OAKHURST — The term “fire season” seems to have replaced the word “summer” in the local lexicon, and as the days grow warmer area residents may want to make note of a special event happening locally that should serve to alleviate some stress. Mountain Area Merchants Association (MAMA) invites the community to a day designed to spread the word about ...

OAKHURST — In a classic case of “local girl makes good,” Yosemite High School alum (Class of 2001) Kelly Smith Erickson has been named the 28th Congressional District’s Woman of the Year. She grew up in Oakhurst and her proud parents are is Lesley Smith and Dean Smith of Dean Smith General Contracting. Kelly lives in Echo Park in Los ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy Memorial Day Weekend. Visitors in personal vehicles arriving late morning through mid-day should expect extensive delays getting into and moving about the park, particularly in Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. Visitors are urged to enter the park before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. in order to avoid traffic congestion and ...

COARSEGOLD — Stepping onto the runway for a very special cause, local volunteers and special guests will model best practices in fashion at a special event coming up soon. Ladies of the Lake women’s club in Yosemite Lakes Park invites the community to a fashion show for charity on Saturday, June 11 at the Yosemite Lakes Park Clubhouse. “Fashions from Barbara’s on ...

OAKHURST — If you’re someone who talks about the “good ol’ days” when the whole town celebrated local heritage together and nobody wanted to miss it, you can plan to attend a meeting on Thursday, May 19, and share in the vision to bring back Sierra Mountaineer Days. Gwen Dunn, formerly Gwen Lopez, is determined to do just that. She’s ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, May 8 to Sunday, May 15, 2016: Oakhurst assault On Sunday, May 8 at 2:06 a.m. a deputy responded to the 40800 block of Highway 41 for an assault. An investigation was conducted and all parties requested that no charges be filled. ...

YOSEMITE — The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will open for all vehicular traffic tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, at noon. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada. “We would like to thank all of our road crews, as well as our partners in Mono County and ...

Submitted by Dave Smith —  NORTH FORK — North Fork Scout Troop 357 has been busy throughout this winter and spring. Along with weekly meetings where Scouts practice various skills such as first aid, fire building, and map and compass, the Scouts have participated in a number of weekend events. In January, the troop spent an afternoon at Boomers! in ...

MADERA COUNTY – Madera County officials welcome new County Librarian Patrick Fitzgerald to Madera. Fitzgerald, who grew up near Allentown, PA and has worked with multiple rural library systems, joined Madera County on Apr. 1. Most recently, he served as the Director of the Harnett County Public Library in North Carolina. In his capacity as the County Librarian, Fitzgerald oversees ...

NORTH FORK — Nickels, dimes and quarters — and the occasional bill — dropped into a jar labeled “Deputy Dog” have added up over the past 10 years to the healthy sum of $2,000 at the Thrift Store at Grace Community Church. The Friendship Circle was delighted to present a check for that amount to Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney ...