Taking a walk up a dirt road close to home got me out of the house on a small adventure with some exercise. No wildflowers on this hike but a few views along the 953 foot gain helped make my outing a good one. Distance: 8.42 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer) Difficulty: Easy Elevation Range: 3,409′ to ...

MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — In advance of the Easter weekend, Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) Director Sara Bosse issued a directive this week regarding preventive measures mountain community members should be taking with regard to “public” events. In her directive, Bosse emphasized that so-called “drive-through and drive-in” events do not qualify for an exception to the current ban on ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — National Park Service officials announced Tuesday afternoon that the South Entrance to Yosemite is now “closed to all entry nightly from 10 p.m to 6 a.m.” The entrance gate is staffed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and open during those hours to park employees, residents and property owners with proof of residency/employment. Yosemite National Park ...

YOSEMITE — Due to the Shelter-in-Place order issued by Governor Newsom, California’s food banks have experienced an increase in demand and a shortage of volunteers. The California Association of Food Banks, which represents 41 food banks, has estimated that food banks across the state will need $116 million for additional emergency food to satisfy the growing need because of the ...

Do you have a favorite dirt road that you like to walk on? I stayed close to home for this one and I feel weird calling this a hike because it was more of a brisk walk up a dirt road lined with pretty wildflowers and singing birds. Distance: 11.82 Miles (but you can go shorter or longer) Difficulty: Easy ...

OAKHURST — This week the Eastern Madera County Rotary Club, the Mountain Area Youth Organization, The Manna House, the Soroptimist Club, The Elderberry House, Larry Smith and his crew from Custom Design Construction and the Madera County Board of Supervisors partnered with Madera County Food Bank Director Ryan McWheter and his team to have food both available for pickup — ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Southern Sierra Nevada as a fast-moving weather system is poised to bring rain to the foothills and 4 to 8 inches of snow to elevations as low as 4,000 feet. The NWS advisory is in effect from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. ...

COARSEGOLD — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino will become an official food distribution center. The effort to temporarily re-purpose operations at the resort is meant “to help Madera County residents who find themselves in need,” resort officials announced Wednesday morning. The food pick-up site is located at the casino’s open-air porte cochere, located at 711 Lucky ...

BASS LAKE — It’s no secret the hospitality industry has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Direct health concerns as well strict restrictions and directives from health officials, including social distancing, sheltering in place and closing the area’s main attraction – Yosemite National Park — has resulted in a significant drop in all tourism-related business. In just the ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Concern over spread of COVID-19 is shuttering all hotels and restaurants in Yosemite National Park, including the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. Park concessionaire Aramark announced late Monday that all park facilities will be closing Tuesday for at least the rest of the month. Roads and trails will remain open throughout the park. The impacted facilities include the ...