LATEST NEWS

Tuolumne, CA – A traffic stop in Tuolumne prompted a search of the driver’s vehicle, which uncovered fentanyl and meth. On Monday evening, an alert Tuolumne County Sheriff’s deputy recognized a passing vehicle’s driver as 42-year-old Michael Jeffreys, who had a felony warrant for his arrest. The deputy pulled the vehicle over in the area of Tuolumne Road North near Carter Street in Tuolumne.

Sonora, CA – A driver was pulled over for expired registration, but they did not get arrested—the passenger did. A Tuolumne County Sheriff’s deputy recently made the stop in the area of Wards Ferry and Tuolumne roads. A records check showed no issues for the driver, but the passenger, 30-year-old Mark Hyder, revealed he was on parole for a prior felony conviction, allowing for a search of the individuals and the vehicle.

Sonora, CA – Commuters can expect delays as next week crews begin work on a sidewalk and bus stop project at a busy downtown Sonora intersection. Dirt Dynasty out of Valley Springs is the contractor for the Stockton-Washington Corridor Downtown Transit and Accessibility Project in downtown Sonora. The work was to begin earlier this year, but the recent stormy weather postponed the project. It will now begin on Wednesday, April 4th, and continue until the project is complete. The scope of work will consist of new sidewalk approaches on all four corners of the intersection. It will also include constructing sidewalks and bus stops, about a block down on West Stockton Street. The hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

Tuolumne County, CA – It has been nearly two weeks since a fiery fatal crash on Highway 108/120 and the identity of the deceased remains unknown. The collision happened on Thursday morning, March 16, east of the La Grange Road intersection in the Keystone area. As earlier reported here, the deceased’s car went onto the shoulder, and then the driver overcorrected, sending it into the path of a tow truck, driven by, 47-year-old Joshua Selesia of Sonora, that was carrying another vehicle on a trailer, according to the CHP. The car burst into flames, fully engulfing it and then spreading to the other vehicles. Selesia suffered major injuries and was flown from the scene.

Jamestown, CA — Thousands of Californians sprang into action to participate in the Clean California Community Days events to clean up roadways, local streets and public spaces. The statewide 11-days of events from March 17–27 were part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s $1.2 billion multiyear cleanup effort led by Caltrans...

Taiyanna Jackson had 17 points and career-high tying 21 rebounds — her fourth consecutive double-double and 23rd of the season — Zakiyah Franklin added 19 points and Kansas beat Columbia 66-59 to win the WNIT championship

An 18-year-old Angels Camp woman was arrested for DUI following a fatal car collision on Highway 49 in Calaveras County, according to the California Highway Patrol. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, March 26, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m. on State Route 49 just south of Deer Creek Road. The crash involved a 2017 Ford Escape SUV and a 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck.

TAKING A TRAIN TO A MOVIE? You just might, if you live near a subway stop and hope to catch the rails to your local cinema. But enjoying a day out along a fabled line that has actually been in more than a few movies? That's not quite as simple to do, as most railroads, on the whole, haven't appeared on the silver screen. A few have, however, and one of the best-known happens to be located in a lovely slice of the Golden State's oh-so-lovely Gold Country. The cinematic rails can be found in Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, a place that is associated with beloved flicks like "Back to the Future III" and timeless television series like "Petticoat Junction." And you can experience this beautiful area beginning in April 2023 when the excursion train rides return for a multi-month engagement.

TUOLUMNE COUNTY, Nev. (TCD) -- Two men are in custody, and a woman is still at large in connection with the death of a 63-year-old landlord, whose body was found on the ground in his home. According to a news release from the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, Ben Lindsey's body...

Tuolumne County, CA – Commuters that take Highway 108/120 should give themselves extra time to reach their destinations all next week as emergency roadwork will slow traffic east of Knights Ferry. Caltrans will begin a $1.2 million project to replace culverts damaged during the recent winter storms. Crews will...

Sonora, CA – Three Mother Lode counties have been added to the storm state of emergency requests for federal aid. Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration to bolster the emergency response and recovery efforts for nine counties, including Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne. The request encompasses the communities impacted by flooding, snow, mudslides, avalanches, and debris flows that resulted from storms beginning February 21. Calaveras County will be provided with all categories of public assistance, while Mariposa and Tuolumne counties will get individual assistance programs.

Tuolumne, CA – A homicide investigation was launched after a man was found dead in his home in Columbia on Wednesday, March 15th. According to reports, an ambulance responded to a call from the area of Calle Quartz Drive, where 63-year-old Ben Lindsey was discovered lying on the ground, deceased. Upon further investigation by the detectives and coroner, it was found that Lindsey was a victim of homicide, and the cause of death was blunt force trauma. Witnesses also reported that Lindsey’s Jeep had been missing for a few days.

Sonora, CA — This weekend’s Mother Lode Views will feature Tuolumne County Community Development Director Quincy Yaley. Her office oversees zoning and development-related matters for the county. Early in the show, she will discuss a proposal to revamp the Twain Harte Shopping Center and transform much of the...

Groveland, CA – A Groveland man was placed on a half-million dollar bond after turning himself in for attempted murder after his victim escaped and called 911. Last Tuesday morning (3-21-23), a man reported he had been kidnapped and beaten up but was able to escape his capture. Tuolumne County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area of Smith Station Road near County Line Road in Groveland, where the victim ran for help. When deputies arrived, the man told them he was forced from his Pine Mountain Lake home into a vehicle at gunpoint.

TUOLUMNE COUNTY — A homicide investigation is underway following the discovery of a deceased man in Columbia, California. On Wednesday, March 15th at around 3:00 pm, an ambulance was called to the area of Calle Quartz Drive for a report of a man found on the ground in his home. The man was later identified as 63-year-old Ben Lindsey. When medics arrived, they determined Lindsey was deceased and requested the Sheriff’s Office respond. Through their investigation, detectives and the Coroner determined the death was a homicide, with Lindsey’s cause of death later revealed to be blunt force trauma through autopsy.

Sonora, CA– Columbia College Foundation, along with college leaders, community supporters, and Promise students, celebrated five years of achievements for the Columbia College Promise program on March 23rd. Launched in 2018, the program provides a full year of free tuition and fees to high school graduates who immediately enroll full-time following graduation. Since its inception, the program has served over 1,000 recent high school graduates.

Jamestown, CA – A Jamestown man was arrested for drunk driving after a solo vehicle crash on Highway 49 near Chinese Camp. The rollover wreck happened south of Highway 108 and Montezuma Junction, west of Jamestown, around 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. CHP spokesperson Officer Steve Machado reports that once on the scene, an officer found a 2006 Chevrolet pickup on its roof and its driver, 27-year-old Michael Logan Baker, out of the vehicle.

The Oldham County Police Department and the ALICE Training® Institute have joined forces to bring active shooter response training to Oldham County this summer. The two-day course, held at the Arvin Education Center in La Grange July 6 and July 7, will teach its participants survival strategies and how to proactively respond during “violent critical incidents.”

Noah Berner is now editor of the weekly Calaveras Enterprise in San Andreas. He is a former contributor and reporter who has had roles in local history and preservation. “My goal now is to work to ensure that readers today and historians down the road have an accurate account of the events, issues and people that make the county so special,” Berner wrote.

The fatal collision happened Sunday afternoon on Highway 49, south of Deer Creek Road.