UPDATE – June 5, 2 p.m.: Captain has been found! Just before noon on Friday, June 5, the errant Heeler was spotted in the vicinity of Calvin Crest and Sugar Pine, heading up a dirt road. Faithful volunteers were able to corral him long enough for his humans to be contacted in Madera. The Martinez family is overjoyed and taking ...

Our footprints were the first ones on the fresh snow for most of our hike and I just love it when that happens! We also had very blue skies and white puffy clouds to walk along the ice covered lakes up to the old mining town of Dana City.

MARIPOSA – The shocking robbery was over within minutes, and when it was done, more than a million dollars worth of historic gold and minerals had been stolen, destroying a collection dating back to the California Gold Rush. What had been taken could never be replaced, and in its absence there was only one thing left to do: catch the ...

Glacier Point Road had just opened up for the season, 2 ½ weeks earlier than last year, and I needed to get into the higher country. We were shocked at the lack of snow. Lakes that had been frozen last year were completely thawed out on this trip but we still saw some beautiful country.

Glacier Point Road had just opened up for the season, 2 ½ weeks earlier than last year, and I needed to get into the higher country. We were shocked at the lack of snow. Lakes that had been frozen last year were completely thawed out on this trip but we still saw some beautiful country. Where: Yosemite National Park Distance:15.1 ...

OAKHURST – After years of record-breaking participation in the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) annual Relay for Life event in the foothills, it’s time now that our mountain area canines get in on the uplifting action.

Brilliant orange poppies in the Merced River Canyon area are always beautiful to see in the spring but the drought has not been kind to them this year. They are tenacious, still trying their best to put on a showy display in the Hite Cove area, even though it will for a short time frame this spring. In past years, ...

COARSEGOLD – We still miss him in Coarsegold, that guy who used to stand by the road and wave to the morning parade of commuters traveling south on Highway 41 toward the city. On most weekdays during the early “rush hour,” William (Bill) Briggs endured the occasional middle-finger salute in exchange for the more common honks and hellos he received ...

We had planned to spend the day hiking up to Shuteye Pass, off of the Mammoth Pool Road. We were hiking in Nature’s backyard and my 70 pound Weimaraner named Sally met a 130 pound Mountain lion up close and personal. She is a very lucky dog and this is her story, along with lessons to be learned.

MADERA COUNTY – The Oakhurst office of the California Highway Patrol has a new Commander. Lieutenant Jason Daughrity stepped into the job on Jan. 2 when Lt. Sandra Adams retired after serving in the post since 2003. Daughrity, 41, comes from a law enforcement family, and knew from a very early age that this was his calling. “I had a ...