Trial date set for North Fork murder defendant
BASS LAKE — Exactly one year to the day that Mary O’Keefe was arrested for the murder of North Fork resident Bonnie Hale, she will stand trial on the charges. The trial will start on Dec. 18 in Bass Lake Superior Court before Judge Charles Weiland, with a pre-trial conference set for Dec. 14. O’Keefe, […]
Air quality and a future with Yosemite wildfires
Part 3 of 3 Wildfires may be vital for the ecology of Yosemite National Park, but that doesn’t dispel concerns about their effect on air quality – both for residents and for visitors who come to see iconic vistas. “It’s a very, very difficult issue,” says Chief Martin. “If you can imagine 100 years ago, […]
Ecology of wildfires in Yosemite
Part 2 of 3 YOSEMITE — Wildfires may be vital to the ecology of Yosemite National Park, but they also can help humans as well. More water is available when fire reduces the amount of small trees and brush. Kristen Shive, Yosemite’s fire ecologist, said they have been studying the Illilouette Basin since 1974 when […]
Fire in Yosemite as vital as wind, water
Part 1 of 3 YOSEMITE – Wildfire is part of life in the Central Sierra. Though a cause for fear, it is also an important part of the ecology of Yosemite National Park. That doesn’t mean authorities truly allow them to run wild however. “The common misconception about Yosemite using fire on the landscape, is […]