Latest Articles
Hantavirus Believed Contracted In Curry Village
SACRAMENTO – The recent diagnosis of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in two Californians, one of whom died, has prompted Dr. Ron Chapman, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and state public health officer, to remind Californians to…
Tragedy At Vernal Fall Footbridge
Search and Rescue in Progress on Merced River One Fatality and One Missing Minor Near Vernal Fall Footbridge A ten year old boy was pronounced dead and a six year old boy remains missing following an incident near the Vernal…
Bass Lake Courthouse Re-Open For Business
The Bass Lake Courthouse is back in business this morning after the explosion that closed the facility all day yesterday. After an incendiary device exploded outside the back door of the building around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, employees, court personnel and…
The Lone Highwayman Of The Chowchilla
One Carl P. Russell researched and penned 100 Years in Yosemite, the Story of a Great National Park, the first copyright in 1931 with several reprints over the years. In the chapter “Stagecoach Days” he reprints and article from D….
Remembering The Cedarbrook Inn
Remembering Cedarbrook Inn A fascinating new book on the history of this area is now available: To Yosemite by Stage; Raymond to Wawona and Remembering Cedarbrook Inn, by Zelda Garey Dubel. Zelda was once owner of the inn and has…
Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst Thriving
Tuesday morning bright and early about twenty members of the Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary Club got to enjoy breakfast and get the inside scoop on what is going on at the Boys and Girls Club of Oakhurst these days. After…
Happier
THis trip was becoming a disaster and I could not have been happier. 3:00 a.m. and water pelted down hard on the tent. So loud it sounded like someone pummeling REI’s best with a rug-beater, sheets of Sierra rain hit…
Kellie Flanagan
Kellie is a thinker and writer who loves to play with clay. Married and raising a teenager, this local scribe spends time cooking for family and complaining about caring for a menagerie including two dogs, three cats, one lizard, two…
Picking Apples In Curry Village Helps Save Bears
YOSEMITE — You are invited to an apple picking party in Yosemite this Wednesday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. til 4 p.m. This is an annual event that was started as part of efforts to help reduce bear-human contact in…
Update – Fire At Sugar Pine 100% Contained
A fire which burned approximately 6.5 acres near Camp Sugar Pine has been 100% contained and crews are in the process of mopping up. The fire was burning on private property in deep duff, causing very dense smoke in the…
Update – Explosion At Bass Lake Courthouse
A small incendiary device exploded at the Bass Lake Courthouse this morning at about 4:30 a.m., according to Cal Fire and the Madera County Sheriff’s Department. Karen Guillemin of the California Department of Forestry (CDF) says that an incendiary device…
Joe Brown Convicted of Terrorist Threats
MADERA – A Madera County Superior Court jury found Joe Brown, 53 of Chowchilla, guilty on Aug. 10 of one felony count of making terrorist threats and of one misdemeanor count of brandishing a weapon, according to Madera County District…
Dave Wolin Presents Madera County To California Film Commission
Madera County Film Commissioner Dave Wolin displayed the benefits of filming in Madera County and the Southern Yosemite region to the film industry during the quarterly meeting of the California Film Commission in Los Angeles last week. Using a powerpoint…
Madera Wine Trail
We are proud to invite you to Madera County, a unique grape growing region. Guest visiting the madera wine trail enjoy the benifits of the region’s rich history, knowledgable hosts and tasting rooms still small enough you can visit with…
Bass Lake Water Sports
Bass Lake Boat Rentals is located right in the center of town, and is the only lake front marina on Bass Lake right at the Pines Resort next door to Ducey’s on the Lake. You’ll find a full service marina…
The Forks Resort And Restaurant
The Forks Resort, located on Bass Lake, in the Sierra National Forest, is only fourteen miles from the southern entrance to Yosemite National Park and eight miles from the southern end of the Golden Chain Highway through California’s Gold Country….
Mont Blanc Rescue
Notice the barely perceptible figure in the bottom left of this shot of Mont Blanc with lenticular cloud. Here’s a closer view of the same climber. Nice rocks. Notice his belayer below him. As a Search and Rescue helicopter appears…
5-Car Pile-up Stops Traffic On Highway 41
Highway 41 was closed in both directions for about an hour and a half this afternoon following a 5 car accident just south of Road 207. The accident happened at 2:05 pm, and traffic was backed up for miles in…
Amazing and Beautiful Ancient Polish Salt Mine
Deep underground in Poland lies something remarkable but little known outside Eastern Europe .For centuries, miners have extracted salt there, but left behind things quite startling and unique. Take a look at the most unusual salt mine in the world.
Looking For Alaska
■■■■■ A Definite MUST read! □□□□ Really good. You should read it! □□□ It was okay, I finished it. Something was missing. □□ Read it if you’ve already read the cereal box twice. □ Time I’ll never get back. Probably…
Think Local First!
As we lose yet another small business in Oakhurst with the closing of the Willow Bridge Book Store, it reminds us once again of the impact that our spending choices can have on our mountain communities. Yosemite/Sequoia Think Local First…
What's A Plecostomus And Why Would You Need To Trade One In?
To answer that question I turned to the folks at Steve’s Tropical Fish. Steve and his wife Kristin opened their doors in Oakhurst in May of 2012, after moving from their previous location in Coarsegold.
“H.O.W.” Brings Joy To Both Givers & Recipients
Recently my friends Patti and Donna invited me to become a part of a local volunteer group of women called “H.O.W. : Helping One Woman.” The idea appealed to me because it’s kind of like “Real Housewives” meets “Queen for…
"Lanes Fire" In Auberry Is 100% Contained
Monday, August 13, 2012, 8:00pm – Update on the “Lanes Fire” At 6:00 pm today firefighters achieved 100 % containment of the Lanes Fire. Firefighters continue to make good progress with mop-up efforts amid the above 100 degree temperatures, and…
Cal Fire Director Explains Rural Fire Fee
State Fire Fee Needed For Vital Services – By Ken Pimlott, CAL Fire Director. It’s important to understand Cal Fire’s legal fire protection responsibility in order to understand why the fee is being assessed. Cal Fire is responsible for the…
Tossed Cigarette Starts Fire Near Auberry
Highway 168 from Auberry to Shaver Lake has now been re-opened to two-way traffic. The highway had been closed due to the “Lanes Fire,” which started at about 12:30pm on Saturday by what investigators believe was a cigarette being thrown…
High Fire Danger Brings Restrictions On Sierra National Forest
CLOVIS – Due to fire indicators, such as temperature and fuels moisture, the Sierra National Forest is implementing fire restrictions beginning Aug. 6 and until further notice. Restrictions are in in place in the High Hazard areas of the Sierra…
Ungulate Destroys House
Not just a catchy subject line. This was our classy two story decorative birdhouse on our front porch as of yesterday afternoon, although the photo was taken last year and the bluebird did not end up nesting there.
Leland Kerns Convicted Of Felony Narcotics Trafficking
August 9, 2012MADERA – A Madera County Superior Court jury convicted Leland S. Kerns Aug. 8, of two felony counts for transporting and possessing heroin for sale according to Madera County District Attorney Michael R. Keitz. In 2009, Kerns, 52,…
Where To Find Relief From Hot Temps
With temps creeping up over 100 degrees in many areas, and some residents without air conditioning, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services wants you to know where you can go to cool down. Cooling Centers have been established…
North Fork Library Features Photographer Don Grove
The North Fork Library is currently featuring a special display of photographs by the local photographer Don Grove. This is the first time several of the photos have been on display for the public. This collection includes a series of…
Relay For Life Of Eastern Madera County Needs You!
Has Cancer touched you, a loved one, or someone you know? Find out how you can Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back against this disease. It’s true that our next Relay For Life is not until May 18-19, 2013, but we…
Visit The Oakhurst Farmers' Market
Organizers are reporting the 2nd Annual Oakhurst Farmers’ Market is doing record business this year. The Farmers’ Market is held every Thursday from 4 – 7pm at True Value Homecenter, 40596 Westlake Drive (on Hwy 49) and will run into…
Tim & Susan Touch Hearts In Haiti
So we’ve been back from Haiti for about a week now. Back to where a cool place can be found, back to running water and warm showers. It is nice to be home. It’s curious to me that, at least…
The French Alps
It was a dark and cloudy late afternoon when the GPS finally found our B&B at Plateau D’Assy, above Chamonix in the French Alps, and we wondered if we would ever see the mountains
Melodrama At The Railroad
Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad presents its last Moonlight Melodrama of the season on Sunday, Aug. 12. The Golden Chain Theatre’s Traveling Troupe will present the short melodrama, “A Fastidious Finagling Fiasco Fixing Fresno Flats,” written by Roger Clugston. The…
"Green Machine" Plays At Idle Hour Winery
Green Machine brings their unique raggae jam fusion style to the Idle Hour Winery on Saturday, August 11 from 1 to 4pm. Green Machine was formed in 1999 by Chris (guitar) & Tina Avila (bass, vocals).
Frank Koop – Inspired Teacher & Coach
Written by Barbara Grow In a small town, tucked away in the Sierra Foothills, a swim coach, physics and chemistry teacher left a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of students. Coach Frank Koop took a scrawny, sick little…
Local Favorite – El Cid
I stopped by El Cid the other day to get the scoop on their Margaritas, and a few other things. When I asked how many Margaritas are served in a typical day, Tony pondered and said they go through about…
Report That Barking Dog Online
Well it is official, the Madera County 311 Service Center and Citizen Request website is operational as of August 1st, at www.madco311.com. Along with the County’s new website at www.madera-county.com, this new resource adds a new streamlined way for us…
GCT Presents "The Shame Of Tombstone"
Tombstone, Ariz., may have been “The Town Too Tough to Die,” but it wasn’t too tough to be scandalized by “The Masked Canary,” a performer at the Birdcage Theatre. There she was, a voice like an angel, and there they…
Friday At Fresno Flats Presents Local Horseman
“Friday at Fresno Flats” is featuring local horseman, veterinarian, poet and artist Dr. Madison Seamans for their monthly event this Friday August 10, 2012 Dr. Madison Seamans, DVM MS lives with his lovely wife, Sunny Rae, in the foothills outside…
Superintendent Asks Residents To Conserve Water In Yosemite
Dear Wawona and Tuolumne communities and friends: The stress of drought across parts of America is visible in the national media and when you look at Yosemite, you can see those effects too. After an arid winter and spring, water…
A Tribute To Jack Gyer
Written by Angelo Pizelo, Pastor and Director of the Oakhurst Positive Living Center Jack Gyer passed over to a new dimension of life this week. He became a dear friend to all who had the pleasure to meet him. He…
Jack Gyer Passes Away
Jack Gyer, long-time Oakhurst resident and founder of the Sierra Star, passed away this morning at the age of 98. Jack was instrumental in starting many organizations in the community, including the Sierra Lion’s Club, the Historical Society, the Positive…
YARTS Revisited In Madera County
The Madera County Board of Supervisors has voted to open the door, just a crack, to reconsidering whether county residents will participate in the Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS). The Board voted 3-2 on Tuesday to accept the $15,000…
Gregory Garcia Convicted Of Armed Robbery
July 31, 2012 – Office of the District Attorney MADERA – A Madera County Superior Court jury today convicted Gregory Garcia of armed robbery, a violent felony, together with a special allegation for the use of a firearm, and another…
A Rainy Day In Avignon
On a wet june day, we visited the medieval walled city of Avignon on the banks of the Rhone, and one of the few French cities to have preserved its ramparts. We parked outside the walls and spent the day…
Indian Fair Days & Pow Wow In North Fork
The 42nd Annual Indian Fair Days and Pow Wow is this weekend in North Fork. Always held the first weekend in August, this two day event features Native American dance competition, food vendors, hand crafted Native American arts, and demonstrations…
Corsican Wildlife
A wild “boar” (sanglier) spots me in the mountains of Corsica: It moves in further for the attack: but fortunately decides to wallow a bit instead: Evidently these are free range pigs, because they were out in the middle of…
Vercors Regional Natural Park
Continuing on from Provence towards the Alps, we sidetracked a little to spend a couple nights in the Vercors Regional Natural Park, a beautiful massif above Grenoble, of green hillsides, rocky gorges with rivers, and limestone cliffs and caves. On…
RCRC Pushes Back Against Rural Fire Fee
Guest Editorial by Staci Heaton, Regulatory Affairs Advocate, Regional Council of Rural Counties Information regarding California’s State Responsibility Area Fee or “Fire Tax” – CalFIRE’s budget has a $50 million dollar hole, and state lawmakers are raiding the pockets of…
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Crews Working Near Swinging Bridge In Yosemite
Yosemite Fire Crew 6 is working near Swinging Bridge conducting a hazardous fuel reduction project. They are cutting, piling and mechanically thinning dense vegetation including shade tolerant conifers such as incense cedar, white fir and ponderosa pine. They are also…
Rural Fire Fee – Your Bill Is In The Mail
Property owners in Madera County are about to be hit with another fee. Check you mailbox in August for a bill from the State Board of Equalization (BOE) requiring payment of $115 per parcel, plus $25 for any addition homes…
Cascade Fire In Yosemite Smolders
Cascade Fire Update – This lightning caused fire has been slowly burning since June 16, in Yosemite’s high elevation Wilderness. It started during an afternoon thunderstorm on June 15th. The fire has grown to 182 acres. It is burning in…
Local Magician Performs At Golden Chain Theatre
Local magician Robin Pedranti will be performing Friday, August 3, 2012 at the Golden Chain Theater. The Magic Show is a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst, and will feature special performances by member kids from the…
New County Website Lets You Do Business Online
Madera County has launched their new website, and what a difference! If you haven’t been to www.madera-county.com in a while, you will be surprised and delighted by what Robert Connal, Director of Information Technology Department, and his team have done…
Electric Vehicles – North Fork Welcomes You!
Electric vehicles in the mountain area?! Yes, we got ’em! OK not a lot, but we’ve got to start somewhere and Don Loweburg, long time resident of North Fork and owner of Offline Solar, along with the North Fork Community…
Golden Chain Loses Beloved Friend
Daniel Ross was only 46 years old when he passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2012. He was a much-loved friend and past-president of the Golden Chain Theatre. Mary Lou (LuLu) Finley, vice-president of the Golden Chain, was devasted by…
Supervisors Say "No" To Cat Licenses
Madera County residents will not have to license their cats or be required to have them vaccinated for rabies. That is the outcome of the unanimous vote today by the Madera County Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting. The…
Fatal Crash At Bass Lake
BASS LAKE — Sheriff John Anderson has learned that the two men killed this morning in a solo vehicle crash may be tied to an auto dealership break-in in Oakhurst over the weekend. 19-year-old Albert Hammond and 20-year-old Dylan Beazley…
Photography & Art Classes At The Children's Museum
The Children’s Museum of the Sierra in Oakhurst is teaming up with the Madera County Arts Council to offer photography and art classes, thanks to a Chukchansi Community Grant. The classes started this week at the museum, and will continue…
Bass Lake Dam Project Hits Small Snag
A small oil spill on Bass Lake was cleaned up immediately Wednesday, and poses no threat to the lake’s fish or recreationists. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 18, at 8:45am, when dredging operations turned up a 55 gallon drum…
Mariposa Kiwanis Club To Host Magic Shows
Written by Hannah Violette The Kiwanis Club of Mariposa will host two showings of, “Professor Algernon’s World of Oddities and Wonders” on August 17th and 18th. The shows will be held at the Mariposa County Park Amphitheater at 7:00 pm…
Bears Killed In Yosemite
Nine bears have been hit by vehicles so far this year in Yosemite National Park. The public is reminded to please obey speed limits and scan roadsides while driving to ensure the safety of bears and other wildlife. Of the…
Bass Lake Lions Host Pancake Breakfast
Bass Lake, CA. – As if anyone needed another reason to head to Bass Lake in the summer, the local Lion’s Club has one – their 29th Annual Pancake Breakfast, taking place the mornings of Aug. 4 and 5. Happening…
History of Bass Lake
Other than Yosemite, Bass Lake is probably the biggest draw for visitors to the area, and a respite for locals to get out and enjoy this beautiful part of the world. With a current population of about 2,200, Bass Lake…
Steps Taken To Protect North Fork Community Mural
Residents of North Fork have grown accustomed to seeing Joan Constable’s beautiful community mural on the side of the North Fork Market. They have also grown used to seeing it defaced by vandals who seem to take great pleasure in…
7-Mile Stretch Of Highway 99 Goes To 6 Lanes
MERCED COUNTY July 19, 2012 – Caltrans and its partners, the Merced County Association of Governments and the city and county of Merced, broke ground today on the $128 million Highway 99 Arboleda Drive Project. “Highway 99 is a major…
Santiago Lopez, Jr. Convicted of Assault With a Deadly Weapon
July 19, 2012 MADERA – A Madera Superior Court jury convicted Santiago Lopez Jr., yesterday, of one count of assault with a deadly weapon, a special allegation for personally using a deadly weapon and a separate misdemeanor for battery, according…
Visitors Bureau Goes All "Made In The USA!"
OAKHURST – The Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau souvenir store is a popular stop for thousands of visitors every year on their way to or from Yosemite and the southern gateway region of Madera County. It serves as a first, or…
Why You Should Adopt From A Rescue Organization
Sure, it’s probably savvy advice to use caution when you buy a used car because you may be purchasing someone else’s problems. But adopting a dog or cat from a rescue organization isn’t nearly the same thing. So, if you…
Support Sought For San Joaquin River Restoration Program
Article submitted by: Lowell J. Young, President Yosemite Area Audubon Society The Yosemite Area Audubon Society Is Looking For Community Support For The San Joaquin River Restoration Program. Born of snowmelt, one of the country’s most magnificent rivers has its…
Fresno Flats Docents Care For Local Treasure
You know, when you actually get out in the community, you meet the nicest people! Case in point: Dick and Teri Killingsworth. I met the Killingworths at the “Friday at Fresno Flats” event, held the second Friday of each month….
Former Mayor Involved In Traffic Accident
Wednesday, July 18, 2012 – Former Honorary Mayor Rima Runtzel was involved in a traffic collision in Oakhurst early this afternoon. According to eyewitnesses, Rima was traveling South on Hwy 41 in the left hand lane approaching the stoplight at…
Dave Henderson Band At The Queens Inn Saturday
Enjoy the Dave Henderson band this Saturday, July 21st, from 6:30 pm to 10 pm at the Queen’s Inn Wine Bar, 41139 Hwy 41 in Oakhurst. Cover charge is just $5. Sit by the firepit and listen to Dave while…
Cal Trans Can Move Forward To Fix Rockslide
When the Ferguson Rockslide buried a portion of Highway 140 some 6 years ago, the economic impact on Mariposa and the surrounding communities was devastating. Governor Jerry Brown has now signed Assembly Bill 1973, sponsored by Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, to…
Taking Your Pet On Vacation?
Think about your pet before you decide to bring him along on vacation. Ask yourself this – what is really best for your pet? Riding in the car with you only to get dropped off at a strange unknown place?…
Golden Chain's "Fiasco" At The Railroad
Hearing that ‘ol train whistle echoing through the mountains at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad just never gets old. Guests at the melodrama “A Fastidious Finagling Fiasco Fixing Fresno Flats” were treated to a ride on the logger behind…
Cyber-Sports Cafe Serves A Mean Burger
What’s new at Mountain Mayhem? If you haven’t been to Mountain Mayhem lately, or if you’ve never been, you should make it a point to get there soon. You will be pleasantly surprised. I spoke with owners Chris and Vali…
Legislation Would Require "Made In America" In Nat'l Park Stores
American athletes at the Summer Olympic Games will be wearing uniforms made in China. It has been a hot topic in the news this past week as Americans continue to wrestle with the issue of just when and if we…
Chamber Centennial Committee Seeks Items For Time Capsule
Centennial Committee of the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking items to be placed in a time capsule to mark the town’s centennial. “As we continue to celebrate this milestone, one of the events we have planned is a…
The Luberon Region of Provence
After our week in Corsica we continued on to Lourmarin, a charming village in Provence, where we spent a few days at the residence of kind friendsof ours and from which we made a couple of forays in the Luberon…
New CHP Station Construction In Oakhurst
Just across Highway 49 from the rumored (and that would be false) Walmart/Target construction site just east of Kaiser, there’s a whole lot of building going on. Just in case you don’t know what it is (I looked for a…
Revival of "Mountain Belle" For Heritage Days
Oakhurst has been Oakhurst for 100 years in 2012, so the Fresno Flats folks want to make this September’s Heritage Days (Sept. 14 and 15) extra special.How?
Baby Ethan's Family Holds Fundraisers This Weekend
A local family is in need of your help this weekend. Family and friends of Neal and Tara Jones of Goldside will be washing cars and hosting a rummage sale this weekend to help with the huge costs incurred due…
Homeowner Bill Of Rights Signed Into Law
Wednesday, July 11, 2012 LOS ANGELES — Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced that the Homeowner Bill of Rights, which will protect homeowners and borrowers during the mortgage and foreclosure process, was signed into law today by Governor Edmund G….
CHP Officer Alive Thanks To His Partner And Team Of Unlikely Heroes
REDDING, Calif. – A California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer is lucky to be alive after suffering a critical, life-threatening injury while performing a medevac rescue Thursday near Big Bear Lake, a remote and rugged location in the Shasta Trinity Forest….
Former Mayor Looks Back On Term
Honorary Mayor Rima Runtzel was gracious enough to share some reflections on her term, and do a little Question and Answer with us. She won the title last year, raising money for the Boys & Girls Club of Oakhurst. Q:…