CENTRAL CALIFORNIA — The National Weather Service in Hanford has issued a Flash Flood Watch for a wide area of the central and southern Sierra from 4 a.m. today through 4 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. A strong and moist Pacific storm will bring widespread rain to much of the area Friday. Periods of moderate to heavy rain will lead ...

MADERA COUNTY — As residents consider their vote on Measure L, the proposed Public Safety Tax scheduled for the Mar. 7 special election, many are questioning the information they’re getting and want answers from the County clarifying details of the measure. We contacted the County to get their response to questions we’ve received from the public, and to assertions put ...

MADERA COUNTY — Bill Ritchey is serving as chairman of the Citizens, Firefighters and Citizens for Measure L 2017 committee. He has spent the past several years working with residents, firefighters and County officials to identify the challenges faced by the Madera County Fire Department and the Paid Call Firefighters (PCFs or volunteers), and has been involved in formulating a ...

MADERA COUNTY — John Pero is a member of the ad hoc committee that is opposing Measure L — the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax scheduled for the Mar. 7 ballot. He is also the leader of the Oakhurst/Coarsegold Tea Party, but says the No on Measure L effort was not organized or written by the Tea Party organization, “it’s ...

MADERA COUNTY – A group of firefighters, deputies and citizens took to the streets on Saturday to engage the community in the conversation about Measure L. They believe strongly that if residents know all the facts about the measure, they will support it. Nearly two dozen people gathered at the Maywood Center on Ave. 12 to “walk, knock and talk” ...

MADERA COUNTY — There are several public meetings scheduled over the next two weeks that will allow residents to learn more about the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax known as Measure L. With so much discussion about the measure, these are important meetings for voters wanting to learn the facts and have their concerns addressed. Mark your calendar for a ...

OAKHURST — “Back the Badge, Support Madera County’s First Responders” is the theme of Saturday’s Kick-off Campaign for Measure L in Oakhurst. The campaign committee and its volunteers are off-duty firefighters and deputies, and supporters who will gather at the former Blockbuster storefront in the Vons Shopping Center on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. to organize a precinct walk ...

MADERA COUNTY — The Madera County Economic Development Commission (MDEDC) is pleased to announce that the Madera Metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes most of Madera County, has been ranked #1 in the nation for short term job growth (Aug. 2015 – Aug. 2016) in a small city, and #61 for 2016’s best performing small cities, in a report published ...

MADERA COUNTY — Members of local service organizations will want to take advantage of the opportunity to have their questions answered about Measure L — the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax slated for the Mar. 7 special election — as representatives from the County and VRPA Technologies, Inc., make presentations to local groups. As part of the public outreach, dozens ...

MADERA COUNTY — On March 7, citizens of the unincorporated areas of Madera County will vote on whether to implement a one-cent sales tax to fund the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Office. To ensure that voters can make an informed decision about the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax known as Measure L, VRPA Technologies, Inc., has been contracted by ...