By Dan Tucker Mariposa County has approved a three-year permit allowing Lode Gold to begin surface exploration and drilling at its Fremont Gold Mine, a privately owned gold project near Mariposa near the scenic and historic Merced River near Bagby. The Administrative Use Permit clears the way for the company to launch a 3,500- to…

The Mariposa Museum & History Center is inviting residents and visitors to become members during August, offering a chance to win a $100 gift basket to anyone who signs up for a new membership during the month. The winner of the raffle will be announced Sept. 1. Participants do not need to be present to…

For 75 years, John C. Fremont Healthcare District has stood as a cornerstone of health care in Mariposa County. This September, the District will invite the community to celebrate that legacy — and the future it continues to build — during a 75th Anniversary Community Open House. The public event will be held Thursday, September…

The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25, to discuss how the county should reshape its indigent defense system as costs rise, state reform efforts advance and a new funding deadline approaches. The meeting, scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in the county government building…

As the nation approaches the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, county officials, led by the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, are asking residents with personal ties to that day to come forward and help the community remember the lives lost, the courage shown and the grief that reshaped a generation. On Sept. 11,…

COULTERVILLE — The newly formed Coulterville Service Area No. 1 Advisory Committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the Odd Fellows Lodge, 5030 Main St., according to Mariposa County Supervisor Shannon Poe. North County Supervisor Poe said the committee, formed by Coulterville residents, is expected…

By Dan Tucker Ed Owens found his way to the drag strip before most teenagers were old enough to drive there themselves. He was 13 when his uncles began taking him to the races, opening the door to a world of noise, speed and mechanical possibility that quickly became part of his life. “My uncles…

County officials are warning property owners, especially seniors, to be on alert for a scam circulating online and by phone that falsely claims a tax form can reduce or freeze property taxes. The warning centers on a fake “1098-SR” form. Officials said no such IRS form exists for reducing, freezing or otherwise lowering property taxes…

By Dan Tucker Across the broad, sun-washed sweep of Mariposa County, where quiet roads curl through rugged hills and open ranchland, a familiar rhythm rises from the landscape: the deep, rolling thrum of a loping V8 engine. In this sprawling, sparsely populated corner of central California, a devoted band of residents shares a restless affection…

The California Energy Commission (CEC) on Monday approved the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program(RTEP), the nation’s first efficiency standards for replacement tires sold for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in California. The tires that come on new cars are typically designed to give drivers better fuel mileage. But average replacement tires are less efficient, meaning that consumers often lose…