OAKHURST – Local people behind Rotary International really put the “International” in the name when they met last week to dedicate and donate an ambulance to a town in Mexico that really needs it. Members of the Sierra Sunrise Rotary and Madera Sunrise Rotary gathered on July 1 for a send-off for SAS 46, formerly owned by Sierra Ambulance Service.

NORTH FORK – Dozens of classic cars, hot rods and restored vehicles will be featured at the North Fork Collector Car Appreciation Day Cruise-In on Friday night, July 12, in downtown North Fork. All across the country, lovers of classic cars will be hosting events to commemorate this fourth annual celebration, and the North Fork Chamber of Commerce and Visitors ...

OAKHURST – The weekend of July 13 & 14 is the fourth annual fundraising event for the Stewards of the Sierra National Forest (SOTSNF), whose stated mission is keeping public access to the Sierra National Forest open for all to use and enjoy. SOTSNF is hosting a membership drive, BBQ fundraiser and optional Dual Sport Adventure, and it all starts ...

YOSEMITE – The single engine plane that was reported missing over Yosemite National Park on Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, has been located. The plane, which was largely intact, was spotted by a park visitor near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp on Saturday, July 6. The Vogelsang area is in the rugged high country of Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park Rangers ...

“How to Get Things Done in a Small Town” NORTH FORK – When Elissa Brown moved to North Fork in 2000, she wasn’t sure how she would fit in. She had moved from Oakland where she had worked first as a lawyer and then as a community and economic development specialist. What on earth would she do in a small ...

TUOLUMNE COUNTY – A counselor at Camp Tawonga, located just outside Yosemite National Park near Hetch Hetchy, was killed on Wednesday, July 3, when a tree fell at the campfire circle outside the dining hall. The Executive Director of Camp Tawonga, Ken Kramarz, confirms that Annais Rittenberg, was killed and four other adult staff were injured and taken to local ...

Letter To The Editor – Written by Kevin Barry. Our battle for our parks & public lands is moving to Washington! Facing off with the National Park Service over the controversial preferred alternative options, including the removal of our concessions from the Park will be heard on July 9, 2013 in the Sub-committee on National Parks, Forests & Public Lands. ...

Hiking up to Dana Plateau gave us the opportunity to view some of the complex geologic events that helped form Yosemite. We could see where Glaciers had moved massive amounts of rocks, yet left other areas alone. Fast moving clouds created great views, whether they were from the tops of mountains or creating reflections in small water features.

YOSEMITE – Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR) successfully rescued an injured climber from the Leaning Tower on Tuesday, June 25. Reports are that solo climber Shane Houbart fell on the West Face Route, hurting his back badly enough to prevent further progress. YOSAR was alerted via telephone while Tom Evans was on hand to capture the scene in photographs. Evans ...

MADERA COUNTY – Kenneth Jackson, who was taken into custody on June 25 in connection with a series of fires in the Yosemite Lakes Park area, remains in custody on $500,000 bond, awaiting his next hearing, set for Tuesday, July 2. Jackson, 40, and his wife, Allison Waterman, 46, both of East Revis Circle in YLP, were arrested after an ...