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Windstorm
Saturday night, the windstorm made the sky a strange sight in the San Jacinto Mountains.PHOTO BY JOEL FEINGOLD
Idyllwild Fire responded to four power lines down in Idyllwild during the strong winds last weekend and Riverside County’s Pine Cove Fire responded to one power line down. Idyllwild Fire...
Commercial buildings discussed at IWD meeting
The Idyllwild Water District (IWD) Board of Directors spent some time discussing an item not on its Wednesday, Jan. 19, agenda — the new commercial buildings in Idyllwild.
Vice President Peter Szabadi brought up the issue toward the end of the meeting when he mentioned the Town Crier reporting several stories on Hotel Idyllwild...
Supervisors hear COVID health/emergency concerns
At the Jan. 18, Riverside County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, Kim Saruwatari, director of the county Public Health Department, and Bruce Barton, director of the county Emergency Management Department, presented the board with a status report on how the recent COVID surge, driven by the Omicron variant, is affecting the county and its health care resources.
IFPD chief gives FVWD $5,000 for siren contribution
Idyllwild Fire Protection District (IFPD) Chief Mark LaMont attended the Fern Valley Water District (FVWD) Board of Directors meeting last Friday morning for several reasons.
He thanked the district for replacing about 47 fire hydrants saying that helps raise the community’s Insurance Service Office’s (ISO) fire rating, giving property owners better insurance rates, insurance...
Planning director approves new Idyllwild hotel
Monday, Jan. 10, John Hildebrand, director of the Riverside County Planning Department, approved plans for constructing a new luxury inn in Idyllwild.
The inn will be on the vacant property on North Circle Drive adjacent to La Casita. The plan proposes construction of a resort hotel with 12 rooms, a swimming pool and a...
Major project planned on Highway 243 for 2025
Caltrans is planning a major project on the entire length of Highway 243 tentatively in early 2025 and is asking the public whether a public hearing should be held.
“The proposed project includes pavement rehabilitation, culver repair, Midwest guardrail system upgrades, sign panel replacement, lighting rehabilitation, curb ramp upgrades and roadside safety improvements,” according...
Supervisors abstain on vote for board chair
Tuesday, Jan. 11, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors held its first meeting of 2022. This is when the board chooses its chair and vice chair for the year.
Traditionally, the vice chair from the previous year is elevated to chair for the current year.
Riverside County 5th District Supervisor...
‘The Refused,’ Singerton’s newest historic novel
David JeromeCorrespondent
Local author and artist Ron Singerton, approaching his 80th birthday, is celebrating the release of a new historical novel, “The Refused,” available now on Amazon (and receiving reviews that must make the writer proud.) Hill residents may know him from his long and continuing involvement with the Art Alliance of Idyllwild and...
Grandfathers for Golf Memorial Tourney announced
Grandfathers for Golf (GfG), the non-profit charity dedicated to teaching at-risk kids how to play golf for free, has announced its major fundraiser for 2022: the Memorial Tourney at Soboba Springs Resort Golf Course Friday, Feb. 25. The four-man scramble format is open to all golfers of any skill level.
This is the first...
Steele cut at Sony; plays this week in our desert
Brendan Steele did so well at the Sony the past two years (2021 T4; 2020 outright 2nd) we were all hoping for a fine result this year, too, but it was not to be. He posted an even par 69-71 — 140 to miss the cut by five strokes.
The Idyllwild native slammed drives...
Lawsuits against Idyllwild Arts
On Dec. 17, 2021, a former 16-year-old student at Idyllwild Arts Academy (IAA) — identified only as Jane Doe — filed a complaint for damages in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Idyllwild Arts Foundation (IAF) and IAA, in 10 “causes of action” pleading violations of Title IX of the U.S. Code,...
An injury death in Garner Valley
David Gotfredson, who lists his title as “Investigative Producer” and who works out of CBS News 8 and KFMB, San Diego, has been closely following, and digging into, the circumstances surrounding the death of a Garner Valley woman Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. The woman died in a reported all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rollover at the same Bonita Vista...
NASA’s SciJinks is free website for tweens and teens
Since 2002, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a special website called SciJinks just for students to learn about weather, satellite meteorology and Earth science.
The site includes articles, games and videos targeted toward middle- and high-school-aged students and their educators.
IMAGE COURTESY OF NASA
Steele to play in the Sony
Brendan Steele will tee off this week in the $7.5 million Sony Open in Hawaii on the Waialae Country Club course in Honolulu, Hawaii. Under the Sony name for 24 years, this tournament, with support from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, has donated nearly $22 million to more than 350 charities.
Brendan finished...
Associates donate to Idyllwild Arts
Editor’s note: This was taken from an Associates press release.
At the Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation’s (AIAF) annual dinner, a $40,000 check was presented to IAF. Shown, from left, are AIAF Vice President (VP) Patrick Reitz, AIAF President Michael Slocum, IAF President Pamela Jordan, AIAF Recording Secretary Lee Van Slyke, AIAF VP...
Aporkalypse now?
By David JeromeCorrespondent
New rules that took effect Jan. 1 mandate that pigs (and other animals raised for meat sold in California) be raised in cages large enough for them to turn around in.
2018’s Prop 12 passed with 2-1 approval by voters, even though farm animals were not allowed to...
Who represents the Hill in state/federal redistricting?
On Dec. 27, the 2020 California Citizens Redistricting Commission (CCRC) submitted its final maps for the 52 Congressional, 40 state Senate, 80 Assembly and four Board of Equalization districts to the California Secretary of State. The commission made no changes to the final maps from the earlier proposed final maps.
In its news conference...
Mentors influenced former PCWD general manager
Editor’s note: This is a continuation of the story from last week about Jerry Holldber, Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) general manager who retired at the end of 2021 after more than 35 years.
Just last summer and fall, Holldber developed a 10/20/50 Year Plan he took to the PCWD board.
Christmas tree collection at Riverside County landfills
Editor’s note: This is taken from a Riverside County press release.
Christmas trees may be dropped off at a Riverside County landfill at no cost until Saturday, Jan. 8. Each Riverside County household can bring up to three trees, including flocked trees. Green waste rates will apply to commercial, out-of-county or loads of more...
Efforts to seek community volunteers continue
Due to the recent spike in COVID cases, Riverside County is moving the 2022 Homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count by 30 days. The count is now scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 23, while the Youth Count is scheduled to run from Wednesday, Feb. 23 through Friday, Feb 25.County staff from the Department of Housing and Workforce Solutions (DHWS) will...
Readers Write: Three-story hotel is concerning
Dear editor:My heart sank when I saw the front page of the TC, stating that the planning director of Riverside County has approved the construction of a three-story hotel in the middle of town.In a previous article (8-26-21) about said project, Brad Rechtfertig mentioned that there are many three-story homes in the area, but I am hard-pressed...
Steele cut at Am. Express
Brendan Steele managed only a one-over-par 69-73-75 — 217 at the American Express tournament in La Quinta last week to miss playing the final day following a three-day cut after playing three different courses.His drives, averaging 308 yards, found 59.5% of the fairways and resulted in hitting just shy of 65% of the greens in regulation —...
Bonus extras with your TC Memberships
Your new or renewed Town Crier Membership comes with a big extra: Thanks to the generosity of Bruce Ross and Eileen Gallo-Ross, each Town Crier new or renewed Membership receives discounts at their Red Kettle restaurant in downtown Idyllwild on up to two meals per day for six months.So, become a Member, if you’re not one already,...
Another Point of View: January 27, 2022
Dear editor:Anti-Short Term Rental (STR) rhetoric in Idyllwild has reached a fever pitch. While excessive noise and disruptive parties certainly have a negative impact, some folk are spreading misinformation that goes far beyond disturbance or parking issues. These claims are often anecdotal and unsupported by data. One of the concerns, however, reflects a challenge in our community...
Grants available to pay IWD bills
Idyllwild Water District (IWD) customers who were not able to pay their water and/or sewer bills due to COVID may apply for grant funds IWD received from the state.IWD General Manager Leo Havener told the board that IWD received $30,500, about $2,000 less than what is in arrears.He plans to offer grants on a first-come/first-served basis to...
Burglary suspect’s preliminary hearing soon
Eric Alexander Lang, 46, of Garden Grove, arrested in Idyllwild on residential burglary and other charges, has a preliminary hearing planned for Thursday, Feb. 3, in Riverside County Superior Court.A preliminary hearing is a pre-trial event before a judge to examine the evidence and determine whether a crime has been committed and whether enough sufficient cause exists...
Caltrans offers $250 incentive to highway volunteers
Caltrans announced is expanding the Clean California incentive program statewide and offering up to $250 per month to Adopt-A-Highway volunteers who pick up litter along state highways. The expansion comes after a successful pilot in the Sacramento and San Diego regions that added 230 new highway adoptions in just three months. “Clean California is all about restoring...
Past Tense: January 27, 2022
75 years ago - 1947The Chamber of Commerce announced that a deputy sheriff would be assigned to the area, and a new switchboard would be installed in the summer to handle 200 phones.• • •A University of Southern California movie crew photographed the Chamber meeting for a film dealing with the proposed Idyllwild Arts Foundation.
Creature Corner: January 27, 2022
Lucy
By Janice MuraskoLast week in “Days of Our Nine Lives,” the ARF cats shared their “adoption blues” with each other.Phil: I’m calling a meeting of the ARF cats, and of course Claire, our lone dog.Whiskers: I think everyone is here, including Claire.Don: What’s up, Phil?Phil: I thought maybe we could all put...