Written by Jazmin Neri — Minarets High School came into existence in 2008, intended and succeeding to be an educational and fun environment for the students attending. For eight years, it has helped students develop professionalism in a subject or skill they enjoy. Our culture at Minarets has become a wonderful thing. Our teachers are remarkable and truly have a great ...

Written by Linda Giampa — CALIFORNIA — Whether heading out for a long backpacking trip, local day hikes, or an all-terrain run with our dogs, all of us are consistently aware of the need to pack provisions for varying weather, terrain and potential dangers. However, very few of us would stop to think about ticks or the dangers of tick-borne ...

We headed over to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park for a hike on a trail that had been blasted into granite slab with a sheer dropoff and amazing views. As we hiked up to 4 lakes, we were happy to see colorful wildflowers along the trail. Where: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park Distance: 12.94 Miles Difficulty: Moderate to ...

NORTH FORK — Imagine driving home from a day of shopping and getting a text that says your house is on fire. That’s what happened to Leia Wentworth, 26, of North Fork, who was living with her father and daughter in the first house that went up in flames during the Fork Fire. The fire started just before 6 p.m. ...

OAKHURST — Ever wondered what there is to do around the mountain area? Come to the Oakhurst Branch Library to hear Judi Hussain explain the plethora of activities this marvelous area has to offer. Judi has been the Visitor Center Coordinator at Yosemite Sierra Visitor Center (now called Visit Yosemite | Madera County) for the past five years, and this weekend she’ll ...

OAKHURST — We’ve all enjoyed the recent bout of cooler weather, and now we need to prepare for the real deal as temperatures hit three digits before long. While the National Weather Service in Hanford forecasts that the foothills on Saturday, June 18 will hit a high near 84 degrees, and a low around 50, by Sunday, June 19, the temps are expected to ...

Written by Mary Schmidt Odell — I am NOT your mother and I shouldn’t have to clean up after you. Take your trash home. Members of the Sierra Freepackers Unit of BCHC (Backcountry Horsemen of California) spent Friday, June 3 to Sunday, June 5 at the Snow Play Area just north of Fish Camp, working and playing.  Backcountry Horsemen are a ...

Written by Joanne Freemire —  NORTH FORK — With a 90 percent die-off of Ponderosa Pines and PG&E sub-contractors hard at work felling those that threaten power lines, my Cascadel Woods home feels and sounds more like a lumber mill operation than a residential community – chainsaws whining, huge pines crashing down, chippers and splitters roaring, burn piles smoking, and ...

COARSEGOLD – With the 64th Annual Coarsegold Rodeo coming up, it seemed like a good idea to head over to the ranch and see what new owners Pavilion Properties, also known as the dual-generational team of Kevin and Tanner Tweed, have been up to since they purchased the 38.5 acre ranch property from Tom Bohna earlier this year. Driving up ...

NORTH FORK — Residents in the North Fork area are once again reporting the loss of pets and livestock due to mountain lion predation. Kat Rudd, a resident of Three Springs, contacted Fish & Wildlife due to a brazen attack on Apr. 3, as several people were enjoying an evening just outside a home on the organic farm on Road ...