Kudos to Idyllwild Fire A year ago, Idyllwild Fire Commissioner Dr. Charles “Chip” Schelly proposed a resolution in response to the State Controller publishing salary data from special districts such as Idyllwild Fire. Schelly’s resolution, which was adopted unanimously, requires the district to post the salary data on its website (www.idyllwildfire.com) as well as payments [...]
Special Districts compensation payments Following the August 2010 revelations about exorbitant public salaries in the City of Bell, Calif., State Controller John Chiang requested that California’s counties, cities and special districts report their salary and earnings data to his office. Last year, he began posting these data online for the public’s use. As of Monday, [...]
In case, you don’t have the time to read the entire paper, I’d like to direct your attention to two brief articles. The subjects of the stories are two young adults, both former Idyllwild residents. Brendan Steele and Lauren Salter have left the Hill, but both are making a mark in the world. Brendan is [...]
Several people have chosen to post questions online at the end of some stories and letters to the editor regarding the Idylwild Fire Department and former Chief Norm Walker’s departure. Rather than respond directly online, I choose to respond here, so that all Town Crier’s readers can benefit from the questions. Of course this column [...]
Sue Nash, the Press-Enterprise editorial board and the Town Crier have overlapping but dissimilar views of good government. A once well-known Massachusetts Democratic Congressman, Tip O’Neill, replied “All politics is local,” when asked about a campaign strategy. O’Neill, Speaker of the House for 10 years, demonstrated its validity in 1982, when he defended a national [...]
On Monday, I received a question which is below. I responded and asked the writer if she wanted it printed as a letter to the editor. She replied, “Yes, print that as a letter, but only if you give the … reply to the readers that you also gave to me.” So, I’ve printed the [...]
Is the Idyllwild Fire Protection District suffering from a financial crisis? Is it or is it not approaching insolvency? If IFPD were fiscally healthy, most reasonable people would have to ask “How?”. Every other level of government — federal, state, county and school district — is facing an imbalance between its revenues and expenses. Larger [...]
Since I began writing this column, I’ve been encouraging you to get involved in our community. It’s good for you and clearly good for all of us. Below I’ve listed Hill groups which serve the community, but could use some volunteers. Yes, there’s more; I’ve specifically omitted churches and other places of worship because if [...]
As we quickly approach the end of 2011, the Town Crier’s 65th year and the centennial of our founder, Emax, Ernie Maxwell, I wish to give you, our faithful readers, the gift of another Emax column. Below are his thoughts from Dec. 22, 1961. Sometimes the commerce of Christmas time overwhelms the truly important values [...]
Many of the following thoughts may be obviated after Tuesday night’s Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) commission meeting. This was the first meeting of the commission with new members — Jerry Buchanan and Larry Donahoo. I wish them the best luck and hope these commissioners can bring the district back from the brink of insolvency. [...]
