YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park is planning a prescribed fire in the Hetch Hetchy area, near the O’Shaughnessy Dam. The fire is planned for mid to late March and will include a total of 57 acres. Ignition and active burning will take approximately one to two days and a few additional days to patrol and monitor until the end of ...

Over 150 people packed the Oakhurst Community Center on Friday, Feb. 28, to hear from the three candidates running for the office of Madera County District Attorney. Incumbent Michael Keitz, Deputy County Counsel Miranda Neal, and Oakhurst attorney David Linn addressed questions during the 90-minute debate hosted by the Oakhurst Democratic Club.

YOSEMITE – Trekking to one of Yosemite National Park’s secret spots on the summer solstice, exploring areas within the park affected by last year’s Rim Fire, and photographing rainbows at night created by waterfalls are among the nearly 50 Outdoor Adventures for 2014 unveiled by Yosemite Conservancy.

MADERA COUNTY – Madera County Master Gardeners will host a free event for home gardeners on Saturday, Mar. 22, from 10 a.m. to noon. This workshop will provide instruction on how to plant a beautiful edible landscape, presented by Master Gardeners Agnes Jenkins, Linda Sloan, Barbara Mattice and Susan Walter.

YOSEMITE – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 3,853,404 visitors to Yosemite National Park in 2012 spent over $378 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 5,162 jobs in the local area. “Yosemite National Park is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world,” said Don Neubacher, Yosemite Superintendent.

Seeing all of that water coming out of Stevenson Falls is something to behold but we had a big surprise when we saw the first diverse and colorful displays of wildflowers of the season!

OAKHURST – When one door closes, goes the saying, another opens. Now, area business owners Kandie and John Stier, together with son Blake Elsman and the whole family, are excited to see what life has in store for them as they plan to close the double glass doors of the Produce Place for one last time. Kandie announced the final ...

YOSEMITE – Half Dome cables day use permits for the 2014 hiking season will be available for reservation starting Saturday, Mar. 1, through Monday, Mar. 31. Permits to hike to the top of Half Dome are required seven days per week and reservations will be distributed via a lottery system. Successful parties will be notified in mid-April. A maximum of ...

OAKHURST – The Sierra Nevada draws visitors for many reasons – its unparalleled scenery, geological features, flora and fauna, wilderness and cultural attributes, and superb recreational opportunities. Birders are drawn for reasons rooted in each of those values. Among the tools birders use to enjoy and find meaning in the pursuit of their passion are field guides and other publications ...

OAKHURST – The opera Carmen debuted in 1875 to a Paris audience reputed to have been both alarmed and aghast. French composer Georges Bizet’s startling opera went on to become an international hit, and now, the entire fiasco is the topic of the 19th annual opera series taking place at Evergreen Conference Center Oakhurst (ECCO). ECCO’s “Carmen and the Consequences” ...