Dear Editor, It’s finally Autumn, the long awaited time when visitors can enjoy the crisp air and riotous display of color in our National Parks. This opportunity has not been lost during Utah Governor, Gary Herbert’s watch. Governor Herbert has negotiated an agreement with the White House to benefit all states wanting to support their own tourism industry, gateway communities, ...

MADERA COUNTY – A police chase that began in Fresno last night and wound through Eastern Madera County, finally came to an end about 13 miles inside Yosemite National Park. According to CHP Lieutenant Sandra Adams, the pursuit began with a routine traffic stop in Fresno. The Fresno Police Department chased a Honda with two occupants up Highway 41, and ...

MADERA COUNTY – Day 10 of the preliminary hearing in the arson and conspiracy case of Kenneth Jackson and Allison Waterman got underway this morning in Madera Superior Court with two new witnesses. First on the stand for the prosecution was fire investigator and Fire Captain Specialist Captain William Cacho.

OAKHURST – Autumn is taking hold in the foothills, and we’re all ready for some serious sensory satisfaction. Luckily, it’s time for the annual Oakhurst Fall Festival (formerly known as Oakhurst Chocolate & Wine Festival), taking place this Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 12 – 13, in the Oakhurst Community Park. The action goes from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. both ...

MARIPOSA – The Mariposa Symphony Orchestra will open its 12th Season on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m., in the Fiester Auditorium of Mariposa County High School with a special world premiere event. Founding Music Director and Conductor Les Marsden has composed a 20-minute symphonic poem titled Wilderness – Our Necessary Refuge as part of Mariposa County’s participation in four ...

AHWAHNEE — The Oakhurst chapter of the nonprofit organization Helping One Woman (HOW) will honor Ahwahnee resident Lynn Oliver on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Hitching Post Sports Bar and Grill. The uplifting evening begins at 6 p.m. Lynn is a Manager at the Hitching Post, and currently recovering from a total ankle replacement surgery. She’s also a single mom ...

MADERA COUNTY – The preliminary hearing for Kenneth Jackson and Allison Waterman on charges of arson and conspiracy, which has continued in fits and starts in Madera Superior Court, finally got some traction today. With jury trials that had been scheduled for the next two weeks in Department 2 having been settled outside of court, the arson hearing will now ...

YOSEMITE — “Thank you for calling. We are currently closed due to a government shutdown of National Parks. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you.” That’s the gist of The Wawona Hotel’s outgoing phone message, a polite yet inconclusive recording that lets callers know that the historic Wawona will reopen “as soon as possible.”

WAWONA — Yosemite National Park may be closed right now due to an historic partial shutdown of the Federal government, but staff at The Redwoods Year-Round Vacation Home Rentals in Yosemite want everyone to know they are open for business. Though The Redwoods vacation homes are situated inside the National Park, the rentals sit on private land.

MADERA & MARIPOSA COUNTIES – Madera County Sheriff John Anderson and Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies are both offering the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs in a safe manner. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.