YOSEMITE – A 28-year-old climber died in a rock climbing accident on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park on Sunday, June 2. Felix Joseph Kiernan, from London, England, was climbing on the East Buttress of El Capitan, a popular climbing route in Yosemite Valley, when he was struck by a rock. Kiernan and his climbing partner were approximately 600 feet ...

YOSEMITE – At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, a visitor was witnessed being swept over the precipice of Nevada Fall in Yosemite National Park. Aleh Kalman, 19 year old male, from Sacramento, CA, came to the park with a church group and was hiking the Mist Trail when the accident occurred.

NORTH FORK – A driver who swerved off the road near Thornberry last night may have spent hours unconscious in his car. Joe Clarke, 65, of Bass Lake, called friends at about 8 p.m. on Friday, May 31, telling them that he was on his way to Coarsegold to pick them up. When he didn’t arrive, they began to worry.

YOSEMITE – An experienced climber from Columbia Falls, Montana, plunged to his death on Sunday, May 19, while attempting to reach the summit of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, according to Yosemite National Park spokesperson Kari Cobb. Mason Robison was climbing with a partner about 600 feet from the summit of the 3,000-foot granite monolith just after 9 a.m. ...

YOSEMITE LAKES PARK – For the second time in as many days, firefighters were called out to a blaze in the YLP area, this one dubbed the Lilley Mountain Fire. At 3:07 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, Mariposa Command Center began dispatching engines, water tenders, dozers and crews to an area along Road 400, a mile south of Yosemite Springs ...

NORTH FORK – The community is invited to participate in a free training program to become part of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.

YOSEMITE -Yosemite National Park Rangers have recovered the body of missing hiker Kenneth Stensby near the base of Vernal Fall. Stensby was fatally injured after falling from a cliff near the top of the waterfall. His body was discovered by Yosemite National Park Search and Rescue Ranger personnel and was extricated at about 1 p.m. today. Stensby, 73, from Edina, ...

OAKHURST – Over 100 firefighters and their friends, family and supporters gathered at the Oakhurst Community Center Sunday afternoon to honor and acknowledge the Paid Call Firefighters in Madera County. Paid Call Firefighters are volunteers who serve their communities by answering dispatches to everything from traffic accidents to medical emergencies, but are only paid when something is actually on fire. ...

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson has announced six significant personnel changes in the Sheriff’s Office. Six native sons, all familiar faces, were sworn in or promoted to new positions on Wednesday, May 1. Four men were sworn in as deputies, one deputy moved to the ranks of detective, and a mountain detective was promoted to rank of Sergeant.

MADERA COUNTY – Oakhurst resident Jean Newman was honored Saturday evening when Sheriff John Anderson announced her selection as Citizen On Patrol (COP) Volunteer Of The Year. Newman was recognized for volunteering more than 400 hours of service to the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Madera County in 2012. “She demonstrates a strong work ethic, with great enthusiasm,” said ...