BASS LAKE — Campgrounds and day use areas at Bass Lake are closed temporarily due to hazard tree removal. Some public areas are scheduled to open by the start of the summer season, while others will apparently remain closed longer as crews working the project continue to make their way through cutting down the volume of dead trees clogging popular ...

FISH CAMP — The 31st annual Elegant Auction to benefit Oakhurst Community Park is slated for Saturday, April 9, at Tenaya Lodge. Doors open at 5 p.m., along with silent auction bidding. Guests will be treated to complimentary champagne to sip while placing their bids, in addition to a gourmet buffet, live music with Wild Hare during the silent auction ...

YOSEMITE — Travelers to Yosemite National Parks should be aware of some delays and road closures as maintenance is underway to prepare for the summer season. Beginning Sunday, Apr. 4, Badger Pass Road will be accessible to Administrative Traffic only from Chinquapin to Badger and the gate will be locked accordingly. The Glacier Point Road will be closed to all ...

OAKHURST — It’s hard to believe that Steve’s Tropical Fish & Pet Supply is celebrating five years in business this weekend, but it’s true. Steve and Kristin Bateman have managed to successfully grow a small mom and pop business, while growing their family at the same time. At this stage, the future is bright. “It certainly has gotten easier now that the ...

Written by Nicholas Hunt O’NEALS — What is Show Band, and why is it not in other schools? The Minarets Show Band is a new program developed as a CTE (Career Technical Education) oriented course, designed for top performers from all music classes offered at Minarets. That includes Guitar 1, Guitar 2/Recording, Rock Music Performance, Singer-Songwriter, Concert Band, Chorus, and Percussion. Show Band ...

OAKHURST — A few hours spent in the park last Saturday left many of us thinking “I want one of those!” “Those” are the amazing dogs who partner with deputies to ensure their safety and help them do their jobs at a level that could never be achieved without the dedication, training and noses of those K9 partners. Saturday’s event ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Yosemite’s Historic Buildings, And The Famous Covered Bridge See Them In Historic Wawona The Yosemite Pioneer History Center is located in Wawona, about 4 miles from the South entrance to Yosemite National Park. The site is comprised of a collection of historic buildings from different eras in Yosemite’s history… built by industrious men and unique ...

MADERA COUNTY – A North Fork couple who pleaded guilty in January to killing the husband’s brother back in 2013 have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison. On Feb. 22 in Madera Superior Court, Judge Rigby sentenced Marc McMurrain, age 37, to 22 years behind bars for voluntary manslaughter. His wife Jennifer McMurrain, 35, was sentenced to ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, Mar. 13 to Sunday, Mar. 20, 2016: North Fork assault On Sunday, Mar. 13 at approximately 12:49 a.m. deputies were dispatched to the 57000 block of Road 225 for a report of an assault. A case was generated and charges were filed ...

We had headed over for the “Superbloom” but how can you not go to Death Valley and see more? Rugged, wildly colored canyons and mountains where miners seeked their fortunes and lonely sand dunes called to us to explore them. Many wonderful books have been written about Death Valley and I am not about to attempt to do that in this blog, ...