“We need to protect human life, property and critical natural resources,” San Jacinto District Ranger Arturo Delgado said, explaining the closure of nearly 16,000 acres for the next 12 months. According to Delgado, the area of National Forest Service lands the closure affects is less than 7 percent of NFS lands comprising the San Jacinto…

Sunday evening, Oct. 16, candidates for the California Congressional District 36 seat debated in Palm Desert. Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz, the incumbent, and challenger State Sen. Jeff Stone faced off in a debates sponsored by the Desert Sun and local Palm Springs television station KESQ. Many questions were asked during the debate. The following are…

California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Esparza is retiring. Since 1999, Esparza has served the Idyllwild Area Post. He and his wife Karleen have been Hill residents since 1989. When Esparza first came to Idyllwild, he worked as a ranger for Riverside County Parks. For the CHP, he has worked both in Central Los Angeles and…

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,…