MADERA COUNTY – After 30 years of service to the California Highway Patrol, Sergeant Ed Greene is retiring to do, as he puts it, “anything I feel like.” Dec. 30 will be the last day on duty for the 52-year-old veteran officer in the Oakhurst division, where he has served since transferring from Mariposa in 2009.

YOSEMITE – The National Park Service (NPS) at Yosemite National Park has announced that the Record of Decision for the Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Final Environmental Impact Statement (Mariposa Grove Final EIS) was approved by the Regional Director on Dec. 10, 2013.

YOSEMITE – The Curry Village Ice Rink is open now through March 2, 2014. Located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, the Curry Village Ice Rink is a winter destination and holiday favorite for park visitors. Families enjoy this outdoor winter activity suitable for all ages in one of California’s most spectacular winter landscapes.

YOSEMITE – Badger Pass Ski Area, operated by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, began its cross-country ski and snowshoe services Friday, Dec. 20. Badger Pass Ski Area requires additional snow to open the downhill and tubing section of the ski area.

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park’s Badger Pass Ski Area has announced new season pass benefits for the 2013-14 season. Adult season passes for California’s original ski area start at $149 and the new season pass benefits include discounts on lodging, meals, retail items and summer activities. In addition, new hotel packages include two free lift tickets with a midweek, two ...

Submitted by Oakhurst artist Monique Wales YOSEMITE – Binoculars, field guides and cameras in hand, Virginia Lazar and I stepped into the Citizen Science arena via Yosemite’s Christmas Bird Count. New to the birding world, and filled with enthusiasm, we joined the 114th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) taking place all over the Americas from Dec. 14 to Jan. ...

MARIPOSA – The Festive Holiday Concert of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra (MSO) on Saturday, Dec. 21, will honor the memory of Dr. Phillip Smith, founding MSO Principal Tuba player and longtime arranger, composer and dedicated member of the orchestra. The concert will open with Smith’s own composition Elegy and Prayer, which was originally composed to commemorate the anniversary of the ...

MADERA COUNTY – The trial of a Coarsegold couple charged with 31 counts of arson will get underway this week in Madera Superior Court. Kenneth Jackson, 40, and Alice Waterman, 46, both of Yosemite Lakes Park, have been in custody since late June, when they were arrested after a rash of suspicious fires in the Coarsegold/YLP area. Waterman was in ...

Written by Lori Prentice Nine years ago her nine-year-old son was murdered here in my small town. Five years ago, I met her other son. I tried reaching out to him at my church, and no matter how I downplayed my usual style, there was just a sad, empty feeling.

Last Saturday, we set out in search of adventure, well aware of the weather conditions. The night before, Mother Nature had dumped a load on the Mother Lode, and just about every foot of hill between us and our destination was loosely draped in snow. Most people had the good sense to stay in and admire the view – an ...