MOUNTAIN AREA — Tree crews have started clearing hundreds of dead trees along Sugar Pine Road (Road 630). The work site is located off of Highway 41 between Oakhurst and Fish Camp. Intermittent road closures adjacent to the project began Thursday (May 14) and will remain in place from Monday through Friday, causing 20-minute delays for some motorists for at ...

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 ...

OAKHURST – Sierra National Forest (SNF) fire officials will implement their winter/spring prescribed burning program over the next five months within the Bass Lake Ranger District, the agency announced this week. This season’s projects are on Sugar Pine, Double-gate, Lone Sequoia, Timberloft, Greys Mountain and Cedar Valley as well as administrative sites at Batterson, Jerseydale and Clearwater stations. The total ...

OAKHURST -Madera County Sheriff Jay Varney is spreading the message of preparation for the mountain community. “I urge foothill and mountain residents to finish their storm preparation on Monday. As with any first storm of the season, check your chains, food, medication status, and heating source so that you are safe and able to enjoy any snow accumulation through Thanksgiving. ...

We had the trail and amazing views all to ourselves. From Mount Watkins, it felt like we could almost reach out and touch Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Tenaya Canyon. Well, kind of . . . Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 8.6 Miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Elevation Range: 7,996′ – 8,497′ Date: November 12, 2019 Maps: Falls Ridge, Hetch ...

By Sarah Jackson Special to Sierra News Online OAKHURST – The mountain community gathered in Old Mill Village Shopping Center Tuesday evening for National Night Out, a collaborative event that started in 1984 as an annual campaign to promote police-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie. Eastern Madera County has expanded upon that mission in recent years to make National Night Out ...

Karina Rose Barnett of Ahwahnee, California, was born on March 9, 2002, to Jim and Bridget Barnett. She was the youngest of five children. Karina graduated with honors from Minarets High School in just 3 years. Karina was an excellent athlete and played soccer, softball, volleyball, and was an avid basketball player for the Yosemite High School Badgers’ JV team. ...

BASS LAKE — With the approach of the Labor Day weekend and the traditional wind-down of summer activities at Bass Lake, the Madera County Sheriff’s office is reporting boating under the influence (BUI) arrests are up 45 percent in 2019. Madera County Sheriff’s Corporal Amy Roussell said she attributes the increase in BUI arrests “to the training and experience of ...

FISH CAMP — September is California Wine Month, and outdoor-loving food and wine enthusiasts can celebrate in the High Sierras with small-lot wines, artisanal food, and live music at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite’s third annual Wine in the Woods. Due to the popularity of last year’s event, the resort is offering two dates to choose from this Fall: August 24th ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — A Flash Flood Watch has been issued for some of our local area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS), as isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms remain possible in the Sierra through Friday, July 26. A large area of high pressure maintains widespread triple digit heat across the San Joaquin Valley, West Side Hills and Kern County ...