YOSEMITE — The Half Dome Cables in Yosemite National Park will be in place for visitor use on Friday, June 2. The trail will be wet and icy in places and visitors planning to ascend Half Dome are encouraged to be prepared for winter hiking conditions. There is a daily lottery for a limited number of permits which are required ...

MADERA COUNTY — A search for an erratic driver that began in the Coarsegold area ended with a short road closure and a felony arrest on Highway 145 near Road 31 this afternoon. Just after 1:30 p.m., a motorist reported a northbound driver near the 22 Mile House, passing over double yellow lines, swerving all over the road and endangering ...

OAKHURST — A party to celebrate the life of Brian Wilhite is planned for Saturday, Jun. 10, starting at 4:30 p.m. at Queen’s Inn by the River in Oakhurst. Brian Preston Wilhite died in Fresno on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. He was 74 years old. Brian was born on August 25, 1942 in Atascadero, to Norah C. Mansfield and Franklin Wilhite. He grew up in and ...

CALIFORNIA — If you operate a motorized vessel on California waterways, take note: beginning Jan. 1, 2018, boaters 20 years of age and younger are the first group that must carry a California Boater Card when on state waterways. The requirement that California boat operators obtain a Boater Card will be phased in over the next seven years. Lifetime cards ...

By C. Lee-Roney, NPS YOSEMITE — Highway 140 between Crane Creek and Parkline has become a killing zone for thousands of California tortoiseshell butterflies. This species emerges in spectacular numbers in some years (last in 2010), and is thought to be the source of Mariposa County’s name, which is Spanish for butterfly. Please help minimize the number of butterflies killed by ...

YOSEMITE — With record snow pack this year, rivers are running very fast and cold, posing a potential danger to park visitors. Authorities are asking people to stay a safe distance from rivers during spring runoff, which is expected to last several more weeks. On Thursday, May 25, Yosemite National Park Rangers conducted a Swiftwater Rescue Training and Water Safety Day on the ...

  The Forestry Challenge is an academic event developed for high school students in technical forestry and current forestry topics. Participants spend four days in the forest learning about the ecology and management of the forested landscapes that provide communities with water, recreational opportunities, wood products and wildlife habitat. Since its inception in 2003, the program has grown from one event ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy Memorial Day weekend, with high visitation from Friday, May 26, until Monday, May 29. Visitors are encouraged to arrive at Yosemite before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Once in the park, visitors are urged to park their vehicles at the Yosemite Village, Yosemite Falls or Half Dome Village parking areas ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Monday, May 15 to Sunday, May 21, 2017: Coarsegold violation of court order On Monday, May 15 at approximately 9:28 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the 45000 Block of Road 415 in regards to a violation of a court order. A report was taken and ...

COARSEGOLD — “It’s late but I’m up taking care of my husband’s ventilation and couldn’t sleep. Not that you needed to know that,” Amber Tringali’s message read. “I hope this all makes sense, it is almost two in the morning. The community is throwing us a fundraiser and I feel so incredibly blessed because medical expenses are piling up.” The medical ...