Trial preparations for Robert Pape and Cristin Smith, charged with the 2006 Pinyon murders of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli and Vicki’s daughter Becky, began last week. One of the first matters addressed was Riverside County Superior Court Judge Bernard Schwartz’s decision to conduct one trial with two juries — one for each defendant. But last…

The Idyllwild Water District Board of directors has scheduled a special meeting at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24. The first item on the agenda will be an announcement regarding a vacant director’s seat and how the Board will fill it. At the end of the regular Oct. 17 meeting, Director David Hunt announced his intention…

Due to heavy snow at the beginning of this week, the Town Crier newspaper will come out on Thursday morning, and the Town Crier’s usual Wednesday-morning news meeting will be held Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the Town Crier office, 54405 North Circle Drive. As usual, the public is welcome to attend.