

Mountain Folk: Opliger then and now
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Brandon Opliger (son of Rocky Opliger, retired US Forest Service, San Bernardino National Forest) in the left photo, taken approximately in 1989. Opliger was in an IFPD engine. His mother Lori (Friemoth) Richter worked for IFPD and Brandon was four or five years old. The right-hand photo is Brandon now, age 26, employed with the U.S. Forest Service, Cleveland National Forest, on the Palomar Hotshot Crew, out of Oak Grove Station. Photos courtesy of Lori (Friemoth) Richter

Max Singer, son of Dan Singer of Squaw Valley in the Sequoia National Park and Chris Singer of Idyllwild, graduated cum laude from the California State University, San Bernardino, on Sunday. The Idyllwild native majored in communication studies. Dan said it was the best Father’s Day gift he’s ever received. Chris said, “I was so…
The Town Crier congratulates photographer and part-time Idyllwild resident Gina Genis for the award she was given for the Best Art Show of 2011 from Orange County Weekly for “Economy Portraits.” Images of her work can be viewed at http://ginagenis.photoshelter.com/gallery/Economy-Portraits/G0000DPlc.RPPI.I/… Wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Idyllwild resident Frank Gorzny, who is recovering…
Pine Cove resident and Idyllwild Town Crier Correspondent Debra A. Varnado has been awarded an all-expenses-paid 2019 California Fellowship from the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism. Each year, the center trains competitively selected professional journalists to participate in workshops, seminars and field trips, and to receive a stipend to defray costs associated with an…
James and Michelle Wiesen of Idyllwild are holding a four-man scramble golf tournament as a cancer fundraiser for Idyllwild School Office Manager Beth Swanson and former Idyllwild School student Emma Salter. Participants are asked to create their own teams. Prizes, raffles and lunch are included in the $40-per-player cost. The event begins at 8 a.m….
Bill Whitman of Idyllwild finished 15th out of 39 in his age group 55-59 males in the spring draft legal race of the International Triathalon Union’s Duathlon World Championships in Pontevedra, Spain, on Saturday, April 27. His time was 01:09:15. He finished 232nd out of 628 overall. Then on Saturday, May 4, he finished third…
Janice Herdey (shown here in a 2009 file photo), 20-year Pine Cove resident, packed up and moved to Green Valley, Ariz., this past month. Janice is known for her volunteer work with Idyllwild’s Mountain Community Patrol from its beginning and as president for three terms. Janice also was a tireless volunteer for Animal Rescue Friends…