAKHURST – The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau recently debuted their new digital display sign that was purchased through a cooperative agreement with Yosemite National Park. The new sign, which measures a little more than five feet tall and six feet…
'Name That Road' Contest At The North Fork Mill Site
NORTH FORK – The North Fork Community Development Council (CDC), the community nonprofit that owns the Mill Site, is holding a contest to name two roads within the site. The roads to be named are: -The one running in front…
Additional Flu Shot Clinic Added To Mountain Area Schedule
Get The Flu Shot, Not The Flu The Madera County Public Health Department is offering Flu Vaccinations at various clinic sites throughout the county. With budget cuts affecting everything, there was only one clinic scheduled in the mountain area. But…
Regert Celebrates 45 Years With Farmers
OAKHURST – Richard “Rich” Regert is celebrating 45 years with Farmers Insurance this year, and his wife and business partner, Sharon, now has 25 years with the agency herself. Regert began his career with Farmers Insurance as an underwriter in…
Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Nearly Half Million of Marijuana Seized
MADERA COUNTY – Two men are behind bars – one for stealing a truck, and the other, his roommate, for cultivation. An early morning call for service sent Deputy Darrell Swengel to Road 30 ½. A prowler could be heard…
Reimer's Candy To Open Store In Oakhurst
Oakhurst residents can look forward to a sweet addition to their town OAKHURST – For more than 50 years, Reimer’s Candies & Gifts has been hand-crafting sweet treats at the little red candy factory in Three Rivers, California. Now owners…
St. Anne’s Chapel In Knowles: An Interesting History
St. Joachim’s Church; 401 West 5th Street; Madera, California 93637; August 4, 1987 Dear Parishioners,Nestled among the rolling foothills of the Sierra, a church and community was established, St. Anne’s Chapel. The seed was planted in 1962 by the then…
Chores: Cleaning Gutters . . . Again
Looking out my window and watching those oak leaves coming down made me smile, realizing that the season is definitely changing. Those leaves have really been coming down at my house lately and I knew that I needed to take…
Perfect Day On The Lake For Smokey Bear Run/Walk
The volunteers were up long before the sun on Saturday as preparations got underway to welcome the anticipated 600-plus participants to the Smokey Bear Run/Walk along the shores of Bass Lake.
Tomato Fest Is A Party For The Whole Family
MARIPOSA – Local heirloom tomatoes are vine-ripened for you to taste and savor at the Mariposa Tomato Fest, Sept. 29-30, at the Arts Park and along the Mariposa Creek Parkway. This free family event features the best-tasting tomatoes ever, and…
Pomegranate Celebration Comes to Madera
Scores of vendors will offer all things pomegranate MADERA – The Madera Tourism Alliance of the Madera Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its second annual Madera Pomegranate Celebration week Oct. 27 through Nov. 4. The event will include…
Spend A Day Making Yosemite More Beautiful
YOSEMITE – It’s time for the ninth annual “Yosemite Facelift” event, Tuesday through Sunday, Sept. 25-30, and you’re invited to participate. This is when around 1,300 volunteers show up to collect hundreds of tons of trash and construction debris. This…
New Law Prohibits Cash-Grabbing ADA Lawsuits
Governor agrees to halt abuse of disability access law SACRAMENTO – California’s business owners have been plagued for decades by lawsuits aimed at getting cash for lawyers and their handicapped clients. It’s been especially hard on small businesses in towns…
Madera County Libraries Offer e-Books for e-Readers
OAKHURST – Madera County Libraries are now offering e-book checkouts for Nook, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android devices and other e-readers. Three e-books can be checked out at a time, for 14 days at a time. Not all books available in…
Dana Plateau Hike
Is it time for fall color yet? We decided it was right time for one of our more challenging hikes that we do every year, but hadn’t got around to yet this year. Personally, I wanted to see if we…
Sheriff Takes Back Drugs to Protect Children
Anonymous disposal is available Saturday OAKHURST – The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is participating in a national “Take Back Drugs” initiative in an effort to decrease prescription drug abuse by children and young adults on Saturday, Sept. 29. Between 10…
About Candace Gregory
Candace is sure enjoying her retirement life. Enjoying the outdoors, hiking Yosemite National Park and the surrounding Wilderness areas is one of her favorite things to do. Sometimes her chow hound Sally accompanies her on her adventures. But she finds…
Trouble Receiving Long Distance Phone Calls?
Local residents experiencing problems receiving phone calls from out-of-town callers MARIPOSA — Many people living in our community and surrounding areas are experiencing intermittent problems receiving long-distance phone calls. This is a national issue related to how a long distance…
Drink And Drive, Do Some Time
CHP Plans DUI Checkpoint Saturday Night The California Highway Patrol will conduct a DUI and driver license safety checkpoint on Saturday, Sept. 22, “somewhere within the incorporated area of the city of Madera,” according to Lt. Dave Paris, CHP’s Madera…
CA Fire Prevention Fee
As a homeowner in Mariposa County I have struggled with my budget for many years in order to make my property fire safe every spring. Now this!!! I’m expected to add “up to $150” a year(????) for fire prevention, which…
Credit Card Skimmers Hit Madera County
Credit card skimmers rip off at least 50 victims, Sheriff believes there may be more MADERA – If you used a credit or debit card to gas up at the Shell station on Avenue 12 in Madera Ranchos, you might…
S|N|O's Farthest Facebook Fan Tells His Story
Written by Chris Shigley Hello SierraNewsOnline readers! SHANGHAI, CHINA — I’ve been following SNO for a month or so now, and could be one of the furthest-flung fans, having lived in Shanghai, China for the past five years. Some folks…
Smokey Bear Run/Walk This Weekend
BASS LAKE – The 25th annual Smokey Bear Run/Walk takes place this Saturday, Sept. 22, and organizers expect about 600 people will take part in the event. Road 222 will be closed to all vehicles from 7:15 a.m. to 9:40…
Mike Reeves
My name is Mike Reeves and I’ve lived in Yosemite for over two years now. Photography is a great source of enjoyment for me, and I’ve been exploring America’s public lands all my life .I enjoy both film and digital…
Patriot Day Celebrates Those Who Serve
OAKHURST – There are some dates you just don’t forget. Where were you, that fateful Tuesday in 2001, when the news broke that planes had hit the Twin Towers in New York? Eleven years later, on Tuesday, on Sept. 11,…
Lura Schwarz Smith & Kerby C. Smith
Lura and Kerby, both artists, have been making their home in the Coarsegold area for 23 years, enjoying the community of other local artists. They are current members of Timberline Art Gallery, and will be showing on site there for…
Anita Stoll
Creating started for me when as a young child, I was confined to bed much of the time. The severe asthma limited any physical activity. I turned to sketching, drawing, coloring and over time filled notebooks with my creations mostly…
Monster Rummage Sale This Weekend
OAKHURST – Ask anyone who’s been and they’ll tell you: the Monster Rummage Sale held every year by Yosemite Gateway Association of Realtors (YGAOR) is one you don’t want to miss. It’s this weekend in the old Central Valley Community…
If You Text It, They Will Ticket
Central Valley CHP announces “zero-tolerance” cell phone use campaign CALIFORNIA – The California Highway Patrol is not fooling around with people texting and driving. From Sept. 17 – 21, the CHP intends to send a strong message: If you’re caught…
North Fork Library Hosts Local Author
Carol Wolf will read from ‘Summoning‘ NORTH FORK – Local author and playwright Carol Wolf is offering a night of storytelling and creativity on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the North Fork Library. Wolf will read from her newly published first…
Repeat Performance For Walker Grade Fire
NORTH FORK – Lightning may not strike twice, and neither of the fires on Walker Grade this week was lightning-caused, but they did ignite within just a few feet of one another on subsequent days. On Tuesday, Sept. 18, crews…
Must Hear Weekend: Yosemite Flute and Art Festival World Music Event
OAKHURST – One legend says the native flute was a fanciful fluke of nature. Woodpeckers in search of termites pecked holes in a hollow branch. Wind blew across the top of the branch and melodious sounds grew in its wake….
Your Vote Helps Fund Wild Wonderful Women
Last Chance to Cast Your Vote for Wild Wonderful Women OAKHURST – You know about the Wild Wonderful King Vintage Museum, right? And you have a Facebook account? If the answer to both of those questions is “Yes!” then you…
Build It For Less This Year
Supervisors approve another year of lower fees MADERA – The Madera County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, Sept. 11, to extend the two-thirds reduction in permit fees for another year. “If you’re planning to build a garage or add…
Heritage Days Parade Winners
Oakhurst’s 100th Birthday was celebrated in fine style this past Saturday with the Mountain Heritage Days Parade. For nearly two hours the antique cars, floats, marching bands and floats rolled down Road 426, pausing for some banter with parade emcee…
Local Fires Update – Longo & Walker Grade
Two fires in as many days have kept local fire crews hopping. Luckily, both were restricted to burning only in vegetated areas. No structures were threatened by the blazes. The “Longo Fire” was called in at 1:59 p.m. on Sunday,…
Local Boutique Is Simply Superb
OAKHURST – Simple to Superb Local Boutique invites everyone to the first of what they hope will become an annual wine tasting event on Friday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. Those attending will have the opportunity to see…
Wawona Golf Scramble Helps School
WAWONA – The Wawona School is asking for your help to keep the doors open and the children in their classrooms. The ninth annual Celebrity Scramble Golf Tournament will help the school do just that on Saturday, Sept. 22, at…
Mobile Website Makes Traveling Easier
If you’re new here, or just visiting, there’s an app for that! OAKHURST – Finally, there’s an easy way to access everything the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau website has to offer on your cell phone or iPad. The Visitors Bureau…
Local Hotelier Creates New Service
Online booking platform benefits innkeepers and guests OAKHURST – Oakhurst hotelier Raj Patel, who owns the Yosemite Southgate Hotel and other motels and hotels around the state, is getting ready to launch a new booking platform aimed at helping hoteliers…
History and Influence of the San Joaquin Experimental Range
75 Years of Range Research – As we of the north Highway 41 area head south or north to and from the Fresno area, we pass the San Joaquin Experimental Range (known as SJER) just north of Road 406, the…
Construction Hits Highway 41 This Week
OAKHURST – If your route to and from work takes you up Highway 41 north of Oakhurst, you might want to leave a little earlier this week. Between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., construction crews will be working on both…
Wednesday Is Deadline For Run/Walk Sign-up
Save $5 and ensure a T-shirt by registering online now BASS LAKE – If you’re planning to participate in the 25th annual Smokey Bear Run/Walk on Saturday, Sept. 25, you have until Wednesday to register online and save $5. About…
Lawrence Runs Smokey Bear Run/Walk Again
BASS LAKE – The 25th annual Smokey Bear Run/Walk is coming up on Saturday, Sept. 22, at beautiful Bass Lake. Among the familiar faces will be local resident Christine Lawrence. This will be her eighth year running the Smokey Bear….
'A Bed of Roses' Gets New Owners
OAKHURST – A popular bed and breakfast near Yosemite is under new ownership. Steve and Mary Kay Eicholtz took over A Bed of Roses B&B earlier this year and have been keeping busy ever since, making numerous changes to the…
New Business Owner Is Living His Dream
OAKHURST – All Weather Roofing & Building Supply Co. has a new owner, and he is having fun in his new venture! Barry Shrewsbury invites everyone to stop in on Saturday, Sept. 15, to take the tour. Since Shrewsbury took…
Take A Chance, Make A Difference
SierraNewsOnline is all about celebrating people who are up to something. In their jobs, in their communities and in their lives. Amanda DeMasters is one of those people, and we want to celebrate her! Amanda took the very huge and…
String Of Fires Along Darrah Road
When the lookout at Shuteye Peak called in a smoke at Darrah Road & Highway 49 just after noon yesterday, Sept. 12, it seemed just another small fire beside the road. But then, the call came in that there was…
Mountain Heritage Days At Fresno Flats
Celebrate Oakhurst’s 100th birthday at Mountain Heritage Days on Sept. 14 and 15 at Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park. The two-day celebration begins on Friday at 4 p.m. with children’s art activities, vendors and crafts, and sandwiches and drinks…
North Fork Needs Your Ideas
NORTH FORK – What do we have to do to bring more jobs to the North Fork area, what drives the economy here, and what do local residents need to get started? Those are some of the questions being asked…
Attention First Responders: Training Opportunities Available
If you’re a first responder, a community volunteer, or in charge of the safety response for your company – or your neighborhood, school or church – these free training sessions are for you. “Mindful Disaster Planning: The Needs of the…
Warning System Needs Your Cell Phone Number
Would you want to know if a wildfire or floodwaters were headed for your house? Even if you weren’t home?
Mariposa Rotary Hits The Links For Scholarships
AHWAHNEE – Sierra Meadows Country Club will be the site of an 18-Hole Four-Person Scramble on Saturday, Sept. 15, to raise money for the Mollie Suh Yaley Memorial Scholarship Fund.