OAKHURST — Spectators lined Road 426 and School Road on Saturday, Sept. 17, to cheer and wave as some 40 entries passed by in the 20th annual Heritage Days Parade. From fire engines to mounted patrols, colorful floats and classic cars, the nearly 90-minute parade kicked off a day of festivities at Fresno Flats Historic Park. We have complied a ...

Written by Paul Hall —  COARSEGOLD — The Sierra Shadow Casters, MC (SSCMC) in association with Gma’s & Pappa’s Motorcycle Apparel located in the Coarsegold Historic Village, are hosting the Sierra Moonshine Motorcycle Poker Run and “Next Firefighter Up” fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 17, to benefit Madera County Volunteer Fire Departments. The two beneficiaries are Station 8 of Coarsegold on ...

COARSEGOLD — Crews are still battling a vegetation fire burning on the east side of Highway 41 near Serpa Canyon. As of 4:30 p.m., the fire was estimated at 60 to 70 acres and crews hope to achieve 30 percent containment this evening. The fire was reported just before 1 p.m. this afternoon on the Veater Ranch north of Coarsegold, ...

OAKHURST — Local civic leaders have a message for residents and visitors alike, and it’s about staying fire-safe this summer. Rotary Clubs of Oakhurst in partnership with Eastern Madera County Chamber Alliance are supporting Sierra National Forest fire restrictions currently in effect by distributing ‘No Open Fires’ signs. The signs are available now at the Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce ...

NORTH FORK — Law enforcement officials have just completed three days of marijuana eradication operations in the North Fork area, destroying over 73,000 plants being grown, for the most part, on public lands. A joint effort between the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife, BLM and the California National Guard started on Monday, wrapping up ...

Guest Column written by Bill Ritchey — It is 2 a.m. in the dead of winter. You’re asleep in the comfort of your own bed, and are suddenly jarred awake by the insistent piercing alert and dispatch tones from a pager. Your heart reflexively pounds in your chest… the “pressure” of an adrenalin surge. You can’t control it, no time ...

Submitted by Paul Hall — COARSEGOLD — The Sierra Shadow Casters, MC (SSCMC) and the merchants of the Coarsegold Historic Village, led by Gma’s & Pappa’s Motorcycle Apparel, are hosting the “Next Firefighter Up” motorcycle poker run to benefit local volunteer fire departments on Saturday, Apr. 9. The two beneficiaries are Madera County Fire Station 8 in Coarsegold (Road 417) ...

YOSEMITE — While today marked the first day of Aramark’s takeover as concessioner in Yosemite National Park, the dispute over the historic names of several iconic properties continues. But as that issue works its way through the legal process, for many long-time employees it was a sad day and the end of an era. “Badger Pass had a quiet day ...

NORTH FORK — A fire that burned a motorhome to the ground and closed Road 222 has left investigators perplexed as to what happened to the occupants. Just before 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24, firefighters responded to reports of a motorhome on fire on Road 222 a couple miles north of Kerkoff Reservoir. When engines arrived on scene, they ...

Submitted by Mountain Comforts MOUNTAIN AREA — Living in the Sierra foothills, heating your home with a wood burning stove or fireplace is a way of life for most of the residents. Coming in from the cold to absorb the warmth and seeing the friendly glow of a fire is one of the great things we love about our life ...