MADERA COUNTY — A local hero was recognized by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) as George Stillman retired from Madera County Search and Rescue last week after 18 years of volunteer service. “Affectionately known as ‘SAR George’ by other team members, he has served in a variety of capacities throughout the years,” said MCSO in a public statement. “He ...

YOSEMITE — The Merced River pushes past spectators with enormous gusto, as temperatures rise and the annual spring runoff causes rivers and creeks to run very high. This cold and swiftly moving water creates a hazard even for the strongest of swimmers. In the past decade there have been 22 water-related fatalities within Yosemite National Park, according to authorities. Many ...

MARIPOSA –  The body of a Midpines woman has been recovered from the Merced River along Highway 140 three days after she went missing while driving home from work in El Portal. Jennifer Victoriano-Manzanares, age 26, was last seen on Saturday, May 18, when she left her job at Yosemite View Lodge in a gray Mitsubishi Endeavor. According to the ...

BASS LAKE – Nearly two-dozen sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, CHP, SAR volunteers and EMS personnel were called out to rescue six individuals from the Beasore Meadows area yesterday after several of the group suffered the effects of carbon monoxide exposure. The 911 call came in at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, after someone at Beasore was able to make ...

YOSEMITE — Two lost hikers likely owe their lives to the skilled efforts of Yosemite National Park rangers, Search & Rescue personnel and the CHP after they were unable to find their way in the snow and had to call for help. At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, Yosemite National Park Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call ...

MADERA – Two teams from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office are doing their part to assist in the devastating aftermath of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. On Tuesday night, Deputy Jack Williamson, Corporal RJ Jackson, and four Search and Rescue volunteers were dispatched as part of SAR Mutual Aid to assist in the recovery of those who perished in ...

YOSEMITE — Emergency rescue operations in Yosemite National Park were enabled by CHP Central Division Air Operations when a stranded climber and his partner required immediate assistance. On Saturday, Oct. 27, CHP helicopter H-40 was requested by park officials to assist with an injured rock climber on Mount Watkins. Colorado resident Vincent Worth, 39, had slipped and fallen approximately 50-feet ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park officials say they have located the remains of a hiker missing for nearly a month. The remains of Scott Tenczar, 48, were discovered on Saturday, Aug. 18, in the far northeastern portion of the park above Tuolumne Meadows. According to Scott Gediman, director of media relations for Yosemite National Park, a hiking party came upon ...

8/18/18 According to Yosemite National Park’s page on Facebook — “UPDATE: He has been found. No further details available pending investigation.” YOSEMITE — Another man is missing and thought to be inside Yosemite National Park, and authorities are seeking the public’s help to locate him. Search and Rescue teams in Yosemite are looking for John Blevins Cogdell, III, an employee ...

OAKHURST — What began as a day hike in the foothills with family ended with a rescue mission when a young woman suffered an injury and had to be transported from the trail along Lewis Creek. At 1:34 p.m. today, a call came into 911 that a woman had fallen and broken her ankle in the Corlieu Falls area. The ...