MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 31 to Sunday, Nov. 5, 2016: Oakhurst recovered property On Monday, Oct. 31 at 6:46 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 50000 block of School Road regarding a report of a white 2 door Toyota Tercel driving around the school. ...

NORTH FORK — The exact center of California was the place to be today as the innovative North Fork Community Power Bioenergy Facility celebrated its official groundbreaking and the community united to welcome a new source of forest thinning and renewal. This is a pilot project that will pave the way for future facilities of its kind throughout the state. Madera County Fire Station 11 ...

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST – The Bass Lake Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, is preparing to implement the fall/winter burning program, says District Ranger Denise Tolmie. Projects will consist of three activities: pile burning, broadcast, and underburning. “The objective of these prescribed burns are to reduce fuel loading from recent tree mortality fuel projects within the Wildland Urban Intermix and high ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016: Oakhurst DUI arrest On Monday, Oct. 17 at 1:11 a.m. a deputy conducted a traffic stop in the area of Highway 41 and Road 426 for equipment violation. The driver was later found to be under ...

Sally and I hiked some new country, full of yellow aspens along the South Fork of Bishop Creek and when we reached the high points of our climb, we had magnificent views of colorful high mountains. Where: Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness Distance: 8.09 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 9,052′ – 11,592′ Date: October 11, 2016 Maps: Mount Darwin ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 10 to Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016: Oakhurst minor assaulted  On Monday, Oct. 10 at 9:44 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 49000 block of Road 427 (School Road) regarding a report of a minor being slapped by an adult. Report taken, evidence ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Oct. 3 to Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016: Oakhurst lewd activity On Monday, Oct. 3 at 10:58 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the Oakhurst substation a regarding possible lewd act that occurred in the 40000 block of Red Bud. A report was taken and ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — Crisp air, clear trails, and less spendy… fall may be the best time to visit Yosemite National Park, Bass Lake and Madera County, depending on your preferences. Visiting in autumn is a great idea for many reasons but mostly because you avoid the summer crowds, kids are back in school and it’s less expensive than summer, with lodging rates reduced after Labor ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, Sept. 19 to Sunday, Sept 25, 2016: Bass Lake boating under the influence On Monday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. the solo operator of a personal watercraft was observed jumping wakes while following a pontoon boat and making circular, “doughnut” maneuvers on ...

BASS LAKE – It was a perfect day for running, walking or cheering from the sidelines at the 29th annual Smokey Bear Run / Walk at Bass Lake on Saturday. As the sun rose over the shores of beautiful Bass Lake, more than 350 participants gathered at Recreation Point, from the tiny 2-year-old athletes, to the most seasoned —  78-year-old ...