NORTH FORK – In an effort to help the families of Josh Thomas, the 11-year-old who was accidentally shot in the head in December, and Tyler Pogue, the 16-year-old Coarsegold boy who died in a car crash last November, Colonel Lawrence Banks of North Fork has made a couple of donations.
    To help with the Thomas family's medical expenses, tickets are being sold for a donated battery-operated grandfather clock, which hangs on the wall at the Jade Gazebo in Oakhurst. The clock chimes on the hour every hour, and is heralded in by a different tune.
    For the Pogue family, Colonel Banks has donated an antique Planters Peanut dartboard, which is up for grabs and housed at The Oak Room, also in Oakhurst. When the board is flipped over, it becomes a baseball game.
    "Someone offered me $500, sight-unseen, for the dartboard, says the colonel, "but I told him it wasn't for sale. It's to raise money for Tyler.
    It is the Pogues' intention that the monies raised will be given in Tyler's name to the Special Education Program at Coarsegold Elementary School for playground equipment.
    The reasoning behind this was Tyler's love of working with these special-needs children during his summer vacations.

    YOSEMITE – A statewide Heritage Trout Program that enhances recognition of the state's native trout populations and their habitats was established by the state Fish and Game Commission at its fall meeting here.
    Following a joint recommendation by the state Department of Fish and Game and California Trout, Inc., the commissioners agreed to begin considering designation of certain streams and lakes as "Heritage Trout Waters as early as next month.
    DFG wild-trout biologists believe the state's native trout restoration and management activities will benefit by organizing and promoting these efforts in this new program. A key feature of the program will be education and outreach concerning native trout conservation.
    "Such a program in California will increase support from anglers and the public for native trout conservation and restoration efforts by increasing public awareness and by providing more opportunities to fish for and observe these trout, says Gene Fleming, DFG's chief of fisheries programs branch. "The program will increase angling diversity by providing new angling opportunities for native trout, inform and educate anglers and the public about native trout and their habitats, and build public support for efforts to restore native trout.
    California historically has supported a dozen species or subspecies of native trout – mor than any other state, except Oregon.

    NORTH FORK – Planning for a Mountain Women's Conference is under way with sponsorship of the Minarets Joint School District.
    The conference will be held July 23 at The Pines Resort at Bass Lake, beginning at 8 a.m.
    The goal is to draw women from all areas with the intention of discussing all of their special interests and needs including health, finance, personal and professional enrichment, and other topics.
    The audience will "receive motivation to further develop their special talents and explore new beginnings and great possibilities within themselves, a representative of the sponsors said this week.
    Women are invited to spend the day receiving "powerful information and profound insights that will have a lasting impact on their lives, the representative added. Outstanding keynote speakers will offer inspiration in meaningful ways.

    MADERA – The Planning Commission adopted proposed Ahwahnee boundaries earlier this week, as part of a plan to govern development in the Ahwahnee area.
    In a 4-0 vote, the boundaries now extend north to south from Mariposa County to Deadwood Peak, and east to west from the Bissett Station Road [620] area to Crooks Mountain.
    This adjustment to the 1980 plan when Ahwahnee and Oakhurst boundaries were established, has been a long time in coming.
    In 1995, an attempt was made to develop a separate plan because Ahwahnee residents believed their needs and issues were different from those of Oakhurst.
    In the summer of 1998, the Board of Supervisors authorized the Madera County Planning Department to work with the Ahwahnee Community Council to produce a separate plan for the Ahwahnee area.