Idyllwild Water District customers will begin paying new rates in July following the Board of Directors’ unanimous approval of a 12-percent increase for both water and sewer at its May 22 meeting. For the average residential user, the new water rate will be $27.07, a $2.90 increase from the current level of $24.17. The new…

Consolidation of the Hill’s three water districts — Fern Valley, Idyllwild and Pine Cove — was discussed briefly at the July Pine Cove Property Owners Association meeting. “Consolidation reared its ugly head again,” said PCWD General Manager Jerry Holldber. “In Pine Cove, we’ve worked very hard to have supplies and control our own destiny. There’s…

Local residents are taking steps to employ a private security firm to patrol Idyllwild late at night. This effort would augment town security as the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department budget cuts have reduced the number of deputies. At a second Town Hall meeting Monday night, Dan Hinojosa, the operation manager for Valley Forge Private Security…