Mountain Disaster Preparedness will conduct a drill at two of its Disaster Aid Stations to practice and prepare for an earthquake affecting the Hill communities this Saturday as part of the Great California Shake-Out. At 9:22 a.m., MDP will activate its radio network and ask participants to respond to DAS A (Pine Cove) and DAS…

Fewer counted in Idyllwild this year Homelessness is a problem through out the country and is growing in Southern California. Orange, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Kern counties all reported increased numbers of homeless between 2017 and 2018. San Diego County reported a slight decline, but its homeless population is nearly three times the number…

A number of states have laws that, to varying degrees, restrict importation and transportation of firewood aimed at stopping spread of invasive species, often insects or other pests. Firewood has been shown to be an agent for transporting invasive species. Many of the states with firewood laws are in the East and Midwest, part of Emerald ash borer federally quarantined areas.

The Mountain Area Safety Taskforce devoted its primary focus during its quarterly meeting to the threat to local forests of the Goldspotted oak borer. Third District Supervisor Jeff Stone included the oak borer in an ongoing emergency declaration originally enacted for the bark beetle in 2002. He placed the issue on the Tuesday, Dec. 18,…