60 years ago – 1952
The Izaak Walton League agreed to spend $20 on trees and flowering shrubs for a school landscaping program.
55 years ago – 1957
The Hemet School District Board voted to comply with local requests that the seventh- and eighth-graders remain on the Hill.
50 years ago – 1962
The Idyllwild Community Presbyterian Church was released from “mission” status and recognized by the Riverside Presbytery as a church in full standing.
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At a coordinating council meeting, Carl Minton declared, “Local growth is inevitable. We are going to have a water problem, so let’s start intelligent planning now to find the solution.”
45 years ago – 1967
“The quickest way to solve the county’s waste disposal problem,” declared Ernie Maxwell, “is for everyone to go on a strict diet.” Emax also suggested installing human afterburners.
40 years ago – 1972
A squirrel gnawed into a bushing around the automatic circuit breaker at the SCE substation. With his nose on one wire and tail on another, he made a nice arc. Electric power was cut out for an hour and 23 minutes in Pine Cove and Saunders Meadow.
35 years ago – 1977
Garner Valley rancher Jack Garner donated 20 acres of his land to the school district for a mountain secondary school.
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“We’re witches and this is our new ceremonial area,” was the reply when a State Park employee questioned four people frolicking around an open fire in Stone Creek Campground.
30 years ago – 1982
Developer Franz Tirre said he would appeal to the Board of Supervisors on the Riverside County Planning Commission’s denial of his request to build 12 homes on 13 acres in Fern Valley. The project’s lack of an adequate sewer system was the main stumbling block in getting the project approved, according to the county planner.
25 years ago – 1987
An earthquake centered near Big Bear and measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale offered the perfect opportunity for Idyllwild Elementary School students to practice an earthquake drill. No local damage was reported because of the earthquake.
20 years ago – 1992
More than 100 people showed up to express their views on proposed budget cuts at a Hemet Unified School District meeting held in Idyllwild.
15 years ago – 1997
The debate over preserving old-growth trees returned to the Hill. The U.S. Forest Service cut down trees at Black Mountain and Boulder Basin campgrounds, and marked more trees at Dark Canyon Campground. Black Mountain Campground yielded 249 cords of wood. Officials said the reason for clearing out the tall trees was to let light in for “a new generation” of younger trees. Unhealthy trees and trees that were a potential hazard to campers also were removed.
10 years ago – 2002
Riverside County warned residents of a severe countywide shortage of antivenom and provided tips to lessen the risk of being bitten by snakes.
5 years ago – 2007
Work on the new Idyllwild Community Center site stopped, because of concerns raised by a group of local residents about two environmental issues relating to the site — green tree removal at the ICC site and the approaching stream of remnant underground contaminants from the nearby gas station.
1 year ago – 2011
The proposed Idyllwild Community Recreation Council playground was halted because of the need for additional Riverside County planning approvals. Construction is now planned for June 13.