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Idyllwild Fire Protection District 2014 salaries and compensation

By
Idyllwild Town Crier
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Editor’s note: Each year, the Town Crier reports the information below for Fern Valley Water District, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, Idyllwild WD and Pine Cove WD. FVWD was in the March 17 issue. The remaining districts will run over the next three weeks. Each district provides the information to the state Controller General who posts it on the agency’s website at http://publicpay.ca.gov/. The information is available for calendar years 2009 through 2014.

The information presented is posted as submitted by the reporting entity. The State Controller’s Office is not responsible for the accuracy of this information.

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Unrestrained dog in car causes crash with tree

By
Marshall Smith
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Dog is truly man’s best friend, especially when trained or restrained in a moving automobile. When the dog is not car savvy and is unrestrained, however, consequences can be serious.

Such was the case at 7:10 p.m. Sunday, March 20, when Efrain Huerta, 37, of Palm Desert, and wife Iris, 36, were traveling eastbound on Highway 74, a half-mile west of Morris Ranch Road in Garner Valley. In the car with them was their dog, unnamed in the report.

According to Darren Meyer, California Highway Patrol public information officer, the Huertas were driving on a straight stretch of Highway 74 with no weather issues when Iris tried to place their dog on the floor. The dog then jumped into the lap of Efrain who was driving the car. The sudden action of the dog caused Efrain to make an unsafe turning movement, veering right onto the shoulder and into a tree. The car sustained major damage and air bags were deployed.

Neither of the Huertas was injured or required transportation. The report did not mention any injury to the dog. No other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Poppet Flats resident incarcerated again

By
Marshall Smith
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Crystal Lynn St. Marie, 38, of Poppet Flats, was arrested in Palm Desert on March 17, and arraigned on Monday, March 21, charged with one count of felony identity theft. She is currently incarcerated in Indio Jail with bail set at $50,000, according to Riverside County District Attorney Information Specialist John Hall.

She had previously been jailed at the Indio facility for the same violation and released on probation on Federal Release in October 2014. St. Marie, who has numerous aliases, including Crystal Lynn Federico, also was arraigned on Monday for violation of probation. Her next court appearance is Wednesday, March 30.

Easter weekend in Idyllwild: No snow in sight

By
Marshall Smith
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Easter weekend in Idyllwild won’t be too hot and won’t be too cold. It will be just right — trees blossoming, daffodils coming up all over town and the village rolling out its gracious hospitality with perfect mountain springtime weather.

Easter Sunday is the culmination of Lent and Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and is the apex of the Christian calendar. Holy Week contains three of the most important days for Christians — Maundy or Holy Thursday, remembering the Last Supper or Christ’s last Passover feast with his disciples; Good Friday, commemorating Christ’s crucifixion, passion and death; and Easter, celebrating his resurrection.

A highlight for many locals, and early rising tourists, is the annual Easter Sunrise Service at Inspiration Point at the end of Double View Drive. It begins at 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 27, and lasts until 7:30 a.m. It is a non-denominational service hosted by the Community Presbyterian Church, the Idyllwild Bible Church and Crossroads 243 Christian Fellowship. Pastors of each church will have speaking roles. Pastor Wally Boer of Crossroads will deliver this year’s sermon.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Attendees are reminded to bring a chair and blanket. No matter how balmy the day, mountain mornings can be chilly — in the low 40s.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, March 26, there is an Easter Egg Hunt on the Idyllwild Community Center site. Youngsters who find a special egg will receive a basketful of goodies. There will also be an Easter Bonnet Contest for age categories: toddler to age 3; ages 4 to 6; ages 7 to 9; ages 10 and up; and “Over the Hill.” The Easter Bunny will be in attendance.

Also on Saturday, American Legion Post 800 Auxiliary will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt from 1 to 3 p.m. on the post grounds at 54360 Marian View Drive. According to Dave Fraser, post adjutant, eggs will be hidden everywhere and the festivities will be overseen by the Easter Bunny.

In Idyllwild, most local churches feature Easter services and some have services on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Check church websites and ads in this edition for calendars of times and services during the Easter weekend.

On Thursday, March 24, Temple Har Shalom of Idyllwild will celebrate Purim with a party at the Community Presbyterian Church. Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be plentiful. Attendees are asked to bring a food donation for the HELP Center. For more information, email [email protected].

True to Idyllwild’s reputation as an arts town, galleries and art “hot spots” will be open and music will be featured in local restaurants and wine bars. Local restaurants are upping the ante in enhancing Idyllwild’s reputation as a “fine dining” village. Check ads in this edition for restaurant offerings. Reservations are suggested since Easter weekend is a popular time for off-Hill visitors.

American Legion hosts ‘Welcome Home’ for Vietnam vets

By
Marshall Smith
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The American Legion Post 800 in Idyllwild will host a remembrance and welcome for local or visiting Vietnam veterans at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 30. “There’ll be complimentary pizza,” said Post Adjutant Dave Fraser.

Although the last combat troops left Vietnam on March 29, 1973, by proclamation in California the Vietnam veterans are honored on March 30. Said Gov. Jerry Brown in his March 30, 2011, proclamation, “On Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day, we honor the immeasurable sacrifices and contributions our Vietnam War veterans have made to protect the life, liberty and happiness of every Californian and every American. All veterans deserve our deepest respect. May we always remember the heroism and courage of those who have served and those who continue to serve.”

The event is open to the public. Guests who are not veterans or members of veteran organizations must be signed in by post members to drink at the bar.

Direct any questions to Fraser at 659-3165.

Three injured in traffic collision at Mountain Center

By
Jack Clark
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On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, at about 12:30 p .m. a head-on traffic collision between a dark blue SUV and a white sedan occurred about a mile north of Mountain Center on Highway 243. Debris was scattered over more than an estimated 100 yards along the roadway, as the vehicles came to rest about that far apart.

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{"focusMode":1,"deviceTilt":-0.04566060751676559,"qualityMode":3,"macroEnabled":false,"whiteBalanceProgram":0} Photos by Jack Clark.

Photos by Jack Clark.

Idyllwild Fire Protection District, Idyllwild Volunteer FD, the CHP, and AMR were among the emergency vehicles responding. The CHP officer on the scene could relate only that three persons were injured in the collision, because he was being required to respond to a second collision that had just occurred on Highway 243 near Foster Lake Road. This story will be updated when further information is obtained.

Traffic along Highway 243 was backed up in both directions from Mountain Center to more than two miles north. Two-way traffic resumed about 1:17 p.m.

Jack Clark can be reached at [email protected].

Breaking news: Traffic crash stopped traffic on Highway 243

By
Becky Clark
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Photo by Becky Clark
Photo by Becky Clark

A hit-and-run traffic collision about 1 p.m. stopped traffic in both directions at Buckhorn Camp about 2 miles north of Idyllwild on Highway 243.

The occupants of the hit vehicle are not injured. The driver of the Toyota truck that appeared to collide with the Audi walked off the scene before authorities arrived,

Photo by Gene Schneider
Photo by Gene Schneider

Highway 243 was closed for more than an hour.

Steele 46th at the Arnold Palmer

By
Jack Clark
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Brendan Steele posted another 2-over-par 74 on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer, dropping to 46th place. His tournament scores were 67-70-74-74 – 285.

The Idyllwild native’s greens-in-regulation stat returned to normal on Sunday, but his putter wasn’t working particularly well; he gave up 1.7 strokes putting to the field.

Brendan has played in 10 tournaments this season, making eight cuts and collecting four top-20 finishes, one of them being a third. With the season only about one-third complete, he already is on the verge of both securing a berth in next year’s The Player’s championship and ensuring his playing card for next season. He now stands 43th on the FedExCup points list and 79th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

B has this week off.

FVWD selects new general manager

By
JP Crumrine
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Fern Valley Water District Board President Jim Rees (left) congratulates Victor Jimenez after the board selected him as the next FVWD general manager. Photo by JP Crumrine
Fern Valley Water District Board President Jim Rees (left) congratulates Victor Jimenez after the board selected him as the next FVWD general manager.
Photo by JP Crumrine

The next general manager of the Fern Valley Water District will be Victor Jimenez, who currently works for the City of El Monte. He was the unanimous choice of the board and will begin in early April.

FVWD received 15 applications for the position, and the General Manager Selection Committee, composed of directors Trischa Clark and Robert Krieger, reviewed all of the applications. They then interviewed four of the applicants and finally recommended Jimenez for the position.

In December, General Manager Steve Erler announced his intention to retire at the end of June. Jimenez’s start allows an overlap in time for him to work with Erler and to learn about the district’s operations before Erler leaves.

After his selection, Clark said, “I’m glad we put this together and can move forward now.”

As chair of the search committee, Krieger moved to hire Jimenez. The starting salary will be $80,000 with a potential for an increase to $95,000 annually by January, depending upon his performance.

In water business, FVWD customers consumed 3.9 million gallons of water during the January and February billing period, which is about 310,000 gallons less than a year ago. It also is the lowest water usage in the last decade.

However, the water sales revenue for this period was about $2,600 less than a year ago. Total water revenue of $67,400, which includes service charges, also was down about $2,500.

The percentage of unaccounted-for water declined this period and in response to a question for President James Rees, Erler said the recently installed new pipelines have helped reduce water loss.

Erler also reported that the winter’s rainfall is helping to raise the groundwater level of the wells. One has increased 10 feet in the past month.

“Well levels are coming up and the Strawberry Creek flow is looking good,” he said. The district did divert some stream flow and this was the first significant diversion since March 2013, Erler added.

Supervisor nominates five-member CSA 36 council

By
Marshall Smith
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Riverside County 3rd District Supervisor Chuck Washington nominated a new five-member County Service Area 36 Advisory Council. The names will be submitted to the full Riverside County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 5, for approval and appointment.

The council nominees are Ginger Dagnall, John Metroka Jr., Wendy Read, David Hunt and Kathy Wilson. Verne Lauritzen, Washington’s chief of staff, said approval by the BOS should be pro forma. Lauritzen and Opal Hellweg, Washington’s legislative assistant, met with the incoming council on Thursday, March 17, at the Idyllwild Library to acquaint them with their roles and responsibilities.

The CSA 36 Advisory Council has been inactive for the last several years. But Washington felt the community needed a forum to ask questions and review recreation programs and financials. In the past, the council held public meetings at which recreation managers and Employment Development Agency representatives were tasked to report.

Recreation in Idyllwild is funded in part by parcel tax levies on property owners within the CSA 36 district boundaries. Over the last few years, in the absence of regular council public meetings, some community members have complained they have had no opportunity to review how their tax dollars were being spent, and no chance to review current programs or suggest new ones.

By reconstituting the council, Washington hopes to increase involvement of recreation users with CSA 36 recreation management.

The council has no policy-making role. It acts as the supervisor’s “eyes and ears” regarding recreation and street lights within the CSA district, reporting back to him on questions and/or issues raised in public meetings by attendees.

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