2023-01-19
The future of Yosemite
Process of determining how park operates now underwayThe Yosemite Gateway Partnership (YGP) meeting had to pivot to a virtual setting on Jan. 12 due to the relentless weather around Mariposa County. YGP president Jonathan Farrington turned the meeting over to the National Park Service. Farrington opened up the meeting by saying he was happy for the opportunity to discuss the upcoming changes in Yosemite National Park and […]
Major storms inundate county, damage heavy
The winter storms have continued to wreak havoc on Mariposa County. The storm, which began on Dec. 27, has caused ongoing damage to the county and other public and district facilities, including but not limited to roads, bridges and structures within Mariposa County. On Jan. 16, there was a marginal risk of excessive rainfall in the Sierra Nevada below the […]
Covid-19 numbers continue to grow in Mariposa County
FREELast week, Mariposa County returned to the High tier of Covid-19 community levels. The county was previously in the Medium tier. Back in December, Mariposa County Public Health Officer Dr. Eric Sergienko said Covid-19 was level with a possible increase after the holidays due to increased mobility. “We just don’t know how much,” he said. This could be the bump […]
Residents are encouraged to use Mariposa Heritage House services
Note: This is the first in a series of stories about Mariposa Heritage House. People who don’t know about Mariposa Heritage House (MHH) or its programs may not be alone. Located at 5200 CA-49, the center may be hard to find, but it is worth the trip. “There’s so much we offer here,” said Shannon Shiells during a recent interview. […]
Man gets 15 years in prison in abduction, sex abuse case
FREEA local man has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison in Oregon for his involvement in abducting and sexually abusing a teenager. Deven R. Dearing, 26, was sentenced last week to 15 years and seven months in prison by U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken of the Oregon District Court. According to court documents, Dearing pleaded guilty to […]
Alvarado-Gil lands seven committee appointments
On Jan. 5, the California State Senate announced its 2023-24 committee assignments. Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil (D-Jackson) was selected as the chair of the Human Services Committee and selected to be a member of six standing committees and one joint committee. Alvarado-Gil now sits on the following committees: • Human Services, committee chair • Agriculture, committee member • Business, Professions and […]
Bernice Bryant
Bernice T. Bryant, 93, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Atwater, Clif., surrounded by family and friends. She was born on Aug. 24, 1929. Bernice was a devout Catholic. Her passions included gambling, which she did frequently, and watching her favorite baseball team, the San Francisco Giants, with her friend, Joanne. She never missed a game if […]
Stanley Westfall
Stanley E. Westfall, age 89, of Bailey Flats, Calif., passed away on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Stan was born very near Knowles, Calif., on April 23, 1933. In his early years he attended Bailey Flats School through the sixth grade. The family moved to Fresno where he attended Roosevelt Junior and Senior high schools, graduating in 1951. Next it was […]
Althea Stevens
Althea Stevens was born in Chicago, Ill., on Sept. 6, 1942 and died in Merced, Calif., on Jan. 16, 2023. She was raised and spent the first 55 years of her life in the south suburbs of Chicago. She started drawing at age two (her favorite subject: horses) and was an artist all her life. Married to Richard Laitinen in […]