Voters have until May 19 to register
Applications now accepted for car show
Burn permits suspended

Briefly for Wednesday May 7, 2008 edition

(Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:21 PM)

Voters have until May 19 to register

Rebecca Martinez, County Clerk-Recorder and Registrar of Voters, announced recently that in order to be eligible to vote in the June 3, 2008 Consolidated Direct Primary Election, persons must register to vote by Tuesday, May 19, 2008. A completed voter registration card that is postmarked May 19 is acceptable.

Voter registration forms are available at the following locations:

Libraries (county-wide)

Post offices (county-wide)

Churches (county-wide)

Chambers of commerce (Madera and Oakhurst)

County government offices

City government offices (Madera, Chowchilla)

Department of Motor Vehicles (Madera)

Schools (elementary and high schools, community colleges county-wide)

The County Clerk's office will remain open until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 to accept registrations. Additionally, special arrangements have been made for late, after hours drop offs on May 19 only, as follows: In Madera, completed voter registration forms may be dropped off at the Department of Motor Vehicles drop box, located at 1206 Maple Avenue, Madera. In the Mountain Area, voter registration forms may be placed in the night drop at Yosemite Bank, 40061 Highway 49, Oakhurst.

For more information, call the County Clerk, Elections division, at (559) 675-7720, or toll-free 1-800-435-0509.

Applications now accepted for car show

The Oakhurst Sierra Sunrise Rotary is preparing for its Run for the Gold Classic Car Show, which will be held Sept. 5 in Oakhurst Community Park. All proceeds from the car show will go directly to local schools. This year, a craft fair and swap meet will accompany the show. Applications are being accepted for the craft fair and swap meet. For additional information, Call (559) 682-1771.

Burn permits suspended

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit have suspended hazard reduction open burning permits for Eastern Madera County. This action is because of the drying conditions in the grass and the menace of wildfire with its potential to destroy life and property. This declaration rescinds all previously approved Burn Permits. Campfires will be allowed in designated campgrounds with permission of the jurisdictional authority only.

Fire officials say spring is the time of year to make your home fire safe, by clearing dead and dying vegetation, flammable leaves, brush, and dry grass within 100 feet of your home and other structures. Proper clearance out to 100 feet dramatically increases the chance of a house surviving a wildfire. This defensible space also provides for firefighter safety when protecting homes during a firestorm.

Cal Fire Unit Chief Mikel Martin wants homeowners to know that Cal Fire realizes for many homeowners providing 100 feet of defensible space will mean a tremendous amount of work but it will be worth it If we inspect your property and you are not in compliance, they will request that you continue to work toward full compliance before our next inspection,

"The important thing is to break up vertical and horizontal continuity of the fuel," Martin says. "Try to get 10 to 15 feet of spacing, both vertically and horizontally between shrubs, large plants, and trees. If you have four foot high brush underneath larger trees with limbs, you will want to limb up the tree at least 14 feet. Breaks like this in the vegetation help to slow down an advancing fire and gives the firefighters a fighting chance."