MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, Feb. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 14 2016: Coarsegold vandalism On Sunday, Feb. 7 at 4:32 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to a residence located in the 43000 block of Ranger Circle Dr. for a report of vandalism to a living room window. ...

MADERA COUNTY – Visitors to the Madera County Government Center at 4th and G Streets will soon be able to stop by for a Starbucks coffee, right in the lobby. At their meeting yesterday, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to enter into an agreement with Aramark to construct and operate a Starbucks Kiosk on the main floor lobby. Aramark ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — For the past few days, we have been receiving calls, messages and emails about the big booms people are hearing across the Central Sierra, so we have tracked down some information and it turns out there are two different activities occuring at once. There is multi-agency training underway, known as RED FLAG, involving personnel from Nellis Air ...

YOSEMITE — NatureBridge, the largest residential environmental education partner of the National Park Service, opened registration for the Summer Field Research Course at its Yosemite campus. This two-week immersive backcountry expedition will give participants the opportunity to conduct field science investigations in one of the most iconic national parks in the country. The course offers the ultimate teen summer adventure. ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Sunday, Jan. 30 through Saturday, Feb. 6: Coarsegold public intoxication On Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5:08 p.m. an adult male was contacted at a business located in the 46000 block of Lucky Lane. The male was subsequently arrested for public intoxication. He was ...

03/12/2016 @ 9:00 am - 3:00 pm - The 3rd Annual Handmade Craft/Art Fair in the Sierra Mountains (Coarsegold) March 12, 2016 is just a few short months away. The Community Center of Coarsegold hosts this fair Saturday March 12, from 9am to 3pm. Crafters and Artists are putting their final touches on new work they will debut during this handmade event. This [...]

Contributed by Len McKenzie, YAAS — Exotic birds, tropical rainforests, orangutans, the largest flower on earth—what better way to spend a cold February evening than to visit, through words and pictures, a place with all these and more? Mariposa resident Matthew Matthiessen, a captivating storyteller and world-class photographer who has previously regaled local audiences with slide talks featuring the birds ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park announced today that a prestigious group of park supporters and advocates has been announced to be Yosemite Centennial Ambassadors. The Yosemite Centennial Ambassadors were selected from a wide variety of backgrounds and include musicians, scientists, artists, athletes, historians, writers, public officials and educators. Each ambassador shares a unique story, love, and commitment for Yosemite National ...

MADERA COUNTY – Following are details from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of reports taken locally from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31, 2016: Oakhurst burglary On Sunday, Jan. 24 at 7:24 a.m. a deputy was dispatched to the parking lot at the intersection of Highway 41 and Road 222 regarding a vehicle burglary. Report taken. Case to be closed. Oakhurst ...

SACRAMENTO – Three agencies in Madera and Mariposa Counties that are dedicated to fire safety and resource conservation have been awarded over half-a-million dollars in grants for projects designed to address the massive tree mortality across the area. Cal Fire announced Monday it has awarded 19 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund grants in six counties that have been greatly ...