The Rouse Fire, which started about 1:30 p.m. yesterday, Aug. 30 near the U.S. Forest Service’s Cranston Ranger Station, was 100 percent contained as of Thursday evening, Aug. 31. The Fire’s size was estimated to be about 14 acres, according to Lee Beyer, the U.S.F.S.’s incident contact. The Fire started on the north side of…

An apparent surge in burglaries is occurring throughout the Idyllwild area. A review of incident reports received from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Hemet Station, shows that crimes to property (burglary, attempted burglary, vehicle theft, grand theft and felony vandalism) increased substantially in recent weeks compared to 2010 and 2011. Property crimes grew marginally in…

Last week, the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources announced that CR&R, the local waste management contractor, was one of five county businesses and organizations recognized for rewriting their environmental footprint and implementing sustainable practices. The Sustainability Award recognizes businesses that exemplify reduction, reuse, recycle and rethink. These practices include composting, energy recovery, renewable energy,…

Out of step with local water and fire districts, County Service Area 38 (Pine Cove) will consider lowering and, possibly, eliminating its parcel fee. The recently approved ambulance contract between the county and its ambulance provider, American Medical Response, shifts responsibility for ambulance service to the county. Once that contract begins on July 1, 2015,…