With the retirement of Bob McCullough from the management of local radio station WNKI, Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz is working with RACES President Bill Tell and Director Rick Foster to continue the station’s operation. However Reitz would appreciate some feedback from the community on whether WNKI provides value to us — both permanent and…

At last week’s meeting, the officers of Pine Cove Water District were re-elected by acclamation. Mike Esnard continues as president, Lou Padula is vice president and Robert Hewitt remains secretary. Just prior to the vote, Joel Palmer, Hewitt and Padula took the oath of office as they began their new four-year terms. Hewitt is beginning…

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, with support from fellow Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer, last February introduced the California Desert Conservation and Recreation Act of 2015, a bill that amends and updates the historic California Desert Protection Act of 1994. The bill would expand protection for more of the California desert. Besides additional wilderness acreage, wild and…

Stone Creek Water was hit by “an avalanche” of difficulties last week, as related by Dr. Leonard and Carolyn Weston, the owners of Stone Creek Water Company, Inc. First, they had allowed firefighters working a house fire near Azalea Trails to use water from Stone Creek’s tank, which drained it. Next, the pump lines froze….