Guy McCarthy

1 week ago | uniondemocrat.com | Guy McCarthy

Forecasters are warning of critical fire weather conditions this weekend, with gusting winds out of the north and low humidity levels, and a fire weather watch has been issued for western Calaveras and Tuolumne counties, including Murphys and Sonora. The fire weather watch, issued before 12:30 p.m. Thursday, is expected to be in effect from 8 a.m. Saturday to 11 a.m. Sunday.

1 week ago | uniondemocrat.com | Guy McCarthy

A repeat DUI offender with a prior felony driving under the influence conviction, Brad Leon McIver, of Jamestown, was sentenced in May to four years in state prison for his role in a solo DUI vehicle crash in April 2024, the Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office announced this week. In the crash, McIver drove off the road on Sunday, April 28 last year and he was arrested that day at Old Melones Dam Road and Shell Road.

1 week ago | uniondemocrat.com | Guy McCarthy

Sonora Police are inviting residents and business owners to register their security cameras with the Police Department, in a new program intended to improve public safety through partnership. The Sonora Police Security Camera Registration Program and the community's participation in it will be a valuable part of shared efforts to prevent crime and protect the Sonora community, the department said in a public service announcement distributed Tuesday.

1 week ago | uniondemocrat.com | Guy McCarthy

A man from Alameda County drowned at Pinecrest Reservoir on Monday, in spite of bystanders’ efforts to rescue and revive him, the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. The deceased man was identified as 51-year-old Olegario Silveira, of Fremont. Silveira was swimming in the reservoir Monday afternoon and disappeared under the water’s surface, said Sheriff’s Investigator Ashley Boujikian, a spokesperson for the agency.

1 week ago | uniondemocrat.com | Guy McCarthy

A fire broke out Monday afternoon west of Highway 49 near Table Mountain between Columbia and Jamestown, and aircraft from Columbia Air Attack Base responded, a resident who lives off Highway 49 told The Union Democrat. The fire was called the Flume Fire because initial estimates placed the fire near Flume Road, west of Highway 49. The fire was reported at 4:21 p.m. Monday and it was declared contained at 5:53 p.m., Emily Kilgore with the Cal Fire Tuolumne-Calaveras Unit said.