AHWAHNEE — District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler held a Town Hall meeting (via Zoom) on Wednesday, allowing county officials to provide updates on local efforts to combat COVID-19 as well as share the latest developments regarding key projects underway around Madera County. Running the meeting from his ranch in Ahwahnee, Wheeler said the virtual format, necessary because of the COVID-19 ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — With the reopening of Yosemite National Park hopefully imminent, Yosemite Conservancy announces a new book to help visitors have their own “John Muir Experience.” Every day, Yosemite National Park welcomes people from around the world who seek a deeper connection to nature. A good many of these visitors are inspired by the example set by the ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — Yosemite National Park is closing at the request of the local health department. Park officials announced the unprecedented total shutdown Friday afternoon. “As of 3 p.m today, Friday, March 20, 2020, Yosemite National Park is closed to all park visitors until further notice,” stated a news release. “This closure will be enforced 24-hours a day/7-days a ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – Yosemite National Park officials have announced the park’s campgrounds are closing due to COVID-19. “Yosemite National Park campgrounds currently open, Upper Pines and Camp 4, are now closed,” said a brief statement issued by park officials late Wednesday. “These closures will remain in effect through March 31, 2020.” “Where it is possible to adhere to the ...

Sally and I chose one of the coldest days this year to get out, hiking Stockton Creek Nature Preserve and we had those trails all to ourselves. Not too far from home, not too difficult, this hike was a short one. Where: Mariposa Public Utilities District, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, Stockton Creek Nature Preserve Distance: 2.83 Miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate ...

CLOVIS – Sierra National Forest (SNF) officials are seeking public comments for the annual California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division grant application. The OHMVR application requests funding for off-highway vehicle related law enforcement. The 60-day grant application comment period begins Tuesday, March 3, 2020, and ends Monday, May 4, 2020. The Sierra National Forest ...

If you don’t have time for a trip up to Yosemite or the Federal lands near us and still want to get out and enjoy nature, you don’t have to go far to get your fix in our own backyard at Ahwahnee Hills Regional Park off of Hwy 49 adjacent to Wasuma Elementary School in Ahwahnee. Although I walked a ...

MARIPOSA — Last month, four members of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors voted to increase their base pay by $30,000 per year — and now a significant number of county residents are expressing their displeasure on social media, and through the referendum process. Despite a number of local residents speaking out against the action, the board passed an ordinance ...

By Kathryn Odgers, student journalist for Minarets Press O’NEALS — After twenty-seven young students began their day by being greeted as they got off the bus by the Minarets’ parking lot, the group was led down to where Key Club had set up their meeting room. The students were excited to come to the high school as many had never ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — The Associated Press is reporting that federal health officials are inspecting Yosemite National Park’s food service areas after at least a dozen people have fallen ill with stomach issues. The National Park Service and the U.S. Public Health Service confirmed late last week that they launched an investigation after employees and visitors reported the problems this ...