The growth of business activity in Idyllwild, and investments business owners are making to improve their marketability, show confidence in the promise of Idyllwild’s economic climate.

New Village Market owner Jay McCormack and family are close to completing a complete makeover of the long-established Idyllwild grocery outlet. The new floor and new shelving are in. Most gratifying to shoppers taking a fresh look at the market, the shelves are jam-packed with competitively priced items, including a line of organic products called Natural Directions. Catering to Idyllwild pet owners, McCormack has stocked a broad mix of pet food, including high-end products not otherwise available on the Hill. “We’ll continue to tweak pricing to offer the best value to customers,” said McCormack.

McCormack and son Scott, daughter-in-law Sarah and daughter Tanya have moved with speed and efficiency to redefine Village Market. Still to come before a late May/June grand opening are: an expanded deli, full line of produce, fresh meat with an in-house butcher and a total revamp of the in-market restaurant offering eat-in and take-out service.

Also betting on Idyllwild’s sustained business growth are Paul and Katie White. Their successful coffee, baked goods and eatery — Idyllwild Bake Shop & Brew — will soon expand to include a separate brew location. “We’re calling it the Back Room, with a cool speakeasy vibe and beer on tap,” said Paul. Grand opening is set for Saturday, June 3. The Back Room is located farther back in the iconic Village Lane site and is part of what is intended to be a revival of the quaint lane of shops.

Rick Martinez is a week or so away from showcasing his new Idyllwild Town Real Estate office on North Circle in the former Hub Cyclery location. Martinez and crew have installed new flooring, and are busy hanging art to enhance the dual function of realty office/gallery. Martinez has already hired two new agents, expanding yet again the number of real estate agents in Idyllwild.

Stuart and Alicia Eberhardt have leased the former Arriba Restaurant property that adjoins their Country Club Smoke Shop, a medical marijuana dispensary. Preliminary plans are to open a new comfort food restaurant called the 243 Bar & Grill. No opening date has been set.

Closing are Violetta Villacorta’s the Sage & the Butterfly in Village Lane, Terri French’s Let It Shine Gallery on North Circle (she will continue business operation from her home) and Kay Realty because of the passing of owner Kay Jennison.

Not closing, despite rumors to the contrary, is Ken Dahleen’s Uncle B’s Smokin’ Bar-b-que. “We’re doing well,” said Dahleen. Still operating, despite street talk to the contrary, is the Spiritual Living Center. “We’re still here and trying to renegotiate our lease,” said Phyllis Brown.

Idyllwild is in the process of gentrification — with the recent opening of Ferro and the Idyllwild BrewPub, the planned groundbreaking for the Idyllwild Community Center’s amphitheater, the first phase of four phases of construction on the new recreation landmark, and the sizzling real estate market in which inventory is down and homes are on the market for days or weeks instead of months.

The business activity presages continued interest in Idyllwild from off-Hill visitors and investors, which augers well for ongoing health of Idyllwild businesses.

The defense counsels for Cristin Conrad Smith, 28, and Robert Pape, 28, both charged with a 2006 triple homicide, have taken different approaches.

John Patrick Dolan, Smith’s attorney, has filed extensive motions to quash warrants, suppress evidence and dismiss charges against Smith. These motions were filed last month in preparation for the April 28 trial readiness conference.

Dolan argued in his motions that “… there was no reasonable or probable cause to commit the defendant on the charges of violation of counts 1-3.”

Counts 1 to 3 are the charges for the murders of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli and Vicki’s daughter Becky, which occurred on Sept. 17, 2006, in Pinyon Pines. Becky’s body was found burning in a wheelbarrow outside the house. The other bodies were found inside the burning home.

Pape, Becky’s former boyfriend, and Smith were first charged for the murders in 2014, but they were subsequently dismissed. In June 2016, District Attorney Michael Hestrin refiled the charges based on better forensic evidence — DNA testing and analysis of cell-tower signals to Pape’s and Smith’s cell phones — and the revelation of a confidential informant.

Dolan’s motions dispute and attack the merit of the “new” evidence. The lack of actual new evidence would not justify the phone taps placed on Smith, he said.

Further, Dolan argues that, regardless of no statue of limitations on a homicide, the District Attorney’s office filing of charges 10 years later is a violation of Smith’s constitutional right to a speedy trial.

One year after the homicide in September and October 2007, Riverside County investigators filed for a search warrant for the defendants’ homes and wiretap on their cell phones.

One of Dolan’s points about the legitimacy of the search warrant is that it was not executed shortly after the crime. By 2007, both men were living in different locations.

In 2006, Smith was living with his parents, one year later he was living with his girlfriend.

“Mere suspicion is not enough to support probable cause” for the warrants, Dolan argues. The 4th Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches or seizures.

A wiretap again was requested in 2012, after an anonymous caller in 2011 reported that someone told him that Pape was involved in a murder and arson. The caller, later identified as Jeremy Todd Witt, said he overheard a conversation in 2007 about it between two women. Eventually, the wiretap recorded more than 900 calls and intercepted nearly 390 conversations.

Yet even with these data, the DA did not file any charges until March 2014. In October 2014, these charges were dismissed and eventually refiled in 2016.

Dolan notes that the case had gone cold in 2007 and remained cold until the anonymous call was received in 2011. The caller, later identified as Jeremy Todd Witt, worked at Knott’s Soak City, a water park, in 2007 as did Smith.

According to the call, Smith reportedly said one day, while looking in the direction of Pinyon, “Something went wrong and we torched the f-----g place.”

Witt was unaware of the homicides and made no connection until 2011 when he watched a Dateline program. That is when he made the anonymous call.

Further, an anonymous tip is not sufficient reason for the search or wiretap, Dolan said. There must be some proof that the individual knows the defendant and could reasonably know about the situation reported. In 2012, the Sheriff’s Department did not know the name of the anonymous caller, Dolan wrote. Later, it was revealed.

The District Attorney’s office also maintains that it has a recording of incriminating statements Smith made while alone in an interrogation room after being questioned by investigators. The actual recording or statement has not been made public.

Dolan concluded his motion arguing that the evidence from the search warrant and wiretaps were obtained illegally and, therefore, “is the ‘fruit of the poisonous tree’ and must be excluded.”

On April 28, the court will hear Dolan’s motions on behalf of Smith. Thus far, Pape’s attorney has not made any motion to object to the evidence or procedures against him.