Whether or not property owners in County Service Area 36 participate in local recreation programs conducted by the county or stand under the occasional streetlight to appreciate its illumination, they are paying for both. Each year, CSA 36 property owners are billed $35 as part of their property taxes to fund both recreation and streetlights….

Following recent storms, a woman and her brother were unhoused when a snow-laden tree crushed their trailer. Carla Becker of Royal Pines Estates told the Crier about her introduction to one of the dangers of mountain living. CB: I was in the pop-out and the tree hit my neighbors’ trailer, cut it right in half….

J.P. Crumrine can be reached at jp@towncrier.com. Community Service Area 38 (Pine Cove) Advisory Council has tentatively scheduled a meeting for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Pine Cove Water District office. In response to letter from Mike Esnard, Pine Cove Water District president, requesting using CSA 38 funds to purchase 10 fire hydrants…

The drought, now in its fourth year, is creating severe and dangerous threats to the Hill’s native trees — pines and oaks. But other dangers also are threatening the local forest. Residents are familiar with the damage bark beetles bring, especially during droughts. The bark beetle is actually a native pest, but during droughts when…