AHWAHNEE — Coolwater Ranch and the Redwoods kick off their 2019 concert series with guitarist extraordinaire Mike Dowling, on Friday, Jan. 18. Mike digs deep into the musical bag of American roots guitar, favoring the melodic Piedmont style of acoustic blues masters like Mississippi John Hurt and slide great Tampa Red. This artist can’t be pigeonholed as a blues player, ...

AHWAHNEE – The Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Trustees is searching for a community member willing to serve on the School Board. An open position on the Board has occurred due to the resignation of Dalene Stephens. Mrs. Stephens, who served on the Board from June 29, 2015 to Aug. 8, 2018, has moved out of ...

AHWAHNEE – Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler will hold the last Town Hall meeting of the year on Thursday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wasuma Elementary School in Ahwahnee. “We will be discussing a number of district issues including the up-and-coming hotel, the court house closure, and tree mortality efforts,” says Supervisor Wheeler. “I am ...

By Barbara Irion — AHWAHNEE — Wasuma Elementary School’s PTA held its first Color Run to raise money for the activities it provides for students throughout the year. This includes assemblies, field trips, music instruction, family movie nights, academic pentathlon, spelling bee, and book fair — to name a few. Students collected pledges per lap, or flat donations, from family ...

Daniel R. Francoeur passed away Sept. 26, 2018, in Ahwahnee, Calif. He was born Dec. 18, 1944, in Camrose, Alberta, Canada, to Louis and Edna Francoeur, and was the second of eight children. Dan was a wonderful husband and family man. He is survived by Eleanor, his wife of nearly 55 years; two sons, Dean (Sharon) and Chris (Jodie) of ...

AHWAHNEE – As mop-up continues on the Oak Fire, containment is now estimated at 90 percent on the 360-acre fire. All evacuations and advisories have been lifted. Crews continue to strengthen firelines as others are released to return home. The fire started on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3:44 p.m. off Lonesome Oak Road north of Road 620. The cause of ...

AHWAHNEE – Mop-up continues on the Oak Fire burning northeast of Ahwahnee. The fire is estimated at 360 acres and is now 75 percent contained. All advisory evacuation notices have been lifted as of 9 a.m. today. Road 620 is now open without restriction. Fire personnel are still active in the area, so please reduce speeds and drive with caution. ...

AHWAHNEE – The Oak Fire is now 55 percent contained as crews continue to strengthen containment lines and do mop-up in the interior. With more accurate mapping, the estimated size has been adjusted to 360 acres. The fire started on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3:44 p.m. off Lonesome Oak Road north of Road 620. At 2 p.m. yesterday, evacuation orders ...

AHWAHNEE – Another successful day on the fireline brings the containment of the Oak Fire to 50 percent. The estimated size is still holding at 390 acres. The fire started on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 3:44 p.m. off Lonesome Oak Road north of Road 620. At 2 p.m. today, evacuation orders were lifted for the communities of Cedarbrook and Timberloft. ...

AHWAHNEE – The huge column of smoke over the Oakhurst area the past few days has been reduced to a light haze as firefighters on the Oak Fire continue to hold it at 390 acres. It is now 45 percent contained. Crews have mopped up about 60 feet inside the line on the western and northern perimeters and will be ...