All ages joined in the Jog-a-Thon sponsored by the Parents Club in November 1974. They had one goal in mind: Raise enough money to buy playground equipment for the recently blacktopped playground at Idyllwild School.File photo
All ages joined in the Jog-a-Thon sponsored by the Parents Club in November 1974. They had one goal in mind: Raise enough money to buy playground equipment for the recently blacktopped playground at Idyllwild School. File photo

65 years ago - 1950

“Red,” a barking dog, awakened his sleeping neighbors about 2 a.m. He was alerting them that there was a fire in the Cedars Café. He was deemed a hero.

60 years ago - 1955

At a Town Hall meeting of Idyllwild water users, a bond issue of $265,000 on a 26-year term was set as a purchase price for the Idyllwild Water Co.

55 years ago - 1960

Two teachers from Idyllwild were working with Japanese war brides whose husbands were stationed at March Field. The local residents helped the brides improve their use of the English language and become more familiar with American customs.

50 years ago - 1965

The heaviest rainstorm in more than 20 years closed the Banning-Idyllwild highway and caused many creeks to overflow. In three days, the Forest Service recorded 7.98 inches of rain in Idyllwild.

45 years ago - 1970

For $67,000, the county purchased land for a local county park, Valley Hi Park, to be located on the Banning-Idyllwild road.

40 years ago - 1975

The Idyllwild Inn or Shop-In, an abandoned landmark in the center of town that had become an eyesore, was going to be demolished because it was a fire safety hazard.

35 years ago - 1980

The mountain-area Red Flag Patrol, a group of volunteers organized by the U.S. Forest Service and the Izaak Walton League to patrol Highway 243 during periods of low humidity and Santa Ana winds, were called out a record of five consecutive days.

30 years ago - 1985

The recent snowstorm was enough to allow California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials to call an end to the 1985 fire season.

25 years ago - 1990

Because of a proposed replacement of the Strawberry Creek bridge, nearby businesses were concerned that the two-week absence of highway traffic would impact sales.

20 years ago - 1995

Doris Lombard’s “artistic, literary and science-savvy” third-grade classroom won first place in the Wildlife Art Festival for the fourth time.

15 years ago - 2000

Due to low student enrollment at Idyllwild School, a middle school teacher was going to be laid off, a Hemet Unified School District decision that had many parents and teachers alarmed and worried.

10 years ago - 2005

Posing as Riverside County Fire Department Station 23 volunteers, scammers had been calling Pine Cove residents soliciting donations. Residents were quickly notified.

5 years ago - 2010

The Hemet High School Girls’ Volleyball team won the new California Interscholastic championship. The Hemet girls defeated the Upland Church Academy in three very close games.

1 year ago - 2014

Idyllwild Skate Park, which opened in 2004, was closed until further notice until sufficient funds were raised to complete a full rehabilitation of all ramp surfaces.