Taco Bell representatives are giving Children's Hospital Central California a $240,000 check today from sales of $1 icons.

Participating Taco Bell stores in Fresno, Bakersfield, Modesto and San Luis Obispo sold icons to benefit the hospital. The total was raised in a four-week period from Aug. 1 to Sept. 4.

In seven years of the Taco Bell icon campaign, nearly $870,000 has been raised for the hospital. And since 2005, Children's has benefited from over $1.4 million donated by Taco Bell through icon campaigns, golf tournaments and through grants from the Taco Bell Foundation.

Education

Yosemite High takes top Mock Trial prize: After four days of Mock Trial, Yosemite High School emerged victorious, said Kristi Winter of the Madera County Office of Education.

In the 2011-12 Honorable Edward P. Moffat Madera County Mock Trial which was held on December 5, 7, 8, and 10, Yosemite High School took on Liberty, Madera, and Minarets High School.

In the Mock Trial, students acted as attorneys, witnesses, bailiffs, and clerks then attorneys from throughout the central valley judged the student's performances.

As the winner, Yosemite High School will represent Madera County at the state competition on March 23 to 25 in Sacramento, Winter said.

Porterville College adds to hall of fame: Nominations are being accepted for the Porterville College Hall of Fame, which recognizes former student-athletes and distinguished alumni who have contributed to the college.

The second annual hall of fame banquet is March 10 at 5:30 p.m. at River Island Country Club.

Find more information and nominating applications at portervillecollege.edu. Applications must be received by Jan. 16.

For more information, contact Carol Bodine, Porterville College Foundation secretary, at (559) 791-2319 or cbodine@portervillecollege.edu.

Also ...

Sheriff's office blood drive is under way: The Fresno County Sheriff's Holiday Heroes Blood Drive will begin today in Clovis, said sheriff's spokesman Chris Curtice.

The drive will be held at the Sierra Vista Mall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and 1 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Donors will receive a free T-shirt, special donor awards, treats and will be entered to win a Sierra Vista Mall Holiday package including a $100 gift card to the mall, four movie passes, dinner for four and a dozen cookies.

Donors may also donate at any of the three Central California Blood Centers at 4343 W. Herndon Ave., 3445 N. First Ave. and 1010 E. Perrin Ave.

Tulare Co. opens warming centers: People seeking relief from the cold can find some comfort at warming centers in Tulare County.

About 25 warming centers are open throughout the county. The hours and days of operation vary.

Information on the centers is available by calling 211 or at www.tularehhsa.org under Emergency Services.

The centers have sitting areas and restrooms. Some also have vending machines, reading materials and activities.

Missing Fresno teen featured on Comcast: Missing Fresno Teen Steven Humphrey will be featured on Comcast's Missing Kids On Demand through March 2012, said Comcast spokeswoman Melissa Vincelet.

Steven is an endangered runaway that went missing on Jan. 26, 2009. He is Caucasian, with brown hair and brown eyes. He is estimated to be around 5 feet one inch tall and 100 pounds.

Comcast digital cable customers and consumers can view video profiles of missing children on their television or online at www.xfinity.com/news/missingkids.