Today's Top Story

  • ‘Let It Burn’ or ‘Fight It Fast?’ How federal and state wildfire strategies really differ

    By Editor | 10/14/2026

    When smoke rises above the Sierra foothills,  Mariposa County residents rarely care which agency’s boundary the flames crossed. Residents want aircraft overhead, engines on the road and firefighters moving quickly. Yet California’s wildland fire system is divided among federal, state and local jurisdictions, each with a different mission. That division has helped sustain a persistent…

  • For Shawna Dahl, a new light breaks through

    By Editor | 10/13/2026

    When readers first learned of Shawna Dahl’s battle with a cancerous tumor in September, the story traveled far beyond the article on this website. Hundreds upon hundreds read it, while thousands more followed along on Facebook—an outpouring that reflected how deeply the local horse trainer has touched the lives of people around her. At the…

  • Wagner tabbed by board as new county district attorney

    By Editor | 10/12/2026

    The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors selected Spenser Wagner on Oct. 6 to serve as district attorney forthe remainder of the current term. Wagner’s appointment will become official after he establishes residency in Mariposa County and registers to vote, as required by state law. The district attorney is an elected position, and voters will choose…

  • Prescribed Burn Cooperative plans Mariposa community meeting

    By Editor | 10/12/2026

    Community members interested in prescribed fire will have an opportunity Oct. 15 to learn about local projects and ways to participate during a public meeting hosted by the Yosemite Gateway Prescribed Burn Cooperative. The meeting is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the back patio of the Grove House, 4993 Fifth St. in Mariposa.…

  • Board to weigh committees, transit plans

    By Editor | 10/09/2026

    The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the county Government Center, 5100 Bullion St., with discussion of county advisory bodies, state and federal legislative activity, transportation planning and several public works actions on the agenda. Among the regular agenda items, supervisors are scheduled to discuss and give…

  • County Republicans meet, state parties chart opposing paths on Nov. 3 ballot

    By Editor | 10/08/2026

    This Sunday, Oct. 11, the Republican Party of Mariposa County will be holding a pancake breakfast. The event will be held at the Masonic Lodge, 5154 Jones Street in Mariposa from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The breakfast fare will include pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice. The cost is $15 per person, or…

  • Composting Workshop to offer hands-on tips for healthier soil

    By Editor | 10/07/2026

    Residents interested in reducing waste, improving soil health and learning practical composting skills are invited to attend a composting workshop Oct. 24 at Happy Goat Farm. The beginner-friendly event will cover composting basics, home-scale setup, what materials can and cannot be composted, and how to use finished compost to support healthy soil and plant growth.…

  • And another one bites the dust. Dome Fire forces cancellation of 2026 Mariposa Yosemite Car Show

    By Editor | 10/06/2026

    A third community event, the 2026 Mariposa Yosemite Hot Rod & Custom Car Show has been canceled because the Mariposa County Fairgrounds is being used to support personnel assigned to the Dome Fire, Mariposa County Chamber of Commerce officials announced. The Mariposa County Farm Bureau dinner has been rescheduled for November, and the Friends of…

  • Library hosting card design contest

    By Editor | 10/06/2026

    There are many talented artists and creators in this area, and the Mariposa County Library is hoping that many of them will be interested in participating in its library card design contest, which has officially begun and will conclude on October 30. Library officials said they are hoping to receive many submissions, which will be…

  • Suds & Sausage cancelled due to ongoing fire camp

    By Editor | 10/05/2026

    Another community event, the annual Friends of the Fairground’s popular Suds & Sausage fundraiser, has been cancelled. Officials of the organization state, “Due to the continued need for the fairgrounds by Incident Command as they respond to the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, we regret to announce that this year’s Sausage & Suds event,…

Around the County

  • They fought wildfires while serving time. A new law gives them a shot at Cal Fire jobs

    By Editor | 09/30/2026

    BY ADAM ECHELMAN (This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.) Firefighting is grueling work — 24-hour work days, backbreaking labor, and of course, the heat. It’s no different for incarcerated firefighters, who are responsible for nearly half of the emergency hours spent combatting California’s wildfires. Once they leave prison, many former firefighters struggle to find work,…

  • Library Con returns to Mariposa County Library

    By Editor | 09/30/2026

    The Mariposa County Library will host its second annual Library Con on Saturday, Oct. 10, bringing comic books, pop culture activities and family-friendly events back to the library after last year’s inaugural gathering drew dozens of attendees. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the library, 4978 10th St. No…

  • Dome Fire burns more than 5,200 acres as smoke and closures disrupt fall visits

    By Editor | 09/29/2026

    The Dome Fire burning in Yosemite National Park has grown to 5,215 acres and was 30 percent contained Monday morning, continuing to send smoke across parts of the park and forcing closures that have disrupted fall travel in southern Yosemite and nearby Mariposa County. The fire, first reported at 8:28 a.m. Sept. 15 north of…

  • Fire camp pushes Farm Bureau dinner to November

    By Editor | 09/28/2026

    Due to the ongoing federal fight camp at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, battling the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park, the annual Mariposa County Farm Bureau dinner has been rescheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14 in its traditional location, Building A. The event brings together neighbors, farmers, ranchers and supporters of local agriculture for an memorable…