YOSEMITE – The Meadow Fire, which is reported to have started with a lightning strike on July 20, has been creeping and smouldering in the Little Yosemite Valley for 49 days. But just after noon today, it apparently came to life and has now grown to over 700 acres.

YOSEMITE – A fire burning in the backcounty in Yosemite National Park is putting up a lot of smoke and is visible from many locations in Eastern Madera County. The fire was reported on Sunday, Sept. 7, and started as a spot fire from the Meadow Fire, which was lightning-caused, and was first reported on July 20.

OAKHURST – Local photographer Virginia Lazar has a tendency to capture the bigness of small moments. With trademark emotional awareness in the capture of images, and sharp-eyed clarity while editing, the frequent Sierra News Online contributer recently entered a number of her favorite pictures into a series of categories at the Mariposa County Fair.

COARSEGOLD – The crew at Station 10 in Yosemite Lakes Park has had a busy and challenging season so far, and once again the Ladies of the Lakes is hosting a community event to support their efforts. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Ladies will serve up a rigatoni dinner at the YLP Clubhouse from 5 to 7 p.m. All profit ...

FISH CAMP – With the crowds of summer gone, this is the perfect time to spend the day with friends and family at the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. Just 15 minutes from Oakhurst and 4 miles south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad offers excursions with authentic, historic Shay locomotives and Jenny ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park and Ansel Adams Gallery announce the fourth annual Gateway Expressions Student Art and Poetry Contest. The Gateway Expressions Student Art and Poetry Contest celebrates the creativity of youth in the Yosemite gateway communities. The contest is open to all students, grades K-12, who attend school or youth programs within the gateway community school districts of ...

BASS LAKE – Potential participants have just one more day to register online for the annual Smokey Bear Run / Walk Race, happening this Saturday, Sept. 27, at Recreation Point, Bass Lake. After that, it’s day-of registration. This year’s race will be in memory of enthusiastic racer, young Clancy Aiden Shea, who passed away earlier this year. Before that, nearly-11-year-old ...

MARIPOSA – Get the family ready for a swell long weekend, as the Mariposa County Fair is in town for Labor Day, starting Friday, Aug. 29 and running through Monday, Sept. 1 at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds. This 76th edition of the fair, billed as “Boots, Buckles and Barrels of Fun,” will include carnival rides, food and drinks, livestock shows, ...

OAKHURST – When the Junction Fire roared through Oakhurst on Aug. 18, there were a lot of things going on behind the scenes that residents rushing to evacuate were not aware of. At a Town Hall meeting in Bass Lake last Thursday, Cal Fire Division Chief Don Stein, along with Battalion Chiefs Troy Cheek and Chris Christopherson shared how the ...

BASS LAKE – A fire near Bass Lake this afternoon closed Road 274 and provided quite the air show for people on the lake or relaxing by the shoreline. At about 4:20 p.m., a vegetation fire was reported burning near Fawn Point, just east of the Pines Resort. The first responders on scene reported a rapid rate of spread and ...